The Saudi Arabian city of Mecca is the birthplace of Islam, where the Prophet Ibraham built the first Muslim House of Worship. Today is the first day of Hajj, which extends over the next five days with more than 3 million people attending. The convergence of so many people in one place is a danger too. In past years fires and deadly stampedes have cast a cloud over the event. But as Al Jazeera's Hashem Ahelbarra reports Saudi Arabia's boosted security for this year's Hajj by unprecedented numbers.