Medina,
in western Saudi Arabia, is a sacred city that only Muslims
are permitted to enter. The Prophet Muhammad took refuge in
Medina after fleeing Mecca in 622 ad, and the city's numerous
mosques remain a destination for large numbers of Muslims
on their annual pilgrimage. The income derived from visiting
pilgrims forms the basis of Medina's economy.
The
19th-century gold-domed Kazimayn Mosque, pictured at night,
is near Baghdad in Iraq. This famous temple contains the tombs
of revered Shiite Muslim leaders.
