VOA常速英语2013--麦加朝圣在健康担忧和地区动荡中开始（在线收听）

Hajj Begins Amid Worries About Health and Regional Turmoil 麦加朝圣在健康担忧和地区动荡中开始

An estimated 1.5 to 2 million Muslims are on the annual pilgrimage to Mecca known as the Hajj. That’s far fewer than last year, as Saudi authorities seek to keep the ritual isolated both from tensions in other Middle Eastern countries and from a health threat that has killed more than 50 people in the kingdom.

After circling the Kaaba-the holiest spot in Islam-the pilgrims converged on a hilltop where Islam's Prophet Muhammad called on Muslims to unite some 14 centuries ago.

在围绕伊斯兰教最神圣的地方天房后朝圣者们聚集在一座14世纪前伊斯兰教先知穆罕默德呼吁穆斯林团结的山顶上。

But with Muslims today locked in conflict in parts of the Middle East, this pilgrim from Syria offered his own plea for unity.

但随着现今穆斯林陷入中东部分地区的冲突,来自叙利亚的这位朝圣者祈求呼吁团结。

"We evacuated our houses and our children got killed, so I pray to God on this great day to swiftly lift our country's suffering," he said.

“我们逃离自己的家园而且孩子们被杀害,所以我在这个伟大的日子向上帝祈祷，希望迅速驱赶我们国家之痛,”他说道。

Still, the Hajj appeared to begin without major disruptions.

不过,麦加朝圣的开始似乎遭受没有重大变故。

Some people might have political grievances, says Scottish terrorism expert Stephen Vertigans via Skype.

苏格兰恐怖主义问题专家斯蒂芬·维特加斯通过Skype表示有些人可能对政治感到不满。

“But the vast majority of people going there are going there ostensibly on religious grounds, to come together with other Muslims, to express their faith and to go through the different rituals," said Vertigans.

“但绝大多数人去那里表面上都是基于宗教理由,与其他穆斯林人结伴而行,表达他们的信仰及经历不同的仪式,” 维特加斯说道。

Even without political tensions, it's an enormous challenge in crowd control-with past years marred by stampedes and a terrorist takeover in 1979.

即使没有政治紧张局势,过去时间中人群踩踏事件及1979年恐怖分子接管也使得朝圣控制人群面临相当大的挑战。

This year, a respiratory virus centered in the Gulf kept many pilgrims away.

再加上今年在海湾集中的呼吸道病毒让许多朝圣者敬而远之。

The virus has killed more than 50 people in Saudi Arabia.

该病毒已经在沙特阿拉伯杀死了超过50人。

The Saudi government also reduced quotas because of expansion work at the Grand Mosque.

而且由于大清真寺的扩建工作沙特政府还降低了指标。

But the Saudis will be under pressure to lift the quotas and give as many Muslims as possible the opportunity to go, says Vertigans.

但维特加斯表示沙特将面临来自提升指标及赋予尽可能多的穆斯林人可能前往机会的压力。

“If they are reducing that opportunity for political grounds rather than health and safety grounds, they would become subjected to huge criticism within Muslim communities and Muslim nation-states," he said.

“如果出于政治理由而非健康和安全考虑减少,他们会受到来自穆斯林社区及穆斯林民族国家铺天盖地的批评,”他说道。

The Hajj ends with the Eid Al Adha holiday, and Muslims around the world celebrate it with feasts and gift-giving.

麦加朝圣将在古尔邦节结束,而世界各地的穆斯林人将会通过设宴及互送礼物庆祝这一节日。