A session to prepare the Muslim community of the region held in Douala on July 19.

Muslims in the Littoral have been told what to expect and is expected of them in the 2012 pilgrimage to holy city of Mecca. Some three thousand Muslim pilgrims from Cameroon will commune with other followers of Mohamed from around the world in this grand religious rendezvous, expected to be attended by three million people between October 2 and November 2.

Presided over by the Secretary General at the Littoral Governor's Office, Maurice Tchoffo Sa'ah, the Muslim from around the region were educated on basic hygienic standards, lodging, transport fare, among other things. Every pilgrim was urged to budget FCFA 1,850,000, adopted during the July 4 session of the National Hadj Commission, as transport fare. Arrangements have been made for travels with the Ethiopian Airlines Company through Boeing 767-300, which will be transporting 253 pilgrims at a time for 12 trips between the two countries. The last set of pilgrims to return is scheduled for November 10.

In concert with the Saudi Arabian government, the government of Cameroon has held preparatory meetings to ensure that all goes on hitch-free. Six Conventions have been signed between the Cameroon Hadj Mission and the Saudi Arabian authorities targeted at seeking ways to overcome problems noticed in the last pilgrimage. Essentially, this concerns the Hadj Prize and registration modalities, transportation, lodging, hygienic and health conditions, awareness-raising and sensitisation of pilgrims, as well as the stay in Mecca and necessary discipline.

Mohamed Awal, facilitator of the session, said that the importance of praying in Mecca is indisputably high: "In Cameroon one prayer has 27 rewards, in Medina one prayer costs 1,000 rewards, while in Mecca one prayer has 100,000 rewards. Each prayer we make in Mecca contributes enormously to our spiritual life." He added that the Meccan prayer is of advantage in that it washes a follower of Mohamed clean of sin, while rendering him fit for heaven.