7 Celebs Who Have Been to Mecca

Sadly, a stampede killed over 700 people and injured nearly 900 more as they were making their pilgrimage to Mecca today. Two crowded waves uncontrollably converged near this holy site in Saudi Arabia and trampled each other. The Hajj is the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, considered a religious duty for Muslims to carry out at least once in life. For five days each year, pilgrims of all ethnic groups, ages and social standing around the globe convene to pray as one united community in a ritual that is the Fifth Pillar of Islam. This year, 2 million faithful followers from 180 countries descended upon the region, creating a logistical nightmare that lead to this tragedy.

You might be surprised to know that several popular stars have journeyed to Mecca in year’s past. There are plenty of Muslims on the A-list, including Zayn Malik, Amal Clooney, Dr. Oz, Ice Cube, Janet Jackson and Ellen Burstyn, but they have yet to make a pilgrimage there. However, the following are seven celebs who have made their way to Mecca.

1. Mike Tyson

Heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson converted to the Nation of Islam while he was in jail serving a three-year sentence for a 1992 rape conviction.In 2012, he took a holy pilgrimage to Mecca as one of the Five Pillars of Islam. He took to Twitter to declare, “I just left the Holy City of Mecca where I was blessed to have been able to make Umrah.” He then added, “Inshallah (God willing), Allah will continue to bless me to stay on the straight path.”