A major theme of the hajj is the equality of all mankind before God - rich or poor, young or old ¡ª symbolized in the seamless white robes known as the "ihram" that all the pilgrims wear. Still, the differences in wealth can show in the tents. Camps organized by private tour groups often provide meals of lamb and rice - while those in government camps often give only meager rations.

"We have 30 people in our tent. It was so crowded some people just slept outside," said Mohammed Awadallah, an Iraqi pilgrim. "Now compare ours to that," he added, pointing to a nearby tent where a top Iraqi official was staying, with colorful rugs and plush mattresses.

"We all wear the ihram, but you can tell with one look who's better off and who's poor like us," said Awadallah, a government bureaucrat from Baghdad.

"Still, thank God, we're here, we're the guests of merciful God," he added, using a common term for the hajj pilgrims.

Egyptian Suleiman Ibrahim still couldn't believe his luck in coming to the hajj, as he recounted the day months ago when he was notified that he had won in the Egyptian government lottery used to decide which would-be pilgrims will be allowed to go. In most countries, the number of applicants far exceeds the quota Saudi Arabia sets for each nation ¡ª 1,000 pilgrims per 1 million population.

"The whole family started singing and congratulating me," when he learned he won, said Ibrahim, a 45-year-old furniture maker from the southern Egyptian city of Sohag. "Four times I didn't make the lottery, but this time God smiled on me."

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