Young pilgrims in Malaysia practice for a journey to Mecca - in pictures

Children from the Little Caliphs kindergarten circumambulate a mock-up of the Kaaba during an educational simulation of Haj in Shah Alam outside Kuala Lumpur

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  Thousands of Malaysian children took part in a practice run for the Muslim haj pilgrimage on July 24, walking round a model of the holy Kaaba shrine under the tropical sun. The haj is one of the five pillars of Islam, which capable Muslims must perform at least once, and marks the spiritual peak of their lives. All photos by Mohd Rasfan / AFP

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  A Malaysian Muslim girl from the Little Caliphs kindergarten, clad in white hijab which is the traditional attire for Muslim women performing the Haj pilgrimage, holds mock stones made from papier mache before performing the ritual of stoning the devil during an educational simulation of the pilgrimage in Shah Alam, outside Kuala Lumpur.

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  Malaysian Muslim boys circumambulate a mockup of the Kaaba, Islam's most sacred structure located in the holy city of Mecca, during an educational simulation in Shah Alam.

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  Malaysian Muslim girls from the Little Caliphs kindergarten circumambulate a mockup of the Kaaba.

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  A Malaysian Muslim boy from the Little Caliphs kindergarten checks the order of religious rituals on a booklet before performing a simulation of the Haj.

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  A Malaysian Muslim girl from the Little Caliphs kindergarten high-fives her teacher after completing an educational simulation of the Haj pilgrimage.

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  Ihram-clad Malaysian Muslim boys from the Little Caliphs kindergarten rest while circumambulating a mockup of the Kaaba.

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  Hijab-clad Malaysian Muslim girls from the Little Caliphs kindergarten pose and gesture while holding their mock passports after completing an educational simulation of the Haj.

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  Hijab-clad Malaysian girls from the Little Caliphs kindergarten circumambulate a mockup of the Kaaba.

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  Malaysian Muslim children from the Little Caliphs kindergarten collect mock stones made from papier mache before performing the ritual of stoning the devil during an educational simulation of the pilgrimage in Shah Alam, outside Kuala Lumpur.

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  A Malaysian boy from the Little Caliphs kindergarten goes in search for a drink of water as other pupils (background) circumambulate a mockup of the Kaaba.