A pilgrimage to the Hala Sultan Tekke mosque in Larnaca will take place ahead of Mawlid, the birthday of the prophet Mohamed, on September 12.

Mawlid will be celebrated on September 15 this year.

The pilgrimage has been organised by the Foundations Administration (Evkaf) and the north’s religious affairs directorate, with coaches taking worshippers from northern Nicosia, Famagusta, Kyrenia, Trikomo, Morphou and Lefka to be organised.

The Hala Sultan Tekke is one of the holiest places for Muslims in the world, with some scholars describing it as the fourth most important site in Islam after Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem.

It is the resting place of Umm Haram, known as Hala Sultan in Turkish tradition, the wife of Ubada bin al-Samit, a companion of the prophet Mohamed.

The most recent pilgrimage to the Hala Sultan Tekke took place in June, marking Eid al-Adha, with a reported 620 people having travelled from the north.