SBW makes Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca

Cape Town - All Blacks superstar Sonny Bill Williams has made a visit to Mecca as part of an Islamic pilgrimage.

According to the Stuff website, Williams took the trip to the city in Saudi Arabia before commencing pre-season training with his Super Rugby team, the Blues.

He has been posting pictures of himself on Twitter and described the experience as "an amazing feeling".

Williams said he had spent the morning visiting the Baghi Cemetery and "making dua" for some of the greatest people in Islamic history. Dua was a profound act of worship conducted by Muslims.

The trip was an Umrah pilgrimage, rather than the famous Hajj, as it was being undertaken at the wrong time of year for the annual mass gathering of Muslims in the central location of the faith.

Participating in the Hajj was one of the five tenets of Islam, required by all practising members of the faith to complete at least once in a lifetime.

The Blues open their 2018 Super Rugby campaign away to the Highlanders in Dunedin on Friday, February 23 at 08:35 SA time.

Umrah 2018. Peace & ?? my friends pic.twitter.com/0YqiBZJW8w

— Sonny Bill Williams (@SonnyBWilliams) January 16, 2018

Blessed to have this man as my spiritual guider. Shiek Kamal Jazakalah my brother ?? pic.twitter.com/q9UwUS5NRg

— Sonny Bill Williams (@SonnyBWilliams) January 18, 2018

?? pic.twitter.com/l226azbVSq

— Sonny Bill Williams (@SonnyBWilliams) January 15, 2018

What an amazing feeling visiting the prophets(as) holy masjid in Madinah. pic.twitter.com/kmYtKZSDVL

— Sonny Bill Williams (@SonnyBWilliams) January 14, 2018

Awesome morning spent visiting the baqee cemetery & making dua for some of the greatest people in Islamic history thanks to the Shiek’s for their insightful knowledge today ?? pic.twitter.com/VXCTy5x4wI

— Sonny Bill Williams (@SonnyBWilliams) January 15, 2018