Bethlehem – Ma’an – US President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama extended his wishes to Muslims around the world on the occasion of Eid Al-Adha and the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca on Wednesday.

The Hajj and Eid Al-Adha "both serve as reminders of the shared Abrahamic roots of three of the world’s major religions,” Obama said in his message.

“During Hajj, the world’s largest and most diverse gathering, three million Muslims from all walks of life – including thousands of American Muslims – will stand in prayer on Mount Arafat,” the president said, describing a key ritual taking place in Mecca on Thursday.

“The following day, Muslims around the world will celebrate Eid-ul-Adha and distribute food to the less fortunate to commemorate Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son out of obedience to God.”

He also said he was pleased at US-Saudi coordination to limit the spread of H1N1 during the Hajj.

“On behalf of the American people, we would like to extend our greetings during this Hajj season – Eid Mubarak,” the message concludes.

In a landmark speech in Cairo in June Obama pledged to mend relations with Muslims broken by US policies, especially the “war on terrorism” and the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan.

In August he reaffirmed his pledge to forge new relations based on mutual respect. “This new beginning must be borne out in a sustained effort to listen to each other, to learn from each other, to respect one another, and to seek common ground,” he said in a message at the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

In his Cairo speech Obama also vowed to renew efforts to create a Palestinian state. After nine months, this effort had made little ground, as peace talks remain frozen.