A day after a deadly crush killed 717 people during Hajj in Saudi Arabia, a critical question remained Friday: what caused the chaotic stampede?<br />Saudi officials are trying to figure out what went horribly wrong this week during the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca and Mina.<br />But some who made the journey said various factors may have played a role.<br />More than 2 million Muslims from around the world are in Saudi Arabia for Hajj, a pilgrimage that all Muslims who have the financial and physical ability must make at some point in their lives.<br />"There's so little time to complete the rituals," Hajj pilgrim Ethar El-Katatney said.<br />"People like to do the first stoning in the morning," he told CNN from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.<br />Even though Saudi officials are extremely versed in hosting Hajj crowds, many of the pilgrims are making the journey for the first time - and might not be prepared to follow all directions or handle the chaos.
