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Nancy-Noura Maatouk
Studies of religion
Year 12
Research task.
Question 1: Explain how the rituals involved in Hajj demonstrate the beliefs and
traditions of Islam. Assess its significants of the life of a Muslim person.
Hajj is the annual pilgrimage that Muslims make to Mecca with the intention of
preforming certain religious rites in accordance with the method prescribed by the
prophet Mohammad. It is an obligation, which must be undertaken by all adult
Muslims if they are financially; mentally and physically fit enough to pursue the once
in a lifetime journey.
Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and involves a physical, spiritual and mental
journey from a Muslim’s home to Mecca. Muslims go on the journey to: commune
with God – be in his presence and worship him, to wash away their sins, to fulfil one
of the pillars and to express their Islamic beliefs and share the experience with a
worldwide community of Muslims all there for the same reasons.
For a Muslim to complete Hajj it must be in the month of Dhul-Hijjah, the 12th month
of the Islamic calendar.
Before beginning Hajj and entering Mecca, the pilgrims must preform a ritual
cleansing and dress in the traditional Hajj clothes called Ihram. (Plain white, unsown
cloth) They also attend the state of Ihram (purity) with the intention to preform the
pilgrimage. The Muslims then enter the Holy Mosque of Mecca, chanting:
“…Oh Allah, forgive me of my sins and open me to the doors of your mercy…”
At Mecca the Muslims perform the first ritual called tawaf, which is praying while
circling the Ka’ba 7 times, the ka’ba is a cubic structure originally built by prophet
Ibrahim and son Ishmael. This ritual is preformed, as the ka’ba is the first ‘house’
built of god, and Muslims orientate their 5 daily preys facing the ka’ba. This ritual
expresses the belief that God is central to their lives. The circling of the ka’ba 7 times
is symbolic for god’s creation of the world in 7 days.
After completing tawaf, the pilgrims make their way to the next ritual called Sa’ee,
where they walk briskly between Safa and Marwah 7 times. This is to re-enact the
event of which Hagar is frantically searching for water for her son Ishmael. The angel
Gabriel then appeared tapped his wing on the floor and then water appeared, this
water is now known as ZamZam water, which pilgrims take home from the
pilgrimage.
The next day the pilgrims arrive at Arafat, this is the most important part of Hajj.
Without this, Hajj is not considered complete. At Arafat the pilgrims spend the
afternoon sitting on the mountain of mercy, praying and asking god for forgiveness of
their sins. This recalls the last act of the prophet to show Islam as the chosen religion.
The prophet then went up to Mount Arafat to make his final speech and deliver this
Revelation:
“This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed my favour upon you, and
have chosen you Islam as your religion’
Once this ritual has been preformed all the sins of the pilgrim as been removed and
forgiven and can begin a new life of purity.
Research task
Nancy-Noura Maatouk
Studies of religion
Year 12
The next ritual takes place at Mina, this is where the pilgrims throw seven stones at
Jumrah-tul-aqba. This act is called Rami. The pilgrims throw stones at pillars
representing Satan, rejecting his temptation to sin and evil and to submit to the will of
god and obey him and not be influenced by other figures to reject the will of god. This
ritual is done as Satan tried to tempt Abraham, but Abraham was strong enough to
reject Satan and to obey to gods will.
The next ritual preformed is called Ed Al-Adha, where an animal such as a sheep is
sacrificed as a commemoration of Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son
Ishmael for god, but god replaced his son knowing Ibrahims intention and provided a
sheep for sacrifice instead.
The last ritual of hajj is then preformed back at Mecca, where the pilgrims once again
circle the ka’ba expressing that god is at the centre of the new life.
The significants of Hajj to the individual is the completion of the 5 pillars; it makes
the individuals faith and belief stronger and gains more experience and understanding
of the Islamic religion. The individual also learns discipline and self-sacrifice. The
individual feels a scene of completion and fulfilment.
The individual also gets the sensation of walking in the Prophets footsteps and
beginning a new cleansed life. It also connects the individual to the past and to the
history of their faith.
According to Mohammed Zaoud
“The person becomes spiritually and physically rejuvenated.”
Hajj its self changes a persons life and way of acting and thinking. Malcolm X started
a group based on violence and killing. After he went to preform Hajj he understood
the true meaning of being Islam and changed his life around. He became a committed
Muslim and changed his name El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz.
Through making the journey to Mecca & performing the rituals of Hajj, a Muslim
fulfils one of the 5 pillars of Islam and thus expresses their Islamic beliefs.
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Research task