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Significant practice in the life of adherents
Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca)
Overview
The Hajj is an act of worship for Muslims. It is one of the duties of a Muslim as describes in the
Five Pillars of Islam. It is the fifth Pillar of Islam. The Hajj must be performed at least once
during his or her lifetime. A Muslim may be excused from performing the Hajj due to illness,
physical difficulties or financial hardship. The Qur'an (Surah 2:196) "Perform the pilgrimage and
the visit [to Mecca] for Allah". While performing the Hajj, Muslims must behave in a virtuous
manner that is set out in the Qur’an as: “So whoever intends to perform the Hajj therein, then he
should not have sexual relations, nor commit sin, nor dispute unjustly during the Hajj.” (Surah
Al-Baqarah 2:197), this is known as the Ihram.
The Council on Islamic Education states:
"The Hajj consists of several ceremonies, meant to symbolize the essential concepts of the
Islamic faith, and to commemorate the trials of prophet Abraham and his family...Prophet
Muhammad had said that a person who performs Hajj properly 'will return as a newly born baby
[free of all sins].' The pilgrimage also enables Muslims from all around the world, of different
colours, languages, races, and ethnicities, to come together in a spirit of universal brotherhood
and sisterhood to worship the One God together."
There are three basic pillars for performing Hajj:
1.To enter into state of “Ihram” and have the intention to perform the pilgrimage.
2.To stay at the field of “Arafat” on the ninth of Dul-Hajj If someone cannot go to the field of
Arafat even for a short time then his/her pilgrimage will not be complete. He/she has to perform
the pilgrimage again the following year.
3. Additional circling of the “Ka’ba” that is done after the stay at the field of “Arafat” and
performed from the tenth to the end of the month.
History
Hajj was made obligatory in the 9th year of Hijra. Muhammad sent 300 Muslims under the
leadership of Hazrat Abubakr Siddique to Mecca to perform the Hajj. It was this year that it was
banned for the Mushrikeen (those who associate partners with Allah) to enter Ka’ba. It was
also made unlawful to perform Tawaaf (circling of Ka’ba) with naked body.
The following year, 10th Hijra, Mohammad announced he himself would perform Hajj that year.
He led tens of thousands of Muslims to Hajj and demonstrated to Muslims how to perform all the
rites and rituals of the Hajj. This Hajj is known as Hajjatul Wida’ or Farewell Pilgrimage because
it was the last Hajj Muhammad performed.
Preparation for the Hajj
Before leaving for Hajj, a Muslim should pay any debts and seek forgiveness from fellow human
beings whom he/she might have caused harm in the past. He/she should also make sure that
he/she observes the Salat (five daily prayers) and Sawm (fasting) as well as carrying out other
religious obligations. He/she should also donate some money to charity.
Before approaching Mecca pilgrims pause at a Miqat or Meequat (a place where everyone
dresses in robes, usually two pieces of cloth, known as ihram). There are a number of sites of
miqat for people coming from various directions. Men signify the state of ihram by bathing, and
wearing two pieces of unsewn white cloth. Women usually wear a simple white dress and a
head covering, but not a veil. The white garments are symbolic of human equality and unity
before God, since all the pilgrims are dressed similarly. It is a reminder to be humble, and to be
satisfied with a life free from the distractions of possessions and earthly worries. The pilgrim will
then repeat the Talbiyah (Talbeeyah) prayer. One English translation is:
"Here I am, O God, at Thy Command! Here I am at Thy Command! Thou art without associate;
here I am at Thy Command! Thine are praise and grace and dominion! Thou art without
associate."
During the five days of Hajj, all Muslims engaged in this worship must remain in this same
simple dress. As soon as a pilgrim puts on Ihram and declares his intention to perform Hajj,
he/she enters into the state of Ihram and his/her Hajj begins.
Ritual description
Significance and belief
1st day (anytime before the 8th day of Dhul
Hajj): After reaching Mecca, one should head
straight to Ka’ba that is situated in bounds of
Masjid-el-Haram and perform Tawaaf. Tawaaf
is performed by going seven times around the
Ka’ba; the [cube-shaped] stone building,
keeping the Ka'ba on their left hand side
(counter clock-wise). It is said that when one
has his/her first glance at Ka’ba, whatever
prayers one makes is granted.
Muslims believe was originally built by
Abraham and his son Ishmael as ordered by
God.
The pilgrim enters the Holy Mosque at Mecca
(which houses Ka’ba), right foot first, and
recites the prayer: "In the name of Allah, may
peace and blessings be upon the Messenger
of Allah. Oh Allah, forgive me my sins and
open to me the doors of Your mercy. I seek
refuge in Allah the Almighty and in His
Eminent Face and in His Eternal Dominion
from the accursed Satan."
Ka’ba symbolises belief in one God, the God
of Abraham.
Pilgrims circle Ka’ba seven times as
Muhammad did. Seven is an important
symbolic number in the Islamic, Christian and
Jewish Scriptures- e.g. the seven-day creation
story.
It is a symbol of unity for Muslims because all
prayers, wherever they are performed, are
oriented in the direction of the Ka'ba.
2nd day (anytime before the 8th day of Dhul
Hajj): The pilgrim then performs the sa'i.
He/she hurries seven times between two small
hills near the Ka'ba, called Safa and Marwah.
This commemorates the desperate search for
water and food by Hagar, one of Abraham's
wives. Gabriel came to Hagar and with the tip
of his wing touched the ground and water
began to flow from the rock. This water is
called Zamzam water and the spring remains
to this day.
The 8th day of Dhul Hajj- travel to Mina- The
Hajj Begins, The Hajj formally begins on the
The pilgrims aim to retrace the exact footsteps
of Muhammad, and therefore stop and rest
eighth day of Dhul-Hijjah (Zul-Hijjah) - the 12th
month of the Muslim lunar calendar.
where he did in Mina.
Change into Ihram attire (see above). Pilgrims
travel to Mina and spend the night there before
they travel to Arafat.
The 9th day – Arafat.
The pilgrims spend the "Day of Arafah" (ninth
day of Dhul-Hijjah) in Arafah, an empty plain.
They use this time for prayer and reflection. In
the evening, they move to Muzdalifa. They
camp there until sunset and offer various
prayers.
Arafat is where Adam and Eve found each
other after exile from heaven. As everyone is
in Ihram and all look the same it is viewed as a
rehearsal for Judgement Day when all will be
judged.
After sunset- journey to Muzdallifa. They
collect stones for later for jumraat (stoning)
On the 10th day of Dhul-Hijjah, they return to
Mina. There are three stone pillars that mark
the spot where Abrham defied Satan. Pilgrims
throw seven pebbles at a pillar as Abraham
did.
In Islamic history, Abraham was asked to
sacrifice the life of his son Ishmael, not Isaac.
While on his way to sacrifice Ishmael, Satan
tried to tempt Abraham to disobey God. On
three occasions Abraham stoned Satan and
continued with God’s command. Pilgrims
stone the pillars to symbolise stoning Satan.
The stoning of Satan is also symbolic of
defying temptation.
11th Day: The pilgrims then sacrifice a sheep;
the meat is distributed to the poor.
This is to recall how Abraham sacrificed a
sheep that God had provided in place of his
son.
After the sheep has been slaughtered men
shave their heads and women cut a small part
of their hair.
Cutting the hair symbolises one being reborn
and purified.
The hair cutting symbolises the end of the hajj
and one can remove the Ihram and may now
wear regular cloths.
Return to Mecca and perform tawaf and sa’i
then come back to Mina.
12th and 13th days: Stoning of the pillars is
performed again.
13th day: pilgrims return to Mecca, they circle
Ka’ba again seven more times.
This signifies the conclusion of Hajj.
Hunting is forbidden during the pilgrimage days. A woman is not allowed to perform Hajj alone
and must be accompanied by an adult Muslim Mahram (father, husband, son or brother etc.)
Questions
1) Link 4 beliefs with the practice of the Hajj
2) Why is it important to perform the Hajj?
3) When is the Hajj performed?
4) What are reasons for not performing the Hajj?
5) What are you not allowed to do while performing the Hajj?
6) According to the quote from the Council of Islamic Education, what does a pilgrim gain
from the Hajj?
7) What must a person do prior to participating in the Hajj
8) Define the 7 words in bold above
9) Using one word or phrase outline the steps of the Hajj
10) List 3 ways the hajj is different for women and men.
Significance of the Hajj
1) Rejuvenated and Reborn
The Hajj allows the individual to be reborn and rejuvenated. The Hajj has several rituals and
rites that allow the pilgrim to defy Satan and gain redemption, reaffirm the belief in one God
and his prophets and strengthen their relationship with God by completing the rituals that
express the beliefs of Islam.
Pilgrims who return home talk about the experience as uplifting and spiritual. Their faith
strengthened by being on the very ground and reenacting the stories of the Islamic faith. As
Mohammad said those who return having completed the Hajj correctly do so free from sins.
2) A state of Ihram
Ihram means entering a pure state of mind in order to focus on nothing else but God. To
enter Ihram one must dress in simple white garb to avoid distractions like class, race etc.
and as a reminder to be humble before God. Ihram is about the intention to perform to Hajj
for the right reasons and for what it was intended. While on the Hajj the individual chants
their commitment to God.
3) Arafat
Muhammad said “Hajj is Arafat” (Hadith), highlighting the importance of Arafat. Pilgrims
make constant prayers and surrender to God. By surrendering to the will of God, one gains
peace of mind, knowing that God will give them what they need not what is desired. Being in
Arafat allows the pilgrims to devote themselves to God.
4) United in belief
Muslims from around the world all converge to perform the Hajj. It creates a brotherhood
among the Islamic community. They are united in the belief of one God and demonstrate a
unified stance before Allah. It reaffirms the belief in Islam that everyone is ‘brother and
sister’. The celebration of Eid Al Udha, by sacrificing a sheep and giving the meat to charity,
around the world demonstrates Muslims belief in one God and fulfills the fourth Pillar of
almsgiving (charity).
5) Fulfillment of the Pillars of Islam
Muslims believe that the Five Pillars of Islam are the duties of any Muslim and must be
performed correctly and appropriately. The hajj is the fifth Pillar and a Muslim gains peace of
mind knowing that that Pillar has been carried out and their duty fulfilled.
Questions:
1) What rituals allow the pilgrim to defy Satan, and reaffirm a belief in one God?
2) Do you think that children should perform the Hajj? Why/why not?
3) People return from the Hajj and feel very spiritual and for a period of time act and think in
a religious way. However sometimes they return to their old sinful ways. Do you think
that the Hajj has been performed correctly or with the right intention? Should that
person perform the Hajj again?
4) Are performing rituals enough to gain redemption and salvation?