the hajj pilgrimage to mecca
The Hajj: Pilgrimage to Mecca
The Hajj is one of the largest annual pilgrimages in the world, which every Muslim must follow, in order to fulfill the obligations towards this religion. The following article provides some information about its origin and significance.
- The Ihram: As soon as the pilgrims arrive at the boundary of Mecca, they enter the state of Ihram or purity. In this state, men wear two white and seamless sheets of clothes that cover their bodies, and a pair of sandals. Women are expected to wear the modest hijab, which would leave their hands and faces uncovered. This ritual also reinforces equality of all, in the eyes of God, by removing any external indicator of cultural or financial differences.
- The Umrah: On the first day of this pilgrimage, the Hajjis (the pilgrims), offer their fist Tawaf, which is the act of walking around the Kabah, seven times in anticlockwise direction, and kissing the Black Stone after each round. After this, on the same day, the pilgrims walk between the hills of Safa and Marwah, seven times as an imitation of the act of Hagar who frantically searched for water for her thirsty son. They also drink the holy water from the Zamzam Well, which is believed to have been revealed to Hagar by an angel.
- Travel to Arafat and Muzdalifah: The pilgrims spend the second day in Mina. On the third day, they reach Arafat, where they recite the Holy Quran near Mount Arafat, from where Prophet Muhammad is supposed to have preached his last sermon. Known as the Wuquf, this ritual is believed to be the most important aspect of the Hajj. As soon as the sun sets, the pilgrims leave for Muzdalifah, where they collect stones for the next ritual in Mina.
- Ramy al-Jamarat: At Mina, the pilgrims perform Ramy al-Jamarat, which is also known as the "stoning of the Devil", wherein they throw seven pebbles at the pillars erected in Mina. This act signifies the refusal of Abraham to listen to the Devil, who tried to dissuade him from sacrificing his son to God.
- Eid al-Adha: After the Ramy al-Jamarat, the Hajjis sacrifice an animal to God in remembrance of the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son Ismael. It is believed that just as Abraham was going to behead his son, God replaced him with a ram.
- The Last Tawafs: On the 11th day, the pilgrims perform another Tawaf az-Ziyarah at the holy mosque in Mecca. At afternoon, they again throw seven pebbles at the pillars in Mina. On the twelfth day, before leaving Mecca, the Hajjis perform the Tawaf al-Wada which is the last Tawaf.