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The Hajj –information

Hajj -introduction

Here are some facts about the Hajj                       

 

١        The Hajj is the yearly Muslim Pilgrimage (Religious Journey). It takes place between 8-13 Dhul-Hijjah (the name for the last month of the Muslim year). If it takes place at any other time it is called Umrah and is considered not so important.

٢        Every Muslim is expected to go on Hajj once in their lives but only if their family will not suffer hardship as a result. Each person must prayerfully prepare for the Hajj because a pilgrim’s time will be spent performing certain important religious tasks.

٣        Pilgrims must not argue or swear and must not kill any living thing.

٤        Ihram is the special dress code worn by men at this time -two sheets of cotton, one worn on the bottom half of the body, the other worn over the left shoulder. Women dress normally but must also cover their hair. Women are allowed to have their faces uncovered because all pilgrims are supposed to have pure thoughts and actions at this time. Everyone dresses alike: no perfume, jewellery or shoes (except perhaps sandals) are allowed. People may carry umbrellas to shield themselves from the sun. But cutting hair or nails is disallowed - all thoughts must be only on Allah.

٥         Men who have completed the Hajj are called Hajji, women Hajjah. The Hajj is an individual experience that takes place in a huge crowd of people. People go on Hajj to ‘meet’ Allah -Muslims believe if the Hajj is performed in the right frame of mind a pilgrim can gain forgiveness for everything they have done in their life.

 

What Happens?
Text Box: Most Muslims fly to Jeddah (the nearby big city) and then travel on to Makkah by bus or car. Before approaching Makkah they should take a bath and be clean, physically and symbolically.

Text Box: The Ka’ba

 

1st day. (8th Dhul-Hijjah) When they get to Makkah, pilgrims go first to the Great Mosque which contains the Ka’bah -the big cube shaped building at the centre of the Great Mosque. They will circle it (this action is called tawaf) and try to touch it but if they can’t then they will raise their hands towards it. After they have done this they will go to Maqam (Ibrahim’s place) which is close to the Ka’bah. Then they hurry between two small hills not far from the Ka’bah. Today these are linked by a broad corridor. They must do this walk seven times. The Well of Zamzam is believed to be holy and pilgrims may sometimes collect water here to take home for their friends and family. After this the pilgrims walk to the valley of Mina and spend their first night camped there.    

 
Text Box: 2nd day. (9th Dhul-Hijjah) Pilgrims usually travel to the Plain of Arafat (about 20 kilometres from Makkah) to ‘stand before Allah’ from midday to sunset. This is known as wuquf. Here they ask Allah to forgive them all their sins. After sunset the pilgrims move on to Muzdalifah for prayers and to spend the night

 

The corridor which links

the two hills
Text Box: The corridor which links the two hills 3rd day.  (10th Dhul-Hijjah) Pilgrims celebrate the last of the hajj requirements, Eid-al-Adha, the ‘feast of the sacrifice’.First they say communal prayers, leave Muzdalifah and move back to Mina where they throw pebbles at three stone pillars which represent Satan.
Text Box: After this most pilgrims sacrifice an animal, usually a sheep, a goat, or a camel. This must be done properly with special prayers. Some of the meat is eaten and rest is given to the poor.

 

4th-6th days. (11th-13th Dhul-Hijjah) Pilgrims may stay on at Mina for two or three days after Eid-al-Adha and then go back to Makkah to make a final circuit of the Ka’bah before returning home. Some may go on to Masjid al-Nabawi, the Prophet’s mosque and tomb, in Medina or even go on to Jerusalem to go to the al-Aqsa mosque.

 

Some Questions

1.     

The Black Stone
Text Box: The Black Stone What is wuquf?

2.      How are pilgrims expected to behave on pilgrimage?

3.      What do pilgrims do when they get to the Ka’bah?

4.      What do Muslims believe will happen if they perform the Hajj properly?

5.      What special clothes do Muslims wear on pilgrimage? Why do they wear them?

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