HAJJ:-

The Hajj or haj is one of the largest annually occurring pilgrimages in the world, and one of the five
pillars of Islam, a religious duty that must be carried out by every able-bodied Muslim who can
afford to do so at least once in his or her lifetime. The state of being physically and financially
capable of performing the Hajj is called istita'ah and a Muslim who fulfils this condition is called a
mustati. The Hajj is a demonstration of the solidarity of the Muslim people, and their submission to
God. The pilgrimage occurs from the 8th to 12th Dhu al-Hijjah, the 12th and last month of the
Islamic calendar. Because the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, eleven days shorter than the
Gregorian calendar used in the Western world, the Gregorian date of the Hajj changes from year
to year. Ihram is the name given to the special spiritual state in which Muslims live while on the
pilgrimage. The Hajj is associated with the life of the Islamic prophet Muhammad from the 7th
century, but the ritual of pilgrimage to Mecca is considered by Muslims to stretch back thousands
of years to the time of Abraham. Pilgrims join processions of hundreds of thousands of people,
who simultaneously converge on Mecca for the week of the Hajj, and perform a series of rituals:
Each person walks counter-clockwise seven times around the Ka'aba, the cube-shaped building
which acts as the Muslim direction of prayer, runs back and forth between the hills of Al-Safa and
Al-Marwah, drinks from the Zamzam Well, goes to the plains of Mount Arafat to stand in vigil, and
throws stones in a ritual. The pilgrims then shave their heads, perform a ritual of animal sacrifice,
and celebrate the three day global festival of Eid al-Adha.

What is the purpose of the Hajj?

The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, and all able-bodied Muslims are required to
perform it once in their lifetime. The Hajj is seen as a chance to wipe clean past sins and start
fresh. Many seek to deepen their faith on the Hajj, with some women taking on the Islamic hair
covering known as “hijab” upon returning.

Despite the physical challenges of the Hajj, many people rely on canes or crutches and insist on
walking the routes. Those who cannot afford the Hajj are sometimes financed by charities or
community leaders. Others save their entire lives to make the journey. A few even walk
thousands of miles by foot to Saudi Arabia, taking months to arrive.

?What is the history of the Hajj?

While following a route the Prophet Muhammad once walked, the rites of Hajj are believed to
ultimately trace the footsteps of the prophets Ibrahim and Ismail, or Abraham and Ishmael as
they are named in the Bible.
Muslims believe Ibrahim’s faith was tested when God commanded him to sacrifice his only
son Ismail. Ibrahim was prepared to submit to the command, but then God stayed his hand,
sparing his son. In the Christian and Jewish version of the story, Abraham is ordered to kill his
other son, Isaac.

Pilgrims also trace the path of Ibrahim’s wife, Hagar, who Muslims believe ran between two
hills seven times searching for water for her dying son. Tradition holds that God then brought
forth a spring that runs to this day. That spring, known as the sacred well of Zamzam, is
believed to possess healing powers, and pilgrims often return from the Hajj with bottles of its
water as gifts.

Why is the Kaaba so important to Muslims?

Islamic tradition holds that the Kaaba was built by Ibrahim and Ismail as a house of
monotheistic worship thousands of years ago. Over the years, the Kaaba was reconstructed and
attracted different kinds of pilgrims, including early Christians who once lived in the Arabian
Peninsula. In pre-Islamic times, the Kaaba was used to house pagan idols worshipped by local
tribes.

Muslims do not worship the Kaaba, but it is Islam’s most sacred site because it represents the
metaphorical house of God and the oneness of God in Islam. Observant Muslims around the
world face toward the Kaaba during their five daily prayers.

Muslim pilgrims walk toward the Grand Mosque to ofMuslim pilgrims walk toward the Grand Mosque
to offer prayers ahead of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia,
Aug. 18, 2018.The annual Islamic pilgrimage draws millions of visitors each year.

?What are the rituals performed during the Hajj?

Pilgrims enter into a state of spiritual purity known as “ihram” that is aimed at shedding
symbols of materialism, giving up worldly pleasures and focusing on the inner self over
outward appearance.

Women forgo makeup and perfume and wear loose-fitting clothing and a head covering, while
men dress in seamless, white terrycloth garments. The white garments are forbidden to contain
any stitching, a restriction meant to emphasize the equality of all Muslims and prevent
wealthier pilgrims from differentiating themselves with more elaborate garments.

Muslims are forbidden from engaging in sexual intercourse, cutting their hair or trimming nails
while in ihram. It is also forbidden for pilgrims to argue, fight or lose their tempers during the
Hajj. Inevitably, though, the massive crowds and physical exhaustion of the journey test
pilgrims’ patience and tolerance.

The first day of Hajj

The Hajj traditionally begins in Mecca, with a smaller “umrah” pilgrimage that can be
performed year-round. To perform the umrah, Muslims circle the Kaaba counter-clockwise
seven times while reciting supplications to God, then walk between the two hills traveled by
Hagar. Mecca’s Grand Mosque, the world’s largest, encompasses the Kaaba and the two hills.

Before heading to Mecca, many pilgrims visit the city of Medina, where the Prophet
Muhammad is buried and where he built his first mosque.

The second day of Hajj

After spending the night in the massive valley of Mina, the pilgrims head to Mount Arafat,
some 20 kilometers (12 miles) east of Mecca, for the pinnacle of the pilgrimage.

They scale a hill called Jabal al-Rahma, or Mountain of Mercy. It is here where Muhammad
delivered his final sermon, calling for equality and for Muslim unity. He reminded his
followers of women’s rights and that every Muslim life and property is sacred.

Around sunset, pilgrims head to an area called Muzdalifa, 9 kilometers (5.5 miles) west of
Arafat. Many walk, while others use buses. They spend the night there and pick up pebbles
along the way that will be used in a symbolic stoning of the devil back in Mina, where
Muslims believe the devil tried to talk Ibrahim out of submitting to God’s will.

The final three days of Hajj

The last three days of the Hajj are marked by three events: a final circling of the Kaaba, casting
stones in Mina and removing the ihram. Men often shave their heads at the end in a sign of
renewal.

The final days of Hajj coincide with Eid al-Adha, or the festival of sacrifice, celebrated by
Muslims around the world to commemorate Ibrahim’s test of faith. During the three-day Eid,
Muslims slaughter livestock and distribute the meat to the poor.

Importance of Hajj (Pilgrimage)-The Fifth Pillar of Islam

The Hajj (Pilgrimage) is one of the five pillars of Islam and is considered one of the greatest religious
duties. In the Holy Quran, Allah Almighty says: “It is on people for the sake of Allah to perform Hajj
of his house, anyone who is able to undertake the journey to him” (Quran, 2:196). Muslims who
are physically and financially capable required performing it once in their lifetime. The Hajj is a
chance to wipe clean past sins and start fresh or new life with deepens faith. As we all know that the
season of Hajj is approaching. Millions of Muslims are preparing to gather in⁸ Makah and the sacred
places to respond to Allah’s invitation to visit His House. The invitation of Hajj first announced by
Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and then renewed by last Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
Importance of Hajj (Pilgrimage) can be understood by this that Allah Almighty made it one of the five
pillars of Islam. Hajj should take place in its final month, Zilhajj. The importance of Hajj in Islam has
mentioned in the Quran and hadith several times. However, in order to perform Hajj in the month of
Zilhajj, it is really necessary for Muslims to have enough alms or assistance and the means of
expenditure before taking this journey into consideration. In many occasions, Allah (SWT) has
mentioned the importance of Hajj in Islam.

Hajj (Pilgrimage) is made to the Kaaba, found in the sacred city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, the
‘House of Allah,’ whose sanctity rests in that the Prophet Ibrahim (AS) built it for the worship of Allah
Almighty as commanded by Allah (SWT). Allah rewarded Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) by associating the
House to Himself, in essence honoring it, and by making it the devotional focal point which all
Muslims face when offering the Salah. Hajj is considered one of the best deeds that a Muslim can
perform in his life. Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated that: “Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was asked which
deed is the best. He (SAW) said, “Belief in Allah and His messenger”. He (SAW) was asked, then
what? He (PBUH) said, “Jihad for the sake of Allah”. He (SAW) was asked, then what? He (PBUH)
said, “An accepted Hajj.”(Bukhari)
One of the most beautiful and greatest gifts and rewards that Allah (SWT) has promised to grant His
people during Hajj is the utter forgiveness of all sins. This is perhaps the most a Muslim can pray
and hope for during supplication. Allah Almighty earnestly promised to grant the wishes of Prophet
Muhammad’s (SAW) troubled Ummah during the rituals of Hajj. Our beloved Prophet Muhammad
(SAW) stated that: “Whoever performs Hajj, only for the sake of Allah (God) and does not have
sexual relations with his wife (during Hajj), and does not do evil or commit sins, then he will
return [after Hajj free from all sins] as if he were born anew.”(Bukhari)
The Hajj (pilgrimage) unites the Muslims of the world into international kinship. More than two
million Muslims around the world perform the Hajj each year, and the rite serves as a unifying force
in Islam by bringing followers of diverse backgrounds together in worship. The Hajj (pilgrimage) is a
manifestation of the belief in the unity of Allah Almighty in which all the pilgrims worship and obey
the commands of the One Lord included.
In short, the Hajj (pilgrimage) is very important it removes our sins and in exchange Allah (SWT)
gives rewards to pilgrims. Whoever performs Hajj with the clean intention for only the sake of Allah
Almighty, Allah definitely accepts his Hajj. May Almighty Allah give us all the chance to offer Hajj
once in a life! Ameen