Why do those millions of people gather yearly around in Makkah in Saudi Arabia at that time of the year? How is pilgrimage done in Islam? And Why is it so important for Muslims?
In this article, we shed that light on such common inquiries and more.
Here we will learn the following:
Hajj In A Nutshell
Hajj in Arabic means pilgrimage. It is a life-transformative journey to the holy city “Makkah” in the month of “Dhul-Hijjah” (the 12th month in the Islamic calendar.), in which more than two million Muslims do specific Hajj rituals according to the Quran and Sunnah. Similar to other forms of religion, the Hajj involves the soul, mind, and body in the worship of Allah.
Given its significance, it is regarded as the fifth pillar of Islam. Every Muslim, male or female, is therefore required to perform the Hajj, if they have the financial and physical means to do so at least once in their lives. Hajj is all about leaving the concerns and trappings of this world behind to get closer to Allah in a unique environment where one exercises the high principles, values and objectives of Islam.
What do Muslims do on a hajj ?
The hajj consists of many steps with many details. However, in the context of this article, we will just go quickly through some of main steps:
1- Circumnavigation of Kaaba “Tawaf”
Tawaf is one of the main rites of the pilgrimage and refers to walking in circles around the Kaaba in an anti-clockwise motion. One Tawaf consists of seven complete circuits, with each one starting and ending at the black stone, which is situated within the Kaaba.
It has a profound message: Muslims should act in a manner that is consistent with the lovely symphony of obedience, just as electrons revolve around the nucleus and the sun revolves around the earth in total surrender to the commands of the Creator.
Read: Do Muslims worship The Kabba abd The Black Stone?
2- Safa and Marwa hills.
After performing Tawaf, pilgrim will then perform what is known as Sa’i (walking and running between the two hills of Safa and Marwa). He/she begins the Sa’i on the hill of Safa and walk towards the hill of Marwa. This completes one lap.
The pilgrim will then return to Safa to complete the second lap till seventh lap. This is an important ritual in memory of Prophet Ibrahim’s (AS) wife Hajar, and her struggle in the desert in search of water for her son Prophet Isma’il (AS). Sa’i symbolises the ongoing struggle that we encounter throughout our lives, as Hajar experienced herself.
3- Standing on the Mount of “Arafat”
The most important ritual of the Hajj is the “Day of the Standing,” when Muslims gather on the Plain of Arafat, and recite prayers from noon to sundown. The ceremony is intended to grant the Muslims absolution from their sins, and if the ritual is missed a pilgrim fails to complete the Hajj.
Around the world, it is recommended for Muslims, who did not attend the hajj, to fast on this day. The Mount of the Arafat was where the beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW) delivered the final sermon.
4- Rami (Stoning the Devil)
Pilgrims perform the act of Rami by stoning the Jamraat al-Aqabah. Seven stones are thrown at the column structure. The stoning of Jamrat is performed in the memory of the act of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) when the devil tried discouraging him from following Allah (SWT) command. In reply, Prophet Ibrahim (AS) threw small pebbles to make the devil go away.
5- Nahr
After the completion of Rami, on 12th Dhul-Hijjah, Muslim pilgrims are advised to perform the sacrifice of an animal; it can be a camel or lamb. The meat of the sacrificed animal should be distributed to the needy.
Read:
6- Halq and Taqsir
Halq means shaving the head, while Taqsir means shortening or clipping of hair. After performing the sacred sacrifice, men pilgrims are advised to get their heads completely shaved or clipped. While forbidden to shave their heads, women are advised to get a strand or lock of their hairs chopped. The act of Halq and Taqsir symbolizes a Muslim’s complete devotion to Allah (SWT) and detachment from worldly appearances.
Read: How to perfom Hajj?
Why Do Muslims For On Hajj?
Muslims go on Hajj because simply it is an order from God, as per Chapter 2:
وَأَتِمُّوا۟ ٱلْحَجَّ وَٱلْعُمْرَةَ لِلَّهِ
“Complete the pilgrimage (Hajj) and minor pilgrimage (Umrah) for Allah…”
[Quran 2:196]
And according to Chapter 3:
إِنَّ أَوَّلَ بَيْتٍۢ وُضِعَ لِلنَّاسِ لَلَّذِى بِبَكَّةَ مُبَارَكًۭا وَهُدًۭى لِّلْعَـٰلَمِينَ فِيهِ ءَايَـٰتٌۢ بَيِّنَـٰتٌۭ مَّقَامُ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ ۖ وَمَن دَخَلَهُۥ كَانَ ءَامِنًۭا ۗ وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ حِجُّ ٱلْبَيْتِ مَنِ ٱسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًۭا ۚ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَنِىٌّ عَنِ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
“Surely the first House ˹of worship˺ established for humanity is the one at Bakkah—a blessed sanctuary and a guide for ˹all˺ people. In it are clear signs and the standing-place of Abraham. Whoever enters it should be safe. Pilgrimage to this House is an obligation by Allah upon whoever is able among the people. And whoever disbelieves, then surely Allah is not in need of ˹any of His˺ creation.
[Quran 3:96-97]
Moreover, there are many benefits for the Hajj journey on the level of individual and community. Hajj is a unique opportunity for faith renewal and repentance to God, during which the Muslim trains himself on good manners like patience, sacrifice, generosity and punctuality.
In addition, he exert his efforts to stay away from sins, spending long days in righteous deeds like praising God, praying, studying the Quran, fasting and making other hajj rites. He purifies himself from evil traits like selfishness and greed by making sacrifices and giving out their meat among the poor at the end of hajj.
At this multinational gathering, Muslims from various nations interact and get to know one another. They remind themselves that God views them equally and that the only criterion for differentiation between human beings is piety.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَـٰكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍۢ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَـٰكُمْ شُعُوبًۭا وَقَبَآئِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَتْقَىٰكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌۭ
“O humanity! Indeed, We created you from a male and a female, and made you into peoples and tribes so that you may ˹get to˺ know one another. Surely the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous among you. Allah is truly All-Knowing, All-Aware.”
[Quran 49:13]
Interestingly, Muslims can trade during this journey, which shows how Islam provides beautiful balance between our spiritual and materialistic needs. (You can explore the rewards and benefits of hajj in details in this article
How does Muslims prepare for hajj ?
Overall, a balanced approach and positive attitude will be the Muslims’ best friends during this trip. The ingredients of a successful Hajj are preparation before the journey, extra patience during the trip, and sincere effort towards improving yourself after the journey.
Keeping the following steps in mind, they should remember to continuously ask Allah to help them in the journey. He alone can make the difficult easy and without His help we are lost.
1- Physical Preparation:
- Gathering needed supplies in order not to forget anything.
- Writing down a few supplications to memorize or repeat frequently. Also, they can write down some notes or reflections that will help preserve the experience.
2- Spiritual and Mental Preparation
- Reading notes and articles about Hajj rites ahead of time to get in the proper spiritual frame of mind.
- Knowing what to expect and setting the expectations
- Evaluating oneself before leaving for Hajj. As one experienced Hajji stated, “Look at your personal weaknesses and flaws. Make repentance from all the sins you are committing and all the weaknesses you have. Do not go to Hajj with the intention of continuing on any known sin when you return. Your intention needs to be that you will discontinue it and fight it.”
Read: What are the pillars of Hajj?
How do Muslims dress for the hajj?
The hajj’s first rite is wearing ihram. The ihram is a white seamless garment made up of two pieces of cloth or toweling; one covers the body from waist down past the knees, and the other is thrown over the shoulder. This garb was worn by both Abraham and Muhammad. Women dress as they usually do. Men’s heads must be uncovered; both men and women may use an umbrella.
The ihram is a symbol of purity and simplicity. It also indicates the equality of all people in the eyes of Allah. When the pilgrim wears his white apparel, he or she enters into a state of purity that prohibits quarreling, committing violence to man or animal and having conjugal relations.
Once he puts on his Hajj clothes the pilgrim cannot shave, cut his nails or wear any perfume, and he will keep his unsown garment on until he completes the pilgrimage. To know more about Ihram, refer to this article about Ihram.
The Story of Hajj
While Hajj is something that was taught to Muslims by the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), its origin actually dates back to the teachings of another of Islam’s beloved Prophets, Ibrahim (AS) (which means upon him be peace), thousands of years before.
The Hajj, which Muslims still perform today, was first performed by the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) in the year 628 CE during the month of Dhul-Hijjah. However, Dhul-Hijjah was also a sacred month for the pagan Arabs in pre-Islamic Arabia.
During this month, fighting was forbidden for the Arabs, and they also made pilgrimage to the Kaaba – the cubic like structure in the Holy Mosque (Masjid al-Haram), that at the time was being used to house the Arabs’ pagan idols.
It is known today by Muslims as Baitullah, or ‘the House of God’. It plays an important part in the rites of Hajj but is ultimately a mosque and not something that Muslims worship. In fact, the Kaaba was built by Ibrahim (AS), or Prophet Abraham, thousands of years earlier by the command of Allah (SWT) – it is because of Ibrahim (AS) that Muslims perform Hajj. For more Kaaba, check this article:xxx)
Conclusion
Every year millions of Muslims from around the world pour into Makkah on the lifetime spiritual journey of Hajj, where one meets Allah in the context of matchless diverse and multicultural meetings. It is a great favor Allah (glory be to Him) has bestowed upon His Servants so that they can draw closer to Him and have their sins forgiven. Prophet Muhammad (saw) indicated:
: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسلم: «مِنْ حَجَّ فَلَمْ يَرْفُثْ وَلَمْ يَفْسُقْ رَجَعَ كَيَوْمِ وَلَدَتْهُ أمه
“If anyone performs the pilgrimage for God’s sake without talking immodestly or acting wickedly, he will return [free from sin] as on the day his mother bore him.”
[Hadith].
It is now easy to see that for two or three months, from the time of deciding and preparing for Hajj to the time of returning home, a tremendous impact is made on the hearts and minds of pilgrims. This process entails sacrifice of time, sacrifice of money, sacrifice of comfort, and sacrifice of many physical desires and pleasures- and all this simply for the sake of Allah, with no worldly or selfish motive.
Together with a life of sustained piety and virtuousness, the constant remembrance of Allah and the longing and love for Him in the pilgrim leave a mark on his heart, which lasts for years. The pilgrim witnesses at every step the imprints left by those who sacrificed everything of theirs in submission and obedience to Allah.
They fought against the whole world, suffered hardships and tortures, were condemned to banishment, but ultimately did make the word of Allah supreme and did subdue the false powers that wanted man to submit to entities other than Allah.
