Five Pillars (3)

The Hãjj (Pilgrimage)

Hajj is held in Makkah (Arabia) every year. Muslims go to hajj once in a lifetime if they can afford to do so. Tradition has it that the Ka'ba was first built by Adam. Prophet Abraham and his son Ismail rebuilt the first place dedicated to the worship of Allah. It is a cube shaped structure made from granite stone, covered with a black cloth inscribed with verses from the Qur'an. The covering is renewed every year. It is believed that just outside Makkah prophet Adam and his wife Eve met for the first time on earth on the mount of Arafat after having been expelled from paradise. The plain of Arafat is where Muslims gather on the day of Hajj. The rituals of Hajj are intended to remind pilgrims of the cycle of life from the beginning to the end. The gathering at Arafat, therefore, also symbolises the gathering on the day of judgment.

Preparation for Hãjj

Before Muslims go to Hajj they must be prepared and have no outstanding debts, responsibilities, or unfinished duties. The whole concept of Hajj is as if one was prepared to meet their maker in death. Very simple clothing is worn during the pilgrimage, women cover from head to toe exposing only their faces, hands and feet. Men wear two pieces of un-sewn cloth like the shroud which they would be buried in. One piece is wrapped around the hip; the other piece is worn over the right shoulder exposing the left. This is called the 'Ihram', and is usually put on at specific entry places into the vicinity of Makkah.

During Hãjj

While performing pilgrimage the Muslim is not allowed to harm any wildlife or growth in the sacred environment. They are also not permitted to trim their hair or nails. The rituals of Hajj take approximately a week, but can be expedited to be accomplished in three days. To see the route the pilgrims (hajji) take during Hajj, the diagram below shows the sequence of events and places they must visit.

Ka'ba

When the pilgrims arrive at the Ka'ba they pray, at this time they enter a state of equality where all people are equal, whether a rich man or a poor man there is no difference between them. Both circle the Ka'ba anti-clockwise seven times chanting prayers. Muslims are devoted to their prayers asking for Allah's mercy, forgiveness and guidance to do right.

Safa / Marwa

The pilgrims then move on to the two mountains of Safa and Marwa, walking or running from one tip of the mountain to the other seven times. (for a broader understanding of this ritual see the story of prophet Abraham)

Mina

Mina is where pilgrims gather in preparation of the pilgrimage. Most will have already done their first Umrah (the rituals related to the visit of the Kaabah as described above, but some will start their Hajj from Mina and prepare to go Arafat). They will later return to Mina for the day of Eid (festival) and the "stoning of the devil".

Arafat

The day of Arafat is the day of Hajj where Muslims spend the whole day in devotional prayers and listen to a sermon. It is said that there is no day when Allah is more likely to listen to prayers than the day of Arafat. Those who are not on pilgrimage like to spend the day fasting.

Muzdalifa

From Arafat pilgrims proceed in the afternoon to Muzdalifah, where they spend the night and gather pebbles for the "stoning of the devil" at the end of Hajj in Mina.

Mina

from the command to sacrifice his son Ismail. In commemoration of Allah's mercy of allowing Abraham to ransom the sacrifice of his son with the slaughter of a ram, Muslims sacrifice animals at Mina in completion of the Hajj. Nowadays, however, most pilgrims pay appointed officials to do the slaughter for them, and the meet is then immediately loaded onto refrigeration trucks for distribution to the poor. After completion of these rituals the pilgrims may take off the Ihram and put on ordinary clothes. This is the day when all over the world Muslims celebrate the festival of sacrifice "Id al-Adha" (see festivals). The pilgrims pay another visit to the Ka'ba and, unless they are in a hurry, spend another two days at Mina stoning the devil.

Madina

After a final farewell visit to the Ka'ba, pilgrims can go back home, but it is customary that they first travel to Madinah to pay a visit to the mosque and the tomb of prophet Muhammad pbuh. Amongst the most treasured gifts they will bring back with them for their friends and families are dates from Madinah and water from the well of Zamzam. Zamzam is the water from a spring in Makkah which is responsible for its cultivation and prosperity. The running between Safa and Marwah is in commemoration of Ismail's mother Hajar searching for water in the desert around Makkah until she was blessed with the water of Zamzam.