Introduction
to Hajj
The fourth Pillar of Islam is the
pilgrimage to Makkah and its surroundings known as Hajj. All Muslims are
obligated to make Hajj once in their lifetimes if they can afford it and are
otherwise able to do so.
The Hajj is made from the eighth to the twelfth
of the Islamic month of Dhul-Hijjah. In 2004, this corresponds to 30 January to
4 February.
Muslims travel from all over the
world to perform Hajj. The rituals are themselves simple, but the amount of
walking necessary, the hot climate, and the crowds make the Hajj a rigorous
exercise in faith. Still, between 2 and 3 million people perform Hajj every
year, and millions more yearn to do so.
To perform the Hajj, pilgrims
enter a state of consecration known as ihram. In this state they may not clip
their nails, cut or pluck any hair, or have any sort of sexual contact. Male
pilgrims wear special clothes consisting of two seamless strips of cloth, one
covering the back and shoulders, the other covering from the waist to the knees.
Female pilgrims can wear ordinary clothing that covers everything but the face
and hands.
The rituals of Hajj date back to the time of Prophet Ibrahim
(Abraham) and commemorate his willingness to sacrifice his only son, Isma`il
(Ishmael). During the days of Hajj, the pilgrims attempt to forget all but their
most basic worldly needs and to focus their attention and devotion on Allah
Alone.
Upon arriving in Makkah, the pilgrims first circumambulate the
Ka`bah seven times in a ritual known as Tawaf. This ritual reminds the pilgrims
that Allah (God) should be the focus and center of their lives.
The next
ritual is Sa`i, which is walking back and forth seven times between the hillocks
named Safa and Marwah. This commemorates the search for water made by Hajar
(Hagar) when Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham—peace be upon him) left her and her infant
son Isma`il (Ishmael—peace be upon him) in the desert.
On 8 Dhul-Hijjah,
pilgrims head to Mina, where they spend the day supplicating Allah. Early the
next morning they go to `Arafah (or `Arafat). They spend the day supplicating
Allah and begging for His forgiveness. Many stand on the Mount of Mercy to
supplicate, though this is not necessary. When the sun sets on the Day of
`Arafah, the pilgrims’ sins are forgiven.
After sunset the pilgrims move
on to Muzdalifah, where they spend the night and collect pebbles to be used in
the next ritual.
The next morning, 10 Dhul-Hijjah, is the Day of
Sacrifice. Most pilgrims slaughter a sheep or goat, and the meat is distributed
to the poor. (Muslims who are not on Hajj also slaughter that day, which is
known as `Eid Al-Adha.) The ritual commemorates Ibrahim’s willingness to
sacrifice his son Isma`il (peace be upon them both) and Allah’s provision of a
ram as a substitute sacrifice.
But before slaughtering, the pilgrims go
to throw pebbles at the stone pillars known as Al-Jamarat. This ritual
commemorates Ibrahim’s stoning of Satan when the latter tried to tempt him to
disobey Allah.
After this, the pilgrims cut or shave their hair (women
cut off only a small amount) and return to Makkah to repeat Tawaf and Sa`i. They
sleep at Mina and repeat the stoning of the pillars on the next two days. A
final Tawaf before leaving Makkah completes the Hajj.
Many pilgrims also
go to Madinah before or after Hajj in order to pray in the Prophet’s Mosque and
visit his grave, although this visit to Madinah is not necessary.
The
above is only a summary. There is some variation in the performance of Hajj,
depending on whether the individual pilgrim chooses to also perform `Umrah
(often known as the lesser pilgrimage) beforehand and whether this will be while
in one prolonged state of ihram or two separate ones for `Umrah and Hajj