One of the five pillars of islam is the hajj, which is performed by millions of muslims worldwide each year.
The 12th month of the islamic calendar, Dhul Hijjah, is when the hajj pilgrimage takes place in Makkah.
Every follower of Islam is required to participate in the hajj pilgrimage once in their life, provided they have the means to do so economically and health-wise, as stated in Islam following Prophet Muhammad’s last pilgrimage in 632 AD. One can make multiple trips in their lifetime as long as they are sincerely seeking Allah’s (SWT) satisfaction, which means “the most glorious, the highest.”
Hajj is not a mere religious duty, but also an important obligation. The lasting journey lasts for five days, beginning on the 8th Dhul Hijjah and concluding on the 12th Dhul Hijjah. Pilgrims travel to the holy Kaaba to participate in a ritual with pilgrims in traditions before Islam and endorsed by the prophet Muhammad (PBUH). They follow his footsteps, witness his exploits, and emulate his actions. Upon finishing their travels, pilgrims are frequently tired yet rejuvenated and experience a stronger connection to god. According to the prophet (PBUH), individuals who finish hajj will return without any sins, similar to when they were born.
The steps involved in carrying out hajj are outlined here.
Day 1: intent and ihram
The first stage of hajj involves creating Health And Fitness Flow genuine intention and putting on the ihram, a sacred state for travelers, upon reaching the boundaries of Makkah, called Miqat.
Pilgrims start wearing ihram on the 8th day of dhul hijjah, with men putting on two plain white unstitched clothes and women dressing in loose fitting garments, along with following guidelines such as refraining from getting angry and avoiding sexual activity.
Following this, pilgrims then go on to complete tawaf by circling the Kaaba seven times counterclockwise, followed by Sa’ee, which involves running between the Safa and Marwa hills, and finally drinking from the zamzam well. . Following this, pilgrims make their way to Mina, a distance of 8k, either on foot or by bus. The pilgrims will remain in Mina for the day, leaving the next morning at dawn. The majority of time in Mina is dedicated to prayer and commemorating Allah.
Day 2: A day on Arafat
The day of Arafat holds great importance in hajj and the Islamic calendar. During the pilgrimage, pilgrims travel 15km from Mina to Mount Mercy to participate in Wuquf, standing in front of Allah from noon until sunset. This location is considered sacred as it is where Prophet Muhammad (SWT) gave his final sermon. A large number of Muslims worldwide are likely to fast on this particular day.
Following nightfall, pilgrims head to Muzdalifah, which is located 11km away, to camp under the sky and gather 49 pebbles for the rituals of the next day.
Day 3: Nahr and stoning the devil (rami)
The 10th day of Dhul Hijjah, known as yawm-ul-hajj al-akbar (the big hajj day) during hajj, is regarded as the lengthiest and most treacherous day of the journey. This day is also referred to as Eid al-Adha, a day where Muslims celebrate the holiday and sacrifice animals like goats, cows or sheep etc.
Pilgrims commence their day in Muzdakifah and start making their way towards Mina before sunrise. Upon reaching Mina, they engage in the first rami by throwing seven pebbles at the biggest of three pillars called jamarat.
This ceremony symbolizes the act of stoning the devil in accordance with historical customs. According to the story, God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son to show his faith. It is believed that in this location in Mina, the devil showed up and attempted to convince Abraham not to follow the command. Abraham reached by hurling rocks to frighten him away.
Following the act of throwing their stones, pilgrims are required to carry out the sacrifice. Finishing the tale, Abraham discovered a ram placed there by God to be sacrificed instead of his son.
Pilgrims also offer an animal as a sacrifice, called nahr. Either a camel or a lamb can be used, and the meat is given to those in need. Pilgrims have the option to purchase sacrifice vouchers, certifying that the sacrifice was done for them, or they can choose to perform the sacrifice themselves.
After that, men either shave their heads or trim their hairs, while women trim their hair the length of a fingertip. Following this, pilgrims remove their ihram. Many will then travel to Makkah to do Tawaf and sa’ee, circling the Kaaba seven times and then walking between the hills of Safa and Marwa seven times.
After everything is finished, they return to their campground in Mina.
Day 4 and Day 5: final days in Mina
Each day, they will continue the symbolic stoning of the devil by throwing seven pebbles at each of the three pillars. The pilgrims will spend the next two or three days in Mina after successfully completing this task.
After completing their stay in Mina, the pilgrims go back to Makkah to carry out the last rotation around the Kaaba, known as the “farewell” Tawaf.
Before returning home, many people also visit Madinah, the second most sacred city in Islam, where the Prophet Muhammad (SWT) is buried alongside his closest companions. Going to Madinah is not a part of the pilgrimage.
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