Rituals of Hajj
Hajj is the 5th pillar of Islam. Hajj means going for pilgrimage to Makkah. PILGRIMAGE means journey to a holy place. To perform Hajj, Muslims travel to Makkah. People who go on a pilgrimage are called PILGRIMS. Makkah has a cube like building called the KA'BAH. We pray five times a day facing KA'BAH. This direction ys known as Qibla.
Hajj is held once every year in the month of ZUL-HIJJAH. It cannot be performed in any other month. The days of Hajj are from 8th - 12th Zul-Hijjah.
During Hajj we remember Prophet Ibrahim (AS). Thousands of years ago, he had brought his wife Hajar and his son Ismail(AS) to Makkah. At that time nobody lived there and there was no water either. When Baby Ismail (AS) became thirsty and Hajar searched for water everywhere. She ran several times between two small hills, SAFA and MARWAH, looking for water. She and her baby were getting too tired and thirsty. Then Allah (SWT) blessed them with a small spring of fresh water, gushing out of the rocks by Ismail (AS)'s feet. This spring is called ZAMZAM and it's still gushing.
With regular water supply from ZAMZAM, Makkah became a village and travelers used to stop there for rest. At that time near the ZAMZAM spring, there were old remains of Ka'bah.
When Ismail (AS) grew up, he and his father Ibrahim (AS) rebuilt Ka'bah. Then Allah (SWT) ordered Ibrahim (AS), to call people to perform Hajj in Makkah.
Following are some rituals of Hajj:
IHRAM: Before reaching Makkah, all men wear two pieces of white cloth called Ihram. These make them look equal and make no difference between the rich and the poor. Women wear regular simple clothes.
TAWAF: When pilgrims reach Makkah, they walk around the Ka'bah seven times. This is called Tawaf.
SA'EE: After doing Tawaf, all the pilgrims walk seven times between Mount Safa and Marwah, to remember mother Hajar. This is called Sa'ee.
MINA: On the 8th of Zul-Hijjah, all the pilgrims leave Makkah for Mina. This place has thousands of tents for the pilgrims, who spend the night there.
ARAFAT: The next day on the 9th of Zul-Hijjah, pilgrims go from Mina to a place called Arafat. They spend their entire time praying to Allah (SWT) and also listen to a sermon or Khutbah. After which they perform a combined Salah of Dhuhr and Asr. Staying at Arafat is called WAQOOF and it is an important part of Hajj. Without this, Hajj cannot be complete.
MUZDALIFAH: Later in the day at sunset, pilgrims go to another place called Muzdalifah and spend the night under the sky. There, they offer a combined Maghrib and Isha prayer.
RAMI JAMARAAT: On the 10th of Zul-Hijjah, the pilgrims offer fajr prayer and travel back to Mina from Muzdalifah. On their way to Mina, they pick up small stones to throw at shaytan, that are represented by three large walls in Mina. This process of throwing stones at Shaytan is called RAMI. This is to remind people to give up all kinds of evil.
Pilgrims then sacrifice an animal. Following which the men shave their hair and the women clip some hair. After the HAIRCUT, pilgrims now can remove Ihram and wear regular clothes.
Muslims who cannot go for Hajj, also sacrifice an animal that day. The day is called EID AL ADHA. We celebrate Eid Ul Adha, on the 10 th of Zul-Hijjah.
A Muslim who is in good health and has enough money, should go for Hajj at least once in his or her lifetime.
Hajj is not obligatory for children, the sick, and for people who don't have enough money to bear the expenses.
Hajj is held once every year in the month of ZUL-HIJJAH. It cannot be performed in any other month. The days of Hajj are from 8th - 12th Zul-Hijjah.
During Hajj we remember Prophet Ibrahim (AS). Thousands of years ago, he had brought his wife Hajar and his son Ismail(AS) to Makkah. At that time nobody lived there and there was no water either. When Baby Ismail (AS) became thirsty and Hajar searched for water everywhere. She ran several times between two small hills, SAFA and MARWAH, looking for water. She and her baby were getting too tired and thirsty. Then Allah (SWT) blessed them with a small spring of fresh water, gushing out of the rocks by Ismail (AS)'s feet. This spring is called ZAMZAM and it's still gushing.
With regular water supply from ZAMZAM, Makkah became a village and travelers used to stop there for rest. At that time near the ZAMZAM spring, there were old remains of Ka'bah.
When Ismail (AS) grew up, he and his father Ibrahim (AS) rebuilt Ka'bah. Then Allah (SWT) ordered Ibrahim (AS), to call people to perform Hajj in Makkah.
Following are some rituals of Hajj:
IHRAM: Before reaching Makkah, all men wear two pieces of white cloth called Ihram. These make them look equal and make no difference between the rich and the poor. Women wear regular simple clothes.
TAWAF: When pilgrims reach Makkah, they walk around the Ka'bah seven times. This is called Tawaf.
SA'EE: After doing Tawaf, all the pilgrims walk seven times between Mount Safa and Marwah, to remember mother Hajar. This is called Sa'ee.
MINA: On the 8th of Zul-Hijjah, all the pilgrims leave Makkah for Mina. This place has thousands of tents for the pilgrims, who spend the night there.
ARAFAT: The next day on the 9th of Zul-Hijjah, pilgrims go from Mina to a place called Arafat. They spend their entire time praying to Allah (SWT) and also listen to a sermon or Khutbah. After which they perform a combined Salah of Dhuhr and Asr. Staying at Arafat is called WAQOOF and it is an important part of Hajj. Without this, Hajj cannot be complete.
MUZDALIFAH: Later in the day at sunset, pilgrims go to another place called Muzdalifah and spend the night under the sky. There, they offer a combined Maghrib and Isha prayer.
RAMI JAMARAAT: On the 10th of Zul-Hijjah, the pilgrims offer fajr prayer and travel back to Mina from Muzdalifah. On their way to Mina, they pick up small stones to throw at shaytan, that are represented by three large walls in Mina. This process of throwing stones at Shaytan is called RAMI. This is to remind people to give up all kinds of evil.
Pilgrims then sacrifice an animal. Following which the men shave their hair and the women clip some hair. After the HAIRCUT, pilgrims now can remove Ihram and wear regular clothes.
Muslims who cannot go for Hajj, also sacrifice an animal that day. The day is called EID AL ADHA. We celebrate Eid Ul Adha, on the 10 th of Zul-Hijjah.
A Muslim who is in good health and has enough money, should go for Hajj at least once in his or her lifetime.
Hajj is not obligatory for children, the sick, and for people who don't have enough money to bear the expenses.