Junior Jeopardy 2022
HAJJ
Completion of the pilgrimage to Mecca during the prescribed month (Dhu’l Hijjah, or Hajj Month) is an obligation for all Muslims around the world at least once in their lifetime, if they are physically able and can afford to go. Since the Muslim calendar is lunar and the lunar year of twelve months has 354 days, the hajj takes place eleven days earlier each year on the solar calendar.
Day 1: The 8th day of Dhu'l-Hijjah (the month of Hajj)
Ihram (Ritual Purity Customs)
Pilgrims must put on special clothing for the hajj (two white unsewn sheets for men and modest clothing for women, with no face veils) and enter a state of ritual purity (ihram) at entry points (miqat) located a certain distance from the sanctuary in Mecca. While in this state of Hajj purity, they may not cut their nails or hair. Pilgrims specifically express their intention to perform hajj, as intent is a crucial concept in Islamic ritual and law. Pilgrims also recite the following:
“Here I am, O God, in response to your call–here I am! Here I am! You have no partner. Here I am! All praise, grace and sovereignty belong to you. You have no partner.”
There are three forms of the hajj that pilgrims may perform. The most preferred is hajj al-tamattu’, in which the pilgrim performs the umrah (the circumambulation of the Ka’aba) and the sa’y (more information below) and then comes out of the state of ihram. The pilgrim then re-enters a state of ihram in order to fulfill his intention to perform the rites of the hajj. In hajj al-qiran, the rituals of umrah form part of the hajj and are performed under one continuous ihram. In hajj al-ifrad, the pilgrim performs hajj only and does not perform umrah.
Steps of hajj al-tamattu’, which is the form of hajj that most pilgrims from abroad perform.
Tawaaf
Pilgrims first go to the Great Mosque in Mecca, built around the Ka’aba. The Ka’aba, with the Black Stone embedded in its side, is the building in the center of the mosque which Abraham and his son Ishmael are said to have built after the interrupted sacrifice of Ismail (Ishmael) by his father. Here, pilgrims circumambulate the Ka’aba seven times counterclockwise.
Sa’y
Pilgrims must then walk and run seven times back and forth between the two small hills of Safa (about 200 yards from the Ka’aba) and Marwah (about 150 yards from the Ka’aba) commemorating Hagar’s frantic search in the desert for water and refuge for her baby, Ishmael. Hagar, in Islamic tradition, is Abraham’s second wife. The two hillocks are now incorporated into the mosque complex itself, with a three-story corridor running between them to accommodate the pilgrims.
Zamzam
Although it is not a required part of the hajj rites, most pilgrims drink water from the well of Zamzam, located inside the mosque complex about 60 meters east of the Ka’aba.
Mina
On the same day, pilgrims leave the Great Mosque compound and travel about five miles to the east to the plain of Mina. The plain is covered with an enormous tent city to house the pilgrims. Here pilgrims engage in prayer and contemplation from the noon prayer on the 8th of Dhu’l-Hijjah to the dawn prayer on the 9th.
Day 2: The 9th Day of Dhu'l-Hijjah
Plain of Arafat
The next day, after performing the dawn (fajr) prayer at Mina, pilgrims leave for the Plain of Arafat, a further five miles to the east.
When the pilgrims reach the Plain of Arafat, they perform wuquf, or the day of standing. On this day, perhaps the spiritual high point of the hajj, the pilgrims stand outside and face toward the qibla in Mecca and pray intently for much of the day. Pilgrims seek pardon for their sins and renew their faith. This is also the location of the Mount of Mercy, a hill where Muhammad gave his farewell sermon the last time he performed the hajj.
Muzdalifa
After sunset, the pilgrims leave the Plain of Arafat and move back toward Mina, stopping at Muzdalifah, a plain between Arafat and Mina. Here, pilgrims spend the night of the 9th of Dhu’l-Hijjah in prayer, meditation, rest and talk with their fellow pilgrims in the open air. Some also collect pebbles from the ground to throw at the jamaraat pillars the following day.
Day 3: The 10th day of Dhu'l-Hijjah
Eid al-Adha
At dawn on the 10th day of Dhu’l-Hijjah all two million plus pilgrims move back to Mina for the beginning of the Eid al-Adha, the Festival of the Sacrifice. This multi-day holiday is celebrated by Muslims everywhere around the world.
Stoning the Pillars
On arrival at Mina, the pilgrims throw seven stones at the largest of three pillars (jamraat), which stand in the center of the plain and which represent the devil. Throwing stones at the pillars symbolizes defying temptation and warding off evil. This is also one of the most dangerous parts of the pilgrimage, since all two million pilgrims must pass close enough to the pillars to toss their pebbles. Groups of pilgrims are scheduled very carefully so that everyone can pass by the pillar and throw their pebbles as safely as possible-even so, the crush of people can be extremely hazardous, so the elderly, weak and ill can nominate others to throw their stones for them.
Sacrifice
Muslims everywhere, including pilgrims, now sacrifice an animal in emulation of Abraham’s sacrifice, with one third of the meat to be consumed by the family, one third to be shared with friends, and one third to be distributed to the poor. In the past, pilgrims on hajj sacrificed actual animals in Mecca, where much of the meat could not be distributed to family, friends and the poor for logistical reasons, and thus was wasted. Today many pilgrims from far away can buy coupons to subsidize the sacrifice and distribution of meat to the poor in their home countries, fulfilling both piety and practicality.
Pilgrims now return to the Great Mosque in Mecca to again circumnavigate the Ka’aba seven times and again walk/run between Safa and Marwah seven times. This is called tawaaf al-ifadhah and it is is a critical part of the hajj.
The pilgrim then takes off the ihram garb and can put on normal clothes again, and gets his head shaved (or her hair cut). The other ihram restrictions are also ended. The pilgrims return to Mina to spend the night.
Day 4, 5 and 6: The 11th, 12th and 13th days of Dhul-Hijjah
Pilgrims stay at Mina for two or three additional days if possible. Each day, they perform the ritual stoning of the pillars at Mina, tossing seven pebbles at each one of the three pillars representing the devil.
After the last stoning, before leaving the vicinity of Mecca, the pilgrims perform a final “farewell” tawaaf or circumambulation of the Ka’aba. This farewell tawaaf is not followed by the sa’y, the walk between Safa and Marwah. This concludes the hajj rituals.
Day 1: The 8th day of Dhu'l-Hijjah (the month of Hajj)
Ihram (Ritual Purity Customs)
Pilgrims must put on special clothing for the hajj (two white unsewn sheets for men and modest clothing for women, with no face veils) and enter a state of ritual purity (ihram) at entry points (miqat) located a certain distance from the sanctuary in Mecca. While in this state of Hajj purity, they may not cut their nails or hair. Pilgrims specifically express their intention to perform hajj, as intent is a crucial concept in Islamic ritual and law. Pilgrims also recite the following:
“Here I am, O God, in response to your call–here I am! Here I am! You have no partner. Here I am! All praise, grace and sovereignty belong to you. You have no partner.”
There are three forms of the hajj that pilgrims may perform. The most preferred is hajj al-tamattu’, in which the pilgrim performs the umrah (the circumambulation of the Ka’aba) and the sa’y (more information below) and then comes out of the state of ihram. The pilgrim then re-enters a state of ihram in order to fulfill his intention to perform the rites of the hajj. In hajj al-qiran, the rituals of umrah form part of the hajj and are performed under one continuous ihram. In hajj al-ifrad, the pilgrim performs hajj only and does not perform umrah.
Steps of hajj al-tamattu’, which is the form of hajj that most pilgrims from abroad perform.
Tawaaf
Pilgrims first go to the Great Mosque in Mecca, built around the Ka’aba. The Ka’aba, with the Black Stone embedded in its side, is the building in the center of the mosque which Abraham and his son Ishmael are said to have built after the interrupted sacrifice of Ismail (Ishmael) by his father. Here, pilgrims circumambulate the Ka’aba seven times counterclockwise.
Sa’y
Pilgrims must then walk and run seven times back and forth between the two small hills of Safa (about 200 yards from the Ka’aba) and Marwah (about 150 yards from the Ka’aba) commemorating Hagar’s frantic search in the desert for water and refuge for her baby, Ishmael. Hagar, in Islamic tradition, is Abraham’s second wife. The two hillocks are now incorporated into the mosque complex itself, with a three-story corridor running between them to accommodate the pilgrims.
Zamzam
Although it is not a required part of the hajj rites, most pilgrims drink water from the well of Zamzam, located inside the mosque complex about 60 meters east of the Ka’aba.
Mina
On the same day, pilgrims leave the Great Mosque compound and travel about five miles to the east to the plain of Mina. The plain is covered with an enormous tent city to house the pilgrims. Here pilgrims engage in prayer and contemplation from the noon prayer on the 8th of Dhu’l-Hijjah to the dawn prayer on the 9th.
Day 2: The 9th Day of Dhu'l-Hijjah
Plain of Arafat
The next day, after performing the dawn (fajr) prayer at Mina, pilgrims leave for the Plain of Arafat, a further five miles to the east.
When the pilgrims reach the Plain of Arafat, they perform wuquf, or the day of standing. On this day, perhaps the spiritual high point of the hajj, the pilgrims stand outside and face toward the qibla in Mecca and pray intently for much of the day. Pilgrims seek pardon for their sins and renew their faith. This is also the location of the Mount of Mercy, a hill where Muhammad gave his farewell sermon the last time he performed the hajj.
Muzdalifa
After sunset, the pilgrims leave the Plain of Arafat and move back toward Mina, stopping at Muzdalifah, a plain between Arafat and Mina. Here, pilgrims spend the night of the 9th of Dhu’l-Hijjah in prayer, meditation, rest and talk with their fellow pilgrims in the open air. Some also collect pebbles from the ground to throw at the jamaraat pillars the following day.
Day 3: The 10th day of Dhu'l-Hijjah
Eid al-Adha
At dawn on the 10th day of Dhu’l-Hijjah all two million plus pilgrims move back to Mina for the beginning of the Eid al-Adha, the Festival of the Sacrifice. This multi-day holiday is celebrated by Muslims everywhere around the world.
Stoning the Pillars
On arrival at Mina, the pilgrims throw seven stones at the largest of three pillars (jamraat), which stand in the center of the plain and which represent the devil. Throwing stones at the pillars symbolizes defying temptation and warding off evil. This is also one of the most dangerous parts of the pilgrimage, since all two million pilgrims must pass close enough to the pillars to toss their pebbles. Groups of pilgrims are scheduled very carefully so that everyone can pass by the pillar and throw their pebbles as safely as possible-even so, the crush of people can be extremely hazardous, so the elderly, weak and ill can nominate others to throw their stones for them.
Sacrifice
Muslims everywhere, including pilgrims, now sacrifice an animal in emulation of Abraham’s sacrifice, with one third of the meat to be consumed by the family, one third to be shared with friends, and one third to be distributed to the poor. In the past, pilgrims on hajj sacrificed actual animals in Mecca, where much of the meat could not be distributed to family, friends and the poor for logistical reasons, and thus was wasted. Today many pilgrims from far away can buy coupons to subsidize the sacrifice and distribution of meat to the poor in their home countries, fulfilling both piety and practicality.
Pilgrims now return to the Great Mosque in Mecca to again circumnavigate the Ka’aba seven times and again walk/run between Safa and Marwah seven times. This is called tawaaf al-ifadhah and it is is a critical part of the hajj.
The pilgrim then takes off the ihram garb and can put on normal clothes again, and gets his head shaved (or her hair cut). The other ihram restrictions are also ended. The pilgrims return to Mina to spend the night.
Day 4, 5 and 6: The 11th, 12th and 13th days of Dhul-Hijjah
Pilgrims stay at Mina for two or three additional days if possible. Each day, they perform the ritual stoning of the pillars at Mina, tossing seven pebbles at each one of the three pillars representing the devil.
After the last stoning, before leaving the vicinity of Mecca, the pilgrims perform a final “farewell” tawaaf or circumambulation of the Ka’aba. This farewell tawaaf is not followed by the sa’y, the walk between Safa and Marwah. This concludes the hajj rituals.