AN INTRODUCTION TO

HAJJ

WHAT IS THE HAJJ?

• The Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam

• It is mainly based around the story of the Prophet Abraham (pbuh*)

• It is done in the 12th Month of the Islamic Calendar called Dhul Hijjah

• It is performed in Makkah (Mecca) in Saudi Arabia

• Every Muslim is obliged to undertake this pilgrimage once in a lifetime

• Millions of Muslims from all over the world make this pilgrimage every year

*pbuh = Peace be upon him

• The Ka’aba is a cube shaped building in Makkah

• Muslims believe that the place of the Ka’aba was where prophet Adam (pbuh) used to worship God

• It was then rebuilt by Prophet Abraham with his son Ishmail (pbuh)

WHAT IS THE KA’ABA

• Muslims face in the direction of the Ka’aba, although not to the Ka’aba, whenever they pray their daily prayers

• The Ka’aba is covered by a special black cloth hand-embroidered in gold called the Kiswah

SPECIAL CLOTHES

• For Hajj, Muslims wear special clothes called Ihram

• For women, it is their normal Islamic clothes although they should not cover their face

• For men, they wear two plain white unstitched sheets

• All people, from all races and nations, rich or poor, kings or beggars wear the same clothes and stand side by side, all equal in the sight of God

• When in Ihram, it is not permitted to cut nails or hair, curse or fight. There are also other restrictions.

GOING AROUND THE KA’ABA

• The Hajj is performed by going around the Ka’aba seven times

• At one corner of the Ka’abah is The Black Stone

• After completing the seven circuits, the pilgrims pray, drink Zam Zam water and complete the Sa’ee

THE RITUAL OF SA’EE AND ZAMZAM

• When the prophet Abraham left his wife Hagar in the plains of Makkah, she was without water

• She ran between the mountains of Safa and Marwa seven times

• Angel Gabriel then indicated to her a place in the ground. From that place sprung the well of Zam Zam

• Muslims drink the Zam Zam water and re-enact the journey between the mountains seven times. This is called the Sa’ee

THE DAY OF ARAFAT

• The main days of Hajj are the 9th and 10th of Dhul Hijjah. On the 9th, the pilgrims leave their camp at Mina and head towards the Mountain of Arafat

• At Arafat, they pray directly to God until sunset and then leave to spend the night, out in the open fields of Muzdalifah

• On the morning of the 10th they continue with the remaining rituals of Hajj.

THE STORY OF ABRAHAM (PBUH)

• God commanded Abraham, in his dream, to sacrifice his son Ishmail

• Although Abraham was deeply saddened by this, he knew he must do what His Lord had commanded

• He told his son about the dream and the son, Prophet Ishmail, agreed that they should complete the sacrifice

• On the way, Satan appeared three times to dissuade Abraham. These places are marked by pillars called Jamarat at which pebbles are thrown on certain days.

THE STORY OF ABRAHAM (PBUH)

• When Abraham came to do the sacrifice, God replaced Ishmail with an animal!

• That is why Muslims sacrifice an animal on that day and distribute the meat to family, friends, and the poor

• This day is known as Eid-ul Adha to Muslims all over the world

• It is one of the main festivals of the Islamic Calendar.

WHAT DOES HAJJ TEACH US?

• Equality

We are all equal in the sight of God (Allah)

• Sacrifice

We should be willing to give up what we have for God and to help others

• Trust

We should always trust in God, like Hagar did when looking for water

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