Starter ~ A pilgrimage is a journey with a special meaning. Pilgrimage is an act of devotion to God and usually involves ritual words and actions. What do you think is the difference between a pilgrimage and a holiday?Many religious people make pilgrimages as part of a group – how do you think this makes them feel?

Today you are going on a special journey…

You are going to investigate HAJJ ~ the Muslim pilgrimage to Makkah.You need to KNOW WHAT is done and UNDERSTAND THE MEANING. You should also try to think about the IMPACT that this would have on their life.

For some to evaluate what the Hajj may mean to Muslim believers

Lesson Objectives

For all to know what is involved in the Hajj

For Most to analyse some of the symbolic meaning behind the stages of the Hajj

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/introduction-to-hajj/3581.html

You will be given a lot of information to use in your team challenge today and in your individual writing task tomorrow

Copy this pilgrimage route onto a double page in your books and make notes as we go through the powerpoint

Non-Muslims are not allowed to enter Makkah.

Pilgrims must show their permit at the checkpoints that have been set up along the road that enters the holy city.

Why do you think only Muslims are allowed to enter the city? What are your views on this?

Arrival in Makkah(Mecca)

Pilgrims wear a simple white robe made of two seamless pieces of white cloth.

This symbolises the idea that all Muslims are equal within the community. On hajj it does not matter whether you are rich or poor.

Rally Robin: What items do you think a Muslims would pack before flying to Saudi Arabia for Hajj?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/introduction-to-hajj-the-fifth-pillar-of-islam/3257.html

In the centre of the Great mosque in Makkah is a cube-shaped building called the Ka’bah. This is the first place that pilgrims visit.

Many thousands of Muslims will be making this pilgrimage at the same time. Together, they walk round the Ka’bah seven times, praying as they go. Circuiting the Ka’bah is called ‘tawaf’.

The Mosque has four levels and can hold up to one million people.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/hajj-pilgrimage-at-Makkah/6236.html

What do you think it would feel like to be part of this crowd?

The Ka’bah contains in it’s walls a ‘black stone’ which is said to have been brought by angels from heaven.

As each person passes the black stone they try to kiss it or touch it.

The Black Stone

Many of the places visited on hajj remind

Muslims of the history of their religion.

Near the ka’bah are two small hills called Safa and Marwah. Pilgrims run between these two hills in remembrance of the story of Hagar and Ismail. The spring of water which miraculously appeared in the story still remains and many pilgrims go to drink it’s water.

Both pilgrims talk about the impact of carrying out special rituals to remind them of the origins of their religion. What difference might it make if Hajj did not include such rituals but was simply a visit to see the birthplace of Islam?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/hajj-day-one/3258.html

Because hajj is supposed to be a time of simplicity, many pilgrims stay in tents that have been especially put up at Mina .

Pilgrims spend the first night here before making the journey to Arafat for the most demanding part of their pilgrimage.

How might meeting up with Muslims from all over the world affect someone?

During Hajj, Mina becomes a city of tents – 57,000 are erected for pilgrims to sleep in.

Pilgrims make the 9 mile journey by foot, bus or car

Unlike a holiday, hajj is not about luxury or comfort – what do you think pilgrims gain from living more simply during this time?

Pilgrims must get up early to perform the dawn prayers before making the journey to the Plain of Arafat. They must reach it before mid-day.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/hajj-day-two/3259.html

At Arafat the pilgrims pray in the hot sun for 6 hours! This is their chance to show their dedication to Allah.

The time spent at Arafat is the most difficult part of the hajj.Once the prayers are over, the pilgrims travel to Muzdalifah – a bare rocky area where they collect 49 pebbles that will be needed for the next part of hajj.

Prayers are said, and

then they sleep here – again in tents.How would a Muslim feel at the end of this day?

(Try to think of positive things, not just the obvious fact that they would be hot and tired)

Stoning the Jamarat

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/hajj-day-three/3261.htmlWhy do you think the stoning of the Jamarat is such an emotional aspect of the Hajj?

The pilgrims talk about the strength and effort needed to stone the pillars – how might this also be seen as a reminder of what is needed to resist temptation?

Celebration ~ Eid-ul-Adha What do you think the pilgrims are celebrating?

The Hajj ends with a special celebration. Eid-ul-Adha remembers when Allah appeared to Ibrahim in a dream and asked him to sacrifice his son Isma'il as an act of obedience to God.The devil tempted Ibrahim by saying he should disobey Allah and spare his son. As Ibrahim was about to kill his son, Allah stopped him and gave him a lamb to sacrifice instead.Modern-day pilgrims sacrifice a sheep or goat as a reminder of obedience to Allah. They share out the meat among family, friends and the poor, who each get a third share.

After the Hajj, Muslim pilgrims celebrate the first day of Eid-ul-Adha by walking around the Ka’bah. Again, they all move together in an anti-clockwise direction, as prayers are sung out.

How might a pilgrim feel now that they have completed the Hajj?

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