Lance Carson
Hajj is a sacred pilgrimage to Makkah, Saudi Arabia, that is considered a pillar of Islam. It is obligatory for every able-bodied Muslim adult who has the financial means to make the journey at least once in their lifetime. The key rituals of Hajj take place annually from the 8th to the 12th or 13th of Dhul Hijjah, the 12th month of the Islamic lunar calendar. The rites of Hajj include entering the sacred state of Ihram, performing Tawaf (circling the Kaaba seven times), and travelling to Mina, Muzdalifah, and Mount Arafat.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Makkah or Mecca, Saudi Arabia |
| Timing | Between 8th and 12th of Dhul Hijjah, the 12th month in the Islamic calendar |
| Frequency | Once in a lifetime, although going multiple times is permitted |
| Who should perform Hajj | Every able-bodied Muslim adult with the financial means to do so |
| Purpose | Spiritual duty, a test of patience and temperament, an opportunity to seek Allah's mercy and renew one's Iman |
| Rites | Tawaf (circling the Kaaba), Sai (running between Safa and Marwa hills), spending a day at Mount Mercy in reverent prayer, travelling to Muzdalifah |
| Clothing | Plain garments, two unstitched pieces of cloth for men, loose-fitting clothing for women |
| Restrictions | No anger, sexual activity, hunting or killing land animals, disputes, arguments, or violence |
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What You'll Learn
Enter ihram, a state of purity, when crossing the outer boundaries of Mecca
The first step of Hajj is to enter ihram, a sacred state of purity, when crossing the outer boundaries of Mecca, known as Miqat. Ihram is a state of mind where a spiritual relationship with God is established, and worldly vanities are renounced. It is a concept that promotes egalitarianism, as it removes all differences based on gender, sect, origin, rank, or wealth.
Before entering the state of Ihram, one must be in a state of physical purity and maintain personal hygiene, as instructed by the Prophet. It is also recommended to perform ghusl, a ritual bath, before assuming Ihram. Ihram attire is different for men and women. Men wear two pieces of plain, white, seamless, and unstitched cloth, wrapped around the body. Women wear modest, loose-fitting clothing.
After changing into Ihram attire, it is considered sunnah to perform two rak'ahs of salah al-Ihram before making the intention to enter the state of Ihram. This should be done before crossing the Miqat boundary. If the Miqat is crossed without entering the state of Ihram, a penalty must be paid, although the Hajj remains valid.
Once in the state of Ihram, certain rules must be followed, such as refraining from anger and sexual activity. After entering the state of Ihram, pilgrims perform tawaf, which involves circling the Kaaba anticlockwise seven times, and sai, which involves running between the Safa and Marwa hills.
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Circle the Kaaba anticlockwise seven times, then run between the Safa and Marwa hills
The Hajj is a sacred Muslim pilgrimage that takes place in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is considered a spiritual duty and a pillar of Islam, meaning that every Muslim who is physically, financially, and emotionally able to do so must perform Hajj at least once in their lifetime.
One of the steps of Hajj involves circling the Kaaba, a cubic structure at the heart of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, in an anticlockwise direction seven times. This ritual is called 'Tawaf' and is performed by pilgrims to symbolise their unity in worshipping the one true God, Allah.
After completing the Tawaf, pilgrims perform 'Sai' or 'Sa'i', which involves running or walking between the Safa and Marwa hills, located adjacent to the Kaaba, seven times. This rite is performed to commemorate the actions of Hajar, the wife of Prophet Ibrahim, who walked between the hills of Safa and Marwa seven times in search of water for her son, Ismail.
Upon reaching the hill of Safa, pilgrims face the direction of the Kaaba and raise their hands in supplication. They then walk towards the hill of Marwa, passing two green lights. Men are expected to run between these lights, while women continue walking. Once at Marwa, pilgrims face the direction of the Kaaba again and recite the same supplications as they did at Safa. This completes one lap of Sa'i. The process is repeated, with the pilgrims returning to Safa for the second lap, and so on, until seven laps are completed, ending at Marwa.
After completing the seven laps, pilgrims may offer two rakats of Nafil Shukrana (optional) to thank Allah. This marks the end of the holy ritual of Sa'i.
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Travel to Mina, a tent city just outside of Mecca
Mina, also known as the "City of Tents", is a valley located 5-8 kilometres southeast of the city of Mecca, in the Hejazi region of Saudi Arabia. It is a temporary tent city that accommodates millions of pilgrims who take part in the Hajj pilgrimage every year. The Saudi government has installed more than 100,000 air-conditioned tents in the 20 square kilometre area of Mina. The tents are grouped into camps, each with their own exterior walls, and divided by the nationalities of pilgrims. Each camp is equipped with a kitchen, bathrooms, and ablution facilities.
After performing tawaf and sai, pilgrims travel to Mina either by bus or on foot. Upon reaching Mina, pilgrims spend a full day and night in the tents. During their stay, pilgrims read the Holy Quran, offer prayers, worship Allah SWT, recite Dhikr, seek forgiveness, and supplicate to Allah. They also prepare themselves for the rituals of the pilgrimage to be performed in the coming days.
On the third day of Hajj, Muslims move before sunrise to the sacred area of Mina to conduct the ritual of Stoning the Jamarat or Rami. This ritual commemorates the belief that Ibrahim was ordered by God to sacrifice his son in the Mina valley, but was interrupted by the Shaitan (Devil) and commanded by Allah to stone the Devil instead. The three Jamarat, located in the Mina valley, are stoned between sunrise and sunset in the final days of Hajj.
After completing the major Hajj rituals, pilgrims return to their campsite in Mina, marking the completion of Hajj. Many pilgrims also visit Medina, the second holiest city in Islam, before heading home.
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Spend the Day of Arafat at Mount Mercy in reverent prayer
The Day of Arafat is considered one of the most important days of Hajj and the Islamic calendar. After travelling 15km (9 miles) from Mina, pilgrims spend the day at Mount Mercy in reverent prayer. This day is known as wuquf, which translates to standing before Allah from noon to sunset.
Mount Arafat, also known as Jabal ar-Raḥmah, meaning 'Mountain of Mercy', is a granodiorite hill located 20km (12 miles) southeast of Mecca, in the province of the same name in Saudi Arabia. The mountain is approximately 70m (230 ft) high, with its highest point sitting at an elevation of 454m (1,490 ft).
The Day of Arafat is considered especially important because it is believed to be the place where the Prophet Muhammad delivered his last sermon to tens of thousands of followers, calling on Muslims to unite. It is also believed to be the place where Adam and Eve reunited on Earth after falling from Heaven, where they were forgiven.
On the Day of Arafat, pilgrims dress in white Ihram garments, symbolising purity and equality before God. Cultural practices include reading from the Quran, reciting specific prayers such as Dua Arafat, and sharing experiences with fellow Muslims from around the world. Many Muslims also choose to fast on this day.
After sunset, pilgrims move to Muzdalifah for Maghrib prayer and a shortened Isha prayer and to rest.
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Sacrifice an animal
The Hajj is a sacred pilgrimage to Makkah, Saudi Arabia, that must be performed by every Muslim at least once in their lifetime, so long as they are physically, financially, and emotionally able to do so. It is a spiritual duty and a pillar of Islam.
The sacrifice of an animal is not required during the Hajj. However, it is a required element of Hajj al-tamattu and Hajj al-qiran. During the Hajj, the sacrifice can be made in Mina or Makkah, after the stoning of the largest Jamarat. The types of animals which may be sacrificed are camels, cows, sheep, and goats. A sheep or goat can be sacrificed on behalf of only one person, while a cow or camel can be shared by seven people. The age of the goat or sheep should be at least one year, the cow two, and the camel at least five. It is forbidden to sacrifice sick, crippled, or wounded animals. The sacrifice should be performed on the 10th of Dhu'l-Hijjah but can be done until the dusk of the 13th.
The animal should be turned on its left side, facing the Kaaba, although this is not a strict rule. The one performing the sacrifice should eat a part of the meat, and a portion should be distributed to the needy and the poor. Booths around Makkah and Mina have been set up to facilitate the buying of coupons for slaughtering and distributing sacrificial animals. The pilgrim should say the following dua when slaughtering the animal: "In the name of Allah, and Allah is the Greatest, O Allah! This is from You and for You."
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Frequently asked questions
Hajj is a sacred pilgrimage to Makkah, Saudi Arabia, and the fifth pillar of Islam. It occurs during the holy month of Dhul Hijjah, the 12th month in the Islamic lunar calendar, between the 8th and 12th days of the month.
Hajj is a spiritual duty that must be performed by every Muslim at least once in their lifetime, as long as they are financially, physically, and emotionally able to do so.
The first rite of Hajj is to make a pure intention and to enter ihram, a pilgrim's sacred state, when crossing the outer boundaries of Mecca, called Miqat. This entails wearing plain garments and following certain rules, such as not giving in to anger. Pilgrims then perform tawaf, which involves circling the Kaaba in an anticlockwise direction seven times, and sai, which refers to running between the Safa and Marwa hills. After that, pilgrims travel to Mina, a tent city just outside of Mecca. The next day, pilgrims make a 15km journey from Mina to Mount Mercy, where they spend the day in reverent prayer, known as wuquf. After sunset, they move to Muzdalifah, where they spend the night. The final step is the farewell tawaf, where pilgrims return to Mecca to perform tawaf and sai again before returning to their campsite in Mina, marking the completion of Hajj.
