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The fourth Pillar of Islam is the
pilgrimage to Makkah and its surroundings known as Hajj. All Muslims
are obligated to make Hajj once in their lifetimes if they can
afford it and are otherwise able to do so.
The Hajj is made from the eighth to the twelfth of the Islamic month
of Dhul-Hijjah. In 2004, this corresponds to 30 January to 4
February.
Muslims travel from all over the
world to perform Hajj. The rituals are themselves simple, but the
amount of walking necessary, the hot climate, and the crowds make
the Hajj a rigorous exercise in faith. Still, between 2 and 3
million people perform Hajj every year, and millions more yearn to
do so.
To perform the Hajj, pilgrims enter a state of consecration known as
ihram. In this state they may not clip their nails, cut or pluck any
hair, or have any sort of sexual contact. Male pilgrims wear special
clothes consisting of two seamless strips of cloth, one covering the
back and shoulders, the other covering from the waist to the knees.
Female pilgrims can wear ordinary clothing that covers everything
but the face and hands.
The rituals of Hajj date back to the time of Prophet Ibrahim
(Abraham) and commemorate his willingness to sacrifice his only son,
Isma`il (Ishmael). During the days of Hajj, the pilgrims attempt to
forget all but their most basic worldly needs and to focus their
attention and devotion on Allah Alone.
Upon arriving in Makkah, the pilgrims first circumambulate the
Ka`bah seven times in a ritual known as Tawaf. This ritual reminds
the pilgrims that Allah (God) should be the focus and center of
their lives.
The next ritual is Sa`i, which is walking back and forth seven times
between the hillocks named Safa and Marwah. This commemorates the
search for water made by Hajar (Hagar) when Prophet Ibrahim
(Abraham—peace be upon him) left her and her infant son Isma`il
(Ishmael—peace be upon him) in the desert.
On 8 Dhul-Hijjah, pilgrims head to Mina, where they spend the day
supplicating Allah. Early the next morning they go to `Arafah (or
`Arafat). They spend the day supplicating Allah and begging for His
forgiveness. Many stand on the Mount of Mercy to supplicate, though
this is not necessary. When the sun sets on the Day of `Arafah, the
pilgrims’ sins are forgiven.
After sunset the pilgrims move on to Muzdalifah, where they spend
the night and collect pebbles to be used in the next ritual.
The next morning, 10 Dhul-Hijjah, is the Day of Sacrifice. Most
pilgrims slaughter a sheep or goat, and the meat is distributed to
the poor. (Muslims who are not on Hajj also slaughter that day,
which is known as `Eid Al-Adha.) The ritual commemorates Ibrahim’s
willingness to sacrifice his son Isma`il (peace be upon them both)
and Allah’s provision of a ram as a substitute sacrifice.
But before slaughtering, the pilgrims go to throw pebbles at the
stone pillars known as Al-Jamarat. This ritual commemorates
Ibrahim’s stoning of Satan when the latter tried to tempt him to
disobey Allah.
After this, the pilgrims cut or shave their hair (women cut off only
a small amount) and return to Makkah to repeat Tawaf and Sa`i. They
sleep at Mina and repeat the stoning of the pillars on the next two
days. A final Tawaf before leaving Makkah completes the Hajj.
Many pilgrims also go to Madinah before or after Hajj in order to
pray in the Prophet’s Mosque and visit his grave, although this
visit to Madinah is not necessary.
The above is only a summary. There is some variation in the
performance of Hajj, depending on whether the individual pilgrim
chooses to also perform `Umrah (often known as the lesser
pilgrimage) beforehand and whether this will be while in one
prolonged state of ihram or two separate ones for `Umrah and Hajj
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What is Islam
What is Quran
Who is Muhammad
Introduction to
Hajj
Human Rights and
Justice in Islam
What About Those
Muslim Women?
Freedom of
Economic Activity
The Chlorophyll
Life After Death
Neighbors
How can Islam be
the religion of peace?
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