Hajj is a sacred pilgrimage undertaken by millions of Muslims from around the globe, every year. As one of the five pillars of Islam, Hajj holds a special place in the hearts of the Muslim population worldwide. It is a significant pilgrimage for Muslims that draws them closer to the almighty Allah, washes away their previous sins and purifies the soul, with a promise of jannah. Out of the five pillars of Islam – Shahada, Prayer (salat), Alms (zakat), Fasting (sawm), and Pilgrimage (hajj), Hajj is compulsory for those who are physically fit and financially sound to undertake this journey at least once in their life.
The Hajj pilgrimage takes place in the same holy month of Dhul Hijjah every year. It is the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar. Hajj is performed over several days, beginning on the 8th of Dhul Hijjah and lasting approximately five to six days depending on the sighting of the moon. According to Islamic beliefs, performing these rites with faith in Allah represents submission to god and earns merit.
Also Read: What is Umrah & How to Perform Umrah
The Story of Hajj
The sacred pilgrimage of Hajj is something that was taught to the Muslims by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) however the origin of Hajj dates back to the teachings of another beloved prophet of Islam, Prophet Ibrahim (AS), thousands of years before the first Hajj performed by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The origin of Hajj dates back to Prophet Ibrahim and his son Prophet Ismail, whom the Almighty Allah entrusted to build the Kaaba – the sacred house now located in Masjid Al-Haram.
The rituals of Hajj were finalised based on the first Hajj performed by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in the year 628 A.D., however, many of the key rituals are centred around god testing the belief of Prophet Ibrahim (AS).
The first instance of Allah’s test of Ibrahim (AS) led to the formation of the well of Zam Zam. It all started when Ibrahim (AS) faced several hardships during his prophethood that today serve as teachings and reminders to humanity about faith, sacrifice, and loyalty to Allah (SWT), among other important Islamic principles. These trials include Ibrahim’s (AS) readiness to offer his son Ishaq (AS) as a sacrifice to Allah (SWT) and his test of abandoning his son Isma’il (AS) and wife Hajar in the Makkah desert – it is this test that provides the basis for Hajj.
Upon instructions from Allah (SWT), Prophet Ibrahim (AS) had to leave his wife Hajar and son Ismail (AS), later, a prophet in his own right with little food and provisions in the ancient Mecca desert. Once the provisions were over, Ismail (AS), an infant at that time started crying due to thirst. Hajar in search of water or someone to help fetch water ran between the hills of Safa and Marwah to no avail. Defeated, she cries out to God and on returning she notices Ismail (AS) striking and scraping the ground with his leg in distress, when suddenly a spring burst forth from the barren desert, thus saving both mother and child. This led to the formation of the well of Zam Zam, a water source so deep in a barren desert that is still in use today.
The frantic search by Hajar is re-enacted by pilgrims in the ritual called Sa’i, and throughout the Hajj, pilgrims drink water from the well of Zamzam, believed to be fed by the same spring Ishmael dug with his feet.
The second instance of Allah (SWT) test is when Ibrahim (AS) was asked to sacrifice his son and on his way to do so, he was persuaded by Iblis (the devil). The exact spots where these temptations took place are now marked with huge pillars called Jamar. Becoming an important ritual during Hajj, the pillars are stoned every year by the pilgrims in the exact reenactment of what Ibrahim did to cast the devil aside, and in a symbolic rejection of one’s temptations.
Origin of the Hajj as we know it today
On the site of Zam Zam well, Ibrahim (AS) was instructed by Allah to build the Kaaba – the sacred house now located in Masjid Al-Haram. After building the Kaba, Prophet Ibrahim would come to Makkah to perform Hajj every year, and after his death, this practice was continued by his son Isma’il (AS).
Thousands of years passed, and the site that was built to commemorate the lessons of Ibrahim’s (AS) trial was taken over by pagan Arabs and the worship of idols and spirits. It became a hub for trade due to the water source of Zam Zam.
Thousands of years later, Prophet Muhammad was born in the Quraysh tribe of Makkah and was given a revelation and prophethood. As the last messenger of Allah (SWT), Muhammad (PBUH), established Islam in the land for mankind – with this came the commandment to restore the Kaaba to its original purpose and resume Hajj. Prophets Ibrahim and Ismail paved the way for the sacred journey that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) himself trod on in later years.
And today more than 3 million Muslims of all races from across the world gather at Mecca to perform this sacred pilgrimage of Hajj.
Also Read: Sa’i: Another Sunnah of Hajj and Umrah Pilgrimage
Step-by-Step Guide on How to Perform Hajj
Now that we have a clear understanding of the origin story of Hajj, we can finally focus on the rituals of Hajj and why they are so important. Here are the most important and unskippable rituals of Hajj in the same order as they are performed.
Niyyah (Intention) and Ihram
The very first rite of Hajj is to make an intention to perform Hajj and enter the state of Ihram – a sacred state that must be achieved while crossing the outer boundaries of Mecca called Miqat. Entering ihram also entails wearing plain garments – two unstitched pieces of cloth for men and loose-fitting clothing for women.
Tawaf
The next step is to perform Tawaf, a principal ritual in the holy pilgrimage that involves circumambulating around the Kaaba seven times in a counter-clockwise direction.
Sa’ee
Tawaf is followed by the act of Sa’ee. It is the act of walking or running seven times between the Mountains of Safa and Marwah. Sa’ee signifies the struggle of Prophet Ibrahim’s Wife Hajar in the desert in search of water for her son.
After these mandatory activities, the pilgrims take an 8-kilometre (5-mile) bus ride or reach on foot to Mina, a tent city on the outskirts of Mecca. Most of the time in Mina is spent in prayer, supplications and remembering Allah.
Day on Arafat
The devotees move from Mina to the mountains of Arafat, also popularly known as Mount Mercy. It is considered one of the most important days of the Hajj pilgrimage where the pilgrims spend the entire day praying and listening to the sermons from Masjid al-Nimra. This is known as Wuquf – the act of standing before Allah from noon to sunset.
It is an important day for Muslims across the world because it is believed to be the day Allah (SWT) refers to in Surah al-Maidah as the Day on which He perfected His religion, completed His favours upon His beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and approved Islam as a way of life.
Heading to Muzdalifah
On the day of Arafat, after sunset, the pilgrims move from Arafat to Muzdalifah, an 11-kilometre-long journey. Here the pilgrims spend the night under the sky, performing Salah and resting for the next day’s rituals. The pilgrims may also collect 49 pebbles for the stoning ritual.
Rami (stoning the Devil) and Hady (animal sacrifice)
The 10th day of Dhul-Hijjah is Eid al-Adha, also known as Yawm al-Nahr, or the Day of Sacrifice (Qurbani). The pilgrims start their journey from Muzdalifah towards Mina after the Fajr prayers. Once in Mina, the pilgrims perform a symbolic stoning of the devil by throwing pebbles at the largest of the three pillars representing Satan.
Stoning of the devil is followed by the act of Hady or sacrificing an animal, and the meat should be distributed to the needy. After performing the sacrifice, the male pilgrims have to shave their heads while their female counterparts are expected to trim their hair by the length of a fingertip.
Tawaf al-Ifadha and Sa’ee
The pilgrims after the sacrifice and shaving of the hair, head to Mecca to perform Tawaf al-Ifadha and then Sa’ee as part of the Hajj rituals. These are obligatory rituals that need to be performed without fail. With the completion of the Tawaf and Saa’i, you are then allowed to relax and do everything lawful before entering the Ihram. Although the pilgrims have to return to Mina to complete the remaining rituals of Hajj.
The second and third day of Rami
Stones are pelted on the Jamarat each day and a dua is made after the pelting of stones. The pelting starts with Jamarah al-Ula (the small pillar), then Jamarah al-Wusta (the middle pillar) and finally, Jamarah al-Aqaba (the largest pillar). The same ritual is followed every day while the pilgrims stay at Mina. On the afternoon of 12th Dhul Hijjah, for one last time, pilgrims have to stone the pillars.
Tawaf al-Wida (Farewell Tawaf)
The farewell tawaf is the last step before the completing Hajj and departing from Mecca. Tawaf al-Wida is an obligatory step in the process of Hajj and must be performed by every Muslim pilgrim for the successful completion of the holy pilgrimage of Hajj.
This marks the successful completion of the pilgrimage. The pilgrims in some cases prefer to go to Medinah, the city where Prophet Muhammad is buried along with some of his closest companions. And even though it is not compulsory, many wish to visit Medinah after the completion of Hajj. The holy pilgrimage of Hajj is still a dream of many and if you are lucky enough to visit Mecca to perform Hajj, use the above article to simply understand the steps involved in successfully performing Hajj.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Hajj?
Hajj is a sacred pilgrimage undertaken every year by millions of practising Muslims from around the globe. It is one of the five pillars of Islam and an obligatory pilgrimage for all those who are able-bodied and financially stable.
- Why Do Muslims Perform Hajj?
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, meaning it is obligatory for every able-bodied and financially stable Muslim.
- Where is Hajj performed?
To perform the sacred Hajj pilgrimage, Muslims from around the world come to the holy Kaaba in Masjid Al-Haram, which is located in the city of Mecca, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.