Hajj (Pilgrimage)
The word “Hajj” means that “to
set for a place”. For Muslims it additionally means that the annual pilgrim's
journey to Mecca they need to create a minimum of once in their life.
The hajj is associate degree
annual Islamic pilgrim's journey to Mecca, and a compulsory non secular duty
for Muslims that has got to be distributed a minimum of once in their period of
time by all adult Muslims WHO area unit physically and financially capable of
enterprise the journey, and might support their family throughout their
absence. It’s one amongst the 5 pillars of Islam, aboard witness, Salat, Zakat,
and Sawm. The gathering throughout hajj is taken into account the biggest
annual gathering of individuals within the world. The state of being physically
and financially capable of acting the hadj is termed istitaah, and a Muslim WHO
fulfills this condition is termed a mustati. The hajj may be a demonstration of
the commonality of the Muslim folks, and their submission to God (Allah). The
word hajj suggests that "to intend a journey", that connotes each the
outward act of a journey and therefore the inward act of intentions.
The pilgrim's journey happens
from the eighth to twelfth of Dhu al-Hijjah, the last month of the Moslem
calendar. as a result of the Muslim calendar is satellite and therefore the
Islamic year is regarding eleven days shorter than the Gregorian year, the Gregorian
date of hajj changes from year to year. Ihram is that the names given to the
special non secular state within which pilgrims wear 2 white sheets of seamless
textile and abstain from sure things.
The hajj is related to the
lifetime of Islamic prophet Muhammad from the seventh century; however the
ritual of pilgrim's journey to Mecca is taken into account by Muslims to
stretch back thousands of years to the time of patriarch. throughout hajj,
pilgrims be a part of processions of many thousands of individuals, WHO at the
same time converge on Mecca for the week of the hajj, and perform a series of
rituals: everyone walks counter-clockwise seven times round the Kaba (the
cubic building and therefore the
direction of prayer for the Muslims), runs back and forth between the hills of
Al-Safa and Al-Marwah, drinks from the Zamzam Well, goes to the plains of Mount
solon to square in vigil, spends an evening within the plain of Muzdalifa, and
performs symbolic lapidating of the devil by throwing stones at 3 pillars. The
pilgrims then shave their heads, perform a ritual of animal sacrifice, and
celebrate the 3 day international competition of Eid al-Adha.
Pilgrims may also head to
Mecca to perform the rituals at different times of the year. This can be typically
known as the "lesser pilgrimage", or Um-rah. However, notwithstanding
they favor to perform the Um-rah, they're still duty-bound to perform the hajj
at another purpose in their period of time if they need the suggestion that to
try to thus.
"Thousands, if not
millions, of individuals on the roads, moving across the country to get to
Mecca." -Hillary Clinton on Asian nation
The pilgrims begin inward by
air, sea, and land throughout the weeks before the journey amount. They
typically arrive into city, Saudi Arabia, the main port town nearest to Makkah
(45 miles distance). From there they travel with their hajj cluster to Makkah.
As they approach Makkah, they stop at one amongst the selected areas to shower
and alter consumer goods, getting into a state of devotion and purity for the
journey. They then begin reciting AN invocation:
Here I am, Oh God, at your
command!
Here I’m at your command!
You are while not associate!
Here I’m at your command!
To your all praise, grace and
dominion!
You are while not associate!
History
The Kaaba
According to Muslims the
pilgrim's journey and its several rituals come back from God, the Muslim god. Patriarch
was entrusted by God to make the Kaaba, or the House of God. Patriarch came to
Mecca to perform pilgrim's journey each year, and once he died his son did
identical. Gradually the Kaaba became lined
with paintings and poems and crammed and encircled with idols, and pagans had
modified the rituals God had set. Then Muhammad was born, and he'd reinstated
the rites of the pilgrim's journey.
Preparation
Muslims carrying Ihram
Muslims square measure
expected to be in an exceedingly state of “Ihram” before they create the
pilgrim's journey. Ihram may be a state of non secular purity. To enter a state
of Ihram pilgrims wash themselves, and men might trim their hair and cut their
nails.
Pilgrims historically wear a
white, seamless, two-piece garment, additionally referred to as Ihram. Whereas
carrying it Muslims cannot shave, clip their nails, fight, and wear fragrance, Wash
their hair with shampoo, wear gloves or socks, or uproot trees. If they do, even
though they did it inadvertently or forgot, they letter of the alphabet
sacrifice associate animal or provide almsgiving to form up for it.
Miqats
If the pilgrim is not in an
exceedingly state of Ihram they cannot pass the Miqats, sure spots a ways from
Mecca. The Miqats square measure Dhu'l-Hulayfah, Juhfa, Qarn al-Manazil, Dhat
Irq, and Yalamlam.
Rites
Once the pilgrim has entered
Ihram, they will begin the rites.
Day of solon
Mount solon was the location
of Muhammad's last sermon, and pilgrims come back to hope until sunset.
Pilgrims continue from Mount solon to Muzdalifah, wherever they pay the night
and collect pebbles for subsequent day's rites. They’re going to keep in Muzdalifah
until before sunrise.
Eid Day
Pilgrims head to mynah bird to
symbolically stone the devil. They throw seven stones at Jamarat, the most
important of 3 columns. The spot in mynah bird wherever the columns square
measure is believed to be wherever the devil gave the impression to attempt to
convert patriarch to decline God and not sacrifice his son. In line with the
story patriarch afraid he away by throwing stones. They follow this by
sacrificing associate animal, representing however God replaced Abraham's son
with a ram to sacrifice instead.
Afterward, pilgrims trim or
shave their hair and alter out of their Ihram wear. Several still Mecca to
circle the Kaba seven times and walk seven times between the hills of Safa and
Marwa before heading back to mynah bird.
Mina
The pilgrims pay the last days
of the pilgrim's journey in mynah bird. day after day they symbolically stone
the devil once more, however this point they throw seven pebbles at every of
the 3 columns. Then they circle the Kaba one last time before exploit.
Medina
Some pilgrims head to Medina
once finishing the pilgrim's journey. There they will visit the graves of
Muhammad and his highest companions.
Women Pilgrims
In times there square measure
lots a lot of Muslim girl’s playacting the pilgrim's journey then before.
However, they are not allowed to form the pilgrim's journey while not a guardian
and their visa may even be denied if they do not have one. This can be as a
result of Muhammad reportedly aforementioned "No lady ought to travel except
in company of a (Mahram)". By Mahram he meant a husband or buddy to
safeguard and accompany the lady. Currently it is also even by Muslims as a
result of their square measure folks who'd profit of a girl traveling on her
own. Also, within the Prophet's house of worship there is not the maximum
amount area for ladies to hope, and girls pilgrims got to get there early to
seek out a spot.
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