Hajj is a pilgrimage to Mecca that all able-bodied Muslims with the financial capacity must complete at least once in their lifetime. It involves wearing simple white garments, performing rituals, and spending time in prayer. Women may need permission to travel alone and can wear plain black or white dresses. The Hajj is a spiritual time for Muslims and represents the fulfillment of a promise to Allah.
Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam for Sunni Muslims and is one of the ten branches of religion prescribed by Shia Muslims. It requires that all able-bodied Muslims with the financial capacity to do so make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime. The Hajj must be completed during the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar, called Dhu al-Hijjah. For the many Muslims who make the Hajj, it is an extremely spiritual time, as they walk in Muhammad’s footsteps and perform rituals that duplicate parts of Muhammad’s journey on earth.
Men can perform Hajj alone or in the company of friends and family. Women traveling alone during Hajj often need permission from a male family member for travel. Women are further encouraged to travel with a family member or may be allowed to do Hajj with an all-female group.
All pilgrims doing Hajj wear a simple white garment and sandals. Women may wear a plain black or white dress, but most men wear a hemless wrapped garment called an Ihram. Ihram, worn by all, signifies the equality of all people doing Hajj and represents the sins that are blotted out by Hajj.
The first step after changing into Ihram and saying a prayer praising Allah is to complete the Umrah. This begins in Mecca with all pilgrims going around the Ka’aba, a large black stone in the center of Mecca that was placed there by Muhammad. Many people then walk seven times between Safa and Mawah hills.
Once the Umrah is completed, pilgrims performing Hajj spend a day in Arafat in prayer that lasts until sunset. Next, they advance to Muzdalifah where they will collect 21 pebbles to be used in a ritual stoning at three places representing Satan.
After spending the night in Muzdalifah, those who perform Hajj go to Mina where they have to spend two days. On the first day, an animal is sacrificed. Many people simply buy a voucher for an animal sacrifice. Part of the animal must be given to the poor. The next day, pilgrims throw stones at three defined stations to metaphorically repel and defeat Satan.
After the two days in Mina, the pilgrims return to Mecca, where they remove the Ihram and dress in normal clothes. Most men shave their heads and women have to cut off an inch of hair. This completes the Hajj, although some may also make the journey to Medina to visit the tomb of the Prophet Muhammad and the seat or site of Islam’s rise to power.
Hajj can be difficult to perform and some people have occasionally been injured in the process. In particular, the walk among the hills and the ritual stonings resulted in people being trampled or injured. However, this religious exercise is for most Muslims one of the greatest life deeds they will ever accomplish. It offers spiritual renewal, jihad and the fulfillment of a promise to Allah, which specified how Muslims are to live their lives through the Prophet Muhammad.
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