Lets Learn About Hajj

The 12th month of the Islamic calendar is Dhul Hijjah. This is a very special month, as Hajj and Eid al-Adha take place on the 9th and 10th of Dhul Hijjah.

Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam. It is an important duty for Muslims. Hajj is an Arabic word that means pilgrimage to Makkah. All adult Muslims have to perform Hajj at least once in their life if they are well enough and have enough money to do it. Millions of Muslims perform Hajj every year. The people making Hajj are called Hujjaj.

Ihram are the clothes that a Muslim must wear to make Hajj. Men and boys have to wear two pieces of simple white cloth, and women have to be covered in plain clothes, but they don’t have to be white. They have to leave their face and hands showing.

Niyyah means ‘intention’ or ‘aim’. Once the Hujjaj set off on their journey and put on their ihram, they have to make intention. This means that in their hearts they must be going for Hajj simply to please Allah, not to show off. They try not to commit any sins, and they hope Allah forgives them for all their past ones.

While they are in ihram, the Hujjaj say the Talbiyah out loud. They say this while they are on the journey, in the car or aeroplane, until they get to the Ka’bah. Once they get there, the Hujjaj go around the Ka’bah seven times. This is called tawaf. There are special prayers that they say while they do this. Then the Hujjaj drink water from Zam Zam, which is at the same place. They go back and forth seven times between Safa and Marwa, which are two small hills close to the Kabah. This is called sa’i. It is to remember Hajar, the wife of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him), when she was searching for water for their son Isma’il (peace be upon him).

Not very far is Mina, a huge area where all the Hujjaj go by the 8th of Dhul Hijjah. They stay there in tents. From there they go to Arafat on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah, the actual day of Hajj. They spend the whole day praying and asking Allah to forgive them. In the evening they go to another area nearby called Muzdalifah, where they spend the night. They also collect very small pebbles there to use the next day at Mina.

The pebbles are thrown calmly and carefully at a place called the Jamraat, at pillars called the Aqabah. While they throw each pebble they say Allahu Akbar. Then men then have their heads shaved, and the women have a little of their hair cut. The Hujjaj then slaughter an animal, or have one slaughtered for them, and they celebrate Eid al-Adha. These are just some of the main parts of Hajj.