Hajj: Things to note about the pilgrimage to Makkah
By Tribune Online
Hajj: Things to note about the pilgrimage to Makkah
As one of the five pillars of Islam, is prescribed to all able Muslims to make the Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah at least once in their lifetime. It is one of the basic tenets of Islam that, combined with the four other pillars, form a foundation of life for Muslims.
Hajj is an annual pilgrimage to the holiest city for Muslims, Makkah in Saudi Arabia, during Dhul Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar.
The ritual literally translates as “to attend a journey” and denotes both the outward act of physically travelling and the inward act of an individual’s contemplation of their faith.
Each year, millions of Muslims travel to Makkah to perform Hajj, with many also travelling on north to the city of Madinah.
In 2018, nearly two million people made the journey, with the Saudi government allocating a set number of pilgrims from each country to avoid overcrowding.
What is Hajj?
The world’s largest annual pilgrimage, Hajj, requires the faithful to repeat a set of rituals first performed by the Prophet Mohammad centuries ago.
The event is a deeply spiritual experience for Muslims, and one that every believer aspires to take part in at some point in their life, if they are able.
Those who are unable to perform the pilgrimage for financial or health reasons are exempt. If they can afford it, Muslims can have someone perform the Hajj on their behalf, with Sharia advising they fund someone who would otherwise be unable to attend.
The history of Hajj
Though Hajj has been performed in its current form annually for more than 1,300 years, some of its elements trace back to the time of Prophet Ibrahim in 1813 BC.
It is said God ordered Prophet Ibrahim to leave his wife, Hagar, and son, Ismail, alone in the desert of ancient Makkah.
Hagar, desperately searching for water for Ismail, ran between two small hills: Al Safa and Al Marwa seven times. When she returned to her son, she saw him scratching at the ground and it is said a miracle from God caused a spring to well up beneath them. Today, pilgrims pace between these two mountains as part of the rituals of Hajj in remembrance of that miracle. The site is now the Well of Zamzam.
Even the Kaaba is tied to Prophet Ibrahim who built it with the help of his son under orders from God who told him to invite people to make pilgrimage there. It is said the black stone used to build the Kaaba was supplied by the Angel Gabriel who brought it from Heaven.
Some time before Islam was introduced in 610 CE, the Kaaba became a site for pagan worship. Twenty years later, Prophet Mohammad led his followers from Makkah to Madinah where they destroyed the pagan idols. The Prophet performed his first and only Hajj with a large number of followers, in 632 CE.
Those accompanying the Prophet observed his every move and these steps are performed in the same sequence today.
When is Hajj and how long does it last?
This year, Hajj may begin on August 9. It lasts between four and six days, depending on the speed of the pilgrim.
Day 1: The Day of Tarwiyah
The day of Tarwiyah falls on the 8th of Dhu Al Hijjah. On this day, pilgrims begin their Hajj from the Kaaba, the holiest site in Islam as it holds in the Masjid Al Haram, a structure in the middle of the Kaaba that Muslims believe was placed by Prophet Ibrahim thousands of years ago.
As they approach the Kaaba, pilgrims must circumambulate in a counter-clockwise direction, meant to express the devotion of Muslims praying to one God.
They must then perform Sa’ey, whereby Muslims re-enact the journey by Hagar, the Prophet Ibrahim’s wife, as she went between two small hills in Makkah, Al Safa and Al Marwa, looking for water for her son Ismail. Muslims pace between the two points in remembrance of the miracle whereby God caused a spring to well up from underneath an exhausted Hagar. It is today the Well of Zamzam.
Pilgrims then depart for Mina, five kilometers away, where they recite prayers and spend the night in the valley where Prophet Ibrahim stoned the devil as he tried to lead him astray.
Day 2: The Day of Arafah
The day of Arafah is a pivotal day of Hajj. After the Fajr prayer in Mina, pilgrims make the journey to Mount Arafat, a 70-metre hill believed to be where the Prophet Mohammed gave his final sermon. Standing and praying on Mount Arafat is considered the peak of the pilgrimage.
Descending from Mount Arafat, pilgrims make their way to Muzdalifah, to the south of Mina, to pray and collect pebbles to perform the last steps of Hajj. It is recommended to collect 70 pebbles.
Day 3: Stoning Jamrat Al Aqabah
On this day, pilgrims must stone Jamrat Al Aqabah, the place where the devil is said to have appeared before Prophet Ibrahim. Here pilgrims must throw seven pebbles one after the other while saying Allahu Akbar (God is greatest) after each throw. Each pebble should be the size of a fava bean. The act mimics that of Prophet Ibrahim who was told by the angel Gabriel to pelt the devil with stones.
After the stoning, the pilgrims’ sacrificial animal should be slaughtered. Then the man should either shave his head or cut his hair, and the woman should cut the length of a fingertip from her hair.
Day 4: Eid Al Adha
The fourth day, which is also Eid Al Adha, pilgrims will spend the three days of the festival stoning and praying. They end their Hajj with a ritual sacrifice of a sheep. Some pilgrims return to the Jamrat to throw seven sets of stones at the three pillars again to cement their intention and in the hope that Allah will accept their Hajj.
Hajj finale: Tawaf Al Ifadha
Before leaving Makkah, pilgrims, now referred to as Hajjis, shed their white or black robes and don their Eid finest. Makkah becomes a kaleidoscope of colour as pilgrims perform a final, farewell Tawaf known as Tawaf Al Ifadha where they circumambulate the Kaaba one final time.
The importance of Hajj
Hajj is a deeply spiritual experience for Muslims, and one that every believer aspires to take part in at some point in their life, if they are able.
Those who are unable to perform the pilgrimage for financial or health reasons are exempt. If they can afford it, Muslims can have someone perform the Hajj on their behalf, with Sharia advising they fund someone who would otherwise be unable to attend.
For many pilgrims, the journey to Makkah is the first time they will leave their countries or board planes. More than half of those performing Hajj visit from low-income countries, and 18 per cent come from conflict-ridden states.
According to Sunnah, or the way of the Prophet, Hajj Al Tamattu is the most preferred method of performing the pilgrimage. Along with Hajj Al Qiran, it differs from Hajj Al Ifrad in that the latter entails performing only Hajj, while the other two require performing Umrah, or minor pilgrimage, before.
Before setting off for Hajj, Muslims must first purify and declare their Niyyah, or intention, to God. Their Niyyah for Hajj should be sincere and for the sake of Allah only, not other worldly matters.
Pilgrims must also enter what is known as a state of Ihram, whereby they prepare their bodies and mind for the rituals ahead. This requires them to recite an intention and adhere to a certain dress code.
No cases of epidemics or quarantine-requiring diseases have been reported among pilgrims congregating in the weeks before Hajj, and the health situation so far is reassuring.
Every year, the Saudi Ministry of Health issues a list of vaccinations required of all pilgrims intending to perform Hajj, according to World Health Organisation (WHO) standards.
This year, the ministry has asked for meningitis, yellow fever and polio vaccinations. Citizens from certain countries might have to take receive additional vaccines depending on the prevalent communicable diseases.
In 2017, the ministry asked the elderly and those with weak immune systems to reschedule their Hajj due to fears over an outbreak of Mers, or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome.
Outbreaks of cholera and the Ebola virus in different parts of the world have raised fears of an epidemic at Hajj, but authorities have taken every measure to avoid this.
Where to eat during Hajj
Over the centuries, Makkah has become a sprawling city with malls, restaurants, hospitals and other facilities catering to residents and the influx of visitors the city experiences throughout the year.
For millions of pilgrims, eating during Hajj can be a challenging prospect as some days of the pilgrimage do not allow for a trip back to the city. Food is available in the camps in Mina, in tents set up to tend to pilgrims, but also throughout the city in Makkah.
The ministry sends out inspection teams to monitor food for hygiene and to ensure that there is enough. The ministry also monitors prices to ensure that restaurants and grocery shops do not overcharge.
All tour agencies, through whom the bulk of pilgrims from abroad arrange their Hajj, provide all-inclusive packages with meals, transportation and accommodation.
Food is typically served in massive tents, either in Mina or around Mount Arafat, in buffet style. However, pilgrims are advised not to overeat as Hajj requires an intense amount of walking, praying and standing as they move from place to place.
Source: www.thenational.ae
Hajj: Things to note about the pilgrimage to Makkah
Tribune Online