pilgrimage to Mecca

Hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca is one of the five fundamental pillars of Islam. It is obligatory once in a life time for every Muslim who can afford the pilgrimage and is not hampered by disease, poverty, debt or a tyrannical ruler. Arriving from every corner of the globe, Muslim pilgrims of every age, nationality, social class and color converge in Mecca to perform Hajj each year. The image of millions of Muslim pilgrims performing Hajj is always one of the most overwhelming sights mankind ever witnesses.

When setting out for the pilgrimage, one of the first things that Muslims do is that they shed all indications of their personal wealth and class distinction by wearing simple white garments called Ihram. The purpose of the Ihram clothing is to ensure that all worldly differences between mankind are eradicated. It trains the pilgrims to consider themselves equal before Allah with only piety and good deeds as measure of their true wealth. The ihram is a symbol of simplicity, purity and equality, and it signifies that the pilgrim is in a state of worship.

A Muslim who intends to perform Hajj must make sure, before departing for Hajj that his family is provided for during the period he is away for the Hajj. He should pay up his debt and seek forgiveness from fellow human being whom he might have caused harm in the past. He should be diligent in observing Salat (five daily prayers) and Sawm (fasting) in the month of Ramadhan as well as carrying out other religious obligations. He must shun all arrogance and exhibit a character of modesty and humbleness. He must not use unlawfully acquired money or unlawful means to perform Hajj. He should seek sincere repentance from Allah of all his past sins. In short, one should depart for Hajj just like one would wish to depart from this world.

Hajj advice: How to make travel arrangements for Hajj

Hajj: The pilgrimage to Makkah (Mecca)

Makkah: The holy place for all muslims

Memoirs: My pilgrimage to Mecca

Method of Hajj in Brief

Hajj is an all embracing worship in which a Muslim shows his willingness to sacrifice his wealth, time, physical and mental energy, possessions and material comforts for sake of Allah. The Holy Quran says in Surah Al 'Imran

"The pilgrimage thereto is a duty man owes to Allah, thosewho can afford the journey."

• The pilgrims reach Miqat, the point where they adopt the state of Ihram and pronounce their intention to perform Hajj.
• They proclaim "talbiyah" in these words "Here I am at Your service O Lord, here I am. Here I am at Your service and You have no partners. Yours alone is All Praise and All Bounty, and Yours alone is The Sovereignty. You have no partners."
• The pilgrims reach Kaaba to perform "tawaaf" which means to circumambulate the Kaabah seven times in counter clockwise direction.
• Then pilgrims go to Safa and Marwa to perform "sa'ee" in memory of Prophet Ibraheem's wife who ran seven times between these hills in search of water for her infant son Ismail.
• On 8^th zul Hajj, the pilgrims reach Mina before noon and offer prayers.
• On 9^th Zul Hajj the pilgrims go to Arafah, a barren valley six miles from Makkah for prayers, listening to Hajj sermon and supplications.
• After sunset, the pilgrims go to Muzdalifah and spend the night there.
• On 10^th Zul Hajj, pilgrims come back to Mina and go to Jamrah tul Aqaba for throwing pebbles. This act commemorates the event when Satan tried to lead astray Prophet Ibraheem and the latter threw pebbles at him at three different points.
• Then they offer sacrifice for Eid-ul-Adha. Men shave their heads and women cut a lock of hair.
• Pilgrims go back to Makkah to perform tawaaf.
• On 11^th, 12^th, and 13^th Zul Hajj, the pilgrims go to Mina and stay there for Ramee al Jamarat.
• Pilgrims offer the farewell tawaaf around Kaaba and offer prayers. Many pilgrims visit the sacred city of Madinah before returning to their homelands.