Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, is a pilgrimage to Mecca – Islam’s holiest city. All Muslims of a sane mind, an able body and able to bear the expenses, must perform this act of worship at least once in his/her lifetime. Performed during the Islamic month of Dhul-Hijjah, and lasting 5-days, Hajj is a series of ritual acts, which symbolize the lives of Abraham and his son Ishmael.
Sequence of the Hajj Journey:
Day 1
Ihram: Before entering the Holy city of Mecca, the pilgrim must first perform a ritual cleansing and wear special Ihram garments, which consist of two unhemmed white sheets, which are draped across the body. In doing so, the pilgrim declares their intention to complete the Hajj and abstain from the restricted acts, such as using perfume, trimming their nails, or sexual intercourse.
Umrah: Once in Mecca, the pilgrims enter the The Sacred Mosque (Masjid Al Haram). In the centre of the Mosque stands a cubic building 15 meters (49 ft) high and 10 meters (33 ft) wide. This, the Kaaba, was built by Abraham and Ishmael as a house of worship, and is considered the center of the Muslim world. Embedded in the South Eastern corner of the Kaaba is the black stone (al-Hajar-ul-Aswad), which is believed to be have fallen from heaven and turned black from the absorption of sin.
Entering the Mosque, the pilgrims perform their first Tawaf. In a Tawaf, the pilgrims circle the Kaaba seven times and kiss the black stone on each rotation. Because of the vast number of Muslims that make the pilgrimage each year, (over 2 million in 2007), it is not possible for each pilgrim to reach the black stone. After Tawaf, on the same day, the pilgrims perform sa`i, running or walking seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwah, which are 450 meters (492 yards) apart. This is a re-enactment of Hagar’s (Abraham's wife) frantic search for water for their son Ishmael, before an angel revealed to her the ZamZam Well.
At the end of the first day, pilgrims travel to Mina, an open field three miles to the east of Mecca, where they continue their prayers.
Day 2
Arafat: On the second day of Hajj, the pilgrims travel 14.4 km (9 miles) east from Mina to Mount Arafat – the place of the last sermon of the profit Muhammad. Considered the culminating experience of Hajj, pilgrims spend the afternoon in contemplative vigil. From afternoon to sunset, they stand facing Mecca, in prayer and reflection. In the evening after Arafat, pilgrims leave for Muzdalifah, traveling 9 km (5.6 miles).
Muzdalifah: At Muzdalifah, which is located between Arafat and Mina, the pilgrims sleep without tents. They spend the night in prayer and gather stones for the next day’s ritual “stoning of the devil.” Before the sun has risen, the pilgrims return to Mina.
Day 3
Ramy al-jamarāt: On the third day, in Mina, pilgrims perform the stoning of the devil (ramy) where they throw their stone pebbles at the largest of three Jamarat pillars that represent the temptations of Satan. When throwing the stones, the pilgrims recall the story of Satan’s attempt to dissuade Abraham from following God’s command to sacrifice his son. After the stoning, an animal is sacrificed, either by the pilgrim or through the appointment of some one else.
Tawaf al-Ifadah: Returning to Mecca on the same day, Pilgrims revisit The Sacred Mosque for an additional Tawaf, called Tawaf al-Ifadah, which symbolizes being in a hurry to respond to God, an obligatory part of the Hajj.
As a final sacrifice, the pilgrim then shaves his/her head or cuts off a portion of hair. Following this act, all of the restrictions of Ihram are lifted, meaning that they can wear everyday clothing, wear perfume, etc.
Day 4 / 5
The Days of Tashriq: The pilgrims then return to Mina for two days. On each of the two days, pilgrims, again, stone the Jamarat pillars, each with seven stones. The throwing of the stones is not mandatory for the physically weak, or women. These two days are spent in contemplative prayer.
On the fifth day, pilgrims return to Mecca where a Farewell Tawaf is performed and the Hajj is complete.
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