Men must wear two white sheets of unsewn cloth. One is wrapped around the waist and the other over the left shoulder. Women wear a plain ankle length, long-sleeved garment which leaves only their hands and faces bare. Whilst entering Makkah a prayer called the talbiyah is said repeatedly as it is the answer to the devout call to come to Makkah.
The Talbiyah Prayer
When they arrive at Makkah pilgrims go to the Ka’bah and circle it seven times to symbolise their love for God. This is called the tawaf. Whilst they circle the Ka’bah they say prayers, these are called Shawts and there is a different one for each circle of the Ka’bah they do. If pilgrims can reach they kiss or touch the Black Stone, but because of the vast numbers most raise their arms in salute each time they pass. At the end of Hajj this is repeated.
After the circling they proceed to the next event, the s’ay, running seven times between two small hills, Safa and Marwah, in the memory of Hajar’s search for water. This symbolises patience and perseverance and can be very hard in the desert heat. Nowadays there is an ‘expressway’ for the elderly or those in wheelchairs.
The Ka’bah is known as Baitullah, the House of Allah. It is a plain building and is not very striking to look at, but Muslims claim it was the first shrine built to God on earth and that it was built by Adam, the first man. It is believed that when the Prophet captured Makkah he broke up the idols of 360 other ‘gods’ that had been there. Today only very rare visitors are ever allowed inside the Ka’bah to stand at the very centre of Makkah. The inside of the building is a simple room decorated with texts from the Qur’an.
Covering the Ka’bah is a black cloth called the Kiswah. Every year there is a different one, as at the end of the Hajj it is cut up and handed out to pilgrims as a reminder of the greatest journey of their lives. Each year specially chosen men in a factory just outside of Makkah sew the gold lettering around the cloth.
The Black Stone is an oval boulder with a diameter of about 18cm. It is set in the south-east corner of the Ka’bah and marks the start of the walk encircling the shrine. It is protected by a silver frame. It is thought to be a meteorite and is a symbol of that which comes to earth from Heaven.
After running between Marwah and Safa, the pilgrims proceed to a small spring. This spring was found by Hajar as she searched for water for her son, Isma’il. As she searched an angel showed her the spring and Hajar named it zamzam. The spring is in the courtyard of the Mosque in Makkah and pilgrims collect water from it to drink and take home. Some dip their white clothes in it and keep them for use at their burials.
During Hajj the pilgrims are organised into groups with leaders who know where to go and what to do. Around 2 million pilgrims stay in tents on the plain of Arafat, a valley less than two kilometres wide. Mount Arafat is the Mount of Mercy where God is said to have reunited Adam and Eve and it is here that pilgrims make their stand before God. They stand from midday to sunset in the heat, meditating and praying, and concentrating on God. No pilgrims must be late for the stand, or wuquf, as if this is missed then the Hajj is not valid. At the top of Arafat a sermon is delivered to the people. After completing this stage the Muslims may go home from the Hajj with all their sins forgiven and full of inner peace.
After the stand Muslims gather 49 pebbles to throw at the pillars in Mina. When they reach Mina the pilgrims head to the pillars, or Jamaras. There are three stone pillars and at each of these is thrown pebbles. These represent the places where Ibrahim and his family resisted all temptations and stoned the devil.
Next, on 10 Dhul-Hijjah, the Feast of Sacrifice begins. This is not only the climax of the Hajj but also a major festival of the Islamic year. Every Muslim takes part in this feast, even if they are not on Hajj. Everyone thinks about the Muslims making their Hajj and join them in spirit. The pilgrims all camp at Mina for two to three days of the feast and, during this time, each pilgrim must sacrifice an animal.
After the sacrifice, the men have their heads shaved and the women cut off at least 2.5cm of their hair. This is the point where the Ihram ends.
The pilgrims then return to Makkah to encircle the Ka’bah again. Many then go back to Mina for a period of rest and recovery. When they finally return to Makkah for the farewell the pilgrims are at last entitled to take the name Hajji or Hajjah.
