For Muslims there is even a Hajj terminal at Jeddah airport to ease the journey to Mecca, the terminal takes ten jumbo jets at a time! Muslims on the Hajj get a feeling of being part of a great big family. Inconveniences and difficulties are brushed aside by the emotion, joy and triumph of being on a pilgrimage for Allah.
The Hajj starts from the moment a Muslim arrives in Mecca. The first thing a Muslim does is go to the Ka’bah and run round it seven times, no matter what time of day it is. This is called tawaf. If they can get near to the Ka’bah they must kiss it or touch it. The next thing they must do is the sa’y; this is when the Muslims walk seven times between Safa and Marwah. Before Muslims can enter Mecca they must be in their sacred state, which is also know as being ihram. All normal clothes must be taken off and replaced with two, white, unsewn sheets, one wrapped around the waist, and one over the shoulder. The women wear a plain undecorated, ankle length, long-sleeved garment leaving only their hands and faces bare. They all must wear nothing on their feet or sandals leaving their toes and heels uncovered.
The place in Mecca where the Hajj is walked is called haram, which means sacred. A Muslim must walk the following journey to complete the Hajj:
- The great Mosque – this is the start and finish place of the Hajj, it also contains the Ka’bah.
- The Ka’bah – This is where Muslims, anywhere in they world pray towards five times a day. The Ka’bah is set in the courtyard of the great mosque, and is 15.25m tall. It has the words of the Qur’an embroidered, and hung on it.
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Plain of Arafat and mount Mercy – Muslims must stay here from noon to dusk on the 9th Dhul Hajja. This is where they stand before Allah and is considered one of the most important parts of the Hajj. This is called wuquf.
- Muzdalifah – This is where the Muslims camp overnight on their journey between Arafat and Mecca. This is where they pick up pebbles to throw at Mina.
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Mina – This is where they stone the devil on the 10th Dhul Hajja, and continues onto the 11th and 12th. They throw 7 pebbles at each of the three pillars. Some Muslims continue to the 13th.
Explain the meaning and significance of the events of the Hajj for Muslims?
Each section of the Hajj has a meaning or action and significance from the past. When a Muslim first goes to the ka’bah they are symbolising their love for their God. They then walk seven times between Safa and Marwah, this is for them to think they too can feel how Hajar did as she searched for water. The clothes they wear symbolise equality and self-sacrifice. All of the other places on the Hajj have meanings as well.
- The great Mosque – This is the Mosque, which all Muslims wish to go to in order to feel part of the Muslim family, and belong to their God.
- The Ka’bah – The meaning of the ka’bah is when Adam was sent down from heaven and he walked until he got to Arabia, where God let down the ka’bah for Adam to pray.
- Plain of Arafat and mount Mercy – This is where God is said to reunite Adam and Eve.
- Mina –This signifies when Ibrahim and his family resisted temptation not to sacrifice his son, as Allah requested. This is where the devil is stoned.
What difficulties might there be for a Muslim performing Hajj?
Whilst on the Hajj a Muslim may encounter several physical and mental difficulties. I think the hardest and most obvious problem to overcome is the physical intensity of it, and collapsing because of heat, and exhaustion. The rules of the Hajj are mainly mentally hard to follow. Muslims are expected to completely forget about the opposite sex, and their husbands and wife’s. No one must use soap or perfume; this might be hard for some Muslims to grasp. It must be quite hard to physically feel sweaty, unwashed, and not able to cut their hair or fingernails. I can’t even start to imagine what it is like to walk those many miles barefooted on the hot ground. It is important that Muslims remain equal throughout the Hajj, wearing the same clothes, and treating others the same. This might be a difficulty for a wealthy man, who at home is allowed to treat his wife as he pleases, and is allowed to tell others what to do. Muslims may not fight or squabble, whilst taking part in the Hajj, which would be quite hard if one of them feels another is doing something wrong and the second one doesn’t think he is in the right. For children participating in the Hajj having to stay silent from dawn to dusk is a very long time for them. All the time having to concentrate on God, and nothing else.
How might participating in Hajj affect the life of a believer?
Once a Muslim has completed the Hajj, he/she will feel fully part of the Muslim family. The enjoyment of completing the 5th pillar makes them feel spiritually benefited. One of the benefits of completing the Hajj, is that their name gets changed to Hajji, or Hajjah. If a Muslim has this name, it makes all the other Muslims respect them in a different way. The first time a Muslim completes the Hajj, it is one of the toughest things a Muslim must do, but to do it a second time, if possible, may change the life of a believer. When the Hajj is finished, a Muslim may take some water from the Zamzam, to take home for their families. It is believed that the water cures Muslims from disease; this may affect the life of a believer, by healing them of a disease.
“A true pilgrimage is really a journey within.” Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer and show that you have thought about different points of view. You must refer to Islam in your answer.
I think that is up to the Muslim what they believe. Some Muslims are strict Muslims and believe they must do whatever the Qur’an, and the prophet Muhammad said, but others feel that praying occasionally is acceptable. If they really believe that a pilgrimage is really a journey from within, then it is their belief and no man should say a word against it.
“And proclaim among men the pilgrimage, and they shall
come unto thee on foot and upon every lean beast, they
shall come from every deep ravine.” (Qur’an 22:27)
This means that in the Qur’an it tells a Muslim to do the pilgrimage on foot, but I feel if a Muslim feels it is acceptable to spiritually be on a pilgrimage, then it’s all right.
Some Muslims think that the whole point of doing the pilgrimage in the first place is to experience the physical and mental pain that Hargar experienced whilst on her frantic search for water. For these Muslims it is essential that they complete the Hajj at least once in their lifetime. The other sort of Muslims feel that it would be a privilege to complete the Hajj, but if are mentally taking part it is almost the same as physically taking part. They could argue that there is no point in going if there is no spiritual dimension to the journey within. Some feel that way because they cannot afford to go themselves, but if they help to pay for someone else to go, it shows intent.
I think that to be a Muslim physically taking part in the Hajj would be an amazing sensation and opportunity; being united with Muslims from around the world.
