Describe & explain why a Muslim might take part in the Hajj, And what does it involve.

GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)

Name: Ben Gibb

Describe & explain why a Muslim might take part in the Hajj

And what does it involve.

Muslims might go on Hajj to be forgiven or to ‘cleanse and purify themselves not just physically but mentally’ When pilgrims arrive in Makkah they have to wear a set of clothing called Ihram. They wear a long white draped dress. Men wear two pieces of clothing, this is also used to burry them when they die. One piece is wrapped around the hip and the other is wrapped over the right shoulder, showing the right shoulder and this is called Ihram.

A woman wears a long white dress. Women are allowed to uncover their faces on hajj because men won’t look at them with lust. The Ihram is usually put on at a specific entry places into the vicinity of Makkah.

When pilgrims go to the Ka’ba they chant and pray a prayer called ‘Talbiyah

The Ka’ba lies in the middle of a sacred mosque. Muslims walk and circle the Ka’ba in an anti-clockwise direction seven times; while chanting prayers. Circling the Ka’ba seven times is known as Tawaf. Muslims perform tawaf as a group because it shows respect to Allah that you’re all working as a group. While at the Ka’ba they see Al-kiswah. The Al-kiswah is a black cloth hung over the Ka’ba all year round it is inscribed with gold writing which are verses from the .

After all the chanting and rituals Muslims move on to two hills of Al-Safa & ...

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After all the chanting and rituals Muslims move on to two hills of Al-Safa & Al-Marwa.

Now Muslims are off to perform sai’y, Muslims have to walk or run from one tip to another tip of the hill they perform this seven times back and forth between the rocky hillocks of and . This is why a Muslim must be physically fit. When Muslims have finished sai’y they are off to Arafat, the mount of mercy. Arafat is in the desert approximately nine miles east of Makkah. On the day of Arafat is the most important day of Hajj, where the whole day is spent saying prayers and rituals. Some would have started chanting prayers while performing Tawaf, but some like to wait until Arafat because it is said that there is no day when Allah is more likely to listen to prayers than the day of Arafat. After Arafat is finished Muslims proceed to Muzdalifah which lies between Mina and Arafat.

Pilgrims spends ‘the night of the 10th Zul hijjah here, the Zul hijjah is the last month of the Islamic calendar. While in Muzdalifah Muslims collect pebbles and stones for the stoning of the devil in Mina.

In the morning there off to Mina.

Here they throw pebbles they collected at the three pillars; this represents the devil who tried to tempt Abraham away from the command to sacrifice his son Ishmael. Pilgrims stone the devil to say “they rejected the devil”. While in mina pilgrims will sacrifice an animal which might be a goat. The remains of the goat will be given to the poor. At the end of Hajj pilgrims will have a portion of their hair removed and will take water from the ZamZam which is water from a spring. ‘The ZamZam is now held in a marble chamber in the Ka’ba’. The water from the spring are treasured gifts for their families back home.

The whole reason why a Muslim might come on Hajj is because they want to follow in the footsteps of Mohammed and feel closer to Allah. It will also help them personally by respecting Allah and their belief of being a Muslim stronger, it will bring them to believe more and carry on with their faith and aspects of life. And the most important thing why a Muslim might take part in Hajj is because it says it in the Qur’an 3:93 it quotes:

“The true Hajj is made between 8 and 13th Dhul-Hijjah, which is the twelfth month in the Islamic calendar and is the month of pilgrimage. If you go on pilgrimage to Makkah at any other time then this pilgrimage is known as Umrah or a lesser pilgrimage”.

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