Describe what happens when a Muslim participates on Hajj.

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Describe what happens when a Muslim participates on Hajj (24 marks).

Hajj takes place between the 8th and 13th of Dhul-Hijjah (twelfth month of the Muslim calendar) and is a series of religious activities between these dates and there are different types of Hajj with slight variations.

Before Muslims leave their home to go to Hajj they must do various things. They must obtain a free hajj Visa from the Saudi Consulate giving the pilgrim the right to go to Mecca, Arafat and other areas on Hajj as well as the right to go to Medina. Various Pieces of documentation must be given including a passport which is valid for at least another six months. Furthermore, the Hajji must take a series of vaccinations including meningitis and get a certificate of vaccination from their doctor to be able to get a Hajj Visa. Furthermore, female pilgrims must be accompanied by a Mahram (chaperone who is an immediate family member) unless over forty-five then she may be in an organised group during Hajj. The pilgrim will also need to book tickets, obtain accommodation and probably obtain a guide for the duration of Hajj. The Pilgrim will probably get a travel agent who offers Hajj packages to sort out the tickets, accommodation and produce an itinerary for the pilgrim.

There are various other preparations and prerequisites for Hajj. The pilgrim must be mature enough and knowledgeable enough to understand fully the significance of Hajj. Therefore, many pilgrims undertake Hajj lessons and buy or borrow books to prepare mentally and spiritually for hajj by learning about the pilgrimage, conditions to perform Hajj correctly and learn various supplications. The pilgrim must be able pay for all the expenses of Hajj but also provide for any dependents until their return and the money must be from Halal (legitimate) sources. Moreover, the Muslim community raise money for those who cannot go on Hajj without their financial aid. The pilgrim should also make a last will and testimony in case they die during Hajj. Furthermore, all debts and financial responsibilities will be tried to be resolved before starting the journey. The pilgrim will also seek forgiveness and try to make amends with those who he or she may have hurt in the past.

Before the pilgrim leaves for Hajj he or she will make sure to take ihram, medicine, money to buy food during Hajj, travellers cheques, a Qur’an, razors, Musalla (prayer mat) and various other things for use during Hajj as well as an inflatable pillow and heavy sheet for sleeping on during the night at Muzdalifah. The hajji will also make sure to take a sturdy suitcase with a lock. The pilgrim if living far away will travel by plane to Jeddah international airport before heading to Mecca to perform their hajj. Then during their pilgrimage they will probably be lead by a mutawwif (official guide).

Firstly, after arriving in Saudi Arabia the pilgrim who wants to perform Hajj al-Tamattu’ (greater pilgrimage) will perform the Umrah. The person will bathe then put on the Ihram and pronounce his intention to perform Umrah before the 8th of Dhul-Hijjah before entering the area of Miqat. The state of Ihram is an obligatory rite in performing Hajj or Umrah which involves males wearing 2 pieces of un-sewn and plain cloth. One piece is wrapped around the midriff to cover the body from the navel to the ankles’, and is forty-five by one hundred and twenty inches in size and is called the Izar. The other cloth is arranged around the shoulder to cover the upper body and is forty-five by seventy-two inches and is called the Reda’. Women are not required to wear the cloth and wear their Hijab. However, women are not allowed to cover their faces. Various acts are also restricted whilst in the state of ihram including: cutting hair, putting on perfumes or killing animals. The Talbiyyah (proclamation of obedience) is also said as often as possible from when the pilgrim begins wearing the Ihram until the end of Hajj. Male pilgrims will say the Talbiyyah loudly while females will say it quietly. The pilgrim must also wear the Ihram before crossing the boundaries of Miqat which are marked by different locations around the Ka’aba. It is also recommended that the pilgrim perform two Rak’at (unit) of Nafl prayer at Miqat.

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Then pilgrims will make sure to make Wudu (ritual ablution) before entering the Haram Sharif where the Ka’aba is located. The pilgrim will always try to enter the mosque by entering with their right foot first. The pilgrim will then perform two rak’at of Nafl prayer as with every time the pilgrim enters a mosque and perform the obligatory prayer if it is time for it. The pilgrim will then find a space on the four floors of the Great mosque to pray. The pilgrim will then perform three and a half anti-clockwise circumambulations of the ka’aba starting from ...

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