Hardeep Sidhu 10SHn

Hajj Coursework

What is Hajj?

Hajj means “inhabitation” and in Islamic terminology refers to the pilgrimage to the mosque of the noble Ka’bah in the magnificent city of Mecca. Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca, it is one of the five basic requirements of Islam. Muslims should make this journey at least once in their lifetime, it is a duty for all Muslims to visit the Ka’bah and stand before God on Mount Arafat. Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam. The true Hajj is to be made between the 8th and 13th of Dul Hijjah, which is the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar.

        

Explain why a Muslim might take part in Hajj

A fit and materially able Muslim man or woman is obligated to undertake the Hajj once in his/her lifetime. This act combines the pecuniary and bodily types of worship and symbolises the faithful response of mankind to God's call Muslims go on Hajj to do the last of the five basic duties that have been asked by God, and to follow the example of the prophet Muhammad (pbuh), and to get their sins forgiven. Before going on Hajj the person must be Muslim, the must be sane and able to understand the spiritual importance of what they are doing, they must be physically fit and they must be able to pay for the journey without having to take the money from anyone else with dishonesty. The whole area around the city of Mecca is a special area. When the pilgrims arrive there, they do certain things in order to set themselves apart from ordinary life, and put their hearts, minds and souls in a proper state for what is to come. Male pilgrims replace their clothes with two pieces of white cloth one around the waist and the other over the left shoulder. Female pilgrims wear plain white clothes that cover every part of every body except their hands and faces. Women are able to have their faces uncovered during the Hajj because the opposite sex are also on Hajj and should not have any sexual thoughts about the women. Pilgrims must also go bare foot or wear sandals that don’t cover toes or heels. The pilgrims identical dress symbolizes that everyone is equal no one classes any one as wealthy or poor. During the pilgrimage all the pilgrims obey strict rules which are that everyone must behave as a servant of God, everyone must try to stay sincere, anger and arguments must be avoided, sexual activities and thoughts are forbidden, men may not wear jewellery, no-one may use perfume and soap must be unscented, hair and fingernails must not be cut and men must leave their heads uncovered, it is a sign of humility. Muslims may not kill any animal except fleas, bedbugs, scorpions and snakes and no plants may be cut down or uprooted so as not to interfere with nature.

Describe what taking part in the Hajj involves

It involves leaving behind their family and property and going to visit the holiest divine sanctuary of Islam along with millions of the faithful, to renew their pledge to their Creator and come back as one reborn. The Hajj Timetable begins with Tawaf. All pilgrims begin with Tawaf. The pilgrims go to the Great Mosque at Mecca and go round the Ka'bah seven times anti-clockwise. If they can do so, they will run, as this shows even more love for Allah. As they go round they recite (in Arabic) "Here I am at your service, O God, Here I am". If a pilgrim can get close enough they will touch or kiss the Black Stone. If they can't get close enough they will salute it from a distance. As the pilgrim goes round the Ka'bah they can focus on the idea that God is at the centre of their life, and is the source of all meaning in their life. They also see that they are part of the greater Muslim community as they all take part in the Tawaf together. The circling shows the unity of the pilgrims in the worship of one God. The second thing they would do is Saiy, which is the running. The pilgrims walk seven times between the hills of al-Safa and al-Marwa. This commemorates the time when Hajar and Isma'il were lost in the desert and had nothing to drink. Hajar ran between the two hills repeatedly in the hope of seeing someone with some water. No-one appeared, but despite her thirst Hajar still believed. At that moment an angel appeared and showed her a spring of water.The spring is called the Zamzam well. The third place, on the ninth day the pilgrims walk to the plain of Arafat, where they stand in the blazing sunshine from noon until nightfall. Each pilgrim spends the time in meditation, self-examination and repentance. They then walk 5 miles to Muzdalifah to spend the night in prayer. Eid-ul-Adha is the feast of sacrifice. The pilgrims travel to the village of Mina, where they throw stones at 3 stone pillars. The pilgrims spend several days at Mina. After stoning the first pillar each pilgrim sacrifices an animal to symbolise the time when Ibrahim sacrificed a ram to God. The Hajj ends when the pilgrims return to Mecca and circle the Ka'bah again.

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Explain the meaning and significance of the events of Hajj for a Muslim                       The first thing the Muslims do when they arrive in Mecca is get into the state of Ihram. Everyone washes them self and dresses in white. The male pilgrim's garb of two unsown white cloths must be worn upon entering the sacred state of pilgrimage and it symbolises the bare weakness, dependence, and universal equality of people before their Creator. This is the preparation for the pilgrimage ahead. They do this to cleanse and purify themselves. ...

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