In some religions pilgrimage is not an important commitment for all believers, in Islam it is essential. The Hajj, the Pilgrimage to Makkah, is one of the Five Pillars of Islam on which the faith is tested

GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)

Saqab Hussain Religious Studies Coursework

Religious Studies Coursework

What is a Pilgrimage?

Most religions have sacred places and when believers go to visit these places we call the believers ‘pilgrims’ and the journey ‘a pilgrimage.’

In some religions pilgrimage is not an important commitment for all believers, in Islam it is essential. The Hajj, the Pilgrimage to Makkah, is one of the Five Pillars of Islam on which the faith is tested.

1. Describe a visit to Makkah.

The Holy City of Makkah is in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in the Middle East.

Makkah lies inland 73 kilometres east of Jiddah, the place where the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the founder of Islam, was born. This was the place where God's message was first revealed to him and the city to which he returned after the migration to Madinah in 622 AD. Muslims face Makkah during their daily prayers, as instructed to by their Lord.

One of The Five Pillars of Islam, key tenets; is a pilgrimage to Makkah at least once in a Muslim's life. This is Pillar of Islam known as Hajj. Due to these reasons, approximately two million Muslims arrive in Makkah during the last month of the Islamic calendar for the Hajj. They seek to please their Lord and repent for forgiveness for their past life. Muslims can also go to Makkah throughout the year and perform Umrah, which is similar to Hajj, if they are unable to go when Hajj specifically takes place.

Hajj means to “set out with a definite purpose” and is a requirement of every Muslim, who can afford it and is physically able to undertake it, to go once in their lifetime. Hajj has to be made between the eighth and thirteenth of Dhul-Hijjah (the twelfth month). Hajj demand much more than all the other Pillars of Islam, it requires a complete suspension of all worldly activities for a few days. This means that for these few days the human soul is living and moving for God only.

Before Muslims go to Hajj they must be prepared and have no outstanding debts, responsibilities, or unfinished duties. The whole concept of Hajj is as if one was prepared to meet their maker in death. Very simple clothing is worn during the pilgrimage, women cover from head to toe exposing only their faces, hands and feet. Men wear two pieces of un-sewn cloth like the shroud which they would be buried in. One piece is wrapped around the hip; the other piece is worn over the right shoulder exposing the left. This is called the 'Ihram', and is usually put on at specific entry places into the vicinity of Makkah. This makes Pilgrims of every race, colour and social class equal before their Lord.

Nowadays over a million people gather on Hajj and the Saudi Arabian Government allocates around three hundred million dollars a year to the Ministry of Pilgrimage. The King Abdul Aziz Airport at Jeddah is the largest in the world, with the Hajj Terminal takes ten jumbo jets at a time. The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Pilgrimage have recently also built a huge walkway to Mina.

Hajj is a major event as tradition has it that the Ka’bah as first built by Adam (P.BU.H.). Prophet Abraham (P.BU.H.) and his son Ismail rebuilt the first place dedicated to the worship of ...

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Hajj is a major event as tradition has it that the Ka’bah as first built by Adam (P.BU.H.). Prophet Abraham (P.BU.H.) and his son Ismail rebuilt the first place dedicated to the worship of Allah. It is a cube shaped structure made from granite stone, covered with a black cloth inscribed with verses from the Quran. It is believed that just outside Makkah prophet Adam (P.BU.H.) and his wife Eve met for the first time on earth on the mount of Arafat after having been expelled from paradise. During the gathering at Arafat Muslims believe that when they stand before their Lord with repentant hearts they will come out as sinless as newly-born children. These are the reasons, as well as Makkah being the birthplace of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.), why Hajj is considered a major event millions of Muslims visit Makkah throughout the year.

Muslims who travel to Makkah by plane have usually put on their ihram before boarding. Usually the pilgrims make ghusl (a purifying shower) before. The men may perfume the body, face and beard but not the clothes, and the women should not use perfume at all. After the ghusl men also must not use soap, not even in soap. Both the men and women wear different ihrams.

The simplicity of the clothes is not to guard against vanity but also to emphasise the equality of all the Pilgrims. Allah creates everyone equal and treats everyone equally. A millionaire could be standing next to a humble peasant and nobody should be able to tell the difference.

The Circling

The first thing the pilgrims do on arrival in Makkah, no matter what time of day or night, is to hurry to the Ka’bah and encircle it seven times at a fast pace, running if possible, to symbolise love for God. This is called the Tawaf. As they arrive they cry out to respond to the call to come and dedicate their lives to God.

If the Pilgrims can get near the Black Stone they will kiss it or touch it, but if it is impossible due to the vast number, they shout and raise their arms in salute each time they go past.

The Ka’bah

The Ka’bah is known as Baitullah, the House of Allah. It is a plain cube-shaped building made of blocks. Muslims claim it to be on the site of the oldest shrine to God on earth, built originally by the first man Adam. Later it was abandoned and broken down, but Ibrahim and Isma’il were shown the foundations and rebuilt it. When the prophet captured Makkah he broke up the idols of 360 other ‘gods’ that had been placed there.

Al-Kiswah

The Ka’bah is covered by a huge jet-black cloth known as the Kiswah. There is a different one every year, because at the end of Hajj it is cut up into pieces and given to the pilgrims as mementoes of the greatest moment of their lives. The rim of gold lettering round the cloth is usually sewn by specially chosen men in a factory just outside Makkah.

The Black Stone

This is an oval boulder about 18cm in diameter, set in the south-east corner of the Ka’bah, which marks the start of the walk encircling the shrine. It is encased in a silver frame. The pilgrims try to touch it or kiss it. Pre-Islamic traditions suggest:

It was dug out of the earth by Isma’il at a place indicated by the angel Jibril.

Jibril brought it from paradise and gave it to Adam.

It was given to the descendants of Nuh (Noah) after the flood.

It certainly existed long before the Prophet’s time, and was mentioned by writer Maximus of Tyre in 2 CE.

Marwah and Safa

These are two small hills, now enclosed under domes and joined by a walkway – the two hills between which Hajar frantically dashed when she tried to find water. Her actions symbolise the soul’s desperate search for that which gives true life.

ZamZam

The angel showed Hajar a spring of water near the place where she had laid the dying Isma’il. A tradition suggests the water issued from the place where his feet had scoured the sand as he suffered his fever.

Arafat

This is the plain where the pilgrims erect a vast camp site. During Hajj the plain is dotted while little tents in neat rows and squares as far as the eye can see. About two million people camp here. Mount Arafat is the Mount of Mercy where God was said to have reunited Adam and Eve. The Stand before God here is the most important part of Hajj.

Muzdalifah

Pilgrims camp overnight at Muzdalifah on their journey between Arafat and Makkah. Here they pick up pebbles to hurl at the pillars of Mina.

Mina

Here are the pillars, or jamaras, which represent the places where Ibrahim and his family resisted the temptations and stoned the devil. The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Pilgrimage has recently built a huge walkway to Mina.

O n8 Dhul-Hijjah the pilgrims set off for Mina, and amp there for the rest of that day and night. On 9 Dhul-Hijjah they head for Mount Arafat- a good day’s journey on foot. Many pilgrims nowadays take modern transport straight to Arafat and miss out Mina, because of the sheer numbers involved.

The Stand

One the plains of Arafat the pilgrims make their stand before God, the wuquf. They stand from noon to sunset in the blistering heat, mediating and praying, and concentrating on God alone. Latecomers rush to be on time, for if the stand is missed, the Hajj is not valid.

It is time of great mystical and emotional power. To be there with the repentant heart wipes out all sins of the past, and enables life to begin anew. There is a tremendous sense of release- being totally wrapped in love, totally ‘washed’ and totally cleansed.

A stony climb leads to the top of Arafat, and from there a sermon is delivered top the people. Then they all spend the night in the open, in thankfulness and prayer. After this, Muslims may go home from the Hajj ‘released’, as sinless as the day they were born, and full of inner peace.

Muslims return to Mina via Muzdalifah, where they hold the night prayer and gather pebbles to ‘stone the Devil’. The night 1 0Dhul-Hijjah is spent at Muzdalifah. As dawn approaches there is another mass standing before God, and the pilgrims depart for Mina just before dawn breaks.

The Unfurling

The remainder of the pilgrimage is called the unfurling.

When the pilgrims arrive at Mina, they hurl pebbles at the pillars to symbolize their rejection of the Devil and his works.

Next, on 10 Dhul Hijjah, the Feast of Sacrifice (Id-ul-Adha) begins. The pilgrims all camp at Mina for two o three days of the feast. Every pilgrim must sacrifice an animal.

The Saudi authorities the freezing and disposal of the carcasses. Nowadays, with about two million pilgrims, it is impossible for all the meat to be eaten immediately, even if it is distributed among the poor.

After the sacrifice, the men have their heads shaved and the women cut off at least 2.5cm of their hair. At this point the Ihram ends.

The pilgrims then return to Makkah for another encircling of the Ka’bah. The final events are enjoyed in the holiday spirit. Many go back to Mina for a period of rest and recovery.

Finally they return to Makkah for the farewell. Some take water from ZamZam, and dip their white cloths in it to be used later as shrouds. They drink as much water as possible, believing it cures diseases, and they take as much as they can carry home to their families. Some are given pieces of black cloth as souvenirs.