The Hajj: A Muslim’s Pilgrimage
by Rakibul Islam
On January 8, 2006, millions of Muslims from around the world descended upon the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia for the annual voyage of the Hajj. Hajj literally translates to pilgrimage in Arabic, but it now is used to denote this holy trip that occurs once every lunar year. From the few followers that joined Prophet Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him) on the first Hajj way back in the 7th Century CE, the numbers has swelled to an estimated 2.5 million people for the most recent Hajj, which concluded on the 11th of January. However, what the Hajjis, or people that are undertaking the Hajj, actually do in and around Mecca remains a mystery to many non-Muslims. It is a relatively simple, yet seemingly complex series of events that stretches over three days and tests the abilities of every Hajji.
The Hajj is one of the five pillars, or main parts, of Islam. It is required for every Muslim that is physically and financially able to complete it. The poor and the disabled are excused from completing the Hajj. The Hajj begins with the niyyah, or declaration of intention, at one of a few specific locations outside the city called the Miqat. Here, the Hajji puts on two white cloths, for the upper and lower halves of the body. This is called the Ihram, and it must remain for the duration of the Hajj. Following the donning of the Ihram, the Hajji travels into Mecca and proceeds to the central masjid of Islam, the Masjid-al-Haram. Upon entry, the person must proceed to the Ka’aba, the small building in the center of the masjid. First, the person kisses or touches the black stone at one end of the foundation, or blows a kiss if it is too crowded. Next, the person performs the Tawaaf, circling the Ka’aba seven times counterclockwise while kissing the black stone every time. Then, the person performs Salat (prayer) at the Muqam-e-Ibrahim (place of Abraham). The person then performs the Sa’y (sa-ee), which commemorates the frantic scramble of Abraham’s wife to find water in the desert. This is done by moving from one hill (Safa) to the other (Marwah) seven times. However, unlike Abraham’s wife, this is done in an enclosed area containing the hills, on what resembles an oval track. After this, the Hajji has completed the first major part of the Hajj, and is free to move around and rest for the remainder of the day.
The next morning, the Hajji travels to the plains of Mina, outside Mecca. For the 2.5 million travelers, these plains become home for the next 3 nights. Thousands of tents are already set up for the Hajjis to stay in. The rest of the day is spent at Mina, praying and resting for the main day of the Hajj. The next day, the Hajji migrates to the plains of Arafat for a day of prayer. These plains are among the most important areas in Islam. Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) delivered a sermon to the Muslims at Arafat. When the dead are resurrected for the Day of Judgment, they will congregate at Arafat to meet their fate. For these reasons, the Hajjis converge on Arafat and recite different prayers all day. After nightfall, the traveler moves to the plains of Muzdalifah. The night is spent at Muzdalifah, until early morning arrives and the Hajji returns to Mina. Along the way, they are to pick up 70 small stones for the final major act of the Hajj. After reaching Mina, they must proceed to the first of 3 stone pillars, called Jumrah-tul-Aqba, and hit it with 7 of the stones they picked up. After this, the Hajji must cut their hair. For males, the entire head must be shaved, while females must cut off a small part of their hair. After cutting the hair, the Ihram can be removed and the Hajji can wear normal clothes again. Following the removal of Ihram, the Hajji goes back to Mecca, to the Masjid-al-Haram, and circles the Ka’aba once (Tawaaf-e-Afaza). After this circuit, the Hajji can resume a normal life. However, they must spend at least 2 more days, and preferably 3 days, at Mina. During each day at Mina, they must go to the three stone pillars and throw 7 of their stones at each ones. On the last day of the Hajj, the Hajji goes to the Ka’aba and circles it one last time. After this, the Tawaaf-al-Fida (farewell circuit), the Hajji drinks water from the fountain of Zumzum, kisses the entrance to the Ka’aba, and exits the Masjid-al-Haram walking backwards, so their last sight is of the Ka’aba. With this, the traveler has officially completed the Hajj. Upon this, all of the person’s sins are wiped away. They are essentially starting life anew, with a clean slate.
In February 2002, I went on the Hajj with my family. I
can say without a doubt it was an experience unlike any other. Spending
nearly five days in essentially the same clothing, one learns the true
value of the clothes on his back. I saw well over 2 million people doing
the same thing I was doing, for the same reason, and it made me feel
surrounded by the same person. That was probably the point of the Ihram,
to show how everyone is the same when stripped down to the basics. A
lot can be taken from that. The Hajjis probably had too much emotion
when they threw stones at the pillar, but that has historically been
a misunderstood ritual. People think they are symbolically stoning the
devil, where they are really just stoning pillars and praying. The deaths
one sees on the news are usually found here. However, in a twist of
luck and blessing, not a single person perished in 2002 when I went
on the Hajj. It felt great to know that all my sins, whether committed
intentionally or accidentally, were erased and that I was starting anew.
Plus, I quickly grew to like the shaving of my head, and I’ve kept my
hair very short ever since. In the end, the Hajj really did change my
life in multiple ways. It is an incredible experience, and it is something
I plan on doing again, when I’m older and I have a family to take with
me. The Hajj is a pilgrimage to Mecca, yes, but by performing it one
realizes it is so much more.
