Hajj
Annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, a required religious duty.
Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest city in Islam. It is a one-time-required religious duty for all Muslims who are physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey and supporting their family during their absence from home. In Islamic terminology, Hajj is a pilgrimage made to the Kaaba—the 'House of Allah'—in the sacred city of Mecca, and it is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.
- field
- Islamic pilgrimage
- known_for
- Annual pilgrimage to Mecca; one of the Five Pillars of Islam
- highest_attendees_year
- 2012
Lore & Background
The present pattern of Hajj was established by Muhammad. However, according to the Quran, elements of Hajj trace back to the time of Abraham. According to Islamic tradition, Abraham was ordered by God to leave his wife Hajar and his son Ishmael alone in the desert of ancient Mecca. In search of water, Hajar desperately ran seven times between the two hills of Safa and Marwah but found none. Returning in despair to Ishmael, she saw the baby scratching the ground with his leg and a water fountain sprang forth underneath his foot. Later, Abraham was commanded to build the Kaaba (which he did with the help of Ishmael) and to invite people to perform pilgrimage there.
Reader's Guide
The Hajj is an annual practice when Muslim brotherhood is on display and their solidarity with fellow Muslims and submission to God (Allah) is fulfilled. The Hajj is taken by Muslims to cleanse their souls of all worldly sins, which connotes both the outward act of a journey after death and the inward act of good intentions. The rites of pilgrimage are performed over five to six days, extending from the 8th to the 12th or 13th of Dhu'l-Hijja, the last month of the Islamic calendar. Because the Islamic calendar is lunar and the Islamic year is about eleven or twelve days shorter than the Gregorian year, the Gregorian date of Hajj changes from year to year. The Hajj is associated with the life of the Islamic prophet Muhammad from the 7th century AD, but the ritual of pilgrimage to Mecca stated in Muslim sources stretches back to the time of Abraham. During Hajj, pilgrims join processions of millions of Muslims, who simultaneously converge on Mecca for the week of the Hajj, and perform a series of pre-Islamic rituals (reformed by Muhammad).
Did You Know?
- The word 'Hajj' is similar to the Hebrew 'ḥag', meaning 'festival', from the triliteral Semitic root ح-ج-ج.
- In 2020, due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Saudi Government announced they would only welcome 'very limited numbers' of pilgrims who are residents of Saudi Arabia.
- The Hajj includes walking counter-clockwise seven times around the Kaaba, kissing the Black Stone, and walking briskly between the hills of Safa and Marwah seven times.
- The Gregorian date of Hajj changes from year to year because the Islamic calendar is lunar and about eleven days shorter than the Gregorian year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hajj?
Hajj is the annual pilgrimage to the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and it stands as one of the Five Pillars of Islam. It is a once-in-a-lifetime religious obligation for every Muslim who has the physical ability and financial means to make the journey.
Who is eligible to perform Hajj?
Any Muslim who is physically healthy and financially stable enough to travel while still supporting their family back home is required to undertake the pilgrimage at least once. It is not a duty for those who lack the means or the health to do so.
What are Hajj's main rituals?
The pilgrimage involves a series of prescribed acts including circling the Kaaba, standing in prayer at Arafat, and performing the symbolic stoning in Mina. These rites are carried out over several days during a specific window in the Islamic lunar calendar.
Why is Hajj considered so important in Islam?
It is one of the Five Pillars, meaning it is a core act of worship that every capable Muslim must fulfill at least once in their life. The pilgrimage symbolizes equality before God, as millions of diverse believers wear the same simple garments and follow the same rites regardless of wealth or status.
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