Why are hajjis respected in Hui communities in Gansu?

In Hui communities in Gansu, hajjis are highly respected because they have successfully completed the hajj, which is the pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.1

The hajj is the fifth of the Five Pillars of Islam, representing a fundamental religious obligation for every adult Muslim who is physically and financially capable of making the journey. Because the pilgrimage is a significant undertaking that is believed to wipe out previous sins for the sincere believer, those who fulfill this requirement are held in high regard within the Hui community.231