- Also spelled:
- ḥadjdj or hadj
- Key People:
- Ibn Jubayr
- Related Topics:
- Eid al-Adha
- rajm
- ihram
- saʿy
- ṭawāf
hajj
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What is the Hajj in Islam?
The hajj is an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, that every adult Muslim must make at least once in their lifetime. It is the fifth of the Five Pillars of Islam. The pilgrimage rite occurs from the 7th to the 12th day of Dhū al-Ḥijjah, the last month of the Islamic year.
The hajj is mandatory for all Muslims who are physically and financially capable, provided that their absence does not burden their family. Pilgrims enter a state of purity known as ihram, and wear special garments. The main activities include walking around the Kaaba seven times, touching the Black Stone, and visiting holy sites outside Mecca. About two million Muslims participate in the hajj each year.
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Why is the Hajj important to Muslims?
The hajj is a pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia that every adult Muslim must make at least once in their lifetime. It is the fifth of the Five Pillars of Islam, which are the fundamental Muslim practices and institutions.
The hajj is important because it serves as a unifying force in Islam, bringing together followers of diverse backgrounds in religious celebration. The pilgrimage, if performed properly, is believed to wipe out previous sins for the sincere believer. About two million people perform the hajj each year.
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Where does the Hajj take place each year?
The Hajj, a pilgrimage that every adult Muslim must make at least once in their lifetime, takes place in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. This annual pilgrimage is the fifth of the fundamental Muslim practices known as the Five Pillars of Islam.
Each year, about two million Muslims participate in the Hajj, which occurs from the 7th to the 12th day of Dhū al-Ḥijjah, the last month of the Islamic year. During the Hajj, pilgrims visit holy sites outside Mecca, including Jabal al-Rahmah, Muzdalifah, and Mina. They also participate in rituals such as walking seven times around the Kaaba and throwing stones at symbolic pillars.
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What are the main rituals performed during the Hajj?
The hajj, a pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, is a mandatory religious duty for Muslims who are physically and financially capable. The pilgrimage rite occurs from the 7th to the 12th day of Dhū al-Ḥijjah, the last month of the Islamic year.
Key rituals include:
* Entering ihram, a state of purity, and donning special garments.
* Walking seven times around the Kaaba, a sacred shrine in the Great Mosque.
* Touching or kissing the Black Stone in the Kaaba.
* Praying twice in the direction of the Maqām Ibrāhīm and the Kaaba.
* Running seven times between Mount Ṣafā and Mount Marwah.
* Visiting holy sites outside Mecca: Jabal al-Raḥmah, Muzdalifah, and Minā.
* Stoning three walls (Jamrat al-ʿAqabah, Jamrahs) to symbolize rejection of the Devil.
* Sacrificing an animal in commemoration of Abraham’s sacrifice.
* Shaving the head (men) or removing a lock of hair (women).
* Performing the farewell ṭawāf, or circumambulation, of the Kaaba.5 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
Who is required to complete the Hajj, and when should it be done?
The hajj, a pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, is a mandatory duty for every adult Muslim who is physically and financially capable, provided that their absence does not burden their family. It is the fifth of the Five Pillars of Islam.
The pilgrimage occurs annually from the 7th to the 12th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic year. During this time, pilgrims engage in specific rites, including circumambulating the Kaaba, praying, and visiting holy sites outside Mecca.
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How does the Hajj impact the lives of Muslims who participate in it?
The hajj, a pilgrimage to Mecca, is a central practice in Islam, required of every physically and financially able Muslim once in their lifetime. It is believed that a correctly performed hajj can wipe out previous sins.
Participating in the hajj can deeply impact a Muslim's life, bringing together a diverse group of followers in religious celebration, acting as a unifying force within Islam. Upon completion of the pilgrimage, believers may add the title Ḥājj or Ḥājjah to their names.
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hajj, in Islam, the pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, which every adult Muslim must make at least once in his or her lifetime. The hajj is the fifth of the fundamental Muslim practices and institutions known as the Five Pillars of Islam. The pilgrimage rite begins on the 7th day of Dhū al-Ḥijjah (the last month of the Islamic year) and ends on the 12th day.
The hajj is incumbent on all Muslims who are physically and financially able to make the pilgrimage, but only if their absence will not place hardships on their family. A person may perform the hajj by proxy, appointing a relative or friend going on the pilgrimage to “stand in” for him or her.
The pattern of pilgrimage rites was established by the Prophet Muhammad, but variations have arisen in it, and the stringent formal itinerary is not strictly adhered to by the mass of pilgrims, who frequently visit the various Meccan sites out of their proper order.
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When the pilgrim is about 6 miles (10 km) from Mecca, he or she enters the state of holiness and purity known as ihram and dons the ihram garments; for men they consist of two white seamless sheets that are wrapped around the body, while women may wear sewn clothes. The pilgrims cut neither their hair nor their nails until the pilgrimage rite is over. They enter Mecca and walk seven times around the sacred shrine called the Kaaba, in the Great Mosque; if possible, kiss or touch the Black Stone (al-Ḥajar al-Aswad) in the Kaaba; pray twice in the direction of the Maqām Ibrāhīm and the Kaaba; and run seven times between the minor prominences of Mount Ṣafā and Mount Marwah. On the 7th day of Dhū al-Ḥijjah the pilgrims are reminded of their duties. At the second stage of the ritual, which takes place between the 8th and the 12th days of the month, the pilgrim visits the holy places outside Mecca—Jabal al-Raḥmah, Muzdalifah, and Minā—and sacrifices an animal in commemoration of Abraham’s sacrifice. Male pilgrims’ heads are then usually shaved, and female pilgrims remove a lock of hair. After the rajm ritual at Minā, in which pilgrims throw seven stones at three walls (formerly pillars, symbolizing the Devil) on three successive days, the pilgrim returns to Mecca to perform the farewell ṭawāf, or circumambulation, of the Kaaba before leaving the city.
About two million persons perform the hajj each year, and the rite serves as a unifying force in Islam by bringing followers of diverse background together in religious celebration. Once a believer has completed the pilgrimage, he or she may add the title ḥājj or ḥajjī (for a male) or ḥājjah (for a female) to his or her name. The pilgrimage, if performed properly, is believed to wipe out previous sins for the sincere believer. Compare ʿumrah.