In The Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Brief Introduction of the Hajj

Hajj, in Islam, the major pilgrimage to Makkah, a city located near the Red Sea coast in Saudi Arabia. As a religious duty noted in the Qur'an  and the fifth of the Five Pillars of Islam, all healthy adult men and women who are financially able must perform the hajj at least once in their lifetime. Unlike the umrah, (minor pilgrimage to Mecca) which can be performed at any time, the hajj can only be carried out during the first two weeks of the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah, which corresponds to the last month of the lunar/hijri year.

Only Muslims are permitted access to the region of the pilgrimage—that is, to the holy places of Makkah, Mina, Muzdalifa, and Arafat, all located in Saudi Arabia. During the hajj, pilgrims must enter a state of ritual purity before they reach Makkah by performing ritual bathing and wearing the ihram, a white seamless shroud they keep for the rest of their lives as their burial garb. While in the state of ritual purity the various activities are prohibited. After arriving in Makkah, the pilgrim carries out a set of rites as an individual. These rites culminate in the circling seven times, or tawaf, of the Kaabah  and the quick, sevenfold crossing back and forth, or say, between the two hills, Safa and Marwa. In addition to these rites, which make up the umrah, the hajj includes certain other rituals performed by pilgrims collectively. Among these are the stopping on Mount Arafat,  the symbolic stoning of the devil in the valley of Mina, and the sacrifice of sheep and goats.

Once Muslims have carried out the hajj, they may use the title Hajji if male and Hajjah if female. During the first half of the 20th century about 30,000 Muslims annually made the pilgrimage to Mecca. Today, the number is closer to 2 million.

The Pillars of Hajj:

1. Ihram
2. Wuqoof - Standing of Arafat
3. Tawaaf - Walking seven times around the Kabah
4. Sa'y - Walking between Mount Safa and Mount Marwa seven times (seven one way trips)

Steps of Al-Hajj:

1. Performing of Ihram

2. Umrah

3. Going to Mina

4. Going to Arafat

5. Going to Muzdalifa

6. Proceed to Mina

7. Tawaf Al-Ifadha

8. Return to Mina

9. Farewel Tawaf

10. Go Home

by Shaikh Muhammad As-Salih Al-Uthaimeen