al-Baqarah 2:158,189,196-199; al-Hajj 22:27-36.
Pilgramage to Mecca and the fifth pillar of Islam. It is required of every able-bodied Muslim and who can afford it. No non-Muslim is allowed to visit Mecca or witness the hajj. The season begins in the 10th month, the month following Ramadan, and lasts through the middle of the 12th month. Muslims associate the origin of the Hajj and the founding of the Ka'aba with Abraham, who was believed to have built the Ka'aba.
Rituals begin 5 miles from centre of Mecca. No non-Muslims allowed any further. Muslims prepare, bath and does brief salat. Each man puts on two seamless white cloths, one round waist, the other over shoulder. He states his intention (niat): "O Allah, I purpose to make the hajj; make this service easy to me, and accept it from me."
In the Ka'aba, goes round it 7 times, first three quickly (running), the other walking. He performs a brief salat at a point where Muslims believe Abraham and Ishamel rebuilt the Ka'aba. Outside the mosque, prilgrims run between two hills, Safa and Marwa, 400 yards apart, in memory of Hagar running to find water for Ishmael.
On the 7th day of the month (Dhu al-Hajj), he listens to a sermon in the Great Mosque at Mecca, next day he travels east to Mina to spend the night. Most, continue to plain of Arafat, 12 to 14 miles east of Mecca. According to tradition, this is where Adam and Eve met after falling from Paradise. Important thing is to stand (wuquf) on a nearby hill on the afternoon of the 9th day. This is the hajj. Failure to meditate at this particular place means failure to complete the hajj. After sundown, returns to Muzdalifa to perform evening salat, collect some pebbles and spend the night.
On the 10th day, Muslims celebrate 'Id al-Kabir (Greater Feast) or 'Id al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice). The pilgrim continues toward Mecca, stoping at Mina to thro seven small stone at certain stone pillars. This "stoning of the Devil" is in memory of Abraham whom Muslims believe chased away Satan. Nearby is a hill where Muslims believe Abraham prepared to sacrifice Ishmael, and Muslims kills an animal according to his means.
Nails cut, shaved, and returns to normal clothes. Can be addressed as al-haji (or al-haja). Before leaving Arabia, he again goes round Ka'aba, drinks from well of Zamzam (which is believed by Muslims to be opened by Gabriel for Ishmael). Most pilgrims travel 250 miles to Medina to visit the tomb of Muhammad.
Hadith: the true pilgrim : "shall return (from Mecca) as pure from sin as the day on which he was born". Another: "The reward of a pilgrim is paradise" (Mishkat).
see also kissing of black stone, under HAJJ

• abstention from quarreling during, al-Baqarah 2:197

• best jihad for women, Sahih Bukhari 2.595

• duty to visit Mecca (Makkah), Âl 'Imran 3:97

• exemption from, al-Baqarah 2:196

• fasting during, al-Baqarah 2:196

• forgetting some acts,
  * Narrated 'Abdullah bin Amr bin Al 'Aas: Allah's Apostle stopped (for a while near the Jimar) at Mina during his last Hajj for the people and they were asking him questions. A man came and said, "I forgot and got my head shaved before slaughtering the Hadi (sacrificing animal)." The Prophet said, "There is no harm, go and do the slaughtering now." Then another person came and said, "I forgot and slaughtered (the camel) before Rami (throwing of the pebbles) at the Jamra." The Prophet said, "Do the Rami now and there is no harm."
  The narrator added: So on that day, when the Prophet was asked about anything (as regards the ceremonies of Hajj) performed before or after its due time, his reply was: "Do it (now) and there is no harm." (Sahih Bukhari 1.83, Sahih Bukhari 1.84, 1.126)

• hunting forbidden, al-Ma'idah 5:1,94-95

  • aquatic game approved during, al-Ma'idah 5:96

  • reparations for doing it once, al-Ma'idah 5:95

  • violate it once? Don't do it twice! al-Ma'idah 5:95

• 
  

  kissing of black stone,
  * Narrated Salim that his father said: I saw Allah's Apostle arriving at Mecca; he kissed the Black Stone Corner first while doing Tawaf and did ramal in the first three rounds of the seven rounds (of Tawaf). (Sahih Bukhari 2.673)
  * Narrated 'Abis bin Rabia: 'Umar came near the Black Stone and kissed it and said "No doubt, I know that you are a stone and can neither benefit anyone nor harm anyone. Had I not seen Allah's Apostle kissing you I would not have kissed you." (Sahih Bukhari 2.667, Sahih Bukhari 2.675, Sahih Bukhari 2.676, Sahih Bukhari 2.679, Sahih Bukhari 2.680)
  * The reason behind this is that the pagan Arabs had the same ritual. Muhamamd kept the same practice, and Umar did feel repugnant about the practice. However, he followed the practice of Muhammad.

• like born anew, free from sins,
  * Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "Whoever performs Hajj for Allah's pleasure and does not have sexual relations with his wife, and does not do evil or sins then he will return (after Hajj free from all sins) as if he were born anew." (Sahih Bukhari 2.596)

• no pagan allowed to perform Hajj after last year of Hajj of Muhammad,
  * Narrated Abu Huraira: In the year prior to the last Hajj of the Prophet when Allahs Apostle made Abu Bakr the leader of the pilgrims, the latter (Abu Bakr) sent me in the company of a group of people to make a public announcement: 'No pagan is allowed to perform Hajj after this year, and no naked person is allowed to perform Tawaf of the Kaba.' (See Hadith No. 365 Vol. 1) (Sahih Bukhari 2.689)

• performing on behalf of, Sahih Bukhari 2.589

• rules, al-Ma'idah 5:2

• sacrifice during, al-Baqarah 2:196

Go Back to Main Index