Haji

Question 1

THE HAJJ

Answer 1

weeklong pilgrimage to Mecca
• 2 months and 10 days after Ramadan in the 12th month of the Islamic Calendar
• Every Muslim must perform Hajj at least once in their life unless they are physically or financially unable to
• If an adherent can’t perform Hajj, the intention or “niyyah” will suffice
• Considered ‘fard’ (obligatory)
• Prescribed in the Quran “perform the visit and pilgrimage to Mecca for Allah” Sura 2:196

Question 2

Purpose of Hajj:

Answer 2

• Submitting to Allah
• Unifying the Umma (community)
• Cleansing oneself and overcoming temptation

Question 3

Rituals:• Ihram/Umrah

Answer 3

bathing and cleansing rituals → seamless white robes are worn for the duration of the pilgrimage (links to tawhid)
 Makes the intention to enter a spiritual status (religious purity with restrictions)
 Simulates the Day of Judgement when the masses will gather in one place wearing only a two-pieced garment. Develops a sense of equality.
 Equality in the eyes of god

Question 4

Rituals:•• (2) Tawaf

Answer 4

circling the KaaBa 7 times → if possible touch or kiss the stone
Stone is believed to be the only remaining piece from the House of God built by Abraham and Isma’il (fate and predestination)

It’s a counter-clockwise direction and expresses unity among Muslims

“Just as we are circling the one and only Ka’bah, the oldest place of worship on earth, we only obey you the Absolute One worthy of worship.”

Question 5

Rituals:•• (3) Performing the sa’y (walking btwn Safa and Marwa

Answer 5

Imitates Hagar’s struggle for water.
 Consists of 7 laps between two hills and allows for an appreciation of Hagar’s struggle and determination.
 It is difficult and requires physical fitness
 Zam zam water - angel gabriel tipped his wing and water came out

Question 6

Rituals:•• (4) Wukuf: Prayers at Arafat

Answer 6

 adherents spend a day at Arafat hoping to be redeemed of their sins (Rusul)
 Arafat is the pinnacle of Hajj.
 A significant place in history as according to Islam it’s the place where Adam and Eve repented and received forgiveness for their mistake in paradise
 Also the place where Muhammad made his last sermon
 Prophet Muhammad said “Hajj is Arafat”. If Arafat was missed, the whole Hajj is missed

Question 7

Rituals:•• (5) Jamarat

Answer 7

rite of stoning
 adherents throw stones at three pillars, symbolic of expelling sins and ridding themselves from outside influences (Tawhid)
 After sunrise pilgrims go and stone the devil (Jamarat). Pilgrims throw stones at three pillars representing the devil.
 They stone the largest devil (Jamrat al-Aqaba) seven times.
 They do this again on the 11th and 12th day

Question 8

Rituals:••(6) Eid al-Adha:

Answer 8

 After the Jamarat, pilgrims wait for the confirmation that their sacrifice of an animal has been made
 Pilgrims then get out of the state of ihram by shaving/cutting off the hair, having a shower, and wearing normal clothes again.
 First day of Eid al-Adha (Festival of the Sacrifice).

Question 9

Rituals• Final Kaaba

Answer 9

final circulation of the Kaaba after Amarat

 men become Hajji, women become Hajjah

Question 10

Tawhid

Answer 10

• Hajj: submission to Allah

* Tawaf: circle Ka’Bah, oneness of Allah

Question 11

Akhira

Answer 11

• Jamarat: freeing adherents from sin in prep for Akhira
• Hajj: connects as brings adherents closer to Allah
• Wuquf: focus on day of judgement; prayer and reflection and contemplation (mt Arafat)

Question 12

Rusul

Answer 12

• Sa’i: retracing Muhammad’s steps, also Abrahams steps

* Wuquf: Adam, Abraham, Muhammad’s last sermon on mt Arafat

Question 13

Individual:

Answer 13

Rituals associated with the pilgrimage reinforces what a Muslim believes, helps a Muslim to develop an Islamic identity and deepens his or her understanding of what it means to be a Muslim.
• The individual hopes to become, by performing Hajj, a better person in this world and increase his prospects of reward in the Hereafter.
• It allows an individual to be rejuvenated and reborn
• The Hajj process entails a sacrifice of time, money, comfort, worldly affairs and many carnal desires and pleasures for the sake of God with no selfish end.
• Enduring all this with an incessant remembrance of God throughout the Hajj process leaves a firm longing and love of God inside the pilgrim which lasts for years to come.
• Process of Hajj increases the pilgrim’s piety, virtuousness, generosity, patience, resilience and sincerity
• Increased awareness of the importance of physical wellbeing.
• Strengthens faith through opportunity to submit to Allah

Question 14

Individual: Tawaf/Tawhid/Talbiyah

Answer 14

“here I am at your service, O Allah: here I am”, Talbiyah emphasises the meaning of seeking to draw closer and closer to Allah

Question 15

Individual:Ihram/Akhira:

Answer 15

devotion and freedom of sin.

Question 16

Community:

Answer 16

Hajj is the greatest social event in the Muslim world, where you meet new people, ideas, see different types of cultures, pass on experiences etc.
• Pilgrimage rituals encourage believers to reflect on the history of Islam and their Islamic heritage. The Ka’Bah is a reminder of how Muhammad established Islam, while the surrounds are associated with Abraham and his family. These events are integral to the identity of Islam. When Islamic pilgrims from all parts of the world gather to reflect on their religious history and heritage during the Hajj, Islam’s identity as a religious system is strengthened.
• The gathering of pilgrims from all parts of the world surpasses all differences based on race, colour and gender, uniting the community of believers around the core beliefs of Islam. Creates universal feeling of brotherhood / sisterhood amongst Muslims by gathering together at the same place to do the same thing.
• Hajj increases a wider God-consciousness unity amongst the Ummah. Removes division between different Sunni/Shia.

Question 17

Other benefits of Hajj• Equality:

Answer 17

Hajj enables a Muslim to realise the universality of Islam as he or she sees Muslims from all over the world, from all nationalities and races.
 A pilgrim develops an acute sense of equality of human beings in practice rather than just theory.

Question 18

Other benefits of Hajj• Developing Mental Strength

Answer 18

Many mental skills such as determination, perseverance, patience and control of human will are exercised and developed in trying conditions of the Hajj.
 Leaving everything behind for a long period of time provides the effect of true recreation for the mind and the spirit.

Question 19

Other benefits of Hajj•• Importance of Physical Fitness

Answer 19

Physical benefits are not neglected in pilgrimage. Hajj is very much a physical event.
 Going around the Kaaba seven times and fast walking between Safa and Marwah gives Muslims ample exercise and reminds them of the need to be physically fit and also the value of good health.

Question 20

Hajj in Islamic Sacred Writings • Hajj in the Qur’an:

Answer 20

 Behold, the first House (of Prayer) established for humankind is the one at Bakkah (Makkah), a blessed place and a (centre of) guidance for all peoples. (Qur’an, 3:96, Trans. Ali Unal)
 In it, there are clear signs (demonstrating that it is a blessed sanctuary, chosen by God as the center of guidance), and the Station of Abraham. Whoever enters it is in security (against attack and fear). Pilgrimage to the House is a duty owed to God by all who can afford a way to it. And whoever refuses (the obligation of the Pilgrimage), or is ungrateful to God (by not fulfilling this command), God is absolutely independent of all creation. (Qur’an, 3:97, Trans. Ali Unal)

Question 21

• Hajj in the Hadith (sayings of Prophet Muhammad):

Answer 21

 Whoever performs Hajj to this house (the Ka’bah) and does not commit any obscenity and wrongdoing, he or she will come out as the day he or she was born – pure and free from sins.