Hajj

Question 1

Qur’an 22:27

Answer 1

“and proclaim that the people shall observe Hajj pilgrimage”

Question 2

Hadith hajj

Answer 2

“he who performs Hajj will return as sin free as he day his mother bore him”

Question 3

Day 1 (8th Dhul-Hijjah)

Answer 3

Tawaf: circumambulating the Ka’ba

Sa’y: move quickly between the hills Safa and Marwah (symbolic of Hagar’s search for water for her son Ishmael after the two were left to live in the desert. A spring flowed from beneath the boy’s feet and is now known as the well of Zamzam. Pilgrims drink from the well)

Move to stay overnight in Mina

Question 4

Day 2 (9th Dhul-Hijjah)

Answer 4

Plain of Arafat: Wuquf, standing before God, facing the Mount of Mercy, and pray from noon till sunset their deepest prayers. All sins of the past are wiped away and the pilgrim can begin life anew. (adam and eve were forgiven by Allah on the plain, in gratitude adam built the first Ka’ba)

Move to Muzdalifah, to pray and sleep

Leave for Mina collecting pebbles along the way

Question 5

Days 3-6 (10th-13th Dhul-Hijjah)

Answer 5

Jamras: throw pebbles at three stone pillars representing the devils temptation to ishmael, ibrahim and hagar

Festival of sacrifice: perform nahr, sacrifice an animal, to repeat the wilingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son and Allahs intervention to put a ram in his place. (food frozen and given to poor)

Next few days: tawaf, sa’y, and stoning pillars again.

Question 6

Ihram

Answer 6

Ihram is a state of purity and humility. Muslims are at peace with Allah, themselves, other Muslims and all of creation. Their memory of this state stays with them when they return home and as they try to recreate this peace in their everyday lives.

Adherents must enter a state of Ihram expressing their intentions to Allah through a statement of taqilliyah, and wear a white cloth.