ISLAM SPILOA - The haji as a significant practice Flashcards
What is the haji
A week long pilgrimage to mecca performed 2 months and 10 days after the holy month of Ramadan in the 12th month of the Islamic calendar
Obligatory act in Islam and so it is classified as fard
physical journey and spiritual experience
Pilgrims reaanct significant incidents in the lives of their prophets at the sitr associated with them
purpose of haji
- submitting to Allah
- unifying the community (umma)
- cleansing oneself by overcoming temptations
rituals of haji
o Putting on ihram, (2 piece white cloth)
o Circumambulating the ka’bah seven times
o A fast walk between safa and marwa near ka’bah
o Visiting and staying at mina, Arafat and muzdalifa
o Throwing pebbles at three fixed places in mina
o Shaving or trimming hair
o Sacrifice of an animal which is distributed to the poor
performing urmah
consists of getting into a state of ihram, making tawaf (circumambulation) around the ka’bah and doing sa’y (walking seven times between safa and mount marwa)
After the completion, the pilgrims can get out of the state of ihram by shaving/cutting their hair (males), having a shower and wearing normal clothes.
Pilgrims now wait for the actual days of hajj to begin and spend this free-time visiting historical sites, mosques, engaging in more tawaf of the ka’bah, praying and reasing the Qu’ran
the state of ihram
Makes the intention to enter a spiritual status (religious purity with restrictions)
Stimulates the day of judgement when the masses will gather in one place wearing only a two pieced garment, develops a sense of equality.
Males wear 2 white cloths, with no stitching or seams.
Women wear plain garments without covering the face, hands or feet, sandals are worn.
All adherents are equal regardless of status, equality in the eyes of god
Prohibitions: no perfumes, cutting hair or nails, slaughter of animals, sex and men wearing stitching, they are in a state of spiritual purity – they have piety in their heart.
the practice of tawaf
Circumambulation the ka’bah is known as ‘tawaf’.
It’s a counter-clockwise direction and expenses unity among Muslims, circling of earth around the sun, the moon around the earth linked to the environment, you are working to move towards getting rid of personal misgivings, realising your wrong
Pilgrims glorify by going around the ka’bah as though saying “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”
They say a prayer Talbiyah,
Built by Abraham and Ishmael
performing the sa’y
Imitates Hagar struggle for water, well of Zamzam.
Consists of 7 laps between two hills and allows for an appreciation for Hagar’s struggle and determination
Sa’y in Arabic means to walk quickly
Situated to the north and south of the ka’bah
There are 4 levels, for safety reasons there is a starting point with a green light, brisk pace and break.
Is it difficult and requires physical fitness
rituals of haji 8th of dhul hijjah
o The actual hajj begins of the dhul hijjah, mina
o Pilgrims re-enter into the state of ihram and proceed to mina where they stay the night
o Tent city- food and medical stations are provided, there is a carpet, air conditioning and fans
o The site is for pilgrims only
rituals of haji 9th of dhul hijjah
pilgrims proceed to the plain of mount Arafat where they will supplicate, pray, repent, reflect and engage in worship until sunset.
Near. A hill from where prophet Muhammad gave his last sermon; this hill is called Jabal Al Rahmah (the hill of forgiveness)
Spending the day in Arafat from sunrise until the sun sets is the most important pillar of hajj. Prophet Muhammad said “hajj is Arafat” if Arafat was missed the whole hajj is missed
This stand (before Allah) is known as Wuguf, considered the highlight of the hajj
Pilgrims must spend the afternoon within a denied area on the plain of Arafat until after sunset
No specific rituals or prayers are required during the stay at Arafat, although many pilgrims spend time praying and thinking about the course of their lives
climbing jebel al-rahma at the plain or Arafat
pinnacle of hajj
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
the place where Muhammad made his last sermon
Pilgrims spend the day till sunset there
Stimulation of afterlife of mt Arafat – implore god – what do you want? Most spiritual moment of hajj
Analogy of democracy – if people speak as one voice change occurs. “we cannot compel god but 3 million appearing at the same time asking for forgiveness is compelling act that surely as merciful god cannot reject”
Oneness of humanity and oneness of god in hajj is like no other act of worship
Links to the struggles of the prophets submitting to god and sanctifying gods name on earth.
Stimulates the day of judgement in Arafat – sincere Muslims redeem their sins
rituals of haji 9th of dhul hajji
o After sunset, pilgrims move to muzadalifah and spend the night there
o Pebbles are collected here for stoning of the devil
rituals of haji 10th of dhul hajji
After sunrise pilgrims go and stone the devil (Jamarat).
Pilgrims throw stones at three pillars representing the devil
They stone the largest devil (Jamarat ul-Aqaba) seven times
After the jamarat, pilgrims wait for the confirmation that their sacrifice of an animal has been made (usually sheep or goat)
A common practice to pay someone to slaughter the animal on their behalf, in return for a certificate confirming that the sacrifice has taken place
Left-over meat is distributed to charities and people in poor countries around the world
Pilgrims then get out of the state of ihram by shaving/cutting of the hair, having a shower and wearing normal clothes again
First day of Eid al-Adha (festival of the sacrifice)
Pilgrims then go to mecca and make tawaf of the ka’bah and perform sa’y
Pilgrims have until sunset of the 12th of dhul hijjah to complete this
rituals of haji 11th of dhul hajji
o This is the second day of Eid al-Adha
o Pilgrims go back to the jamarat and stone each pillar seven times
rituals of haji 12th of dhul hajji
o This is the third day of Eid al-Adha
o Pilgrims again stone each pillar at the jamarat seven times
o If pilgrims are going to depart to mecca after this, they perform a farewell tawaf of the ka’bah
rituals of haji after haji is finished
o Usually after pilgrims have finished their hajj rituals, they stay another one or two weeks in Saudi Arabia on average and visit other important sites both In mecca and Madinah (medina)
