Islamic Pilgrimage Flashcards
At least once in his or her lifetime, every adult Muslim who is ____ ___ ____ able is required to make this pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia
physically and financially
The five pillars of Islam
Declaration of Faith Prayer (salat) Tithing (zakat) The fast of Ramadan Pilgrimage (hajj)
Muslims are expected to undertake the greater pilgrimage (____) to Mecca and its environs at least once in their lifetime if they’re in good health and able to save up the necessary money to pay for themselves.
hajj
Becoming a pilgrim is being totally at ____ service
God’s
A pilgrim must be free of ____ and is required to make a will, for the journey to Mecca and the hajj itself can be dangerous.
debt
Every year more than ____ believers representing a tremendous diversity of cultures and languages travel from all over the world to the holy city of Mecca to form one community living their faith
2 million
Those who participate in the pilgrimage wear ____ garments that symbolise purity, as well as the unity and equality of all believers.
simple
Before they reach Mecca, and usually before they arrive at the airport in Jedda, the pilgrims into a state of ritual ____ (ihram) by performing major ablutions (ghusl) and a special salat, and by forming an intention (nay yah) of carrying out the hajj.
purity
All men wear two pieces of unseen ____ cloth to show their equality, purity and humility, but women’s clothing may vary.
white
The hajj is really a combination of two distinct ____, the umrah or lesser pilgrimage and the hajj proper, the greater pilgrimage.
pilgrimages
The ____ is performed near the Kabah and can be undertaken at any time where as the hajj takes place mainly outside of Mecca and can only be performed on certain days of the 12th month of the Islamic calendar, Dhu al-Hijjah (the month of the hajj).
umrah
When the Muslims go to Mecca for the greater pilgrimage, they perform both parts and in general usage the term ____ applies to both.
hajj
Both pilgrimages date from pre-Islamic times, and they are interpreted by Muslims as recalling the story of ____ ____ and ____ as well as the example of Mohammed himself.
Abraham, Hagar, and Ishmael
The shrine itself, the ____, measuring 45x33x50’ in height is empty apart from a few lamps; is built out of granite and covered with a heavy black brocaded silk and cotton cloth, which is changed every year.
Kabah
The umrah begins with the ____ of the Kabah seven times in an anticlockwise direction, and the second main part consists of walking and running seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwah; the distance of about 385 m is now enclosed by corridor. In this way, the pilgrims recall Hagar’s search for water when she had been cast out by Abraham with their son Ishmael.
circumambulation
According to the Quran (2:1 25–27) the Kabah was built by ____ and ____.
Abraham and Ishmael
As they move around the Kabah, pilgrims try to kiss the ____ (al-hajar al-aswad) attached to one of its sides.
Blackstone
The sacred spring of ____ was revealed in answer to Hagar’s prayers, and the pilgrims drink from it, some believing it has healing properties.
Zamzam
The hajj season proper opens on the ____ day of Dhu al-Hijjah with worship at the Kabah. On the next day, Pilgrims assemble at Mina (8 km east of Mecca), and on the ninth they proceed to the plain of Arafat (another 15 km to the east). Here, at the Mount of Mercy, they stand in prayer and reflection for the afternoon.
seventh
This scene, at the Mount of Mercy, is reminiscent of the ____, and this is the climax and most essential feature of the hajj. A sermon preached here where Muhammad delivered his “Farewell Sermon” not long before he died.
judgement
After sunset, the pilgrims begin the trip back to Mecca via ____ where, traditionally, the men stay the night.
Muzdalifah
At Muzdalifah, the pilgrims collect stones, and, in the morning of the 10th day, they proceed to ____ where they show their rejection of Satan and his temptations by throwing stones at one of the stone pillars representing him.
Mina
After the throwing stones at Mina, sheep, goats, and camels are sacrificed in recollection of Abrahams sacrifice of the ram instead of his son – usually assumed by Muslims to be ____ rather than Isaac. Most pilgrims it never see the sacrifice but pay for a sheep to be killed on their behalf.
Ishmael
At the same time of this sacrifice, Muslims throughout the ____ sacrifice an animal either in person or by proxy, so that all Muslims can participate in the end of the hajj without personally going to Arabia.
world
This worldwide sacrifice is called Īd al-Adhā, the ____ of ____ or the greater festival, a large-scale public celebration in Islamic countries. The meat is shared among friends, family, and the poor.
Festival of sacrifice
Back in Mecca, pilgrims make another circumambulation of the Kabah to end the ____, and some still have to complete the running between Safa and Marwah.
hajj
It is considered desirable to return to Mina for the three days ____, and each day the the pilgrims throw more stones at the three stone pillars. They make another circumambulation of the Kabah before leaving Mecca, and many pilgrims make an optional visit to the tomb of the prophet in Medina before returning home.
celebration
