Hajj
Qingwen Wang 8P
One of the Five Pillars is a requirement for every Muslim to undertake a pilgrimage to Makkha
The pilgrims are called Hajjis, and they undertake a number of ritual activities over the five days, from the eighth to the twelfth of the Muslim month of Dhu al-HIjjah.
Makkah
The reason why it is so sacred is because it contains the Kaaba, the cloth-covered cubic structure that’s Islam’s most sacred shrine.
The kaaba
For Muslims, the Ka'bah is sacred because it is the house of The God (Allah). For this reason, Makkah is such a holy city that non-Muslims are not allowed to enter.
The Ihram cloth
self control
There are 3 types of Hajj
Ihram is, in Islam, a sacred state which a Muslim must enter in order to perform the major pilgrimage (Hajj) or the minor pilgrimage (Umrah).
Talbiyah
Tamattu' means performing 'Umrah during the Hajj season
"Labbayk-Allahumma labbayka bi'Umrah!" or "Labbayka 'Umratan!"
"O Allah! I answer Your call to perform `Umrah."
"Inna mahilli minal-Ardi haythu habastani"
" I will end up my state of Ihraam wherever I cannot proceed."
Qiran
"Labbayk-Allahumma labbayka bi-Hajjin wa-'Umrah!" or
"Labbayka Hajjan wa 'Umratan!"
"O Allah! I answer Your call to perform Hajj and 'Umrah!"
The pilgrim is supposed to bring his sacrificial animal with him as the Prophet (S) did. This must be done because the rituals of Hajj and `Umrah were joined together.
Ifraad
The pilgrim should say " Labbayk-Allahumma labbayka bi-Hajj!" or " Labbayka Hajjan"
"O Allah! I answer Your call to perform Hajj."
The pilgrim maintains his Ihraam up to the Day of Sacrifice. No animal sacrifice offering is required from him.
Tawaf
The first round of Tawaf starts at Hajrul Aswath in the corner near the golden door of Kaaba. The green light glows straight to it as an indicator.
Stand before the indicator line and do not cross it and the Tawaf is always done in the clockwise direction. So you have to stand with your right side facing Kaaba.
Remove the seamless cloth covering the right shoulder and bring it under your armpit to put over your left shoulder. That is the right shoulder should be opened only when you are in Ihram. This position is called Izhthifa.
Turn towards Hajrul Aswath and caress it with both your hands and kiss your hands without making sound. If you cannot touch it, then make sign from a distance as through you are touching it and then kiss your hands. This is called Isthilam.
Do Isthilam in every round when you cross Hajrul Aswath.
Start your first round. When you are crossing the area between the door of Kaaba and Makame Ibrahim, you have to jog instead of walking. This jogging only at that place and only for men is called Ramal. Ramal is to be done only for the first three rounds and not for the last four rounds. After completing the last round make Isthilam once again which will be the 8th time. Please note that Ramal is to be done only when doing Tawaf as a part of Umrah and no Ramal to be done when performing Nafil Tawaf or doing Tawaf separately.
If you can get near, you can kiss the fourth corner of Kaaba called Ruknul Yamani. But if you cannot get near you must not make any signal of kissing. It is not allowed and you simply have to pass. After completing all the seven rounds, cover your right shoulder and go near Makame Ibrahim and pray 2 rak-at salat to complete the Tawaf.
Then go to Zam Zam water outlet and drink as much water as you can and come back near the Hajrul Aswath and do Isthilam one more time if you are continuing for Sayee.
Direction of the Tawaf around the Kaaba
Sa'i
The one performing Hajj Tamattu shaves his head or cuts his hair. By this the Umrah is done.
Artwork showing locations and rites of Hajj
On the eighth of the Muslim month of Dhu al-HIjjah
the pilgrims are reminded of their duties. They again don the ihram garments and confirm their intention to make the pilgrimage. The prohibitions of ihram start now.
Mina
Tents at Mina
Second day: 9th Dhu al-Hijjah
Pilgrims wearing ihram on the plains of Arafat on the day of Hajj
Arafat
They also listen to sermon (a talk) from the Islamic scholars who deliver it from near Jabal al-Rahmah (The Mount of Mercy) from where Muhammad is said to have delivered his last sermon. Lasting from noon through sunset, this is known as 'standing before God' (wuquf), one of the most significant rites of Hajj.
At Masjid al-Namirah (somewhere in the plains of Arafat), pilgrims offer noon and afternoon prayers together at noon time.
A pilgrim's Hajj is considered invalid if they do not spend the afternoon on Arafat.
Muzdalifah
Upon reaching there, pilgrims perform Maghrib and Isha prayer jointly, spend the night praying and sleeping on the ground with open sky, and gather pebbles for the next day's ritual of the stoning of the Devil(Shaitan).
A scenery of Muzdalifa
Third day: 10th Dhu al-Hijjah
Ramy al-Jamarat (Stoning of the Devil)
The remaining two pillars (jamarah) are not stoned on this day.These pillars are said to represent Satan. Pilgrims climb ramps to the multi-levelled Jamaraat Bridge, from which they can throw their pebbles at the jamarat. Because of safety reasons, in 2004 the pillars were replaced by long walls, with catch basins below to collect the pebbles.
Animal sacrifice
After the casting of stones, animals are slaughtered to commemorate the story of Abraham and Ishmael.
Traditionally the pilgrims slaughtered the animal themselves, or oversaw the slaughtering.
Today many pilgrims buy a sacrifice voucher in Mecca before the greater Hajj begins, which allows an animal to be slaughtered in the name of God (Allah) on the 10th, without the pilgrim being physically present.
Modern abattoirs complete the processing of the meat, which is then sent as charity to poor people around the world. At the same time as the sacrifices occur at Mecca, Muslims worldwide perform similar sacrifices, in a three-day global festival called Eid al-Adha.
Hair removal
After sacrificing an animal, another important rite of Hajj is shaving head or trimming hair (known as Halak). All male pilgrims shave their head or trim their hair on the day of Eid al Adha and women pilgrims cut the tips of their hair. (why Hair?)
Tawaf Al-Ifaadah
Fourth day: 11th Dhu al-Hijjah
Fifth day: 12th Dhu al-Hijjah
Last day at Mina: 13th Dhu al-Hijjah
Tawaf al-Wadaa
Finally, before leaving Mecca, pilgrims perform a farewell tawaf called the Tawaf al-Wadaa. 'Wadaa' means 'to bid farewell'. The pilgrims circle the Kaaba seven times counter-clockwise, and if they can, attempt to touch or kiss the Kaaba.
Journey to Medina
Though not a part of Hajj, pilgrims may choose to travel to the city of Medina and the Al-Masjid an-Nabawi (Mosque of the Prophet), which contains Muhammad's tomb. The Quba Mosque and Masjid al-Qiblatayn are also usually visited.