The Hajj begins with Muslims circling the Kaaba in Mecca counter-clockwise seven times while reciting prayers.
Many Muslims visit Medina, where the Prophet Muhammad is buried and where he built the first mosque, before heading to Mecca. They are not supposed to argue or fight, but the heat, crowds and difficulty of the journey inevitably test people's patience. Pilgrims are forbidden from cutting their hair, trimming their nails or engaging in sexual intercourse while in the state of ihram. The garments cannot contain any stitching, a rule intended to promote unity among rich and poor. Pilgrims begin by entering a state of spiritual purity known as “ihram.” Women forgo makeup and perfume and cover their hair, while men change into seamless terrycloth robes. Travel agents offer packages catering to all income levels, and charities assist needy pilgrims. Some pilgrims spend their whole lives saving up for the journey or wait years before getting a permit, which Saudi authorities distribute to countries based on a quota system. This is the first year it is being held without COVID restrictions. In 2020, amid worldwide coronavirus lockdowns, Saudi Arabia limited the pilgrimage to a few thousand citizens and local residents. A notorious Bedouin raid in 1757 wiped out an entire Hajj caravan, killing thousands of pilgrims. It was an arduous journey through deserts where Bedouin tribes carried out raids and demanded tribute. In the Middle Ages, Muslim rulers organized massive caravans with armed escorts that would depart from Cairo, Damascus and other cities. The Hajj has been held every year since the time of the prophet, even through wars, plagues and other turmoil. No matter where they are in the world, Muslims face toward the Kaaba during their daily prayers. Muslims do not worship the Kaaba, a cube-shaped structure covered in a black, gold-embroidered cloth, but view it as their most sacred place and a powerful symbol of unity and monotheism. The Kaaba was a center for polytheistic worship among pagan Arabs until the arrival of Islam in the 7th century, when the Prophet Muhammad consecrated the site and inaugurated the Hajj. In the Christian and Jewish traditions, Abraham nearly sacrifices his other son, Isaac, on Mount Moriah, which is associated with a major holy site in Jerusalem. Ibrahim and Ismail later are said to have built the Kaaba together. The pilgrimage draws Muslims from around the world to Mecca, in Saudi Arabia, where they walk in the footsteps of the Prophet Muhammad and retrace the journey of Ibrahim and Ismail, or Abraham and Ishmael as they are known in the Christian and Jewish traditions.Īs related in the Quran, Ibrahim is called upon to sacrifice his son Ismail as a test of faith, but God stays his hand at the last moment. WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF THE HAJJ PILGRIMAGE IN ISLAM?
Here's a look at the pilgrimage and its meaning. The cost of the pilgrimage, combined with widespread economic woes, may have been a factor. Saudi authorities had expected some 2 million pilgrims, but official figures released Tuesday put attendance at around 1.8 million, considerably fewer than the nearly 2.5 million who came in 2019. Authorities have invested billions of dollars in modern infrastructure, but the Hajj has occasionally been marred by tragedy, as in 2015, when over 2,400 pilgrims died in a stampede. Pilgrims this week braved temperatures in excess of 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) to perform their rituals in the open air.įor the Saudi royal family, which captured Mecca in the 1920s, organizing the pilgrimage is a major source of pride and legitimacy. For the pilgrims, it is a profound spiritual experience that wipes away sins, brings them closer to God and highlights Muslim unity. The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, and all Muslims are required to undertake it at least once in their lives if they are physically and financially able to do so. MECCA – Over 1.8 million Muslims are taking part in this week's Hajj pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, as one of the world's largest religious gatherings returns to capacity following years of coronavirus restrictions.
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