Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and is an annual pilgrimage that Muslims are required to perform at least once in their lifetime if they are physically and financially able to do so. The Hajj takes place in the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah and involves a series of rituals that span several days. Here’s an overview of what Muslims do during Hajj:
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Ihram: Before entering the holy city of Mecca, pilgrims enter a state of Ihram, which involves wearing specific clothing (two white, unstitched cloths for men and modest dress for women) and making a formal intention (niyyah) to perform Hajj. Ihram symbolizes purity and equality before God.
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Tawaf: Upon arriving at the Kaaba, the most sacred site in Islam located in the Masjid al-Haram, pilgrims perform Tawaf, which involves walking around the Kaaba seven times in a counterclockwise direction.
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Sa'i: After Tawaf, pilgrims perform Sa'i, which is walking seven times back and forth between the hills of Safa and Marwah, commemorating Hagar's search for water for her son Ishmael.
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Standing at Arafat (Wuquf): On the 9th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, pilgrims gather at the Plain of Arafat for a day of prayer and reflection. This is considered the most important day of Hajj, where worship and supplication are encouraged.
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Muzdalifah: After sunset on the Day of Arafat, pilgrims travel to Muzdalifah to spend the night under the open sky, where they collect pebbles for the next day's rituals.
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Ramy al-Jamarat: The next day, pilgrims throw pebbles at three pillars that represent Satan, symbolizing the rejection of evil and temptation.
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Eid al-Adha and Qurbani: On the 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah, which is also the day of Eid al-Adha, pilgrims perform the ritual of animal sacrifice (Qurbani). The meat is typically distributed among family, friends, and the needy.
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Further Tawaf (Tawaf al-Ifadah): Pilgrims return to the Kaaba for another round of Tawaf after the Eid celebrations.
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Shaving/Cutting Hair: Male pilgrims may shave their heads or cut their hair, while female pilgrims traditionally cut a small portion of their hair to signify the completion of the Hajj rituals.
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Tawaf al-Wada: Before leaving Mecca, pilgrims perform the farewell Tawaf, circling the Kaaba one last time.
These rituals symbolize different aspects of faith, obedience, and humility, and through Hajj, Muslims reaffirm their submission to Allah and their unity with fellow believers.