‘And proclaim to mankind the Hajj pilgrimage. They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every deep and distant (wide) mountain highway (to perform Hajj).’ (Quran: 22/27)
The Obligatory Prayer
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam to be performed by able Muslims at least once in a lifetime. Hajj pilgrimage is like a journey to Makkah and Madinah, which reborns the soul and forgives all your sins.
World’s Largest Religious Gathering
Every year, around 2 million Muslims perform Hajj in Makkah, in the most sacred and holiest mosque Masjid Al Haram. Muslims travel to Makkah, Saudi Arabia, for six days. When the month of Zill Hajj starts that is the 12th month of the Islamic calendar.
Makkah –An Ancient city
The city of Makkah is the place that was developed after Prophet Ismail and his mother Bibi Hajra RZ found the spring of Zamzam in the desert. Only Muslims are allowed to enter the holiest place on earth.
“House of Kaaba” The Holiest place on Earth
The house of Allah, “Kaaba” is the building in the center of the Masjid Al Haram. Built by the first human Prophet Adam and renovated by Prophet Ibrahim and ProphetIsmail AS, this cubicle house is considered as the most sacred house on Earth. The Muslims who come to perform Hajj or Umrah take seven rounds in the anti-clockwise direction known as Tawaf.
After the Tawaf, the pilgrims walk 7 times between two hills Safa and Marwa, known as ‘sai’. It is the place where Hazrat Ismail and his mother ran for water in haste. The other rituals of stoning the devil at Mina and listen to the sermon on the plain of Arafat.
The Unique Dress Code
To perform Hajj the men and women are dressed in white, men wear Ihram and women cover themselves from head to toe leaving the face out. The dress shows two things, one that all are equal. Secondly, one has entered the state of purity. Also, not allowed to wear perfume, jewelry, or any sewn garments.
The never-drought Zamzam Well
During the hajj, the pilgrim drinks water from the Zamzam well, which is situated at the east of Kabbah. The water spring that came out for Hazrat Ismail, who was dying of thirst.
Sacrificing cattle
After all the rituals are performed, the feast of sacrifice marks the end of the hajj, by sacrificing animals that are a Sunnah of Prophet Ibrahim. Muslims all over the world pays tribute to Prophet Ibrahim AS and his deed of sacrificing His son Prophet Ismail for the sake of Allah.
A Lucrative Industry for the Saudi Government
Saudi government earns huge revenue by making Hajj as one of the industry. The Hajj season generates billions of turnover for Saudia Arabian markets.
A Sturdy Physical and Financial expedite
Performing Hajj today needs lots of energy and resources due to the heavy crowd, construction at the Grand Mosque, which last year caused deaths due to fall of cranes. During Hajj, all the pilgrims have to withstand the heat, especially in Mina and plain of Arafat. Heat exhaustion has caused many to lose their lives.
There is nothing, but only the love for Allah, which gathers millions of Muslims from every part of the world to pray and perform Hajj with equality and patience.
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