Caleb Haney

Rel 103 Islamic Ritual

10/18/2016
NOT A VACATION
Set between the eighth and thirteenth days of the last month of the Islamic calendar, the

Hajj is perhaps the single most important event in a Muslims life. They travel to Mecca, Islams

holy city, and pray at the Kaab, which they believe to be the earthly house of Allah, the one

God. It is a long and taxing journey filled with physical and mental burdens, and the entire trip is

spent in a state of ihram, which essentially means they cannot lose their tempers in any way. The

path is laid out for them by Muhammad in the Quran. He took the Haj in remembrance of

Abrahams pilgrimage, and now all Muslims do the same.

When the pilgrims first arrive in Mecca they will pray at the Kaba, which is said to have

been built first by Adam, and then rebuilt by Abraham after it was destroyed in the great flood.

When they leave Mecca they travel to the valley of Mynah where the prophet rested, and where

they will rest. The next day they go to the plain of Arafat, the place where Muhammad gave his

last sermon, and where the pilgrims will spend a day in prayer. After that they will return to

Mynah, and perform a ritual stoning of Satan, in remembrance of their history of Abraham

throwing stones at Satan as he tried to convince him to disobey God and withhold Isaac from

him. They will also partake in the feast of the sacrifice. Each person will buy a sheep, or seven

people a camel, to be sacrificed by Muslim butchers. The meat will be shipped to the poor. This

is symbolic of Abrahams sacrifice of a ram in place of Isaac. Finally, they return to Mecca, and

circle the Kaba, the climax of the pilgrimage.

There are Muslims in every class of every country, and the Hajj provides a different

experience for each of them. Even getting to Mecca is more challenging for some than others.

The Texan, Fidelma was required to both prove she was Muslim, and that a male relative had

given her permission before spending eleven hours riding a bus. Halil also took a public bus to
Caleb Haney
Rel 103 Islamic Ritual
10/18/2016
the airport. The wealthy Malaysian Ishmael and his wife on the other hand, had a police escort to

the airport that would take him there, along with a long train of his Muslim neighbors.

Men are required to change into a special attire, two simple pieces of cloth similar to a

burial shroud. These clothes make all men look like equals, or at least they are supposed to.

Fidelma and Halil both experienced a form of racism while on their Haj. The pilgrims from more

traditionally Muslim nations had a difficult time believing that the white woman from Texas was

really Muslim. The South African never specified what kind of racism he witness, only that he

was surprised by how much there was. Money also made a difference, even though the rich and

poor are supposed to be equal on the Hajj. Those who can afford it can purchase V.I.P.

accommodations, such as less crowded tents or better food. Ishmael was able to rest in a tent

with tea and mattresses at Arafat, while Halil was lucky to find an open spot of ground to sit on.

The Hajj is a long, difficult, and complex journey. A pilgrim must retake the steps of the

prophet exactly, in the heat of the desert and crowded by over a million people. Even as the

pilgrims get as close to their holy site as they ever will, the influence of wealth and race is ever

present. It is a true show of dedication to their god. Mecca is probably a great place to visit, but

the Hajj is not a vacation.