Hajj

By: Sierra Megonnell and Ryan Statler

Hajj Basics
● Annual Pilgrimage that occurs 5 days every
year in Dhu ‘l-Hijja
● Every Year the Dates Move Back
● 1 of the 5 Islamic Pillars
● Located in and around Mecca, Saudi Arabia
● 3 Million of the Almost 1 Billion Muslims Attend
● In 2018, the Hajj was on August 19th - August
24th
● Islam is Practical (Those with Sufficient Funds
and Good Health should make the Trip).
● Some trips are paid for by those who are in bad
health and financially stable.
● Many Older Muslims Come
● Death Can Occur Here is Considered a Great
Blessing (Hewer 21)
Ihram

● Bathe, Shave, Trim, & Perfume Before

● Special Garments (Hewer 22)
● Men and Women Dress Differently
● Everyone is Equal
● Keep to be Buried
● Cannot:
○ Harm Living Things
○ Must Refrain from Aggressive Speech
○ Sexual Relations
The Ka’ba
● Kiswa is Removed & Replaced
(Hewer 23)
● Prayer Occurs Here 5 Times a Day
● “Place of Ibrahim”
● Black Stone (Eastern Corner
Stone)
○ Was brought by Gabriel while Abraham
was building the Ka’ba
○ Originally white, but turned black when
idols were worshipped in the Ka’ba
Tawaf
● Circle 7 Time Counterclockwise (Hewer 22)
● Raise Right Hand to Black Stone, if Close Pilgrims Touch or Kiss
● Repeated a Few Times:
○ After Arrival
○ After the Animal Sacrifice and Hair Removal
○ Farewell
Sa’y
● Running between al-Safa & al-
Marwa (Hewer 23)
● Hagar’s Search for Water
● 7 Times
● Shows Mercy of God
● Blessed with Water from
Zamzam
● Men Only Run, Women Walk
● Certain Spots for Running
Zamzam

● Well Water
● Hagar was Blessed with this Water
● Pilgrims drink (Hewer 23)
● Take Home
Plain of Arafat
● Surrounding Mount of Mercy, 20 km from Mecca
● Where Adam and Eve were Forgiven & Farewell Sermon to Muhammad
● High Point of the Hajj (Hewer 23-24)
● Stand to Pray for Hours
● Pilgrims Bring their Sins Before God
○ Recognize & Acknowledge Sins
○ Must Put an End to the Sinful Practice
○ God’s Help is required to Solve it and Not Repeat
○ If Possible, Make Amends
Muzdalifa
● Part way to Mecca, they Rest
● Sleep on the Sandy Ground (Hewer 24)
● Collect Pebbles Here for The Stoning Pillars
Stoning Jamarat Pillars in Mina
● Recalls Temptations from Ibrahim and Isma’il
● Coming from Afarat
● Symbolizes Rejecting the Devil for the Rest of Their Lives
● 7 Pebbles Thrown the First Day at One Pillar (Hewer 24)
● Return Later to Thrown Stones at all 3 Pillars
‘Id al-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice)
● Sacrificing Animals (qurban)
● Professional Slaughtermen Act in the Name of Each Pilgrim (Hewer 24)
● Meat is Given to Poor in Various Countries
● Clip Hair or Shave Head
● Remove Ihram
● Then Repeat Tawaf & Stoning
After the Hajj
● Pilgrims Add to the Front of their Name (Hewer 25)
○ Men: al-Hajj
○ Women: al-Hajjah
● Many go to Medina to see the Prophet Muhammad’s Grave
● Muslims Feel Changed
Bibliography
Farooqi, Sadaf. "Hajj: Exemptions and Misconceptions." Hiba Magazine, 2018.

Accessed September 10, 2018. http://www.hibamagazine.com/

hajj-exemptions-and-misconceptions/.

Hajj Stories (Bay Area): Takeaways from the Hajj (Part 5 of 5). Produced by

Asian Art Museum. Youtube, 2014. Accessed September 12, 2018.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVysGX05BEc.

Hewer, C.T.R. Understanding Islam. Minneapolis, MN: First Fortress Press, 2006.

My Hajj Experience by Shehroze. Produced by Shehroze Khan. Youtube, 2018.

Accessed September 12, 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mXXSH2NHm8.