Hajj

The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is a pilgrimage to mecca that every able-bodied Muslim must take that is financially able. the Holy Mosque and Ka'aba are located in the town of Mina.

During the pilgrimage a person goes through several stages to show their faith.

The start every pilgrim has to enter in to Ihram, which is a spirtually state of purity in which a person cannot fight or engage in any sexual acts. They must wash and men wear a two piece white garmet while women the women wear a simply white dress. The pilgrim must then recite a paryer called the Talbiyah.

They then enter into the holy mosque at Mecca, right foot first.

They say another prayer and then perfom the act called Tawaf, a counter colockwise motion around the cube shaped building in the center, called the Ka'aba, which musliums believe Abraham and his son Ishmael built.

The pilgrims must then perform the act of sa'i. The pilgrims must run quickly between two hills called Safa and Marwah seven times, which represents Abraham's wife's desperate search for food and water.

The next day the pilgrims leave Mina for Mount Arafat. Here the must stand Vigil close to a hill on which it is believe that Muhammad gave his last sermon. The pilgrims must stand vigil till night fall.

After the sun sets the pilgrims start walking back towards Mina collecting 49 pebbels along the way for tomrrows ritual of Ramy al-Jamarat, also known as stoneing the devil. The Pilgirms must hit a pillar, a total of three, 7 times each. the pillars represent the three times that Abraham was challanged by the devil in his effort to scarfice his son, as he was told by God.

After completeing Ramy al-Jamarat the pilgrims then scrafice and animal, as did Abraham in place of his son which god provided. The Pilgrims must then spend another day in Mecca and repeat the Stone of the devil before departing.

For more information on planning to make a trip to Mecca go to http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/hajj/ or http://hajj.al-islam.com/

for more information on the different kinds of Hajj that are now offered.

Citations Robinson, B.A.. "THE HAJJ: PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA." __Religious Tolerance__. 12-13-2006. Religious Tolerance. 1 Nov 2007 http://www.religioustolerance.org/isla1.htm.

Kjeilen, Kjeilen. "Hajj." __Encyclopedia of the Orient__. 1997. LexicOrient. 1 Nov 2007 http://i-cias.com/e.o/hajj.htm.