Haj







Video of Muslim's Pilgrimage to Makkah



Hajj refers to a Muslim's pilgrimage to Mecca and is one of the five pillars of Islam. At least once in his or her lifetime, each Muslim is expected to undertake this pilgrimage the sacred city of Islam. This holy journey is called the hajj in Arabic. While a visit to Mecca is beneficial any time of the year, it must take place during the month of Dhu al-Hijja (the last month of the Islamic year) to fulfill the requirements of the hajj. As with the sawm (fasting), exceptions are made for those who are physically or financially unable to fulfill this obligation, and one is actually commanded not to make the hajj if to do so would cause hardship for his or her family. However, those unable to go themselves may fulfill their obligation by sending someone in their stead. 

 The hajj is commanded in the Quran:

"And pilgrimage to the House is a duty unto God for mankind, for him who can find the way thither" (3:97) - 

And its rites were established by Prophet Muhammad SAW, but Muslim tradition dates it back to Prophet Adam AS and Prophet Abraham AS, who were instructed by angels in the performance of the rites. The hajj was one of the last public acts of worship performed by Prophet Muhammad SAW before his demise. In part, the hajj commemorates the stories of Prophet Abraham AS, Hagar and Prophet Ishmael AS and it has been assigned various other meanings throughout the centuries. For many Muslims, one of the most meaningful aspects of the pilgrimage is the unifying effect of bringing together believers from all over the world to meet and worship together. Upon arrival at the boundary of Makkah (about six miles from the Kaabah, pilgrims enter the state of Ihram (purity) in which they will remain throughout the hajj. Males entering this pure state don the Ihram garments - two white, seamless sheets wrapped around the body - and sandals. 

This aspect of the rite not only signifies the state of holiness the pilgrims have entered, but it serves to contribute to a sense of equality and unity by removing visual indicators of class, wealth and culture. Requirements for women are less stringent, but they usually dress in white with only faces and hands uncovered. While in the state of Ihram, pilgrims must not cut their nails or hair, engage in sexual relations, argue, fight or hunt. When he or she enters the city of Makkah, the pilgrim first walks around the Kaabah seven times (the tawaf, or circumbulation) while reciting the talbiyah, then kisses or touches the Black Stone in the Kaabah, prays twice towards the Station of Abraham and the Kaabah and runs seven times between the small mountains of Safa and Marwa. 

 The second stage of the hajj takes place between the 8th and 12th days of Dhu al-Hijja, beginning with a sermon (khutbah) at the mosque on the 7th day. On the eighth day and night, the pilgrim stays at Mina or Arafat. On the ninth day, the ritual of wuquf ("standing") takes place at the small hill of Jabal al-Rahmah in Arafat. The pilgrim then returns to Muzdalifah, a small town within the Makkan boundaries, to stay the night. The tenth day is Eid al-Adha (The Feast of Sacrifice), a major holiday observed by all Muslims. For those participating in the hajj, the day is spent in Mina, where the pilgrim sacrifices an animal to commemorate Prophet Abraham's sacrifice and throws seven small stones at each of three pillars on three consecutive days (the pillars represent sins and devils). 

The pilgrim then returns to Makkah, where he or she once again performs the tawaf (circumbulation of the Kaabah). The head is then shaved or the hair is trimmed, which marks the end of the state of Ihram. About 2-3 million Muslims complete the hajj each year. The government of Saudi Arabia has contributed significant resources to maintain the holy places and manage the crowd of pilgrims. Despite the large numbers seen in Makkah each year, only a small percentage of Muslims have fulfilled the duty. 

Those who have done so may add the title hajj or hajji to their names. With such a vast number of people in one place at one time, failures of crowd control and other problems have sometimes led to disaster. 
Alhamdullilah,(Grateful to Allah SWT) following are list of Hajj and Umrah guide for the pilgrimage to Makkah.(Courtesy of Islamic.bulletin.org). This guide has gone through several revisions in Saudi Arabia and scholars worldwide to check for content and accuracy; each step clearly explained without having to flip through various pages of different books. For this reason, this guide was designed to fit on one page to make possible easy transport. Lightweight and fordable, this one-page guide holds the promise of making your Hajj experience easy and acceptable, In sha Allah. Three sizes are available: letter, A4, and legal size, which provides a larger font for greater visibility.

The Hajj and Umrah guide provides the following to assist you:


  • Step-by-step details of each ritual

  • A map of the Kaaba to help you locate Safa and Marwa

  • A visual representation of the steps for Tawaf

  • Duas that should be recited, including the times and places

  • The miles and kilometres of the necessary routes

  • Icons for user-friendly quick references
  • In multi-lingual for better understanding of Guide to Pilgrimage for Haj and Umrah.

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Albanian Hajj Guide ألباني Guida e Haxhit në shqip up

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