Islam

People commemorated during Hajj

Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), his wife Hajar (Hagar), and their son Ismail (Ishmael), as well as the Prophet Muhammad

Hajj Rituals

• Ihram (entering a state of sanctity)

• Tawaf (walking around the Kaaba)

• Sa'i (walking between the 2 hills of Safa and Marwah)

• Wuquf at Arafat (standing in supplication)

• Spending the night in Muzdalifa (collected stones here)

• Stoning the Jamarat (3 pillars)

• Performing the Farwell Tawaf al-Ifadah and Sa'i again

Hajj Location 

Holy City of Makkah (Mecca) in Saudi Arabi

Hajj

A pilgrimage made to the Kaaba, the "House of Allah", in the sacred city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia and also one of the 5 pillar is Islam

Hajj Date

Last month of the lunar calendar, holy month of Dhul Hijjah

Fulfilments of Hajj

• Fulfills a pillar of Islam

• Achieves spiritual purification and inner peace

• Seeks forgiveness and gain 

• Demonstrates submission and unity

• Reward of Paradise (Jannah) 

5 Pillars of Islam

Shahada: Declaration of faith
Salah: 5 prayers a day
Zakat: Donate 2.5% of income
Sawm: Fasting during Ramadan
Hajj: Pilgrimage to Mecca

Ihram

The sacred state of spiritual purity and consecration entered into before performing the Hajj or Umrah pilgrimages. It involves making specific intentions, performing cleansing rituals, and wearing simple, unstitched white garments for men, while women wear modest, covering attire. While in this state, a pilgrim must refrain from certain actions, such as cutting nails or hair, shaving, and engaging in marital relations.

Kaaba Arabic Translation

Cube

The Kaaba, Ka’ba, Ka’bah, Kabah or al-Ka’ba al-Musharrafa

A stone building at the center of Islam's most important mosque and holiest site, the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, Saudi Arabia

Sa'ey or Sa’ee

The ritual of walking or running seven times between the two small hills of Safa and Marwah in Mecca

Hagar

Abraham’s Wife

Mina

A sacred valley called the city of tents which is stopped at and prayed at. It is where Muslims camp and throw stones at 3 pillars representing the 3 times the devil tempted Abraham and Abraham threw stones back.

Mount Arafat

The ‘peak of Hajj as it is the place where Adam and Eve reunited and were forgiven on Earth after falling from Heaven and where Muhammad’s last sermon occured. Muslims pray here as part of Hajj.

Muzdalifah

Another holy valley between Arafat and Mina where muslims spend under the open sky and prepare for rituals.

‘Stoning of the Devil’

A ritual during the Hajj pilgrimage where Muslim pilgrims throw pebbles at three stone pillars in Mina

Ramy Al Jamarat Arabic Translation

‘Stoning of the Devil’

A ritual during the Hajj pilgrimage where Muslim pilgrims throw pebbles at three stone pillars in Mina

Tawaf

Walking around the Kaaba, representing devotion to Allah like angels circling God’s throne in heaven 

Festival of Sacrifice

An Islamic holiday that commemorates Prophet Ibrahim's (Abraham's) willingness to sacrifice his son as an act of submission to God's command. God intervened and provided a ram to sacrifice instead of his son, who was left unharmed. This commemoration involves the symbolic sacrifice of an animal (such as a sheep, goat, or camel) which is then divided into three portions: one for the family, one for relatives and friends, and one for the poor and needy. 

Ishmael

Abraham’s Son

Representation of Throwing Stones at Devil

Symbolises resistance from evil

Ending of Hajj 

Farewell Tawaf where the Kabaa is circled 7 more times 

Number of Pilgrims at Kabaa over time

1920s: <100,000 pilgrims

1970s: 700,000 pilgrims

2018: 2 million pilgrims

Dangers of Hajj

Crowd crushes, extreme heat, cardiovascular diseases, and overcrowding

Safety Infrastructure at Hajj

Hallways, bridges, rails and vias limitations

Politics of Hajj 

Saudi Arabia has been accused of excluding people from Hajj for political reasons

The Empires before and during Islam

Byzantium Empire (Eastern Roman Empire) and the Persia Empire (Sasndid Empire)

Inhabitants of Arabia 

Nomadic tribes (Travellers instead of permanent settlers) 

Geography of Arabia

Mainly desert

Mecca

The holiest city and the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad

Kaaba Builder

Abraham (Ibrahim) and his son Ishmael (Ismail)

Religions Existing around Mecca

Polytheism religions, various local deities (like Hubal), and monotheistic faiths like Judaism, Christianity, and Zoroastrianism

Muhammad's main trade

Merchant in adulthood and shepherd in youth.

Khadijah

The first wife of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, a wealthy and respected merchant herself, and the first person to convert to Islam

Muhammad Birth Date

570 CE

Muhammad’s Death Date

632 CE

Qur’an Arabic Translation 

“the recitation”

Meccan Revelations

The chapters of the Quran revealed to the Prophet Muhammad before his migration to Medina

Islam Arabic Translation

“One who submits to the will of Allah (god)”

Muslim

Believer in Islam

Medina

The second holiest city in Islam, after Mecca, and is considered the "cradle of Islamic culture". It was the city where the Prophet Muhammad and his followers migrated to in 622 CE, marking the start of the Islamic calendar.

Hijra

The Islamic prophet Muhammad and his followers took from Mecca to Medina

Suras

Chapters in Qur’an

Ayas

Verses in bible meaning ‘signs’

Hafiz

Person who memorised Qur’an

Caliphate

A person considered a political–religious successor to the Islamic prophet Muhammad and a leader of the entire Muslim world

Shahdah

The profession of faith

La ilaha illa Allah wa-Muhammad rasul Allah.

Translation: There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger

Salah

Prayers

5 prayers daily with ritual purity before prayers and facing Mecca

Zakah

The Poor Tax

2.5% of income voluntarily donated to charity. The money is used for the relief of the poor, necessities of travellers, ransom captives, and general charitable purposes

Sawm

Fasting

30 days of fasting from food, drink, and tobacco smoking, from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan. The very young and old, travellers on a long journey and women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or menstruating are excluded

Jihad

‘6th pillar of Islam’ which is the efforts of Muslims to live their lives as best they can

• Learning the Qur’an & religious study

• Forgiving those who have done wrong

• Confronting of evil and wrong doing.

The Lesser Jihad

The striving against evil in the world – worldly struggle

The Greater Jihad

The striving against evil in yourself – spiritual struggle

Veilings 

A practice of modest dress for Muslim women with the purpose of inspiring modesty and dignity

5 Pillars of Islam

Shahdah

Salah

Zakah

Sawm

Hajj