Hajj: Islam Significant Practice HSC

What is Hajj

Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam in which adherents embark on a pilgrimage to journey across various sacred sites along Mecca. It is strongly encouraged that every able-bodied muslim must experience this practice at least once in their lifetime.

[Quran 22:27] "the people shall observe Hajj pilgrimage. They will come to you walking or riding on various exhausted (means of transportation). They will come from the farthest locations."

Why Hajj must be attended at least once?

[Quran 22:27] "And proclaim that the people shall observe Hajj pilgrimage. They will come to you walking or riding on various exhausted (means of transportation). They will come from the farthest locations."

Ihram

A sacred state that pilgrims must undergo in order to carry out the spiritual duties required by Hajj or Uhram. These include abstaining from practices such as:

• Trimming your nails

• Not wearing underwear

• Not going into idle talk or disputes with other pilgrims

• Must not harm themselves or others eg. smoking

When is Hajj practiced?

8th to the 13th Dhu’l Hijjah (12th month of the Islamic calendar)

1. Hajj-ul-Ifrad

Simplest form of Hajj. No prerequisites are required to perform Hajj (including Umrah)

2. Hajj-ul-Qiran

Method where Umrah is completed at any time of the year before Hajj, and afterwards performing Hajj.

3. Hajj-ul-Tammuttu

Method where pilgrims perform Umrah in the days leading up to Hajj, and then performing Hajj afterwards.

Significance of Hajj in general

1. It is duty owed by mankind to God (Allah) - Quran 3:96-97

“ Whoever enters attains security | pilgrimage to the house is a duty mankind owes to God | but if any deny faith, Allah shall not stand in need of any of his creatures.”

2. Cleanses a pilgrim’s lifetime of sin - Sahih Al Bukkhari Volume 2 Book 26

“He will return free from sin, as if he was born anew”

How the tradition expresses the beliefs of Islam

Hajj expresses the core belief of Islam that God is great, with all creatures created by his hand exalting, glorifying and praising God. This is expressed in the verse from Quran 57:1 “All that is on Heaven and on Earth shall glorify and exalt God”

This call to God is greatly expressed by the arrival of millions of pilgrims en masse showing up to worship God, showing a sign that all pilgrims are lesser before God and must present themselves.