stages of Hajj - AQA GCSE Islam Practices

what is the first stage of Hajj?

entering a state of Ihram

what does entering a state of Ihram encompass?

• performing ritual washing

• praying

• putting on Ihram clothing

what is Ihram clothing?

men - two sheets of white cloth that they wrap around their body

women - clothes of a single colour that cover the whole of their body apart from their face

what does Ihram clothing symbolise?

equality and purity

what is the second stage of Hajj?

circling the Ka’aba

what does circling the Ka’aba encompass?

• circle in in an anti-clockwise direction seven times

• try and touch the black stone built into the Ka’aba or raise their hand to acknowledge it

• they recite the pilgrim’s prayer: ‘Here I am. Oh Lord, at you service. Praise and blessings to you.’

what is the Ka’aba?

• ancient Islamic relic

• regarded by some to be the only surviving stone from the original Ka’aba

• origins of stone are unclear - angels, given to Adam from God, meteorite

what is the third stage of Hajj?

travelling to arafat

what does the first half of travelling to arafat encompass?

• walking along a covered walkway linking the hills of Safa and Marwah (story of Ibrahim)

• after completing 7 circuits of this walk they return to the Ka’aba to collect bottles of water from the well of Zamzam

what does the second half of travelling to Arafat encompass?

• walk or ride 13 miles to Arafat - possibly in high temperatures

• halfway there they stop for the night at Mina - pray and read the Qu’ran

what is the fourth stage of Arafat?

standing at Arafat (slightly travelling)

what does standing at Arafat encompass?

• at dawn on the 9th Day of Dhul-Hijjah - pilgrims walk from Mina to Arafat where Muhammad preached his last sermon

• they spend the whole afternoon praying under the sun

• sun is a reminder of Day of Judgement

• some Muslims spend the whole afternoon standing to show the depth of their faith

• authorities provide water supplies and toilets

what does Islam teach about what will happen if Muslims complete the standing at Arafat?

• God will forgive the sins of all who complete

• only if they know they have done wrong, are determined not to do wrong again and are prepared to try to make up for sins

what is the 5th stage of Hajj?

throwing pebbles at Mina

what does throwing pebbles at Mina encompass?

• at the end of the day Muslims walk to Muzdalifah where they spend the night

• on the way they collect 49 small pebbles

• at Mina there are 3 stone walls called the Jamarat - represent the devil and temptation

• on the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah pilgrims throw the pebbles they have collected at the walls to show that they reject evil

what do Muslims do after throwing pebbles at Mina?

• many pilgrims sacrifice an animal

• part of celebration of Id-Ul-Adha

• to follow teachings in the Qur’an and example of Muhammad pilgrims cut their hair

• Women normally cut off a small lock of hair

• Men normally shave their heads

what is the 6th stage of Hajj?

returning to Makkah

what does returning to Makkah encompass?

• pilgrims return to Makkah to circle the Ka’aba 7 more times

• return to Mina to spend 2 more nights there remembering God and reflecting on his blessings before Hajj ends

what do some Muslims do after completing Hajj?

• travel to Madinah to visit the Prophet’s Mosque - contains tomb of Muhammad