A Pilgrimage

Haj is not a festival but is a pilgrimage to Mecca. Hadith(traditions) mentions about Haj and is the fifth of the Pillars of Islam or Arkan. Being an imperative duty, Muslims are expected to perform Haj once in their whole life. It is an ibadah wherein money is spent and strength is sacrificed for the Allah’s pleasure. Besides this, Haj is also taken as a test for one’s patience. Haj congregates Muslims from all over the world and renders them with an opportunity to strengthen their Muslim Brotherhood bonds by meeting at a central venue. The right time to start Haj is the eighth day of Zul Hijjah or twelfth month of Muslim year that is, Dhu al-hijah.

Around three millions pilgrims perform Haj during this month. According to a Muslim culture, every woman is allowed to go to Mecca in the company of a male relative only, be it ahusband, father or a brother.

Day One

Ihram- Dress code

The pilgrims dress or ‘ihram’ represents leaving the material world and entering the state of spirituality. These clothes are worn by most of the Muslims during Haj. Talbiyah, an invocation is chanted when a pilgrim wears Ihram at a place specially provided to change into Ihram, called Miqat. After dressing in the same, pilgrim leaves for town of Mina.

Day Two

On day two, all the pilgrims gather in plains of Arafat. Herein, a pilgrim waits for his Judgment Day or Doomsday by Almighty wherein he has to give an account of his deeds that he has committed. The pilgrims live at Arafat and this stay is called ‘Wuquf’. Here at night the pilgrims collect stones at a place between Mina and Arafat, Mujdalif.

Day Three

On the third to pilgrimage called Eid-ul-Adha, pilgrims return to Mina. The pilgrims throw seven collected stones at pillars of Jamarat. This indicates that they will easily chase away Satan. On this very day the pilgrims sacrifice an animal and also pledge to isolate themselves them from all worldly attractions. They are not bound by any restrictions and are allowed to shave their heads and can also change their garbs. The act of shaving heads symbolizes incarnation that signifies that the sins are cleaned by completion of Haj. On the same day or the next day, the pilgrims visit Masjid-al-Haram in Mecca for an obligatory of Haj called Tawaf. It involves walking around the Kaaba four times, and three rounds in counter-clockwise, more closely and at leisurely place.