27/06/2023
Hajj became obligatory for every able-bodied Muslim adult who has the financial means to do after Prophet Muhammadโs โfarewell pilgrimageโ in 632 AD.
According to Islamic tradition, the Kaaba โ a black silk-clad stone structure at the heart of the Grand Mosque in Mecca โ was built by the Prophet Abraham and his son Ishmael.
Hajj is a spiritual, emotional and physical challenge that tests the patience and temperament of the pilgrim.
It occurs in Dhul-Hijjah, the 12th and final month of the Islamic lunar calendar, between the eighth and 13th days of the month.
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Day 1
Intent and ihram โ The very first rite of Hajj is to make a pure intention and to enter ihram โ a pilgrimโs sacred state โ when crossing the outer boundaries of Mecca, called Miqat.
Entering ihram entails wearing plain garments โ two unstitched pieces of cloth for men, or loose-fitting clothing for women โ as well as following certain rules, such as not giving in to anger or engaging in sexual activity.
Pilgrims then perform tawaf, which means circling the Kaaba in an anticlockwise direction seven times, and sai, which refers to running between the Safa and Marwa hills.
Muslims perform the Tawaf'
Muslims perform the tawaf ritual and pray at al-Masjid al-Haram as seen from atop the Mecca Clock Tower, in preparation of the start of the Hajj 2022 pilgrimage, Mecca, Saudi Arabia, July 6, 2022.ย [Ashraf Amra / EPA]
Mina, the tent city โ After that, the pilgrims travel by foot on pilgrim paths or take a bus for the 8km (five-mile) journey to Mina, a tent city just outside of Mecca.
The pilgrims spend the day in Mina, setting out the next morning at dawn. Most of the time in Mina is spent in prayer, supplications and remembering Allah (God).
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/6/21/what-is-hajj-a-step-by-step-guide-to-the-muslim-pilgrimage
