What is Hajj? (Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B)

The Nature & Significance of Hajj

What is Hajj?

• Hajj is the fifth of the Five Pillars of Islam and is one of the Ten Obligatory Acts for Shi’a Muslims

• Hajj means pilgrimage, which is a special journey to a place of religious significance

• For Muslims the holiest place on earth is the city of Makkah in Saudi Arabia, where the Prophet Muhammad and other prophets lived and preached

• Hajj is held annually in the month of Dhul-Hajjah. It lasts for five days. Each year around three million Muslims travel to Makkah to take part

• All Muslims who are physically fit and can afford to do so should make the journey to Makkah once in their lifetime

The Origins of Hajj

• The Ka’bah is the cube-shaped building in Makkah which Muslims believe to be the first house of Allah on earth

• It was established by Allah through the prophets Ibraham (Abraham) and his son Isma’il (Ishmael) around four thousand years ago as a place where people could worship

• The Ka’bah was meant to be a place of prayer and worship, and Muslims from all over the world travel to this historic site to take part in Hajj today

How Hajj is performed

• Before pilgrims start Hajj, they change into ihram, simple clothes, generally white seamless robes 

  • This shows that everyone is equal before Allah on the Hajj

• Women are not able to attend Hajj without being accompanied by a man for their own safety and protection

  • According to the rules in Saudi Arabia, a single woman under 45 cannot go to Hajj unaccompanied, although Shi’a Muslims don’t think this rule is necessary

• During the five days of Hajj, all pilgrims will perform the same actions in the same order to symbolise important historical and spiritual events. These include

  • Tawaf - circling of the Ka'bah seven times

  • Sa'y - running between the hills of Safa and Marwa in remembrance of Hagar searching for water in the desert

  • Drinking from the Zamzam well

  • Standing on Mount Arafat to pray and read from the Qur'an

  • Throwing stones at pillars to symbolise the rejection of the devil

  • Celebrating the festival of Id-ul-Adha on the last day to remember the sacrifice Ibrahim was willing to make of his son, Ishma'el

  • Perform Tawaf - circling of the Ka'bah seven times again in farewell at the end

How Hajj is Performed

Importance of Hajj

The Importance of Hajj

• As one of the Five Pillars of Islam, Hajj is an obligation for all Muslims who are able to do so

• In performing the Hajj, Muslims are following the example of the prophets Ibrahim and Isma’il

• It shows a commitment to their faith and Muslims believe that this will be rewarded by Allah

• It gives Muslims a chance to put worldly concerns aside and to focus only on Allah, which will bring them closer to Allah and strengthen their faith

• Pilgrims who complete Hajj (known as Hajji) often return home inspired and spiritually refreshed

• Muslims believe that by completing Hajj their sins are forgiven and they can have a fresh start

• Hajj strengthens the ummah by bringing people from all over the world together, with everyone united and equal in the experience

Challenges of Hajj

• Pilgrims face certain challenges in undertaking Hajj

  • The Hajj is physically demanding, which is why pilgrims must be fit enough to participate

  • The pilgrimage sites can become very crowded, which can make it difficult to have a spiritual experience. Some people post selfies on social media during the Hajj, showing the difficulties of remaining focused only on Allah and their spiritual journey

  • It can be difficult for people to ensure that they don’t forget the lessons learned on Hajj when they return to their busy lives

• Overcoming these challenges only strengthens Muslims’ faith further; they learn to be patient and self-disciplined through the process