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HAJJ
The Hajj is a pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and it is the
fifth pillar of Islam, an obligation that must be carried out
at least once in their lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who
can afford to do so. The Hajj is a demonstration of the solidarity
of the Muslim people, and their submission to Allah. The pilgrimage
occurs from the 7th to 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the 12th month
of the Islamic calendar. Because the Islamic calendar is a lunar
calendar, eleven days shorter than the Gregorian calendar used
in the Western world, the Gregorian date of the Hajj changes from
year to year. In 2014 it will be around September / October. Ihram
is the name given to the special state in which Muslims live whilst
on the pilgrimage.
The Hajj is associated with the life of Prophet Muhammad, Peace
Be Upon Him, from the 7th century, but the ritual of pilgrimage
to Mecca is considered to stretch back thousands of years to the
time of Prophet Ibrahim. Pilgrims join processions of hundreds
of thousands of people, who simultaneously converge on Mecca for
the week of the Hajj, and perform a series of rituals: Each person
walks counter-clockwise seven times about the Ka'bah, which acts
as the direction of prayer; kisses the Black Stone in the corner
of the Kaaba; runs back and forth between the hills of Al-Safa
and Al-Marwah; drinks from the Zamzam Well; goes to the plains
of Mount Arafat to stand in vigil; and throws stones in a ritual
Stoning of the Devil. The pilgrims then shave their heads, perform
a ritual of animal sacrifice, and celebrate the three day global
festival of Eid al-Adha.
For more Information please Contact
: Ahfaz Ahmed
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