How to Make a Pilgrimage to Mecca
Hajj, or the pilgrimage to Mecca, is the last of the Five Pillars of Islam. If a Muslim is physically and financially able, he is obligated to make pilgrimage. It is also possible for a Muslim to perform pilgrimage for another who is unable. As a Pillar, Hajj represents important spiritual and social ideals of devotion to Allah and to one's global Muslim community. Read on to learn how to make a pilgrimage to Mecca.
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Instructions
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Consult an Islamic calendar to determine Dhul Hijjah, the month Hajj must be made. Hajj can be prescribed for any month of the year, depending on the lunar cycle. For example, in 2008, Hajj is to be made approximately between the end of November and the end of December, according to the Gregorian calendar commonly used in the West.
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Purchase the required clothing, Ihram, two white sheets, that must be worn within ten kilometers of Mecca. The purpose of the clothing is to equalize all of the hajjis so that there is no indication of social or financial status. All pilgrims are equal in the sight of Allah. Muslims should consult their religious leaders for specifics about how long to wear the clothing.
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Travel to Mecca during the current year's prescribed time period, Dhul-Hijja.
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Perform Tawaf. Walk seven times, counter-clockwise around the Ka'bah, Mecca's holy relic . Touch the Black Stone on the Eastern corner of the Ka'bah. Tawaf is performed twice, once as part of the Hajj and finally before leaving Mecca. Attempting to kiss the Black Stone is considered dangerous because of the crowds.
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Make seven trips between the hills, As-Safa and Al-Marwah. This known as Sa'ee. The hajji may perform the sa'ee immediately after Tawaf or may rest before continuing. Sa'ee recreates Hagar's search for water.
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Submit to Allah at Arafat on the ninth day of Dhul-Hijja. Some hajjis pray or recite the Qur'an, while others visit or smoke. This is a time to receive God's forgiveness.
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Join with thousands of pilgrims to stone the devil at Mina. While hajjis are meant to throw small pebbles, pilgrims often throw other objects as well. This part of the Hajj can be dangerous.
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Visit Medina and the Quba, Mosque of the Prophet Muhammed (PBUH). Prayers are performed at Medina and there are many sites that are not part of Hajj that are historically interesting.
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Celebrate 'Id al Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, in which pilgrims pray and share gifts with fellow hajjis from all over the world.
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Tips & Warnings
Be sure that you are physically able to meet the demands of Hajj.
Resources
- Photo Credit http://2.srv.fotopages.com/2/12842968/Mecca-during-Hajj-season.jpg, http://www.wayoftheprophet.co.uk/hajj_gallery/large/hajj_2004_1228(002).jpg, http://cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=10820&rendTypeId=4, http://www.deskpicture.com/DPs/Places/mecca_2.jpg, http://www.eislamicsoftware.com/Hajj_1.2_03.jpg, http://www.allaahuakbar.net/image/hajj_safa.jpg, http://re-xs.ucsm.ac.uk/re/pilgrimage/Thumbs/ARAFAT.GIF, http://www.spaceandculture.org/uploaded_images/hajj-735922.jpg, http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/23/Quba.jpg, http://www.jannah.org/ramadan/mecca.jpg
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Comments
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slcore
May 29, 2010
Wikitravel says that non-Muslims are strictly prohibited from entering Mecca. If they do, they face deportation. In order to enter Mecca, you have to prove that you are a Muslim otherwise you cannot enter the city.
