Hajj - the Grand Annual Occasion of Muslims!

Every religion has some sort of pilgrimage or religious journey that the adherents of the religion are supposed to go on.

OK, not every religion but most…

For instance, Hindus consider the Ganges a sacred spot and make journey towards it in the thousands every year. Sikhs regard Kartarpur Sahib as the holiest place.

As for Muslims, there are two cities of Mecca and Medina that they hold in highest esteem.

The Islamic pilgrimage is centered around the city of Mecca, where Kaaba, the House of Allah sits.

What’s Hajj – Why Is It Important to Muslims?

Now let’s talk about Hajj and why Muslims consider it so important.

Basically, in Islam there are two pilgrimages: Hajj and Umrah.

The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and it’s an obligation. That means it’s a ritual that has to be performed if a Muslim is fit to perform it.

That means if a Muslim has the financial means to go to Mecca and is physically and mentally fit then he or she has to perform Hajj at least once in their life, no matter what.

However, Umrah is a bit different in nature. Let’s see why…

Hajj and Umrah Aren’t the Same!

You must be wondering how Umrah is different from Hajj. Right?

Well, for the first thing, Umrah isn’t an obligatory pilgrimage and it’s NOT among the five pillars.

Also, Umrah can be performed at any time of year unlike Hajj which takes place specifically in Zul Hijja and lasts 4 to 5 days.

For Umrah the rules are less strict as compared to Hajj. Also, Hajj has more steps and takes more time.

So, to sum up, Hajj and Umrah are different in their level of importance and in the hierarchy of prayers.

Learning the Basics of Hajj

Since Hajj has several steps it’s best to be prepared for them in advance when one plans to go on Hajj.

Some of the steps are Ihram, Tawaf, Sayi, Mina, Arafat, Ramy al Jamaray (stoning of the devil), sacrifice, Tawaf Ziyarat.

Ihram marks the beginning of the ritual of Hajj.

It’s a state of purification and spirituality where a pilgrim wears specific clothing and has an intention for Hajj.

Tawaf involves circumambulating around the Kaaba counterclockwise seven times.

Then the pilgrim runs between Safa and Marwah hills seven times and it’s called sa’ay.

The pilgrim proceeds to Mina and then leaves for Arafat.

After that the symbolic stoning of the devil takes place and the masses performing Hajj celebrate Eid ul Adha with the sacrifice of a cattle. That’s where Hajj culminates.

*Remember the above are just some of the steps, not a complete guide.

How to Better Perform Hajj and Umrah?

Many Muslims aiming to perform Hajj and Umrah are concerned about how they can fulfill the rituals to the fullest and make the most out of the pilgrimage.

Well, to begin with, preparation is very important!

Because if you’re going on pilgrimage for the first time you definitely need to be aware of the steps, the dos and don’ts, etc.

So, it’s best to consult an expert on Islamic pilgrimage beforehand for practice.

There are plenty of Islamic books on the market that can help you understand the steps of Hajj.

And, finally, the modern era of technology has also contributed its share to Islam… There are a number of Hajj and Umrah apps that can fully prepare you for the once-in-a-life-time journey.

A Journey Worth the Effort and Toil

For the final word, every person on Earth makes some sort of a journey in life. Or seeing it another way, life is a journey itself.

The journey that matters the most to Muslims is Hajj. Because that’s the greatest of all pillars of Islam.

It purifies the soul and cleanses one of their sins.

Once a Hajj is performed the Muslim becomes clean and free of all evils. That’s the entire concept of pilgrimages. To shed your ego and nurture the soul.

Let me know how you’re going to prepare for the Hajj 2022 and will you be going by yourself or with your close family?

Do share your thoughts!