Hajj: Pilgrimage to Mecca

The 5th pillar of Islam is Hajj, the pilgrimage to the holy city of Makkah, two months after Ramadan. All Muslims who can afford the journey, and are physically able are required to make this journey at least once in their life. Hajj brings Muslims from many different parts of the world together, and helps create unity and fellowship between each other. While performing Hajj men wear two pieces of white cloth called the ihram, and we women wear a long white gown with a head covering. We do a series of symbolic rituals, that all are based on Abraham’s story. Over the course of three days, we run along a corridor and then take water from a well; this symbolizes Hagar searching for water for her son, Ishmael. We stand on a plain outside Makkah, in Arafat, symbolizing the last pilgrimage of Muhammad to Mecca and his Last Sermon. We throw stones at the three pillars, which symbolizes Ishmael drying away Satan’s temptations, while we throw the stones the pillars represent satan. We sacrifice an animal, like Abraham’s promise he made to God, to sacrifice his son Isaac, then share the meat with family, friends, and the poor.. Then we walk around the Ka’ba seven times, trying to kiss the black stone. Once we have finished the amazing journey of hajj we wear our own clothes again, and circle the Ka’ba seven more times. Muslims everywhere celebrate this “farawell” day as Eid al-Adha. We also get the suffix al-Hajj added to the end of the pilgrims name! Here is a link to a list of trusted Hajj travel agencies: http://www.hajinformation.com/hajj_agents.php?id=54