Hajj – The Key Muslim Pilgrimage to Mecca: Rules and Rituals
Hajj is the fifth and final pillar of Islam. Occurring in the twelfth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, which is Dhul Hijjah, it is a religious obligation that every sane adult Muslim must undertake at least once in their lives if physically and financially capable of doing so. This spiritual journey takes five days to complete, not to include the travel time or a day of spiritual preparation. Pilgrims travel to the Holy Kaaba in Makkah to perform a ritual that dates to pre-Islamic days and was sanctified by Prophet Mohamed (PBUH). Thus, pilgrims perform all the rituals that were solemnized by the Prophet. By the end of the spiritual journey, the pilgrims feel renewed and closer to Allah. As also said by the Prophet, “those who perform Hajj will return without sins, like the day they were born”. Hajj Rituals The Pilgrimage to Mecca needs a minimum of six days to complete. The key rituals that a pilgrim is required to perform during Hajj are: Day 1: On the first day the...