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 pilgrim is required to walk from Makkah to Mina and spend the day in camps making Salah, listening to lectures, and reciting Talbiyah.
Day 2: On the second day the pilgrims visit Mount Arafat. It is a famous site as believed by legends the Prophet Muhammad gave his final sermon here.
Day 3: Series of rituals are performed on this day. Rami which involves pelting stones at Jamarah al-Aqaba, the largest pillar, Qurbani includes the sacrifice of animals. Halq which involves men shaving their heads, Taqsir for women to trim their hair, and Tawaf al-Ziyarah which is encircling the holy Kaaba.
Day 4: On this day the stones are pelted on Jamarah al-Ula which is the smallest pillar, Jamarah al-Wusta, the middle pillar, and Jamarah al-Aqaba the largest pillar. Dua is performed after each pelting.
Day 5: Before leaving Makkah, obligatory prayer Fajr is performed and the same ritual is repeated.
Day 6: On the last day of the Hajj, people perform farewell Tawaf, called Tawaf al-Wida. On the completion of Tawd, pilgrims should perform two Rakats and follow by drinking water from the well of ZamZam.
Rules & Regulations for Hajj
There are certain rules and regulations that the government of Saudi Arabia has laid down for all Hajj pilgrims. A few of these are listed below:
Pilgrims are not allowed to enter the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for Hajj after 4 Dhu'l-Hijjah each year.
The pilgrims are required to leave the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia after Hajj is over and are not allowed to stay later than the 10th of Muharram.
Each traveler must present mandatory vaccination certificates.
Outside food is not allowed in the Kingdom.
On arrival, the pilgrim should submit the passport to Unified Agents Office representatives to enable the latter to complete all travel formalities to Makkah and Madinah.
In case the pilgrims lose their passports, they should immediately report the loss to the same office appointed to take care of them during the Hajj.
In addition to the above, there are many more rules and regulations for pilgrims aspiring for Hajj.
Hence Hajj is a ritual that promotes Islamic brotherhood and sisterhood by showing that everyone is equal in the eyes of Allah. The Hajj makes Muslims realize the importance of life on earth, and the afterlife, by giving away all markers of social status, wealth, and pride.
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