Why is hajj a special occasion

Before heading to Mecca, many pilgrims visit the city of Medina, where the Prophet Muhammad is buried and where he built his first mosque. After spending the night in the massive valley of Mina, the pilgrims head to Mount Arafat, some 20 kilometers 12 miles east of Mecca, for the pinnacle of the pilgrimage. They scale a hill called Jabal al-Rahma, or Mountain of Mercy.

It is here where Muhammad delivered his final sermon, calling for equality and for Muslim unity. Around sunset, pilgrims head to an area called Muzdalifa, 9 kilometers 5. Many walk, while others use buses. The last three days of the Hajj are marked by three events: a final circling of the Kaaba, casting stones in Mina and removing the ihram. Men often shave their heads at the end in a sign of renewal. During the three-day Eid, Muslims slaughter livestock and distribute the meat to the poor.

Search Search. Home United States U. How Long is Hajj? Hajj is 10 days. When is Hajj? When is Hajj ? Where is Hajj? Hajj takes place in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

What happens on Hajj? Below is an outline of the seven main rituals and what happens on Hajj: Ihram — Muslims should observe Hajj in a state of purity called ihram. This means no arguing or fighting, abstinence from sexual activity and refraining from trimming hair and nails. In addition to this, Muslims should wear appropriate ihram clothes.

For men, ihram clothes take the form of two white sheets wrapped around the body. Gather together 49 or 70 small stones together to use the next day. In the morning you return to Mina and throw the stones at pillars called Jamraat. These represent the devil. Then a sacrifice called a Qurbani should be made in which a lamb or sheep is slaughtered and the meat distributed among the poor. After this, men's heads are shaved and women cut a lock of their hair. Then return to Mecca and make a Tawaf this is the ritual of walking around the Ka'aba seven times.

Then it's back to Mina for 3 or 4 days, stoning the pillars each day. Finally do a farewell Tawaf in Masjid-al Haram on the twelfth day of the month of Dhul Hijjah, ask Allah's forgiveness, make du'a and the Hajj is finished. A man who has completed the Hajj is called a Hajji, a woman who has completed it is called a Hajjah. At the end of the Hajj, Muslims from all over the world celebrate the holiday known as the Eid ul Adha or Festival of the sacrifice.

This festival commemorates the obedience of the Prophet Ibrahim when he was ordered to sacrifice his son Is'mail. Ibrahim proved his love and devotion to Allah by showing his willingness to kill his beloved son if Allah wished it.

In the end Ibrahim did not have to kill his son as Allah gave him a ram to sacrifice instead. Search term:. Read more. This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets CSS enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets CSS if you are able to do so.

This page has been archived and is no longer updated. Find out more about page archiving. Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca Last updated Introduction Hajj Once a year, Muslims of every ethnic group, colour, social status, and culture gather together in Mecca and stand before the Kaaba praising Allah together. A learning journey: The season of Hajj brings a great deal of good as Muslims come together and learn from each other.

Category: Press Release September 5,