Hajj — the pilgrimage to Makkah · The essentials of Islam

In a minute

Once in a lifetime, every adult Muslim who is physically and financially able should make the pilgrimage to Makkah, in Saudi Arabia. For five or six days each year, between one and two million pilgrims from every country wear the same simple white clothes and follow the footsteps of Abraham, his wife Hajar, their son Ishmael and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon them). Its high point is a single afternoon of standing in prayer on the plain of 'Arafah. Muslims everywhere join in by celebrating Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice.

What it is and how it's lived

Who goes

Hajj is required once in a lifetime of every adult Muslim who has the health, the means and a safe way to get there (3:97), and who has provided for their dependants and paid their debts. Those who can't go are not blamed. Saudi Arabia sets national quotas, and pilgrims from the UK travel with licensed operators.

When

Hajj takes place from the 8th to the 13th of Dhu al-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic lunar calendar, so it moves about 11 days earlier each year. Hajj 2027 (1448 AH) is expected in mid-May 2027, depending on the moon. A shorter pilgrimage, 'Umrah, can be made at any time of year but does not replace Hajj.

The rites, in order

Ihram — Before reaching Makkah, pilgrims enter a state of consecration. Men wear two plain white unstitched cloths; women wear modest everyday clothes, usually white, with the face and hands uncovered. During ihram: no perfume, no cutting hair or nails, no arguments, no harming plants or animals. Pilgrims repeat the talbiyah: Labbayk Allahumma labbayk — "Here I am, O God, here I am."
Tawaf — On arrival, pilgrims walk seven times anticlockwise around the Ka'bah.
Sa'i — They walk seven times between the small hills of Safa and Marwah, remembering Hajar, who ran between them searching for water for her baby Ishmael until the spring of Zamzam burst from the ground.
8th Dhu al-Hijjah — Mina. Pilgrims go to the tent city of Mina to pray and prepare.
9th — the Day of 'Arafah. From midday to sunset, pilgrims stand in prayer on the plain of 'Arafah, where the Prophet gave his Farewell Sermon. This standing (wuquf) is the heart of Hajj: without it there is no Hajj. Muslims at home often fast this day.
Night at Muzdalifah. After sunset, pilgrims move to Muzdalifah, pray, sleep under the open sky and gather small pebbles.
10th — Eid day. Back at Mina, pilgrims throw seven pebbles at the largest pillar (Jamrat al-'Aqabah), symbolising the rejection of evil and recalling Abraham's refusal of Satan's temptations. They offer an animal sacrifice. Men shave or trim their heads; women cut a fingertip's length of hair. Then they return to Makkah for the main tawaf (tawaf al-ifadah) and sa'i.
11th–13th — Days of Tashriq. Pilgrims stay at Mina and stone all three pillars each day.
Farewell tawaf — a last circling of the Ka'bah before leaving.

Many pilgrims also visit the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah, before or after Hajj, though this is not part of the rites.

Eid al-Adha

On the 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah, Muslims around the world celebrate Eid al-Adha. It recalls Abraham's readiness to sacrifice his son at God's command, and God's mercy in providing a ram instead. After the Eid prayer, families who can afford it offer a sacrifice (qurbani or udhiyah), usually a sheep or goat. Customarily the meat is shared three ways: one third for the family, one third for friends and neighbours, and one third for people in need. Many British Muslims pay for qurbani to be carried out abroad where the need is greatest. In the UK, animals must be slaughtered at licensed abattoirs.

Its inner meaning

Hajj is a rehearsal for the Day of Judgement and a picture of human equality. Kings and labourers wear the same two cloths; nobody can tell who is rich or poor, or where they come from. Pilgrims leave behind status, comfort and home, as they one day will leave everything. Every rite retells a story of trust in God: Abraham's obedience, Hajar's desperate hope rewarded with water in the desert.

Key verses

"And pilgrimage to the House is a duty unto Allah for mankind, for him who can find a way thither." (Qur'an 3:97, Pickthall)

"And proclaim unto mankind the pilgrimage. They will come unto thee on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every deep ravine," (Qur'an 22:27, Pickthall)

Arabic: وَأَذِّن فِى ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلْحَجِّ يَأْتُوكَ رِجَالًۭا وَعَلَىٰ كُلِّ ضَامِرٍۢ يَأْتِينَ مِن كُلِّ فَجٍّ عَمِيقٍۢ

"Lo! (the mountains) As-Safa and Al-Marwah are among the indications of Allah." (Qur'an 2:158, Pickthall)

"Their flesh and their food reach not Allah, but the devotion from you reacheth Him." (Qur'an 22:37, Pickthall)

From the Prophet (peace be upon him)

Whoever makes Hajj for God, avoiding indecency and wrongdoing, returns as free of sin as the day their mother bore them (paraphrased; Sahih al-Bukhari 1521, Sahih Muslim 1350).
"Hajj is 'Arafah": the standing at 'Arafah is the essence of the pilgrimage (paraphrased; Jami' al-Tirmidhi 889).
His companion Jabir gave a detailed eyewitness account of the Prophet's one Hajj, the Farewell Pilgrimage, including the sermon at 'Arafah. It is a foundation for how Hajj is performed today (paraphrased; Sahih Muslim 1218).

Common misunderstandings, answered gently

"Pilgrims worship the Ka'bah or the black stone." Muslims worship God alone. The Ka'bah is the first house built for His worship, a focus, not an idol. The Prophet's companion Umar is reported to have said he kissed the black stone only because he had seen the Prophet do it (paraphrased; Sahih al-Bukhari 1597, Sahih Muslim 1270).
"Every Muslim must go." Only those with the health, money and safe means. For many, it is a lifetime's saving and prayer.
"Throwing stones is violent." The pebbles are small and thrown at stone pillars. The rite is a symbol of rejecting evil, recalling Abraham.

Sunni and Shia

Sunni and Shia Muslims perform Hajj together, in the same places, on the same days, with the same core rites. Differences are mostly in details of law, such as how ihram is worn or the order of some steps. Many Shia pilgrims also visit the graves of the Imams and the Prophet's family in Madinah.

Reflection

If you had to set out on a journey wearing only two white cloths, what would you be relieved to leave behind?

In the other traditions

Judaism: In Temple times, Jews went up to Jerusalem for the three pilgrimage festivals (shalosh regalim) of Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot. Today many visit the Western Wall, and "Next year in Jerusalem" closes the Passover Seder.
Christianity: Christians make pilgrimages to the Holy Land, Rome, Santiago de Compostela, Lourdes, and in Britain to places such as Walsingham, Canterbury, Iona and Lindisfarne.

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