Hajj: The Islam Pilgrimage
Introduction
Hajj is a pilgrimage performed by Muslims at least once in his or her lifetime. It is during this pilgrimage that Muslims travel to a place known as "Mecca", the sacred of city of Islam, where they perform sacred religious rituals. Over 2.5 million people make pilgrimage at least once in their lifetimes, making this one of the world's most prominent religious celebrations.
Origin
The rituals that are performed during Hajj, as well as the tradition itself, can be traced back to the biblical time of Abraham, at around 2,000 BC.[1] It is during this period that the angel Gabriel set down on earth and provided a well known today as the Well of Zemzem, to prevent Abraham's infant son, Ishmael, from dying of thirst.
Abraham then constructed a monument at the place known today as Kaaba, under orders from God. The Prophet Mohammed then led his followers and reclaimed the monument, rededicating it to Allah.[2]
Part of the rituals taken during Hajj includes retracing the steps Mohammed and followers took, such as:
- making Hager's walk between Safa & Marwa
- stoning the wall of Satan
- ritualistic slaughter of lamb
- climbing Mt. Arafat
The following blog will go through every steps taken during the ritual.
[1] "A Brief History Of the Hajj - TIME." Breaking News, Analysis, Politics, Blogs, News Photos, Video, Tech Reviews - TIME.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2013. <http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599
[2] ibid
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