The HajjThe Muslim Pilgrimage to Mecca
• The Hajj begins at the ancient coastal port of Jeddah.
• For centuries people have been arriving at this city on their way to Mecca.
• Traditionally pilgrims would have arrived from all over the world by ship.
• Today most pilgrims arrive by air.
• During the Hajj men adopt the distinctive clothing of the Ihram.
• It consists of two pieces of seamless white cloth.
• The Ihram refers both to the garment and to the rites which will be performed by the pilgrim.
• Women maintain their usual dress and their heads are covered at all times
• Streetsellers offer beads to pilgrims as they hasten on their way.
• Many pilgrims find places on the government buses which run continually from Jeddah to Mecca.
• Finally the pilgrims arrive in Mecca.
• The centre of the Muslim world.
• Pilgrims arrive at night and head for the main mosque in Mecca.
• At the centre is the Ka’bah.
• The Ka’bah is a small shrine which is said to have been built by Abraham.
• It is considered to be the first shrine built by humans to honour God.
• It is towards the Ka’bah that Muslims all over the world pray five times a day.
• The Ka’bah is draped by a huge black embroidered cloth called the Kiswah.
• The Kiswah is replaced every year for the Hajj.
• It is decorated in gold with verses from the Qur’an.
• All the time people stand before the Ka’bah in prayer.
• For Muslims it is the high point in their lives.
• Many have been saving up for a long time.
• Many will never be able to afford to make the trip again.
• Midday prayers in the Sacred Mosque.
• On one of the corners of the Ka’bah is a black stone.
• The black stone is in fact a meteorite that Muslims claim was placed there by Muhammad himself.
• Each pilgrim hopes to kiss it before starting seven complete circuits of the Ka’bah.
• The Ka’bah is the holiest place in Islam.
• After completing the circuits of the Ka’bah, the pilgrims head for a covered walkway.
• The walkway connects the two hills of al-Safa and al-Marwa.
• The walkway covers the route taken by Hagar, the wife of Abraham, in her search for water
• Pilgrims pass the route seven times.
• After walking the length of the corridor, pilgrims relax or mediate.
• Some pilgrims find time to read the Qur’an.
• The pilgrims then travel 10 miles to the plain of Arafat.
• The pilgrims camp for one night on the plain of Arafat.
• At noon pilgrims flood into the Mosque of Namira for the midday prayers.
• Only a small proportion of the pilgrims manage to get into the mosque.
• Upon the Mount of Mercy Muhammad preached his last sermon.
• The climax of the Hajj takes place here as all the pilgrims stand “before God.”
• The setting sun signifies the hour of maghrib prayer.
• However, the pilgrims do not have time to pray - instead they hasten away from Arafat, as the prophet did, and head towards Muzdalifah.
• After spending the night in Muzdalifah, the pilgrims head for Mina
• Mina is a small and ancient town.
• Huge walkways have been built to accommodate the vast numbers of pilgrims.
• On their way from Arafat each person has collected forty nine pebbles.
• The pebbles are thrown at three pillars to symbolically stone Satan and thereby reject him.
• After showing their rejection of Satan, the pilgrims discard their Ihrams and adopt colourful clothes.
• Pilgrims also make a sacrifice of an animal in the great feast of sacrifice.
• Although the Hajj is officially over with the sacrifice at Mina, many pilgrims take the opportunity to visit Medina, the place of Muhammad’s tomb.
• Medina is the place where the prophet Muhammad chose to build his first mosque after he had been rejected in Mecca.
• Many pilgrims visit the prophet’s tomb.
• The prophet’s mosque is built close to the place where Muhammad and his companions preached, prayed and lived.
• Medina is the second holiest place in Islam after Mecca.