Hajj Facts - Mecca Islamic Pilgrimage

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. It is a ritual that is designed to promote the bonds of Islamic brotherhood and sisterhood by showing that everyone is equal in the eyes of Allah. Hajj is no doubt an amazing spiritual journey that every Muslim aspires to embark on.   The Hajj makes Muslims feel real importance of life here on earth, and the afterlife, by stripping away all markers of social status, wealth, and pride. In the Hajj all are truly equal. Hajj is the most religious pilgrimage to Mecca.

History of Hajj

The pilgrimage to Mecca has been going on since pre-Islamic times, as Mecca's economic prosperity during the time of the Prophet Muhammad was largely due to the income from visitors. Muslims believe that the steps of the Hajj correlate to the story of Hagar, the second wife of Abraham whom he married after Sarah was childless. After Abraham left her and her infant son, Ishmael, in the desert, she frantically ran between the hills of Safa and Marwa to look for food and water for her baby after their provisions ran out. As she prayed to God for mercy, Ishmael's heel hit the ground and the well of Zam Zam sprang forth to nourish them. When Abraham returned, he built the Kaaba with Ishmael's help. Study the following historical, fun and interesting facts about the popular holy pilgrimage of mecca in saudi arabia, hajj fifth pillar of islam and symbol of muslim spiritual unity.

1. There are 5 pillars of Islam. Hajj is the 5th.
2. Performing Hajj is compulsory on every Muslim at least once in their life time.
3. Hajj occurs on the 8th to 12th of Dhul Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar.
4. Muslims who have performed Hajj are called Hajjis. Some even add the title in front of their name to denote their accomplishment.
5. The annual haj pilgrimage starts in the holy city of Mecca on Monday. Here are five facts about the event, the largest regular religious gathering in the world.
6. The haj is one of the five basic obligations of a Muslim, along with a short creed, prayer, giving alms, and fasting during the month of Ramadan. Every Muslim who has the means should perform the pilgrimage at least once in his lifetime.
7. The haj is older than Islam and took place annually during the childhood of the Prophet Mohammad when he grew up in Mecca in the late 6th century. Muslims trace its origins to an ancient monotheistic cult associated with the prophet Ibrahim, known to Jews and Christians as the patriarch Abraham.
8. The pilgrimage itself takes at least six days, starting on the 8th day of the lunar month of Dhul Hijja, which falls this year on Monday. But most pilgrims come earlier and first perform the rites of the umra, or lesser pilgrimage, which are confined to central Mecca.
9. Pilgrims perform the Tawaf Al-Wida after Hajj before heading home. Tawaf-al-Wida entails walking around the Holy Kabaa inside Masjid Al-Haram in circle 7 times.
10. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) performed Umrah 4 times and Hajj once. Over 3 million pilgrims performed Hajj last year. This number is expected to grow even further this year.