Nearing the end of the Islamic year, in the month of Zilhajj, Muslims arriving from all around the world gather in the holy city of Makkah and its adjoining cities to fulfill the obligation of Hajj (Pilgrimage). Hajj is the fifth article of Faith, an exercise that engages a Muslim physically, financially and spiritually and is mandatory once in life for those who are eligible for it and can afford the expense of the journey. The pilgrimage in Islam is a series of practices that either serve to commemorate the actions of certain venerable Prophets from the Islamic history or emphasize the connection of an act or a place to Islam. From the running between the Mounts of Safa and Marwa to emulate the frantic search of Hajra AS for water, the mother of Ismaeel AS, to the pelting of the pillars in Mina in memory of Prophet Ibrahim AS pelting the Shaytan (devil) in an effort to drive him away and then gathering in the plain of Arafat where Adam AS and his wife had reunited and where all mankind would assemble on the Day of Judgement to await Retribution, the Hajj therefore, through the re-enactment of these remarkable exercises, connects Muslims to their historical past and the ultimate future while prompting a deep spiritual cleansing of the heart and the soul.

1. Journey Through Hajj: A Brief Guide
Nearing the end of the Islamic year, in the month of Zilhajj, Muslims arriving from all around the world
gather in the holy city of Makkah and its adjoining cities to fulfill the obligation of Hajj (Pilgrimage). Hajj
is the fifth article of Faith, an exercise that engages a Muslim physically, financially and spiritually and is
mandatory once in life for those who are eligible for it and can afford the expense of the journey. The
pilgrimage in Islam is a series of practices that either serve to commemorate the actions of certain
venerable Prophets from the Islamic history or emphasize the connection of an act or a place to Islam.
From the running between the Mounts of Safa and Marwa to emulate the frantic search of Hajra AS for
water, the mother of Ismaeel AS, to the pelting of the pillars in Mina in memory of Prophet Ibrahim AS
pelting the Shaytan (devil) in an effort to drive him away and then gathering in the plain of Arafat where
Adam AS and his wife had reunited and where all mankind would assemble on the Day of Judgement to
await Retribution, the Hajj therefore, through the re-enactment of these remarkable exercises, connects
Muslims to their historical past and the ultimate future while prompting a deep spiritual cleansing of the
heart and the soul.
If done correctly and with sincerity, Hajj spiritually impacts the believer's future in a way that resets the
consciousness and purifies their hearts, not just from sins but illnesses of the heart as well. Even more
so, the complete journey for a Muslim becomes a lesson in unity of purpose, equality, selflessness,
humbleness and universality.
Importance and Virtue of Hajj
Hajj, being the fifth article of Faith and mandatory (conditions apply) on Muslims, carries monumental
importance and subsequently its reward is also great. The significance of Hajj has been underscored in
several places in the Quran and the Hadith. The Prophet Muhammad ‫ﷺ‬ said:
He who possess enough food for the trip, a means of transportation to reach to Makkah, and yet does
not perform Hajj, then he dies, he would then die as a Jew or a Christian. (At-Tirmithi 812)
In the Quran, Allah says:
And Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) to the House (Kabah) is a duty that mankind owes to Allah, those who
can afford the expenses (for one’s conveyance, provision and residence) [3:97]
The entire journey of Hajj that a pilgrim undertakes from departing his home and donning of the Ihram
to the Holy city of Makkah is not just an exercise steeped in random actions resulting in exhaustion.
Every step a Haji takes, brings him closer to great reward and virtue as he learns self-discipline and
submits to Allah SWT. His spirituality increases multifold as he gains tranquility of heart and a deeper
insight into his existence in the universe. Being in close contact with believers from every corner of the
world creates humility and the boundaries are eliminated with ethnic and social diversities. In every
aspect of Hajj, we find some reflection of what Islam is at the core and the Hereafter.
Expiation of Sins
One of the greatest virtue and reward from Hajj is the opportunity from Allah SWT for a Muslim to have
all his past sins erased, whether committed intentionally or intentionally. It is mentioned in a hadith
from Abu Hurairah RA who narrated that the Prophet Muhammad ‫ﷺ‬ said:

2. "He who performs Hajj for Allah's pleasure and avoids all lewdness and sins will return after Hajj free
from all sins as he was the day his mother gave birth to him." [Bukhari and Muslim]
A companion of the Prophet ‫ﷺ‬ Abdullah (bin Mas'ud) narrated about the reward of Hajj:
The Messenger of Allah ‫ﷺ‬ said: "Alternate between Hajj and Umrah; for those two remove poverty and
sins just as the bellows removes filth from iron, gold, and silver - and there is no reward for Al-Hajj Al-
Mabrur except for Paradise." (Tirmidhi 810)
Key Steps and Rituals
Hajj officially begins on the 8th
of Zilhajj and the five major days of Hajj stretch from 8th
Zilhajj to 12th
Zilhajj. The former marks the commencement of the pilgrimage with the donning of the Ihram and
entering a state of purity and equality along with the recitation of the Talbiyah. The state of Ihram
requires the pilgrim to abstain from certain actions that include wearing normal clothes (for men),
clipping nails, using perfumes, having marital relations and other restrictions.
The transitioning between cities during these days might confuse one at first but it can be simplified as:
Mina---Arafat---Muzdalifah---Mina---Makkah
The pilgrims gather at Mina first, a city at the outskirts of Makkah and move on to Arafat for the most
important day of Hajj and spend the day in prayer and worship. The Wuqoof of Arafah on the 9th of
Zilhajj is among the obligatory (Fardh) actions and Hajj is incomplete without it. The pilgrims travel to
Muzdalifah from there in the evening where they collect pebbles for the next day before moving on to
Mina for the pelting of the Shaytan.
On 10th
Zilhajj or the day of Eid-ul-Adha, the pilgrims do the first pelting and exit the state of Ihram after
performing the mandatory sacrifice followed by the cutting of the hair. The pilgrims return to Makkah
for one of the most important obligatory acts of Hajj, the Tawaf-e-Ziarat. They circulate the Holy Kaabah
seven times followed by the Saa’e, running from Mount Safa to Mount Marwa, to commemorate the
actions of the mother of Prophet Ismaeel AS as she desperately searched for water for her infant son in
the sparse and barren desert that was Makkah at that time. The pilgrims then journey back to Mina for
the second stoning of the Shaytan (devil) in memory of Prophet Ibrahim AS as he shunned the
instigations of Shaytan to provoke him towards the disobedience of Allah. In most cases the pilgrim is
required to do the pelting on the 11th and 12th of Zilhajj after which he can return to Makkah or his
current accommodations.
While the journey of Hajj is never without difficulties and potholes, some problems can be avoided
through taking advantage of the numerous products on the market designed to make Hajj and Umrah
easy for you. The ABDEEZ ‘Journey of Faith’ Hajj/Umrah Essentials Pack is a super handy bundle to pack
with your belongings in the Hajj days which contains a Portable Prayer Mat, Portable Wudhu Towel and
best of all, a Portable Bidet to act as a makeshift muslim shower in those testing but rewarding days.
Bibliography
islamonline_en. (2022, June 9). Significance of pilgrimage (Hajj). IslamOnline.
https://islamonline.net/en/significance-of-pilgrimage-hajj/

3. Modeste Abayas. [@modesteabayas]. Hajj also spelled hadjdj or hadj in Islam, the pilgrimage to the holy
city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, which. [Photo]. Instagram.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CsOAGndtTgb/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Quran Explorer. (2021, September 7). Hajj pilgrimage and its significance. Quran.
https://www.quranexplorer.com/blog/events/Hajj_Pilgrimage_and_its_Significance
Quran Explorer. (2022, June 20). Importance of hajj in Islam. Quran.
https://www.quranexplorer.com/blog/events/Importance_of_Hajj_in_Islam
Quran Explorer. (2023, June 15). The significance of Hajj in Islam. Quran.
https://www.quranexplorer.com/blog/events/The_Significance_of_Hajj_in_Islam