Al Khalid

A Journey towards Divinity

The Hajj portrays solidarity of the Muslims and their devotion to God. No one is judged in terms of their poverty or richness while considering the Hajj journey. A person simply needs to be physically and financially stable to be able to take this pilgrimage.

To start on this holy journey, the pilgrims wear simple white clothes. The colour white represents purity, spirituality and most importantly humanity.

The journey starts when pilgrims enter Makkah and convey their wish to perform Hajj. As the journey proceeds it is then compulsory for the pilgrims to circle the Kaaba 7 times. While encircling the Kaaba 7 times all the pilgrims recite prayers. These prayers are known as Tawaf. The pilgrims pass between the hills of Marwah and Safa 7 times.

Moving further the pilgrims pave their way towards Mina. There they perform 5 important prayers beginning with Zuhr in the afternoon and end with Fajr which ends in the early hours of the morning. After Fajr the pilgrims go towards Arafat and devote their time to pray. They then leave for Muzdalifah in the evening. Here the pilgrims collect pebbles for ‘stone the devil’ ceremony. The pilgrims go back to Mina before the sunrise.

Once in Mina the male pilgrims perform the stoning ceremony where they throw the pebbles at a stone pillar. They also sacrifice an animal which they give to the poor.

As the pilgrims make their way back to Makkah they perform Tawaf and offer their prayers. They also complete crossing 7 times between the hilltops of Safa and Marwa. After they drink from the Zam-Zam well they return to Mina and pray for a few days.

When the pilgrims return to Makkah & the Masjid al – haram for the last time they perform the farewell Tawaf.

Hajj is considered to be a very important pilgrimage for all Muslims. This gives them a feeling of being united and grace filled in the eyes of Allah.