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There Are Rites To Follow When You Get to Hajj or Mecca

A pilgrim who actually does get to Mecca is not called a pilgrim any more, but a Hajji. There are various acts that the Hajji has to perform, which will symbolise the lives of Ibrahim (Abraham) and his wife, Hajra (Hagar).

These acts are a show of solidarity of Muslims throughout the world. This is very important for it also shows the solidarity in the belief of God to others who might not exactly agree with this way of thinking. Pilgrims are from all parts of the world, India, England, Pakistan and New Zealand among them, so it matters to be united in your belief no matter the very different countries involved.

The eighth day of the lunar month of Dhu al-Hihhah is the beginning of the main part of Hajj. Once the Hajji have arrived, then it is time to change clothes and travel to the tent cities that the Arabian Government has set up for this important time around the town of Mina. The tents will be full of pilgrims by the time of that eighth day.

The first day involves the attending to the first of the rituals or Tawaf. This takes each pilgrim to the Kabah and walking seven times around the Kaaba. Each of the circles is accompanied by prayer and pointing or kissing the Black Stone, although with so many it is probably easier to point to it. The pointing must be done with the right hand. The seven circuits correspond to a complete Tawaf with the prayer of In the name of God, God is Great, God is Great, God is Great and Praise be to God. It is compulsory to say this three times, but most of the pilgrims will say it seven.

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What Actually Happens During the First Tawaf of Hajj?

When the first Tawaf men are given approval if they cover the first three circuits on the counter-clockwise direction quite quickly, then rather more slowly for the last four, but it is dependent on the person involved, their health and age.

While this exercise is occurring it is not permitted to eat, but the sipping of water is permitted to prevent losing too much sweat. This is also a problem if the person concerned has not taken enough fluid in before they start. After it is finished, two of Rakaat or units of prayers are to be said. A woman will recite these silently.

These prayers traditionally are said near the Place of Abraham, but as there are now so many pilgrims attending, anywhere in the Mosque is suitable. The circuits of the Kaaba are usually done on the ground floor of the Mosque, but again because of the large crowds usually present, the Tawaf can be now preformed on the first floor and the roof-top of the Mosque.

When the tawaf is completed, the next part of the ceremony is performed. The pilgrims run or walk seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwah, a re-enactment of the running that Hajra did trying to find water for Ishmael. The legend has it that an angel showed her the water in the Zamzam Well by either hitting the ground with his wing or heel, thus producing the water she needed.

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What Happens When Hajj Is Completed

There are several parts to the rituals that make up Hajj and these are Arafat, Muzdalifah, Eid al-Adha and Tawaf az-Ziyarah, before the final part of the ceremony, Tawaf al-Wida is done. As the word Wida means to farewell something, this is a ceremony to bid farewell.

From there, the pilgrims can go wherever they wish, including home. But many of them choose to visit the tombs of the Prophet Mohammad and his friends who accompanied him on his journey, Umhat ul Mominen and Ahl al-Bayt in Al-Baqi’. The Prophet’s tomb is actually in Medina where it is in the Al-Masjid al-Nabawi or the Mosque of the Prophet.

If there is time, there are other mosques that are usually visited and prayers said before pilgrims go on their journey home. As there are usually several hundreds of thousands of people this is often a time-consuming process, especially if they are from far-away countries which many of them are.

There are several smaller pilgrimages that can be done at any stage of life and time. One of these is Umrah, which does not have as many parts to it as the true Hajj but it can take place if you want to go to another Hajj and genuinely cannot afford it or you have not got the time. The type of preparation is the same as for a major Hajj. Muslim women cannot travel alone to perform hajj. They are bound to travel with their wali or any blood relation like father, husband, brother, son in short mehrum relative

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