The "HAJJ"(pilgrimage).


Every Muslim prays and wishes Allah to see the Holy places (Makkah and Madina)just once in life time.Its the peak of believe on God,when you spent your money and time to perform Hajj or Umrah from one end of the world to another just for sake of Islam and Almighty Allah 

 Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, which are the basic acts of worship that every Muslim must perform12 Hajj is the pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, where Muslims believe that the prophet Muhammad received the first revelation of the Quran.

Hajj is a mandatory religious duty for Muslims who are physically and financially able to undertake the journey and support their family during their absence12 Hajj is a way of showing submission to God and solidarity with fellow Muslims1 Hajj also involves cleansing one’s soul from worldly sins and seeking God’s forgiveness2


Hajj takes place during the last month of the Islamic calendar, called Dhu al-Hijjah, which means "the month of the pilgrimage"12 The pilgrimage rites last for five to six days, starting from the 8th day of Dhu al-Hijjah and ending on the 12th or 13th day1 The dates of Hajj change every year according to the lunar calendar, so they do not correspond to the same dates in the Gregorian calendar. For example, in 2023 AD (1444 AH), Dhu al-Hijjah extends from 19 June to 18 July1


The main rituals of Hajj include:


Entering a state of ihram


which means wearing simple white garments and abstaining from certain actions such as cutting hair, shaving, wearing perfume, hunting, having sexual relations, etc. Ihram symbolizes purity, equality, and humility before God. Pilgrims enter ihram when they are about 6 miles (10 km) away from Mecca12

Performing tawaf


 





Which means circling seven times around the Kaaba, the cube-shaped building that is considered the house of God and the direction of prayer for Muslims. The Kaaba is located in the Great Mosque of Mecca, also known as al-Masjid al-Haram. Pilgrims try to touch or kiss the Black Stone, a sacred relic embedded in one corner of the Kaaba, or point to it with their hand. Tawaf is an act of worship and devotion to God.

Praying at the Maqam Ibrahim


 which is a small structure near the Kaaba that marks the place where Abraham stood and prayed while building the Kaaba with his son Ishmael. Pilgrims also drink water from the Zamzam Well, which is believed to have been miraculously provided by God to Hagar and Ishmael when they were thirsty in the desert12

Performing sa’i,




 which means walking or running seven times between two small hills called Safa and Marwah, located inside the Great Mosque. Sa’i commemorates Hagar’s search for water for her son Ishmael, before God revealed the Zamzam Well to them. Sa’i also represents human effort and trust in God’s help12

Going to Mina,



 a valley outside Mecca where pilgrims spend the night in tents and pray. Mina is also known as the "City of Tents" because it hosts millions of pilgrims during Hajj12

Going to Arafat,



 a plain near Mecca where pilgrims spend the day in prayer and supplication, asking for God’s mercy and forgiveness. Arafat is also known as the "Mount of Mercy" because it is where Muhammad delivered his farewell sermon to his followers before his death. Arafat is considered the most important and climactic part of Hajj, as it represents standing before God on the Day of Judgment. Pilgrims must be present at Arafat on the 9th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, otherwise their Hajj is invalid.

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