Photo of the Kaba from 50 years ago
Photo of Kaba from 120 years ago.
(Click on each to view a larger photo)
The tradition of the Hajj is from the prophet Abraham and his second wife Hagar and their son Ishmael. The Hajj consists of certain rituals that must be performed over a five day period. These rituals emulate the actions of Hagar and her son Ishmael encountered when the prophet Abraham took them to the desert area, which is today Mecca, and left them. While looking for water for herself and her son, Hagar placed Ishmael, still a baby, under a bush and ran between two hills, Safa and Marwa, seven times. This is one of the rituals for pilgrims to perform, the walking between the two hills seven times.
When Hagar returned to her son, he was kicking the ground with his feet and a spring gushed forth, Zamzam, which still provides water for pilgrims till this day.
Another ritual is to stone the devil, or Shaitaan. This is symbolic of when Abraham was ordered by God to sacrifice his son Ishmael. After they set out to perform the sacrifice, Satan appeared to them three times trying to convince them not to perform this sacrifice. Abraham threw pebbles at Satan and continued on his way. At the three different locations where prophet Abraham threw pebbles at Satan, pilgrims stop and throw pebbles at symbolic pillars of the devil, indicating their refusal also to follow the ways of Satan.
A journey to Mina follows where pilgrims will stay overnight and sleep in tents or under the stars.
The last ritual that pilgrims will perform is to gather at Mount Arafat and pray. When they descend from this mount, the next day is considered the Holiday of the Sacrifice, or Eid-ul-Adha. This day consists of pilgrims offering a sacrifice, to God, of a sheep, a cow or a camel. This ritual is included because of the obedience of prophets Abraham and Ishmael when God ordered Abraham to sacrifice his son Ishmael. Ishmael told his father that if God had ordered Abraham to sacrifice him then Ishmael was ready to obey his father. As Abraham was about to cut Ishmael's neck, God sent down a ram to be sacrificed in place of Ishmael.
Today, Muslims around the world will offer an animal as sacrifice for this Holiday. The meat of the animal is to be used in a specific manner. One third of the meat from the animal may be consumed by the family and the other two thirds must be donated to needy people.
Each year over two million Muslims perform Hajj. The city of Mecca swells with this influx of Muslims for about a two week period. The rest of the year, Muslims who wish to perform the rituals may do so but it is not considered the pilgrimage. It is called Umra. During Umra some rituals may be bypassed and the whole ritual may be performed in one day. Hajj is performed at a specific time and when Muslims complete their duties of Hajj, they have the honor of being called Hajj (masculine) or Hajji (feminine). Muslims who perform Umra will not be called by any specific title. In many Muslim countries, elderly people may be called Hajj or Hajji as a term of respect for their age and may never have performed the Hajj.
One of the common greetings for returning pilgrims is "Hajj Makboolah", which means "an accepted pilgrimage" by God.
Hajj is a very personal event which is the culmination of certain practices of the Muslim religion. A Muslim is to pray five times a day. These prayers can be performed alone or in congregation six days a week, Saturday through Thursday. On Friday, though, the noon prayers is substituted by the Friday Congregational prayer, which can only be performed with three or more people. This is the second step towards Hajj, the gathering of Muslims. The third step is the grander gathering during the two holy days of the year, Eid-ul-Fitr, the Holiday of Breaking Fast, celebrated after the month of Ramadhan, the month of fasting, and Eid-ul-Adha, the Holiday of Sacrifice, celebrated after the Hajj. At these gatherings, Muslims from several Mosques may combine at larger Mosques to enjoy the feeling of the Muslim Uma, or the Muslim brotherhood. And finally the Hajj, where Muslims will experience the ultimate in Muslim solidarity. When Muslims from every corner of the world gather at one place to perform the rituals of Hajj.
These Muslims may not share the same language, nationality, race or social status but what they have in common, the religion of Islam, overcomes these minor differences and the sense of brotherhood is felt by them all. One of the rules of Hajj are that men are to wear "Ihram", a wrap for the body made of simple unsewn white cloth. One piece is wrapped around the torso with the right shoulder exposed, and the other piece is wrapped around the waist and reaches down to the mid-calf or ankle. In this manner all men, rich or poor, are equal. Because of this practice, no man is known for his wealth or lack of it.