Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, that is considered one of the Five Pillars of Islam and is mandatory for all able-bodied Muslims who can afford it. It is a journey to the birthplace of Islam and the site where the Prophet Muhammad received the revelations that were later recorded in the Qur’an. During the Hajj, Muslims perform a series of rituals and prayers that are intended to physically and spiritually purify themselves and reaffirm their commitment to their faith.
The Hajj consists of several rituals that are performed over the course of several days. These include the Tawaf, which involves walking around the Kaaba, the holiest site in Islam, seven times; the Sa’i, which involves walking back and forth between the hills of Safa and Marwa; and the stoning of the pillars representing the Devil. In addition, all Hajj pilgrims must wear the same simple garments, called the ihram, which symbolize their equality before God.
The Hajj is an important event in the Islamic calendar, and millions of Muslims from around the world travel to Mecca to participate in it each year. It is a time of spiritual reflection and renewal, as well as an opportunity to reaffirm the bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood among Muslims from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
