Haj is the largest religious gathering in the world, drawing Muslims from over one hundred nations. During Hajj several ceremonies are performed that are symbolic of the teachings of Islam and date back to the trials of Prophet Abraham and his family. The pilgrimage lasts one week and the end is marked with a celebration called Eid ul-Adha or Festival of Sacrifice, which will occur this year on March 27th. Eid ul-Adha is a commemoration of Prophet Abraham’s obedience to God when directed to sacrifice his own son. During Eid ul-Adha, prayers are performed, social gatherings are held, children are given gifts, and food is donated to the needy.
Four years ago Masoud Nassimi, a Permit Engineer for the Department of Transportation for the state of California, went to Mecca and performed Hajj. Nassimi described his pilgrimage with the same powerful emotions that many pilgrims share upon returning from their Hajj journey. "Haj was a unique spiritual experience to me. The experience of drawing closer and closer to Allah (SWT) alone. The atmosphere in this journey was full of the spirit of Allah. I could not restrain my tears in many different occasions. The glory of Allah is felt in my heart, under my skin, in my mind, and in my senses."
A distinctive feature of the Islamic pilgrimage is that all male pilgrims are clothed in two white cloths, called Ihram in Arabic (women are dressed in simple clothes). Clothed in the Ihram, all Muslims are united together as one in the Ummah or community. All are equal before God, despite the poor or affluent lives, or level of social class, that pilgrims may have left behind. In this sense, a person of royalty is no higher than a simple wage earner. Here all mankind is equal and one before God. "When wearing the same apparel, Ihram, you experience the unique brotherhood and simplicity of Islam. In the state of Ihram, the pilgrims bury their individuality and personalities . . . Hajj eliminates race and class distinction. It spreads the absolute certainty of the oneness of human life," said Nassimi.
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