HAJJ - A PILGRIMAGE OF BODY AND SOUL


The Holy Ka'abah
And when We made the House a place of assembly for men and a sanctuary, (saying): Take as your place of worship, the place where Ibrahim stood (to pray). And We imposed a duty upon Ibrahim and Isma'eel, (saying): Purify My House for those who go around and those who meditate therein and those who bow down and prostrate themselves (in worship)
(The Cow 2:125)

Pilgrimages are a common practice in every faith. Holy journeys that are meant to help the pilgrims delve further into their own soul and discover the depths of their relationship with God.

For Muslims, this pilgrimage is called Hajj. Even as you read this, pilgrims from all over the world are returning home, satisfied and revitalised after completing the last rites of the Holy Journey.

Each year, millions of Muslims, Shia and Sunni alike, prepare to go to Makkah and the world watches as they perform the rites. The scene of crowds of white shrouded people milling around the simple, black square of the Ka'aba is perhaps the most familiar of pictures.

But what is Hajj? What do people do there for the first 12 days of the last month of the Islamic Calendar? And why are so many desperate to fulfill this dream of a lifetime?

This article will answer these questions (If you have others once you have read through this piece, ask!)

ONCE IN A LIFETIME

The rehearsed statement regarding Hajj is that it is 'compulsory for every Muslim, once in a lifetime if they can afford it'. It's true that this states the exact rule regarding the pilgrimage, but it in no way explains why the rule exists.

Hajj is compulsory on every adult Muslim man and woman. Many perform it more than once but only the first time is performed with the 'compulsory' intention. The rest after this are on a 'recommended' intention.

Affording means not only being able to pay for the travel expenses and the stay in the Holy cities but also having the finances to support any family left behind and having enough saved so that the trip should not result in financial problems on the pilgrim's return. As long as there isn't enough money for all this, Hajj does not become a must.

THE RITES OF HAJJ

Hajj is an Islamic rite with very well-defined rules that must be followed from the time a person leaves home for the journey to the point of return. It can only be performed in the month of Dhul Hijja, which is also the last month of the Islamic Calendar.

The copyright of the article HAJJ - A PILGRIMAGE OF BODY AND SOUL in Shi'ite Islam is owned by Fatima Aly Jaffer. Permission to republish HAJJ - A PILGRIMAGE OF BODY AND SOUL in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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