Hajj - what is this? History of Hajj

Hajj is one of the five important pillars of Islam, which acquired its complete expression in the time of the Prophet Muhammad. This is a pilgrimage to several holy places (Mecca, Medina, etc.), as well as observance of a certain ritual. Every Muslim should at least once in his life make a hajj, without fail following all the conditions.

The Five Pillars of Islam

Islam today is the second most numerous believers, as well as its adherents from all religions of the world. It is also one of the oldest, not counting Christianity and Buddhism. Of course, such a long time allowed to create and fix certain rituals of worship of the Lord.

There are five pillars in Islam, and Hajj is one of them. The other four are shahada, prayer, charity, fasting.

What is shahada (certificate)? This is a special dogma that denotes the One God (Allah). Without his words, not a single event is possible, and every prayer begins precisely with it.

Also, a Muslim should pray five times a day. For each time there is a certain time. This is a real ritual, which involves a preliminary bath, a special individual prayer and body movement.

A special point is charity, namely a mandatory tax and a voluntary donation. All this implies a spiritual purification of the believer.

As in all religions, there is also a fast in Islam. However, this is not just abstinence from certain types of food, but complete starvation in the sunny hours (from dusk to dawn). This happens in the month of Ramadan according to the Muslim calendar. Sexual relations are also prohibited at this time. Only weak people can get rid of fasting, as well as children and pregnant women.

What does Islam mean by the pilgrimage? Hajj is one of the most important actions in Islam. As it was said above, at least once in a lifetime a believer must perform it. This is a rather important experience that strongly unites all Muslims around the world, strengthens their faith.

Some historical facts about the hajj

The ritual of Hajj has a rather ancient history, which goes back to the first prophets in Islam - Ibrahim and Ismail. Thanks to them, the Kaaba was built, which is considered the first house in which the Lord was worshiped.

However, there is a tradition that is more ancient, which tells us that the very first house for worshiping the Lord was built on the site of the modern Kaaba, and the first people who were banished from paradise - Adam and Havva made it. After the flood, it was destroyed.

This is how the story of the Hajj begins, just after the Flood, when the Lord commanded his prophet Ibrahim to bring his family to the place where Mecca is now, namely the Kaaba. After this the prophet had to go to Palestine.

A very interesting point is the search for water by the wife of the prophet - Hajjar. Thanks to her efforts and faith between the hills of Safa and Marwa, a source called Zam-Zam appeared. Hajjar ran seven times between these hills in search of water. This moment was reflected in the ritual of the pilgrimage: now the pilgrims must also perform this action. And the source of water still exists there, its water is curative, it is drunk and poured by it during the ritual.

In the future, the history of the Hajj takes on a new milestone, especially after Ibrahim built the Kaaba on this site and encouraged people to make a pilgrimage to this place and worship the One Lord.

Prophet Muhammad and Hajj

After the prophet Ibrahim urged the people to perform the Hajj, after a while his rituals were changed. Idolatry appeared, some actions became rather shameful.

After the appearance of the Prophet Muhammad, the truth began to come back about how to perform the Hajj to Mecca. He returned a pure and true ritual, which was passed on by the prophet Ibrahim. All this has been preserved to this day in the same tradition that was returned by Muhammad.

The Prophet himself made a pilgrimage only once in his life. This was due to political moments, since at that time the shrines that are worshiped during the Hajj were in the power of the Gentiles.

Hajj in the scriptures

Hajj is a really important ritual for a Muslim who is mentioned even in the Qur'an. It is written that, at the behest of the Lord, the prophet Ibrahim built the first house for worship. Then he called on the believers to perform the Hajj, and Allah told everyone about this. Even the rocks and earth rocks responded.

Requirements for the ritual

Those believers who are going to perform the Hajj must observe the following conditions:

• At the time of the pilgrimage a person must be of legal age;
• It is also necessary to have freedom for this time, clear mind and physical health;
• Ritual hajj (pilgrimage to holy places) is committed by a person in the event that he has enough funds to support himself at this time, as well as his family;
• It is necessary to pay off all debts before the beginning of the Hajj, and also it is impossible to make it in debt;
• It is necessary to organize our security and advance departure in order not to be late for the beginning of the ritual.

In addition, during the Hajj, one can not perform certain actions:

• It is forbidden to cause harm or pain to all living things (animals, insects, plants, people);
• He who commits a pilgrimage must not trade and do anything relating to worldly life;
• Different matrimonial actions are prohibited, as well as sexual relations;
• It is forbidden to get a haircut, shave, use various incenses, wear jewelry and jewelry;
• Also you can not smoke at this time.

If there is a violation of any item, the hajj can be considered imperfect and invalid.

Preparing for the ritual

Mandatory is the clean condition and attire of the pilgrim - ihram. This is achieved by the complete washing of the body, after which the pilgrimage men dressed in two white simple covers, one of which should cover the believer's legs from the hips to the knees, and the second should be thrown over the left shoulder.

Women should completely cover their body with a large white dress, and also cover their head with a handkerchief. As a result, the feet should remain open, hands and face open.

Such clothes for believers mean that, despite their position in the world, before Allah they are all equal, and also speaks about their pure thoughts. Dressing in such clothes in a special place, which is called a mikate. It's about four kilometers from the Kaaba. However, it is not considered reprehensible to dress right on the plane if the pilgrim flies from afar.

After the miqat is passed, one should read the prayer, which means entering into this special state of ihram. This allows you to continue the further ritual.

Thus, it can be said that Hajj is a special action that has great spiritual significance for Muslims.

Continuation of the Hajj ritual

The ritual begins in the month, which is called dhu-l-hijjah, on the seventh day. It begins in Mecca, pilgrims should enter barefoot into Masjid al-Haram, a mosque. Hajj continues to kiss or touch the black stone, which, according to legend, belonged to the first man - Adam. This is done immediately upon their arrival in Mecca.

After that, the Kaaba should be bypassed sevenfold. This rite is called tawaf. At this time, one should bow to two corners and say prayers. After the bypass is completed, you should press against the entrance of the Kaaba and make a prayer, raising your right hand. Then it is necessary to take water twice from the sacred Zam-Zam, having got drunk and having poured it.

After this ritual is over, you need to move on to the next one. It's a run between the hills of Marwa and Safa. Near each of them you need to make a prayer. The fulfillment of this action is considered the end of a small pilgrimage (umra). If the believer does not wish to continue to perform the ritual, he leaves the state of ihram.

Other Hajj rites are performed collectively. The seventh day of dhu-l-hijj should hear a sermon about how pilgrims should behave.

The valleys of Muzdalif and Mina

Eighth day you need to collect water for travel. It is necessary to make a crossing through the valleys in order to continue the ritual of Hajj. The pilgrimage continues. This day is called a day of giving (yaum at-tarviya) because of its connection with water.

The night after the exit the believers spend in the valley of Mina, and at noon near the mountain the central rite is performed (about it a little lower).

Mount Arafat

So, near the mountain Arafat pilgrims make a stand. This continues from the moment the sun has risen to the zenith, and until the time it sets. After that, you should listen to the HBH and say a prayer, addressing the One Lord. It needs to be read many times and out loud.

Continuation of pilgrimage

After the sun has set, it is necessary to return very quickly to the valley of Muzdalifah. Before the mosque, a prayer takes place, which lasts all night. And this is done not only by those who commit the Hajj, but also by Muslims around the world.

On the tenth day pilgrims to Hajj after the prayer should go back to the Mina valley. Here it is necessary to throw seven pebbles from the valley of Muzdalifah into a pillar, which is a symbol of Satan.

After that, the tenth day goes on, in which it is necessary to perform a sacrifice (goat or ox), eat a small part of the most believer, and give the rest.

After that, men should completely shave off their hair or shortly cut them, and women cut the strand. They need to be buried in the valley of Mine. After this, all return to Mecca to bypass the Kaaba once more.

The next three days the believers should continue to visit the valley of Mina, make sacrifices. Hajj completes completely on the fourteenth day. Pilgrims receive the title of Haji.

After all the rituals are completed, the pilgrim acquires a special status. This is evidenced by the green turban and white clothes (galabey), in which he is obliged to put on. At home he is met with honors.

Places of Memory in Mecca

After the Hajj is completed in Mecca, many remain in this city to worship the holy places that are somehow connected with the Prophet Muhammad. The largest number of pilgrims goes to Jabal al-Nur (Mount of Light). There is a cave where the Prophet received his first revelation of the Koran.

Also pilgrims in Hajj, after its completion, can go further, to Medina. Before that, they enter the city of Taif, where they visit the Abbas mosque. There, a joint prayer is performed by believers.

Medina - the city where the prophet rests

It is very important for the pilgrims to visit the holy city of Medina. It is in it is the tomb of the Prophet Muhammad, as well as his closest associates in life. This is in the Masjid al-Nabi Mosque. Here they utter a special greeting word to the prophet, then they make a prayer. After this, the pilgrims should approach Muhammad's companions, repeating the same actions.

As for women, they can not approach them. They can only pray in the Prophet's mosque.

After this visit other sacred places pilgrims who have made hajj. Medina has a large number of them, since the Prophet lived there for a very long time. For example, the mosques at-Takva and Cuba. First you have to bathe, then visit Cuba, create a prayer there. After that he will go to the mosque at-Takva. Also, men must climb the Jabal mountain. It is there that the graves of the family of Muhammad, as well as other believers who died near Uhuda, are in battle.

So, why should you visit these places when the hajj is already completed? Here lies one of the precepts of the prophet, which says that the Hajj should greet his grave, in return he will receive the same from Muhammad himself.

Pilgrims' comments on the sacred ritual

Those pilgrims who made the pilgrimage leave the reviews very enthusiastic. For them, this is really a union with the Lord, as well as with all believers. This is a great commonality between pilgrims.

Now there is a huge number of companies that organize such trips from everywhere. If you decide to make a hajj, whether Ingushetia is your native place of residence or something else, you can contact the relevant company that is verified, which organizes everything at the highest level.