Hajj

• The night of power marks the beginning of God’s revelation to Muhammad. The first verses of the Qur’an were revealed to Muhammad through the angel Jibril.
• The exact date of the night of power is unknown, so many Muslims try to keep awake throughout the night on each of the possible dates.
• Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca, which is required of all Muslims at least once in their lifetime.
• Hajj takes place during the last month of the Islamic calendar.
• The Hajj involves walking around the Kaaba seven times, running between two hills called Safa and Marwa, standing on Mount Arafat and throwing pebbles at three stone pillars called Mina representing Satan.
• What are the origins of Hajj?

  Ibrahim was told by God to take his wife Hajira and son Ishmael to Arabia. He was then told to leave them but they ran out of supplies of food and water. Hajira ran up and down two hills called Safa and Marwah looking for water. She collapsed and prayed to God looking for help. Ishmael struck his foot on the ground and then water gushed up. When Ibrahim returned, he was told by God to build a shrine dedicated to him, which became the Ka’aba.
• In 628-630 CE, Muhammad travelled from Medinah to Mecca with a large group of Muslims.
• Before Hajj, Muslims must wash and put on Ihram clothing. For men, this is two sheets of white cloth and for women, it is a cloth that covers their whole body apart from their face. The white cloth is a sign of equality.
• Hajj begins in Mecca, circling the Ka’aba seven times anti-clockwise. They recite “Here I am. Oh Lord, at your service. Praise and blessings to you”
• After circling the Ka’aba, Muslims walk between the hills of Safa and Marwah. After doing this seven times, they return to the Ka’aba to collect bottles of water from the well of Zamzam. They then travel to Arafat but before they stop at Mina, where they pray and read the Qur’an.
• At Arafat, Muslims spend the whole afternoon praying and reciting the Qur’an.
• At the end of the first day of Hajj, Muslims walk to Muzdalifah, where they collect 49 pebbles. The next day, they throw these pebbles at Mina, which are three stone walls called Jamarat. These walls represent the devil and temptation. They throw stones at them to show that they are rejecting this.
• After Muslims throw pebbles at the Jamarat, the next day they return the Mecca to circle the Ka’aba seven more times. They then return to Mina to spend two more nights there, whilst reflecting upon God before Hajj ends.
• Once Hajj ends, Muslims who completed it are called Hajjis. They also celebrate their achievement with a feast called Eid al-Adha.