pillar 5 - hajj

• A pilgrimage is a journey made for religious purposes
• Arrival in Mecca


  • Many fly to Hajj terminal at Jeddah
  • 1 plane arrives every 2 minutes
  • 6th largest air terminal
  • Can handle up to 80,000 passengers
  • Bigger than 100 football pitches
  • Non-Muslims are not allowed to enter Mecca
  • Pilgrims must show their permits at checkpoints along the road to the holy city
  • Pilgrims must not have sex, cut hair/nails, or cause harm to any living thing
  • Pilgrims must devote themselves fully to Allah
  • It's a time to focus on spiritual things
• Hajj


  The Fifth Pillar of Islam
• Ihram


  • Before reaching the Sacred City, pilgrims must purify their bodies, preferably with a full bath or washing their hands and feet
  • Men wear 2 pieces of white cloth, one tied around the waist and the other thrown over the left shoulder
  • Women wear a long white dress
  • It shows that everyone is equal in the eyes of Allah
  • White is a symbol of purity - a reminder that they must try not to sin
  • It is a reminder that they are performing a special, spiritual act
• Tawaf Ka'bah


  • The Ka'bah is an ancient stone building set in the center of the Grand Mosque
  • Circling the Ka'bah symbolises unity
  • Muslims perform Tawaf, which means walking around the Ka'bah 7 times in a counter-clockwise direction
  • The Ka'bah is important as it was the first place built to worship Allah
  • The circuit starts at the corner where the Black Stone is located
  • The Ka'bah is covered by black cloth with a band of gold 13 meters up
  • It costs over $4.5 million to make the kiswah (cloth covering)
  • Pilgrims kiss the Black Stone
• Safa-Marwah

  • Pilgrims run between As-Safa and Al-Marwah
  • Pilgrims can still drink from the Zamzam well
  • Steps lead down to a chamber under the Courtyard of the Sacred Mosque
  • Many drink the water and wash with it
  • This part of Hajj helps the Muslims to remember an important person in Muslim history
• Mount Arafat


  • Muslims move to the Mount of Mercy on the plain of Arafat
  • Pilgrims must be there from noon to dusk
  • Muslims pray for others, believing their prayers are more effective there
  • Muslims beg Allah for forgiveness of their sins
  • Around 2 million people will gather here in the relentless desert heat
  • It reminds Muslims of the Day of Judgement
  • Pilgrims must perform the Dhuhr and Asr prayers together
• Stoning - Mina

  • 7 pebbles are thrown at the Pillars which are said to symbolise the devil
  • Reminds pilgrims of the famous story of Ibrahim and his son Ismail
  • 3 times the devil tempted Ibrahim not to do it, and tempted Ismail to run away
  • Both resisted temptation and drove the devil away by throwing stones
  • They were prepared to go through with the sacrifice to obey Allah's command, out of love for Allah
  • At the last moment, Allah stopped Ibrahim's hand
  • The pebbles represent evils such as selfishness and temptation