About Hajj :: Papers

About Hajj A Muslim is obliged once in their lifetime ,by their religion along with their own will, to take a pilgrimage to Makkah in Saudi Arabia. This pilgrimage is called Hajj and is an amazing journey that is done for a definite purpose. It is part of the Five Pillars of Islam that is the basis of the entire religion making it obligatory. Through completing Hajj, a Muslim can begin to feel closer to Allah (Islam's God) and experience inner fulfilment. Hajj must be done for the right reasons, "it is for the glory of Allah not for the glory of the person making the journey." Hajj literally means 'to set out for a place', it's a journey with rites and rituals along the way. The Qu'ran calls Muslims to 'complete the Hajj or Umrah in the service of Allah'. For generations, the journey a Muslim takes has always started in Makkah. This place is sacred because in 10AH, 632 CE, Muslim's believe that Muhammad (pbuh)- Islam's most famous prophet - performed Hajj with 1400 of his followers because Allah instructed him to. He also lived and preached in Makkah during his lifetime. Since Muhammad's pilgrimage, Makkah has been sacred to all Muslim's. They want to follow in the footsteps of Muhammad and the prophets Adam, Ibrahim and Isma'il as they believe that Allah is there to guide them through life just as he guided the prophets. Makkah is classed as Holy Ground and people go there to change their life as they wash away their sins. They believe that Hajj and Makkah makes them a better person. Hajj must take place at certain times because of its historic roots. It is to be taken place between 8 and 13 Dhu'l Hijjah, the twelfth month of the lunar calendar. If a Muslim journeys at another time, it's known as 'Umrah' (a lesser pilgrimage that can be taken at any time). The significance of this journey isn't as great as Hajj and the journey isn't counted as a completion of the fifth pillar.