Nathan Bartlett
RELS 1000-081
201532520
Nov. 29, 2023
The Hajj
I was raised in a non-religious household, but in a community heavily influenced by Christian
tradition. I first met a Muslim and learned of the Hajj when I was in middle school, anything else
I have learned of Islam has come from school or pop culture. Based on my background I am an
outsider to this tradition. In the Islamic tradition, the Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and
is considered one of the most important religious duties for Muslims. Nigosian writes “It is an
obligation to be fulfilled at least once in a lifetime by every adult who is sane, healthy,
financially capable of supporting his family during his absence, and able to underwrite the
expenses of the journey.”1 This highlights the critical importance of the Hajj, while also
showcasing its exceptions for the realities of life.
The Hajj is a pilgrimage undertaken by Muslims across the world, to the holiest city in Islam,
Mecca. Muslims can pilgrimage to Mecca anytime throughout the year, but the Hajj is a special
pilgrimage, that can only be taken during a period of six days during the 12th month of the
Muslim calendar, Dhu al-Hijja.2 The annual Hajj is of great importance for the Muslim world; its
host country, Saudi Arabia, has spent more than $100 billion dollars since the 1950s to
modernize and expand the pilgrimage facilities.2 Due to the sheer number of pilgrims every year,
close to 2.5 million, the governments of Muslim countries work together to control attendance
with annual quotas per country.
1. Nigosian, S. A, “Islam : Its History, Teaching, and Practices.” 111-113.
2. Campo, Juan E. "The Hajj." 1
3. Mahmutović, Adnan, “My Hajj”. 10-14
The Hajj is comprised of many sacred rituals that have been performed for centuries. Many of
these rituals pay homage to the journey of the prophet Muhammad, as well as other significant
moments in Islamic sacred history. When describing the origins of the Hajj Nigosian wrote
“Eight years after the prophet Muhammad fled Mecca, he returned triumphantly to the city of his
birth with some ten thousand followers. Walking first seven times around the outside of the
Ka’bah, Muhammad entered the shrine and destroyed all 360 of the idols and images that had
been accumulated there over the years. Then he dedicated the Ka’bah to God and proclaimed
Mecca to be the holiest city of Islam.”1
Pilgrims on the Hajj, known as Hajjis, must perform a series of duties throughout their journey
the first of which is called Ihram. Performing Ihram is to enter into a state of sanctity before
entering the holy city. Nigosian describes the strict process as follows “This consists of
discarding their own clothing; wearing two white seamless garments, one wrapped around the
waist and reaching below the knees and the other over the left shoulder and tied at the right side,
with head and face uncovered; removing shoes or sandals; performing ablution rites; praying and
declaring the intention of performing the pilgrimage rite; abstaining from shaving any part of the
body, cutting nails, using oil or perfumes, entering into sexual relations, plucking grass, or
cutting trees.” These preparations were an important way to ensure all pilgrims were equal on the
Hajj, which is a central theme of the journey. Nigosian explains as follows: “A cross-section of
Muslims from all walks of life and of varying color, race, and nationality realize their equality
before God as they meet on common ground at least once a year.”1
1. Nigosian, S. A, “Islam : Its History, Teaching, and Practices.” 111-113.
2. Campo, Juan E. "The Hajj." 1
3. Mahmutović, Adnan, “My Hajj”. 10-14
The next step of the journey is to walk around the Ka’bah seven times counterclockwise,as
Muhammad did upon his return to Mecca. The Ka’bah is a black structure in the center of the
Grand Mosque in Mecca. It is considered by Muslims to be the House of God and is the focal
point of the ritual. Pilgrims attempt to get close enough during their rotations to touch the Black
Stone embedded in the eastern corner of the Ka’bah , an important objection in Islamic sacred
history. The pilgrims continue their journey by walking or running quickly seven times between
the hills of Safa and Marwa. This ritual commemorates Hagar, the wife of Ibrahim (Abraham),
and her frantic search for water for their son Ishmael.1 After completing the ceremony, the
pilgrims continue on from Mecca to Mount Mercy in the plain of Arafat.
Mount Mercy, also known as Mount Arafat is where Muhammad delivered the “Farewell
Sermon”. It is an incredibly important location in Islamic sacred history, and to many pilgrims is
the highlight of the Hajj. In their article entitled “My Hajj”, Adnan Mahmutović describes their
experience standing on the mount during their own Hajj: “Arafat was like that circle on the
surface of a silent Nordic lake where the pebble hits it and makes ripples that know no east, west,
north, or south. Your prayers ripple into the future and deep into the past, retelling your life.”3
Pilgrims “stand before god” on Mount Mercy from noon until sunset, after which the pilgrims
depart for Muzdalifa to spend the night.1 The following morning the pilgrims journey to the Mina
Valley, where they cast stones at three pillars representing Satan, a ritual known as Jamarat.
The Hajj concludes with a final circuit around the Ka’Bah in Mecca, and a ceremonial shaving of
the head for men, or trimming of hair for women. The seamless garment is discarded and the
Hajj is officially complete. Pilgrims who have successfully completed all of the steps earn the
1. Nigosian, S. A, “Islam : Its History, Teaching, and Practices.” 111-113.
2. Campo, Juan E. "The Hajj." 1
3. Mahmutović, Adnan, “My Hajj”. 10-14
right to bear the title Hajji. It is at this time that Muslims around the world celebrate the holiday
of Eid al-Adha, or the “Feast of Sacrifice”. This holiday commemorates Abraham’s willingness
to sacrifice his son Ishmael at the command of God, before a lamb is given in his stead. Animals
are sacrificed as a reference to the lamb, followed by three days of feasts and festivities.
It is also important to note the great difficulty many people face in completing the Hajj. Millions
of people are present, and Saudi Arabia is known for its intense heat. Mahmutović recounts the
worry he faced in trying to reach Arafat on time “This is why sickness and late buses were
nerve-racking. We waited three hours on an overheated bus to get tents. Aida had a fever and was
freezing. The tents, which fit hundreds, reminded me of the refugee years, and I thought of the
people around the world who’d lived their entire lives in camps, had children and raised them
too”3 This shows some of the challenging logistical realities of such a large gathering. Another
obstacle many face when waiting to complete the Hajj is a lack of financial ability to support
themselves or their family. Nigosian explains a common practice in this case “The custom now is
for pilgrims who cannot go in person to contribute as much as they can afford to send a
substitute. The substitute brings merit upon all those who make his pilgrimage possible.”1
Overall, the Hajj is an incredibly interesting tradition, that can trace its roots all the way back to
the founding of Islam itself. This link connects the Muslim people of today both with their
predecessors, and their own sacred history.
1. Nigosian, S. A, “Islam : Its History, Teaching, and Practices.” 111-113.
2. Campo, Juan E. "The Hajj." 1
3. Mahmutović, Adnan, “My Hajj”. 10-14
References
Nigosian, S. A. (Solomon Alexander). Islam : Its History, Teaching, and Practices. Bloomington,
IN: Indiana University Press, 2004.
Campo, Juan E. "The Hajj." In Encyclopedia of World Religions: Encyclopedia of Islam, by Juan
E. Campo. Facts On File, 2016. Accessed November 27, 2023.
https://search.credoreference.com/articles/Qm9va0FydGljbGU6NDg1MzIxNw==?aid=16929
Mahmutović, Adnan. "My Hajj." World Literature Today 97, no. 6 (Nov, 2023): 10-14.
https://qe2a-proxy.mun.ca/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/my-hajj/docvi
ew/2879377380/se-2.
1. Nigosian, S. A, “Islam : Its History, Teaching, and Practices.” 111-113.
2. Campo, Juan E. "The Hajj." 1
3. Mahmutović, Adnan, “My Hajj”. 10-14