Beginning of Hajj: November 25, 2009
The beginning of Hajj is a public holiday in Saudi Arabia.
Hajj is a famous pilgrimage to Mecca, and every Muslim that has the physical ability and money to do it must do it at least once in their lives. It is the 5th pillar of Islam faith, and it starts on the 7th day of the Dhu al Hijjah, which is the 12th month of the Islamic calendar. The Hajj takes 7 days and finishes by the 13th day of the same month. The dates on the Gregorian calendar change from year to year, and on 2009 it will be from November 25 to December 1.
History of Hajj
The Hajj was created from an ancient pilgrimage that was performed before the 7th century when Muhammad was alive. The existence of the pilgrimage is owed to the story of Abraham, his wife Hajar, and their son Ishmael.
There was a time when God, Allah, told Abraham to leave his wife and son in the desert alone. Abraham did as God told him and left them in the desert. While he was gone Ismael was thirsty, so his mother started to look for water. Desperate in the search for water, Hajar ran back and forth between the mountains of As-Safa and Al-Marwa, looking for a source. At the end of her seventh trip on Al-Marwa, Hajar heard a mysterious voice. She responded, asking if aid was able to be given. Before her, an angel scraped away the dirt with his wing, and from there water sprung out for them to drink.
Afterwards, a pilgrimage was made by the faithful to honor this story and the faith displayed by Abraham and Hajar. Before Muhammad, several tribes would make this pilgrimage and perform the Umrah, a ritual that follows the steps of Hajar. In AD 632, Muhammad took his followers on a pilgrimage to Mecca, marking the first Hajj performed by Muslims, the only one with Muhammad. The Hajj then became one of the Five Pillars of Islam, and now it traditionally starts with the Umrah.
Beginning of Hajj Traditions, Customs and Activities
On the first day of the Hajj, pilgrims must perform the Umrah, the first of the Hajj’s Tawaf, by walking seven times around the Holy Kaaba. The Kaaba is a large stone building and Islam’s holiest building, built by Abraham himself and his son Ishmael, according to the Holy Qur’an. Eating isn’t allowed at this time, and only water can be drank. Pilgrims walk around the Kaaba seven times as Hagar walked back and forth seven times looking for water. The first four times are done at a hurried pace while the last three are at a more comfortable pace.
After this, pilgrims offer two Rakaat prayers at the Place of Abraham. On the same day that Hajj begins, pilgrims still have to perform the Sa’i, running or walking seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwah, again following the steps of Hajar as she looked for water for Ishmael.
The well from which Hagar got water is called the Zamzam, and pilgrims performing the rituals on the first day of the Hajj have to drink water from this well. All pilgrims have to wear the Ihram, a white seamless garment that indicates a state of pureness and readiness to perform the Hajj.
