Once in a lifetime, every Muslim who has the health and the means is called to journey to Mecca for the Hajj, the great pilgrimage and the fifth Pillar of Islam. A shorter pilgrimage, the Umrah, can be undertaken at any time. Both centre on the Kaaba and retrace acts associated with the Prophet Ibrahim, his wife Hajar and their son Isma'il. This article outlines the rites and the supplications that accompany them; details differ between scholars and schools, so pilgrims usually follow a trusted guide.
Ihram: entering the sacred state
A pilgrimage begins with ihram, a state of consecration entered with a clear intention (niyyah). Men wear two plain white unstitched cloths, a powerful symbol of equality before God; women wear ordinary modest dress. On entering ihram, pilgrims begin to recite the Talbiyah: Labbayk Allahumma labbayk, "Here I am, O God, here I am." Certain everyday actions are set aside while in this state.
The rites of Umrah
The Umrah is the simpler of the two. After entering ihram, the pilgrim performs:
- Tawaf, circling the Kaaba seven times anticlockwise, beginning at the Black Stone;
- Sa'i, walking seven times between the small hills of Safa and Marwah, recalling Hajar's search for water for her son;
- Halq or taqsir, shaving the head or trimming the hair, which releases the pilgrim from ihram.
Along the way pilgrims drink from the well of Zamzam and offer supplications, such as the well-known verse Rabbana atina fi'd-dunya hasanatan, "Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the hereafter."
The rites of Hajj
The Hajj takes place over several days in the month of Dhul-Hijjah and adds further rites to those of Umrah. Its defining moment is the standing at Arafat (wuquf) on the ninth day, a day of prayer and supplication that the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, described as the essence of Hajj. Pilgrims also gather at Muzdalifah, cast pebbles at the pillars (jamarat) at Mina in a symbolic rejection of temptation, offer a sacrifice, and perform tawaf and sa'i. The days end in the celebration of Eid al-Adha, marked by Muslims around the world.
The heart of the journey
Pilgrimage draws the believer to the Two Holy Mosques and reorients the whole self toward the Qibla that Muslims face in daily prayer. Its spirit of devotion and self-denial echoes the fast of Ramadan and fasting (Sawm). Wherever you are, you can prepare for the prayers of the journey by finding a mosque with MosqueFinder, find mosques near you or on the the interactive map.