What is Hajj (Pilgrimage)?

The word Hajj, linguistically, means heading to a place for the sake of
visiting; in Islamic terminology, it implies heading to Makkah to
observe the rituals of pilgrimage.
Hajj is obligated by Allaahupon every Muslim, male and female, who is
physically and financially capable. It is obligatory only once during
the lifetime of a Muslim. Allaah Almighty Says (what means): "…And [due]
to Allaah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House – for whoever is
able to find thereto a way…." [Quran 3:97]
The Prophet said: "Islam is built upon five (pillars): the testimony
that none has the right tobe worshipped except Allaah and Muhammad is
the Messenger of Allaah, the establishment of the prayer, paying Zakaat,
Hajj to the House (i.e. Ka'bah,) and fasting in Ramadhaan." [Al-Bukhaari
& Muslim]
The Prophet also said: "Hajj is mandated once, so whoever does it more
(than that), then it is supererogatory." [Abu Daawood and Ahmad]
Hajj was prescribed in the sixth year after Hijrah(migration) upon the
revelation of the following verse in which Allaah Says (what means):
"And complete the Hajj and 'Umrah for Allaah..." [Quran 2:196]
Hajj is not a new institution introduced by Islam, rather it is as old
asthe Ka'bah itself. Allaah Almighty Says (what means): "Indeed, the
first House [of worship] established for mankind was that at Bakkah
[i.e., Makkah] – blessed and a guidance to the worlds." [Quran 3:96]
The whole origin of Hajj is rooted to the acts of devotion of Prophet
Ibraaheem . This demonstrates that Muhammad did not innovate this
institution, all he did was to clear it of all the evil practices that
had crept into it. After a few centuries of the death of Ibraaheem and
his son Ismaa'eel, may Allaah exalt their mention, people abandoned
their teachings and gradually went astray, like all otherpeople around
them. Hundreds of idols were installed in the Ka'bah, which was built by
Ibraaheem and Ismaa'eel,may Allaah exalt their mention, as a centre for
the worship of the One True God. Ironically enough, idols were madeafter
the image of Ibraaheem and Ismaa'eel too, whose whole lives had been
spent eradicating idol-worship.The descendants of Ibraaheem who had
himself repudiated all idols, began to worship idols. The Ka'bah was
turned into a type of temple for idol-worship and superstition. This
predicament lasted for about two thousand years, until the advent of
Prophet Muhammad .
Hajj is rightly said to be the perfection of faith, since it combines in
itself all the distinctive qualities of other obligatory acts of prayer,
patience, privation of amenities of life, devotion, Zakaat (alms),
slaughtering the sacrificeand supplication. In fact, the physical
pilgrimage isa prelude to the spiritual pilgrimage to Allaah when man
would bid goodbye to everything ofthe world and present himself before
Him as His humble servant saying: 'Here I am before You, myLord, as a
slave.'
There are three forms of Hajj:
1. Hajj At-Tamattu': This is where a pilgrim assumes Ihraam for 'Umrah
only, during the months of Hajj, which means that when he reaches
Makkah, he makes Tawaaf and Sa'i for 'Umrah. Then he shaves or clips his
hair. On the eighth day of Thul-Hijjah,the pilgrim assumes Ihraam again
for Hajj only and carries out all ofits requirements.
2. Hajj Al-Ifraad: This is where a pilgrim assumes Ihraam for Hajj only.
When he reaches Makkah, he performs Tawaaf for his arrival andSa'i for
Hajj. He does not shave or clip his hair as he does not disengage from
Ihraam. Instead, he remains in Ihraam until after he stones the
Jamratul–'Aqabah on 'Eedday. It is permissible for him to postpone his
Sa'i for Hajj until after his Tawaaf for Hajj (i.e. Tawaaf Al-Ifaadhah).
3. Hajj Al-Qiraan: This is where a pilgrim assumes Ihraam for both
'Umrah and Hajj, or he assumes Ihraam first for 'Umrah, then makes his
intention for Hajj before his Tawaaf for Hajj. The obligations on one
performing Ifraad are the same as those on oneperforming Qiraan, except
that the latter must slaughter whereas the former is not obligated to do
so.
The best of the three forms is Tamattu'. It is theform that the Prophet
encouraged his followersto perform.
Hajj is undertaken in company with all the other pilgrims. The months of
Hajj are: Shawwal, Thul-Qi'dah and Thul-Hijjah (the last three months of
the Hijri calendar). One can perform 'Umrah for Hajj At-Tamattu' at any
time within these three months (i.e. he may perform 'Umrah during the
Hajj season, and then subsequently making Hajjthe same year at the fixed
time, beginning on the eighth day of Thul-Hijjah).
The Makkan territory is sacred. The pilgrim enters this territory in a
state of Ihraam (a state inwhich one is forbidden to do certain things
that are otherwise permissible).
Ihraam, for men, entails wearing a special garment. A male pilgrim is
not allowed to wear form-fitting clothes or to cover his head or hands
with gloves, or his feet with socks or shoes. This is done in order to
foster a sense of humility and a feeling of brotherhood among the
Muslims.
The male pilgrim's garment consists of two sheets of white woollen or
cotton cloth, of which one is wrapped around the waist and reaches below
the knees and above the ankles, while the other is wrapped around the
upper part of the body. The head and the right shoulder are left
uncovered during Tawaaf. This attire is for males, whereas females have
to cover all of their body except the face and hands.
Before donning this dress, the pilgrim is recommended to take a bath
(Ghusl). A man in Ihraam is consecrated. Hecannot hunt, pick plants,
shed blood, or have sexual intercourse or partake in whatever leads to
it. The excellence of Hajj:
1. It is one of the best deeds:
Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet was once asked: "What is the best
deed?" He replied: "To believe in Allaah and His Messenger." The
enquirerthen asked: "What next?"The Prophet replied: "To fight in the
cause of Allaah." He again asked: "What is the next best thing?" He
replied: "Hajj 'Mabroor' (i.e., the Hajj that is free of sin andall its
pillars and conditions are fulfilled)." [Al-Bukhaari]
2. It is a form of Jihaad:
Al-Hasan Ibn 'Ali and his father, said that a man came to the Prophet
and said: "I am a coward and a weak person. Is there anything I can do?"
The Prophet replied: "You may go for a Jihaad that involves no fighting,
that is, Hajj." ['Abdur-Razzaaq and At-Tabaraani]
The Prophet also said: "Hajj is the Jihaad for theold, the weak and the
women." [An-Nasaa'i]
3. It wipes away past sins:
Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet said: "He who performs Hajj
seeking Allaah's pleasure and avoids all lewdness and sins (therein)
will return after Hajj free from all sins, just as he was on theday his
mother gave birth to him." [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
4. Pilgrims are the Guests of Allaah:
The Prophet said: "Pilgrims and those performing 'Umrah are Allaah's
guests; their prayers are answered and their supplications for
forgiveness are granted." [An-Nasaa'i andIbn Maajah]
5. The Reward of Hajj is Paradise:
The Prophet said: "All sins committed in between the performance of one
'Umrah and the next are expiated and erased, andthe reward of Hajj
'Mabroor' is nothing saveParadise." [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]