by Amy Gates

Created on: November 11, 2009

Non-Muslims may view Hajj (the pilgrimage to Mecca) as just one more obligation that good Muslims must fulfill, but for Muslims Hajj is a highly religious experience. Similar to Christians who visit the Holy Land to walk where Jesus walked, Muslims commemorate Islam's historical roots as they visit their Prophet's birthplace. However, Hajj isn't merely a tourist trip to a religious site. It is an experience designed to draw a person closer to God and a means of gaining forgiveness from sins that have been committed. The pilgrimage also demonstrates the unity of the community of Islam (Ummah) as pilgrims gather from around the globe to worship God together in the prescribed way, all going through the ritual movements as one. Each step of the pilgrimage is symbolic and has historic and religious significance, beginning before the pilgrim even enters Mecca.

The Symbolism of Hajj:

Preparation for the Hajj is important. The trip should not be taken lightly. Before the pilgrim embarks on the Hajj, he should adopt the proper attitude of surrender to God. He should settle his personal affairs, paying all debts and leaving enough money to provide for his family, and he should seek forgiveness from anyone he has wronged.[i] As the pilgrim nears Mecca, he must stop at a set place outside the city to remove his everyday clothes and don a long white cloth. This cloth is the same as the shroud used for corpses, and wearing it symbolizes the pilgrim's "total renunciation of worldly life."[ii] In a sense, Hajj is a preparation for physical death, when the pilgrim will permanently leave family, friends, and possessions behind. It is also a symbol of complete surrender to God by stripping oneself of the entrapments of this world. By wearing the white seamless cloth, each pilgrim erases the outward symbols of status that set him or her apart so that each person looks the same, reflecting the equality of everyone before God.

Hajj as a Commemoration:

Mecca is the center of Islam and has great historic significance for Muslims, beginning with Adam and Eve. According to Islamic tradition, after the first man and woman disobeyed God, they went to the plain of Arafat (about ten miles southeast of Mecca) in order to pray for God's forgiveness.[iii] As a result, Arafat is a key part of the pilgrimage. Pilgrims must visit this site for their pilgrimage to be complete,[iv] and they should remain there between noon and sunset on the ninth of Dul-Hajj (the last month of the Islamic calendar),

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>