The HajjThe Muslim Pilgrimage to Mecca

• The Hajj begins at the ancient coastal port of Jeddah.

• For centuries people have been arriving at this city on their way to Mecca.

• Traditionally pilgrims would have arrived from all over the world by ship.

• Today most pilgrims arrive by air.

• During the Hajj men adopt the distinctive clothing of the Ihram.

• It consists of two pieces of seamless white cloth.

• The Ihram refers both to the garment and to the rites which will be performed by the pilgrim.

• Women maintain their usual dress and their heads are covered at all times

• Streetsellers offer beads to pilgrims as they hasten on their way.

• Many pilgrims find places on the government buses which run continually from Jeddah to Mecca.

• Finally the pilgrims arrive in Mecca.

• The centre of the Muslim world.

• Pilgrims arrive at night and head for the main mosque in Mecca.

• At the centre is the Ka’bah.

• The Ka’bah is a small shrine which is said to have been built by Abraham.

• It is considered to be the first shrine built by humans to honour God.

• It is towards the Ka’bah that Muslims all over the world pray five times a day.

• The Ka’bah is draped by a huge black embroidered cloth called the Kiswah.

• The Kiswah is replaced every year for the Hajj.

• It is decorated in gold with verses from the Qur’an.

• All the time people stand before the Ka’bah in prayer.

• For Muslims it is the high point in their lives.

• Many have been saving up for a long time.

• Many will never be able to afford to make the trip again.

• Midday prayers in the Sacred Mosque.

• On one of the corners of the Ka’bah is a black stone.

• The black stone is in fact a meteorite that Muslims claim was placed there by Muhammad himself.

• Each pilgrim hopes to kiss it before starting seven complete circuits of the Ka’bah.

• The Ka’bah is the holiest place in Islam.

• After completing the circuits of the Ka’bah, the pilgrims head for a covered walkway.

• The walkway connects the two hills of al-Safa and al-Marwa.

• The walkway covers the route taken by Hagar, the wife of Abraham, in her search for water

• Pilgrims pass the route seven times.

• After walking the length of the corridor, pilgrims relax or mediate.

• Some pilgrims find time to read the Qur’an.

• The pilgrims then travel 10 miles to the plain of Arafat.

• The pilgrims camp for one night on the plain of Arafat.

• At noon pilgrims flood into the Mosque of Namira for the midday prayers.

• Only a small proportion of the pilgrims manage to get into the mosque.

• Upon the Mount of Mercy Muhammad preached his last sermon.

• The climax of the Hajj takes place here as all the pilgrims stand “before God.”

• The setting sun signifies the hour of maghrib prayer.

• However, the pilgrims do not have time to pray - instead they hasten away from Arafat, as the prophet did, and head towards Muzdalifah.

• After spending the night in Muzdalifah, the pilgrims head for Mina

• Mina is a small and ancient town.

• Huge walkways have been built to accommodate the vast numbers of pilgrims.

• On their way from Arafat each person has collected forty nine pebbles.

• The pebbles are thrown at three pillars to symbolically stone Satan and thereby reject him.

• After showing their rejection of Satan, the pilgrims discard their Ihrams and adopt colourful clothes.

• Pilgrims also make a sacrifice of an animal in the great feast of sacrifice.

• Although the Hajj is officially over with the sacrifice at Mina, many pilgrims take the opportunity to visit Medina, the place of Muhammad’s tomb.

• Medina is the place where the prophet Muhammad chose to build his first mosque after he had been rejected in Mecca.

• Many pilgrims visit the prophet’s tomb.

• The prophet’s mosque is built close to the place where Muhammad and his companions preached, prayed and lived.

• Medina is the second holiest place in Islam after Mecca.