Holly Hajj begins in Mecca

More than two million Muslims from around the world have begun the holy Hajj, the largest annual pilgrimage of the world, in Saudi Arabia's Mecca, the holiest site of Islam. 

Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, is an annual pilgrimage to Mecca, which all able-bodied Muslims who can afford to do so are expected to take part in the hajj at least once in their lifetimes. 

The holy pilgrimage begins on the 8th day of the 12th Islamic month, called Dhu al-Hijjah, and lasts for five days. On the 10th day of the Islamic calendar (the second of Hajj), the holy festival of Eid ul-Adha is celebrated. This year Hajj will run from Sunday. 

Hajj begins at a place just outside Mecca called the Miqat, or entry station to the Hajj. There, the Hajj pilgrims bathe, put on the Ihram (the special white clothes), make the intention for Umra and begin reciting the Talbiya Du'a (prayer).

Then they went to the Masjid al-Haram and walk around the Ka'ba, the cube-shaped structure at the center of the Grand Mosque of Mecca, seven times repeating du'as and prayers. This is called the Tawaf.  

Observant Muslims around the world face toward the Kaaba during their five daily prayers. 

Next, they go to the walkway between the hills of Safa and Marwa and walk back and forth between them seven times. This completes the Umra portion of the Hajj rituals and some of the Ihram restrictions are relaxed.

Then they set their intention for the Hajj and put on the Ihram garments again.  Later, they travel to Mina overnight, and then on to the valley of Arafat and praising Allah - the heat of Arabia at midday provides a hint as to what the Day of Judgement will be like.

At the end of the day, travel to Muzdalifa for the night where they gather together 49 or 70 small stones together to use the next day. In the morning, they return to Mina and throw the stones at pillars called Jamraat which represent the devil. 

Then, part of the Eid traditions, a sacrifice called a Qurbani should be made in which a lamb or sheep is slaughtered and the meat distributed among the poor. After this, men's heads are shaved and women cut a lock of their hair.

Later, they return to Mecca and make a Tawaf (this is the ritual of walking around the Ka'aba seven times). Then it's back to Mina for three or four days, stoning the pillars each day.

Finally, they’ll do a farewell Tawaf in Masjid-al-Haram on the 12th day of the month of Dhul Hijjah, ask Allah's forgiveness, make du'a and the Hajj is finished. Many people then go to the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, but this is optional. 

Source: DailyBangladesh