History of Hajj | Prophet Muhammad Reformation In Hajj | Evolution of Makkah 600 - 2030

Hajj is a yearly Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, the holiest city for Muslims, located in Saudi Arabia. It is a religious obligation for all physically and financially capable adult Muslims to undertake this journey at least once in their lifetime. During Hajj, Muslims fulfill one of the Five Pillars of Islam, which are the foundational principles of the faith, alongside Shahadah (declaration of faith), salat (prayer), zakat (almsgiving), and sawm (fasting during Ramadan).

Hajj is a pilgrimage to the Kaaba, referred to as the "House of Allah," in the sacred city of Mecca. It represents a time of unity among Muslims, as they demonstrate their solidarity with fellow believers and their submission to Allah. The word "Hajj" signifies a pious journey made by Muslims to purify their souls from worldly sins. It encompasses both the physical act of embarking on a journey and the internal act of harboring good intentions.

The pilgrimage rituals are observed over a period of five to six days, from the 8th to the 12th or 13th of Dhu al-Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic calendar. Due to the lunar nature of the Islamic calendar, the date of Hajj varies each year.

Although the association of Hajj with the life of the Islamic prophet Muhammad dates back to the 7th century AD, the practice of pilgrimage to Mecca can be traced back to the time of Abraham, as mentioned in Muslim sources. During Hajj, pilgrims join millions of Muslims in processions that converge upon Mecca for a week of rituals, some of which were reformed by Muhammad. These rituals include wearing unstitched white clothing called Ihram, circumambulating the Kaaba seven times in a counterclockwise direction, kissing the black stone set in the corner wall of the Kaaba, walking between the hills of Safa and Marwah seven times, drinking from the Zamzam Well, standing in vigil at the plains of Mount Arafat, spending a night in the plain of Muzdalifa, and symbolically stoning three pillars representing the Devil. Following these rituals, pilgrims sacrifice an animal and then either shave or trim their hair as part of the completion of Hajj. The pilgrimage culminates in the celebration of the four-day global festival of Eid al-Adha.