The Hajj: Pilgrimage of a lifetime mandated for Muslims  

Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, and is one of the Five Pillars of Islam (the others are: profession of Allah as the only God and Mohammed as his final prophet; fasting during Ramadan;  Zakat, the mandatory charitable giving; and daily prayer five times a day). It is a mandatory religious duty for Muslims who are physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey at least once in their lifetime. The pilgrimage is deeply spiritual, symbolizing unity, humility, and devotion to God.

Hajj takes place annually during the Islamic month of Dhul-Hijjah, the 12th month of the Islamic calendar. This year, Hajj is expected to begin on June 4 and conclude on June 9, with the Day of Arafah falling on June 5th. The pilgrimage culminates with Eid al-Adha, which will be observed on June 6. Since the Islamic calendar follows a lunar cycle, the dates shift by 10–11 days earlier each year in the Gregorian calendar.

Key rituals during the Hajj

Here are the key rituals for the Hajj, which takes place over five to six days: 

1. Ihram – Pilgrims wear simple white garments to signify purity and equality.
2. Tawaf – Circling the Kaaba seven times in a counterclockwise direction.
3. Sa’i – Walking briskly between the hills of Safa and Marwah seven times, commemorating Hager’s walk between Safa and Marwa.
4. Drinking from the Zamzam Well – A sacred well in Mecca.
5. Standing at Mount Arafat – from which Prophet Mohammed gave his last sermon, where Adam and Eve were reunited, and where Adam was forgiven. Pilgrims gather here for prayers and reflection.
6. Muzdalifa – Spending the night under the open sky.
7. Stoning of the Devil – Throwing pebbles at three pillars in Mina, which is about 5 miles from Mecca.
8. Sacrificial Offering – Some pilgrims sacrifice an animal, symbolizing Prophet Ibrahim’s devotion.
9. Final Tawaf – A farewell circumambulation of the Kaaba.

Hajj has a fascinating history that dates back thousands of years. It is deeply rooted in Islamic tradition and has evolved over time.

Origins of Hajj

Hajj (literal meaning ‘intention to travel’ in Arabic), is believed to have originated in 2,000 BC during the time of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), who, according to Islamic tradition, was commanded by God to build the Kaaba in Mecca alongside his son, Prophet Ismail (Ishmael). The Kaaba became the principal place of worship for Muslims, and many of the Hajj rituals are linked to events in Ibrahim’s life, including his unwavering faith and devotion. Abraham left Ismail and his wife, Hagar,  in the valley of Mecca in a barren desert with the conviction that God would ensure their survival. When her son Ismail was thirsty and her waterskin was empty, Hagar ran seven times back and forth between the hills of Safa and Marwa in search of water. Just as she was distraught over her son’s survival, angel Jibril (Gabriel) touched down on earth and created a spring of fresh water for the baby, known as the Well of Zamzam.

Before the advent of Islam, the pilgrimage to Mecca was already a tradition among the pagan Arabs. However, it was often mixed with idol worship and other practices that were later reformed by the Prophet Muhammad. The Kaaba housed numerous idols, and the pilgrimage was performed in ways that deviated from its original monotheistic purpose.

In 632 CE, Prophet Muhammad performed the first official Islamic Hajj, known as the Farewell Pilgrimage, during which he re-established the rituals in their pure form. He emphasized the importance of unity, equality, and devotion to God, removing all traces of idol worship.

Medieval and modern Hajj

During medieval times, pilgrims traveled in large caravans from cities like Damascus, Cairo, and Basra, often facing challenges such as Bedouin raids and harsh desert conditions. The Ottoman Empire played a key role in organizing and protecting the pilgrimage routes, appointing leaders to oversee the journey. With advancements in transportation, including steamships, trains, and airplanes, the pilgrimage became more accessible to Muslims worldwide.

Hajj is deeply rooted in Islamic tradition, symbolizing faith, sacrifice, and unity. 

Key Quranic verses about Hajj

1. Surah Al-Hajj (22:27) – “And proclaim to the people the Hajj; they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every distant pass.”
   • This verse refers to Prophet Ibrahim’s call for pilgrimage, highlighting how people from all over the world would respond to the sacred journey.
2. Surah Al-Baqarah (2:196) – “And complete the Hajj and Umrah for Allah…”
   • This verse instructs believers to fulfill the pilgrimage with sincerity and devotion.
3. Surah Al-Imran (3:97) – “And [due] to Allah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House—for whoever is able to find a way thereto…”
   • This verse establishes Hajj as an obligation for those who are physically and financially capable.
4. Surah Al-Hajj (22:32) – “And whoever honors the symbols of Allah—indeed, it is from the piety of hearts.”  This verse highlights the spiritual significance of the pilgrimage and its rituals.

Today, Hajj is one of the largest annual religious gatherings, attracting millions of pilgrims from around the world. About 2 million pilgrims descend on Mecca each year, temporarily tripling its population. So, the 52 member states of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) set a Hajj quota of one person per thousand population for each country. The five top countries for Hajj quotas are: Indonesia 221,000, Pakistan 179,210, India 170,000, Bangladesh 127,128, and Egypt 108,000. The USA sends about 9,500 pilgrims.

Eid al-Adha: Eid al-Adha (festival of sacrifice) takes place on the 10th of Dhu al-Hijja, a great feast throughout the Muslim world. Pilgrims sacrifice a sheep (sometimes a goat) as a reminder of the obedience of Ibrahim, who agreed to sacrifice his son Ismail as an act of submission before God intervened, allowing for a lamb to be sacrificed instead. The meat collected after the animal sacrifice is distributed among the poor at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, other holy sites, and charity organizations in Saudi Arabia, and beneficiaries in many Muslim countries and communities throughout the world. This massive charity project is supervised by the Saudi government and manned by 40,000 butchers, supervisors, supporting labor, transportation, food supply, medical care, and administration. This project is called ‘Utilization of Hajj Meat (ADAHI)’.

Personal experience

Faroque Khan’s parents in Kashmir performed Hajj in 1962. As a young adult he witnessed the extensive preparations that were made by them – obtaining the Hajj permit, which was a day of celebration, followed by visits to relatives saying ‘goodbye’, travelling from Kashmir to Bombay by road and then from Bombay to Jeddah by boat, a journey which took several days. They stayed in Saudi Arabia for several weeks and on return received a tumultuous welcome for performing Hajj successfully. Thirty-three years later, Arfa and Faroque took a 14 hour overnight flight from New York to Jeddah in April 1997 and returned two weeks later after performing the Hajj.    

Newsday highlighted our Hajj journey titled: The Pilgrimage: A Jericho Couple Decided This Was the Year to Go to Mecca on Their Hajj. Now They Are Trying to Absorb What Their Spiritual Journey Means to Their Lives. The article by Bob Keeler, Staff Writer, appeared in the Long Island daily on May 12, 1997.

This article describes our Hajj experience in detail and is accessible on the internet.

Challenges during Hajj

Hajj is a deeply spiritual journey, but it also presents health challenges due to large crowds, intense physical exertion, and exposure to environmental hazards. They include: Infections: Common illnesses such as colds and flu spread easily in crowded conditions. Gastrointestinal Infections: Foodborne illnesses and diarrhea can result from consuming contaminated food or water. Skin Infections: Due to heat, sweat, and close contact, fungal and bacterial skin infections may develop.

Heat-related: In 1997, during our Hajj, there was a fire in the tent city, which led to some fatalities and altered our schedule. Last year, between 14th and 19th June, at least 1,300 people on the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca died due to extreme heat, with temperatures exceeding 50°C (122° F). Heat stroke and dehydration led to their death. Over 2,700 cases of heat-related illness, like heat stroke, were reported on June 16 alone.

In response, the Saudi government has tightened the regulations, including closer monitoring and compliance with Hajj permits, extension of the Grand Mosque so it can accommodate up to 2 million pilgrims during Hajj and addition of many hotels around the Grand Mosque in the vicinity of Kaaba.

Looking Ahead  

The global Muslim population has seen significant growth over the decades. In 1960, Muslims made up a smaller percentage of the world population, but due to high birth rates in Muslim-majority countries, the numbers have steadily increased. By 2025, Muslims are estimated to comprise approximately 24.1% of the global population, totaling around 2 billion people. By 2030, estimates suggest the number will reach 2.2 billion, and by 2050, it could be 2.8 billion, or 30% of the world population.

The only location where global Muslims can perform the Hajj is in Mecca. In view of the sizable increase of the global Muslim population, with the fixed quota system in place, not all Muslims will likely be able to fulfill their aspiration to perform Hajj.

Difference between Hajj and Umrah

Both are both Islamic pilgrimages to Mecca, but they differ in several key aspects:

• Obligation: Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and is mandatory for every Muslim who is physically and financially able to perform it at least once in their lifetime. Umrah, on the other hand, is a voluntary pilgrimage and not obligatory.
• Timing: Hajj takes place annually during the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah, while Umrah can be performed at any time of the year.
• Duration: Hajj lasts 5-6 days and involves multiple rituals, whereas Umrah can be completed in just a few hours.
• Rituals: Both pilgrimages include Ihram (state of purity), Tawaf (circumambulation of the Kaaba), and Sa’i (walking between Safa and Marwah). However, Hajj also includes standing at Arafah, staying at Muzdalifah, stoning the Jamarat, and other rites.
• Spiritual significance: Hajj is considered a major act of worship that grants complete forgiveness of past sins, while Umrah brings spiritual rewards but does not replace the obligation of Hajj.

     In 2024, 18.5 million Muslims visited Mecca, and of these, approximately 16 million performed Umrah.