What and when is Hajj? An illustrated guide, answers to 10 common questions

Beginning on June 4, an estimated 1.8 million Muslims will prepare to perform the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.

The Hajj is the largest annual gathering of Muslims from all over the world and a once-in-a-lifetime journey for many.

We provide answers to 10 frequently asked questions about the Hajj in this visual explanation, along with explanations for its significance, rituals, and preparations.

1. What is the Hajj?

The fifth and final pillar of Islam, along with the Shahada, five daily prayers, mandatory charity (zakat), and fasting during Ramadan, is the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

The word “h-j-j,” which means “entrancing a journey” or “setting out for a certain purpose,” is the Arabic equivalent of “h-j-j.”

It is obligatory once in a lifetime for all adult Muslims who are physically and financially able to undertake the journey.

2. When is the Hajj performed?

The eighth and thirteenth month of the Islamic calendar, Dhul-Hijjah, or the 12th and final month, perform the Hajj. The Ramadan ends about 70 days later, but the timing may change depending on the lunar cycle.

In 2025, the Hajj will take place from June 4 to June 9, but many start arriving in the days and weeks ahead to prepare for the journey.

The Hajj falls 10 to 12 days earlier in the Gregorian calendar each year because the Islamic calendar has a 29 or 30 day lunar cycle. Notable is that this year marks the last time the Hajj will fall during Mecca’s hottest summertime temperatures for 16 years.

3. The Hajj is performed by Muslims for what reason?

According to the Muslim holy book, the Quran, the Hajj is a direct commandment from Allah (God).

It was affirmed during Prophet Muhammad’s “farewell pilgrimage” in 632 AD, in the 10th year of the Islamic calendar.

According to Islamic tradition, the Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim) and his son Ishmaeel (Ismaeel) built the Kaaba, a stone structure with black silk at the center of Mecca’s Grand Mosque, under God’s direction. The Hajj, which was first instituted as a divine ritual, was founded in this context.

The journey is spiritual, and it is thought that Muslims can ask for forgiveness, purify their souls, and demonstrate their obedience to God. The Quran contains the word “Hajj” 12 times, with one chapter having its own name.

Hajj also serves as a reminder of the Day of Judgement, and by performing it, Muslims follow the example of Prophet Abraham and his family, whose actions are commemorated during the pilgrimage rituals. In the end, it serves as a means of renforcing one’s faith while fulfilling a fundamental religious obligation.

4. How long does the Hajj last?

Depending on how it is performed, the Hajj lasts five to six days. Many pilgrims travel to Mina, a desert valley located 8 kilometers (5 miles) from Mecca, where they spend the night to prepare for the rituals of the day’s festivities, which start on the eighth day of Dhul-Hijjah, known as Tarwiyah.

It ends with Tashreeq days, where pilgrims return to Mina for the symbolic stoning of the Devil at a site called Jamarat, after which they perform final rituals to symbolise the end of the Hajj. Some people may end their rites on the 12th, while others will continue until the 13th.

5. What distinguishes the Hajj from the Umrah?

Umrah is a suggested shorter and simpler pilgrimage that Muslims can take any time of the year, in contrast to the Hajj, which is only required of all able-bodied Muslims once in their lives.

The graphic below shows some of the key differences between the Hajj and Umrah:

6. What significant rituals are observed by Muslims during the Hajj?

Muslims perform many rites and rituals during the days of the Hajj, which can be explained in the following steps.

DAY 1

Ihram – Embracing the niyah or intention to perform the Hajj, wearing particular clothing (two unstitched clothes for men and modest attire for women), and adhering to prescribed conduct is both a physical and spiritual condition. This ritual must occur before entering Mecca, either in the pilgrim’s home country or at one of the designated locations on Mecca’s outskirts.
• Arrival Tawaf: Many pilgrims circumnavigate the Kaaba seven times in the counterclockwise direction after arriving in Mecca in Ihram. This represents the One God’s worship in unity. Pilgrims can then perform the sa’i, a ritual of walking seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwa, located within the Masjid al-Haram.
• Mina – Pilgrims travel to Mina, which is located about 8 kilometers (5 miles) east of the Kaaba, where they will spend the night in reflection and prayer. Due to the enormous number of white tents that shelter the millions of pilgrims, Mina is renowned as the “city of tents.”

DAY 2

Day of the Hajj – Pilgrims arrive early on the Arafah plains, which are located about 15 kilometers (9 miles) away from Mina, on the second day of the Hajj. From noon until sunset, they spend the afternoon praying and repenting in wuquf (standing). Arafah is the most important ritual of Hajj. On this day, Muslims around the world are urged to fast.
• After sunset, pilgrims travel to Muzdalifah, which is located 9 kilometers (5 miles) away, where they perform the Maghrib and Isha prayers before gathering pebbles for the ritual the following day. There they spend the night under the open sky.

DAY 3

Muslims from all over the world observe the Eid al-Adha, or sacrifice celebration, on this day.

Rami al-Jamarah al-Kubra (stoning the largest pillar) – Pilgrims return to Mina where they throw seven pebbles at the largest of three stone pillars. This ritual represents the devil’s rejection of Satan’s demons and symbolizes his stoning.
• Qurbani (animal sacrifice): Pilgrims or their representatives offer an animal sacrifice in honor of Abraham’s willingness to give his son to God in service of his sacrifice.
• Halq or Taqsir (shaving or trimming hair) – Men shave or trim their heads and women cut a small portion of hair. This represents the renewal of the soul.
• Sa’i and Tawaf al-Ifadah (main Tawaf): Pilgrims make their way back to Mecca to perform Tawaf, followed by Sa’i.

DAYS 4 and 5

Mina – Pilgrims visit Mina and perform Rami (stoning) of each of the three stone pillars daily.

DAY 6  (optional)

• Mina – Pilgrims who remain for an extra day repeat the stoning ritual at all three pillars.

Tawaf’s farewells

A final Tawaf, or “farewell tawaf,” is performed by pilgrims around the Kaaba before leaving Mecca, evoking a spiritual farewell.

7. What varieties of the Hajj are there?

There are three types of Hajj to facilitate the pilgrimage for Muslims from different locations and abilities:

The most prevalent type of Hajj is Hajj al-Tamattu (the “eased”) Hajj, particularly for foreign pilgrims or those who reside outside Mecca. In this type of Hajj, pilgrims first perform Umrah, leave Ihram, and then enter Ihram again to perform the holy oath. For those performing Hajj al-Tamattu, sacrificing an animal is obligatory, unless one is unable to afford it, in which case fasting is required instead.
• Similar to Tamattu, pilgrims combine Umrah and Hajj in Hajj al-Qiran without leaving Ihram. Both rites keep pilgrims in Ihram. Sacrificing an animal is also required for those who can afford it.
• Hajj al-Ifrad (Hajj alone) – It is intended for pilgrims who do the Hajj alone without combining it with Umrah. Residents of Mecca typically perform this style. This form of Hajj does not require the sacrifice of an animal, though it can be performed voluntarily.

8. What is not permitted during the Hajj?

The Hajj’s etiquette forbids a number of other things that are permitted in Islam, including cursing, arguing, hunting, shaving, or cutting hair and nails, organizing or getting married, wearing sewn clothing (for men), covering the head (for women), and covering the face (for women).

There are typically specific steps and steps to take in order to rectify a pilgrim’s situation if they unintentionally or unintentionally violate anything during the Hajj. This often involves repentance, as well as making up for the mistake by offering charity or an animal sacrifice.

9. What should a Hajj pack?

Packing for the Hajj requires careful planning to ensure you have everything you need without overloading. A practical list of items to pack before traveling is provided in the image below.

10. How do Muslims mark the end of the Hajj?

Eid al-Adha, which is observed on the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah and lasts for three days in many nations, marks the conclusion of the Hajj.

The day begins with a special prayer shortly after sunrise, as Muslims gather in mosques or open areas wearing their finest clothes. Sharing meals, exchanging gifts, and making visits to family and friends is the order of the day. Commonly exchanged is the greeting “Eid Mubarak,” which means “Blessed Eid.”

Eid al-Adha also involves the ritual of animal sacrifice, known as Qurbani. The meat is divided into three categories: one for the family, one for relatives and friends, and one for those in need, according to Muslims who are able to do so. It is sacrificed for a sheep, goat, cow, or camel.

Source: Aljazeera