The Hajj
About 2 million Muslims go to Mecca in Saudi Arabia each
year to do the Hajj, Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam. It lasts six days in
the last month of the Islamic year. At the center there is the Ka’aba which all pilgrams face when they pray. The pilgrims follow the footsteps of the last prophet
Mohammed. The pilgrim either stay in hotels or vast tents. Before pilgrims
enter Mecca they have to perform cleasing rituals, and it is designed to strip
the differences of class and culture. Pilgrims perform seven times Tawaf around the Ka’aba
and they walk seven times from Safa to Marwa hills. Pilgrims walk to
Mina on the first day, to stay the night. Next day they travel to the plain of Arafat;
at night they move to Muzdalifa to stay the night. Back at Mina pilgrims throw
seven stones at each of the statues at Jamarat, then each Muslim has to slaughter
a sheep. They return to Mecca and perform seven times Tawaf around the Ka’aba and
walk from Safa to Marwa hills; then they return to Mina for three days of
prayers. Finally they go back to Mecca to do the final Tawaf and leave.
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