The Ultimate Hajj

Ayeshah Shaath
November 21, 2009

Islamic Choice Magazine Ayeshah Shaath

 Hajj on the Inside
Hajj is a pilgrimage. Many Muslims go there every year. Men and women
from all different races go. Asian to Arab, Indian to Hispanic, European to
Australian, they come from all over the world! They even have translators in
hajj for people who don’t understand the Arabic. In hajj, Muslims worship the
lord who created them; Allah. They do this by having a series of steps in
which they perform this pilgrimage. Allah asked all Muslims to go to hajj at
least once in their life. A Muslim is only forced to go on hajj if they are
healthy and able, and if they have enough money. A poor old man does not
have to go to hajj. Hajj is in Mecca, as is the Kaba. Allah told Prophet Adam
(SAW) to build the Kaba, and then Prophet Ibrahim (SAW) re-built it when it
was broken, soon along Prophet Muhammad (SAW) came along and cleared
the idols from this spectacular house of God. Many things that we do in hajj
are because of the things Prophet Ibrahim (SAW) and his family did before
us. For instance, when we run between Safa and Marwa, we do this because
Hajar, Ibrahim (SAW)’s wife, ran between these hills looking for help. Muslims
make hajj because Allah told them too. Allah gives us this chance so that we
may repent and be cleared of bad deeds. When you go to hajj and complete
it right, you get the reward of erasing all of your bad deeds. It’s like you’re a
baby again, except you still have all of your good deeds. This can clear your
soul of all the wrongs you have done in the past. You can also join your
brothers and sisters of Islam in this wondrous event. Hajj is a wonderful
thing. Sahar Ashby said “I would love to go again if I get the chance.” And
Malik Ghufur said “Hajj is a special event that should take place in every
Muslims life.” These were both Muslims who completed hajj. We’ve even got
information on hajj from inside Mecca itself.

Interview with Sahar Ashby

1. What did you enjoy most about hajj? “I enjoyed most about the hajj
was that I fulfilled my fareda. I also enjoyed seeing the kaba for the
first time”

2. How long did was your trip? “It took 10 days.”

3. Which part of hajj was the hardest for you? “That’s a good question,
Tawaf because it was very crowded and hard to walk and my feet were
hurting a lot.”

4. Did you feel purified when you were done? “Very much. Yeah, it was a
very satisfying feeling.”

5. Did you make any new Muslim friends there? “I did. I made about three
friends and I felt really close because we went through the same
hardships and joys. When you’re correcting each other, and doing the
great hajj together, you get to know someone pretty good.”

6. How many times have you gone on hajj? “Only once, but I hope to go
another time.”

7. If you were a step in hajj, which step would you be? “I would be Zam
Zam water.”

8. What did you learn from the time you were there? “I learnt to try hard,
not to make bad deeds because when you go to hajj you cry and feel
bad about every bad deed you did. Once you’re purified, you don’t
want to be unpurified again.”

9. If you could, would you go again? “I’d love to go again.”

10. What have you accomplished by going this time? “All the things I
already said.”

Steps of Hajj
1. Arrive at Miqat, then get clean and put on your Ihram. You must
make your intention for Umrah, then pray a short two rakas, and
then say the Talbiyah. This is the Talbiyah: “Labbaika Allahomma
Labbaik. Labbaik La Shareeka Laka Labbaik. Innal-Hamdah, Wan-
Nematah, Laka wal Mulk, La Shareeka Laka.” This means: “Here I
am at Thy service O Lord, here I am. Here I am at Thy service and
Thou hast no partners. Thine alone is All Praise and All Bounty, and
Thine alone is The Sovereignty. Thou hast no partners.” Which
 basically means; I am here Allah, I am here. I’m at hajj and you take
no partners. You are the most praised and the most generous, and
you have supreme power. You take no partners.

2. Get to the Kaba and touch, point to, or kiss the black stone, and
then begin to do Tawaf, which is going around the Kaba seven
times. The whole time doing this you must repeat the Talbiyah. You
should also do another short two rakas. After this travel to Zam Zam
and drink some of it.

3. Go to Safa and Marwa and run back and forth between them seven
times. This is called Sa’i. If you wish, you are allowed to take a
brake here, and are able to replace Ihram.

4. After you’ve taken your brake, remake your intention to perform

hajj and put on your Ihram again. You should also bathe again. You
should make another Tawaf at the Kaba. Travel to Mina on the 8th of
Dul Hijjah and stay there from Duhr Salah to the Fajr Salah of the
next day.

5. Go to Arafat and stay there praising to Allah. This should remind you
of what it will be like on the Day of Judgment. Combine Duhr and
Asr and pray them here. You should pray these two combined
prayers at what is called the Mount of Mercy.

6. When the day is at its end, or approximately after sunset, go to

Muzdalifa. Combine Magrib Salah and Isha Salah and then stay
there all night. Over this period collect about 21 small stones for
later use. At dawn, stand at the sacred Monument and glorify Allah.

7. Go back towards Mina and throw the stones you have collected at
the three stone pillars there that are called Jamarat. These Jamarat
are supposed to represent Shaitan or the Satan. A sacrifice called
Qurbani should be made after this. This is done by sacrificing a
goat, cow, camel, or sheep. They must be sacrificed the halal way.
Next men shave their heads and women cut but a lock of hair.
People celebrate eid and you are allowed to remove your Ihram
clothes and put on normal clothes.
 8. Return to the Kaba on the 10th of Dul Hijjah and make Tawaf again.
It is also optional to make Sa’i again. You should drink some Zam
Zam. Go back to Mina for three to four days and continue to throw
stones at the pillars each day. After the 12th of Dul Hijjah, go to the
Kaba and do a farewell Tawaf. Ask Allah for forgiveness and make
Du’a. After this you have completed the hajj. It is optional to then go
to the Prophets Masjid in Medina. You are now a Hajji (for man) or
Hajjah (for women).

Terms and Definitions

1. Hajj: The pilgrimage to Mecca, which every adult Muslim is supposed to
make at least once in his or her lifetime: the fifth of the Pillars of Islam.

2. Kaba: A small, cubical building in the courtyard of the Great Mosque at

Mecca containing a sacred black stone: regarded by Muslims as the
House of God and the objective of their pilgrimages.

3. Dul Hijjah: Is the twelfth and final month in the Islamic Calendar. It is
also known as Thou al-Hijja. This is a very sacred month in the Islamic
calendar, marking the end of the year. It is in this month in which the
Hajj Pilgrimage takes place.

4. Baitullah: The house of God, Allah’s house.

5. Ihram: The clothing a Muslim must wear when performing the hajj. For
men it is two white cloths joined over the shoulder and back. For
women it I a plain white dress and scarf.

6. Safa: One of the two mountains on which Hajar, Prophet Ibrahim

(SAW)’s wife, ran between. It is one of the mountains where pilgrims in
the hajj run between.

7. Marwa: Second of two mountains on which Hajar, Prophet Ibrahim

(SAW)’s wife, ran between. It is one of the mountains where pilgrims in
the hajj run between.

8. Miqat: Is one of the stations at which pilgrims on the Hajj put on ihram.
9. Talbiyah: Is a Muslim saying invoked by the pilgrims as a conviction
that they intend to perform the Hajj only for the glory of Allah. Talbiyah
is repeatedly invoked during the Hajj, or pilgrimage, upon putting on
the Ihram, so the pilgrims can purify and rid themselves of worldly
concerns.

10. Mina: Is a desert location situated some 5 kilometers to the east of the
Islamic holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

11. Arafat: A hill 15 mi. (24 km) southeast of Mecca, in Saudi Arabia: site of
Muslim pilgrimages.

12. Muzdalifa: Is an open, level area near Mecca in Saudi Arabia associated
with the Hajj.

Map of Hajj
 Poem on Hajj

Oh hajj, you call to me,

Oh pilgrimage, could this be?
Allah the Great, Allah the wise,
It is the date, to repent for our lies.
I travel on the plane, thinking to myself,
I am old enough to feel pain, I no longer believe in an elf.
I get to the ultimate hajj, I’m ready to begin,
I will no longer wear this badge, which states me as bad person.
I go around the Kaba today, once, twice, and again,
I’m doing this for all the times I didn’t pray, five, and six, finally seven.
Zam Zam, oh, how sweet,
You’re like a gem, in the middle of defeat.
Run, walk, run, to the top of the mountain high,
Safa and Marwa I am done, let’s get to Mina before I die.
Sleep from now till Fajr, Arafat here I come,
I must be getting lots of Ajr, yet I’m still feeling numb.
Twenty-one stones, ready to throw,
The Jamarat stand like bones, hurry up, let’s go.
Poor little sheep, it’s time for you to die,
But I would rather bow, because Allah is greater than thy.
Now for my hair to fall, at least it will grow back,
But now I’ll have a ball, no one left to attack.
Four more days, and then I’m free,
When Allah is here to praise, I shine with glee.
Back to the house of God, it’s time to say goodbye,
I do Tawaf and nod, trying not to cry.
Now my hajj is finished, I hope to come again,
When my bad deeds have been replenished, I’ll wait until then.