Within the Qur’an, Islam’s central sacred text, exists of a set of rules that all Islamic adherents should aspire to obey, known as the Five Pillars of Islam. The following pillars are the following: declaration of faith (declaring that there is only one God and Muhammad is the prophet of God), salat (the compulsory prayers that are performed five times a day), the zakat (to give charity to those who are less fortunate), sawn (to perform a fast in the month of Ramadan) and hajj (to perform a pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca at least once in their lifetime). (Newby, 2002) Every Muslim that is physically and financially stable is expected to make a pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca, located in Saudi Arabia, at least once in their lifetime.
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Whilst on the pilgrimage, Muslims participate in a series of meaningful rituals that ultimately relate to the prophets and Allah. Rituals that are implemented are the anti-clockwise circling of the Kaaba seven times, reflecting on the plains of Arafat, drinking from the well of Zamzam and travelling to the village of Mina where pilgrims participate in the stoning of the devil which consists of throwing pebbles at three stone pillars. (Penney, 2000) Although, it’s compulsory that all Muslims make the attempt to participate in hajj at least once in the lifetime, essentially, there is so much more to hajj than its obligatory nature. Hajj offers spiritual benefits, such as being forgiven of all sins and a sense of spiritual refreshment and for many, provides a new outlook on …show more content…
Before the pilgrimage officially commences, pilgrims must enter of a state of being, which is known as Ihram. An Ihram way of living practically prevents Muslims from using coarse language, engaging intimate contact, covering a women’s face, wearing accessories (jewellery, cosmetics or scented soaps) and the cutting of hair and nails. To be a representation of Ihram means to be a figure of purity, allowing a pilgrim to be more susceptible to Allah’s cleansing of wrongdoings. (Religon Facts, 2015) The third section of the Lovat model is ‘experiencing a central of the highpoint of the ritual’. This section is displayed through the rituals performed on the pilgrimage. The rituals include: walking around the Kaaba seven times in an anti-clockwise direction; this ritual is performed because it’s believed Abraham constructed the structure and it represents the holiest shrine in Islam (Macaulay-Lewis, 2009), running back and forward between the hills of Al-Safa and Al-Marwah; this is performed as in the Qur’an it states, ‘Behold! Safa and Marwa are among the Symbols of Allah. […] it is no sin in them.’ (Sura
Whilst on the pilgrimage, Muslims participate in a series of meaningful rituals that ultimately relate to the prophets and Allah. Rituals that are implemented are the anti-clockwise circling of the Kaaba seven times, reflecting on the plains of Arafat, drinking from the well of Zamzam and travelling to the village of Mina where pilgrims participate in the stoning of the devil which consists of throwing pebbles at three stone pillars. (Penney, 2000) Although, it’s compulsory that all Muslims make the attempt to participate in hajj at least once in the lifetime, essentially, there is so much more to hajj than its obligatory nature. Hajj offers spiritual benefits, such as being forgiven of all sins and a sense of spiritual refreshment and for many, provides a new outlook on …show more content…
Before the pilgrimage officially commences, pilgrims must enter of a state of being, which is known as Ihram. An Ihram way of living practically prevents Muslims from using coarse language, engaging intimate contact, covering a women’s face, wearing accessories (jewellery, cosmetics or scented soaps) and the cutting of hair and nails. To be a representation of Ihram means to be a figure of purity, allowing a pilgrim to be more susceptible to Allah’s cleansing of wrongdoings. (Religon Facts, 2015) The third section of the Lovat model is ‘experiencing a central of the highpoint of the ritual’. This section is displayed through the rituals performed on the pilgrimage. The rituals include: walking around the Kaaba seven times in an anti-clockwise direction; this ritual is performed because it’s believed Abraham constructed the structure and it represents the holiest shrine in Islam (Macaulay-Lewis, 2009), running back and forward between the hills of Al-Safa and Al-Marwah; this is performed as in the Qur’an it states, ‘Behold! Safa and Marwa are among the Symbols of Allah. […] it is no sin in them.’ (Sura