The Hajj
Islam has a long standing tradition of pilgrimages that provide pilgrims with spiritual transformations that strengthens the connection between them and their faith, at the same time as providing them with purpose and meaning. Contemporary tourism crosses paths with religious pilgrimages in the spiritual forms used.
Islam acknowledges the importance of pilgrimages in their faith and worship. The fifth pillar of Islam is the Hajj, which is the pilgrimage to Mecca. The Hajj is a religious duty that must be undertaken at least once in the lifetime of every Muslim who can afford to do so. The Hajj is a demonstration of Muslims submission to Allah and the unity among all Muslims. The Hajj takes place on the 8th to 12th of Dhul-Hijjah, …show more content…
A man spoke about what he saw along the journey and was mesmerised by people that were so consumed in their own thoughts, only them and their God. “I witness grown men crying like children, completely oblivious to who is standing next to them.” (Javed Aslam, 2015). Another man described the experience of Hajj as powerful and emotionally spiritual, but upon leaving Mecca, he noticed the effects of the Hajj started to wear off. Soon after he realised that he had been changed, the way he interacted with others and his thought process was altered due to the Hajj. (Hesham Hassaballa, …show more content…
There they spend the entire morning through to evening praying and reading passages from the Qur’an. At dawn the next day pilgrims leave Mina and travel to the Plain of Arafat on what is known as the ‘Day of Arafat’. During this time pilgrims stand around the Mount of Mercy, praying to Allah and asking for forgiveness of their sins and the sins of others that could not make the journey. After sunset on this day, pilgrims then journey to a nearby open desert called Muzdalifah, there they spend the night praying and collecting twenty-one small stone pebbles to be used later on in the pilgrimage. The following morning, the pilgrims venture back to Mina where they perform the ‘stoning of the devil’. This is a re-enactment of Ibrahim’s rejections of the temptation of Satan. Pilgrims throw stones at three pillars representing not only Ibrahim’s rejection, but both his wife’s and his son’s. The ritual reminds pilgrims of the firmness of their faith. After completing the first day of the ‘stoning of the devil’ pilgrims are to slaughter an animal and give it away to the poor, symbolising their willingness to part with something that is theirs, much like Ibrahim was willing to sacrifice his son. After the animal sacrifice, pilgrims are to shave their head and bathe themselves. This is an important rite during Hajj because it signifies re-birth and the washing away of sins. Once clean pilgrims may enter the Sacred Mosque
Islam has a long standing tradition of pilgrimages that provide pilgrims with spiritual transformations that strengthens the connection between them and their faith, at the same time as providing them with purpose and meaning. Contemporary tourism crosses paths with religious pilgrimages in the spiritual forms used.
Islam acknowledges the importance of pilgrimages in their faith and worship. The fifth pillar of Islam is the Hajj, which is the pilgrimage to Mecca. The Hajj is a religious duty that must be undertaken at least once in the lifetime of every Muslim who can afford to do so. The Hajj is a demonstration of Muslims submission to Allah and the unity among all Muslims. The Hajj takes place on the 8th to 12th of Dhul-Hijjah, …show more content…
A man spoke about what he saw along the journey and was mesmerised by people that were so consumed in their own thoughts, only them and their God. “I witness grown men crying like children, completely oblivious to who is standing next to them.” (Javed Aslam, 2015). Another man described the experience of Hajj as powerful and emotionally spiritual, but upon leaving Mecca, he noticed the effects of the Hajj started to wear off. Soon after he realised that he had been changed, the way he interacted with others and his thought process was altered due to the Hajj. (Hesham Hassaballa, …show more content…
There they spend the entire morning through to evening praying and reading passages from the Qur’an. At dawn the next day pilgrims leave Mina and travel to the Plain of Arafat on what is known as the ‘Day of Arafat’. During this time pilgrims stand around the Mount of Mercy, praying to Allah and asking for forgiveness of their sins and the sins of others that could not make the journey. After sunset on this day, pilgrims then journey to a nearby open desert called Muzdalifah, there they spend the night praying and collecting twenty-one small stone pebbles to be used later on in the pilgrimage. The following morning, the pilgrims venture back to Mina where they perform the ‘stoning of the devil’. This is a re-enactment of Ibrahim’s rejections of the temptation of Satan. Pilgrims throw stones at three pillars representing not only Ibrahim’s rejection, but both his wife’s and his son’s. The ritual reminds pilgrims of the firmness of their faith. After completing the first day of the ‘stoning of the devil’ pilgrims are to slaughter an animal and give it away to the poor, symbolising their willingness to part with something that is theirs, much like Ibrahim was willing to sacrifice his son. After the animal sacrifice, pilgrims are to shave their head and bathe themselves. This is an important rite during Hajj because it signifies re-birth and the washing away of sins. Once clean pilgrims may enter the Sacred Mosque