The Five Pillars: Hajj (WJEC Eduqas GCSE Religious Studies): Revision Note

The importance of Makkah

The origins of Hajj and the importance of Makkah

• The origins of Hajj go back to the time of the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham)

• Muslims believe Allah commanded Ibrahim to leave his wife Hagar (Hajira) and son Ishmael (Isma’il) in the desert

  • Hagar ran between the hills of Safa and Marwah searching for water until Allah caused water to spring up at the Zamzam well (an event remembered during Hajj)

• Allah later commanded Ibrahim and Ishmael to build the Ka’bah, the first house of worship dedicated to the one true God

• Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) later restored the Ka’bah to its monotheistic purpose after it had been filled with idols

• The Ka’bah is the cube-shaped building in Makkah that Muslims believe is Allah’s first house on earth

• The rituals of Hajj today re-enact these key moments in Ibrahim and Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) lives

• Makkah is the holiest city in Islam; it is the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and the site of the Ka’bah

  • Muslims around the world face Makkah during prayer (this direction is called the qiblah)

  • It is home to the Masjid al-Haram (the Great Mosque), which surrounds the Ka’bah

  • The Ka’bah is believed to be the first place built for the worship of Allah and symbolises unity, as all Muslims turn towards it in prayer

  • Makkah is central to Muslim identity and unity, and it represents the spiritual heart of Islam

• The Ka’bah was meant to be a place of prayer and worship, and Muslims from all over the world travel to this historic site to take part in Hajj today

The Hajj

What is Hajj?

• Hajj is the fifth of the Five Pillars of Islam and is one of the Ten Obligatory Acts for Shi’a Muslims

• Hajj means pilgrimage, which is a special journey to a place of religious significance

• Hajj is held annually in the month of Dhul-Hajjah 

• It lasts for five days

• Each year, around three million Muslims travel to Makkah to take part

• All Muslims who are physically fit and can afford to do so should make the journey to Makkah once in their lifetime

What happens at Hajj?

• Before pilgrims start Hajj, they change into ihram, simple clothes, generally white seamless robes 

  • This shows that everyone is equal before Allah on the Hajj

• Women are not able to attend Hajj without being accompanied by a man for their own safety and protection

  • According to the rules in Saudi Arabia, a single woman under 45 cannot go to Hajj unaccompanied, although Shi’a Muslims do not think this rule is necessary

• During the five days of Hajj, all pilgrims will perform the same actions in the same order to symbolise important historical and spiritual events. These include:

  • Performing Tawaf — circling of the Ka'bah seven times

  • Performing Sa'y — running between the hills of Safa and Marwa in remembrance of Hagar searching for water in the desert

  • Drinking from the Zamzam well

  • Standing on Mount Arafat to pray and read from the Qur'an

  • Throwing stones at pillars to symbolise the rejection of the devil

  • Celebrating the festival of Id-ul-Adha on the last day to remember the sacrifice Ibrahim was willing to make of his son, Ishma'el

  • Performing Tawaf — circling of the Ka'bah seven times — again as a farewell at the end

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The importance of Hajj

• As one of the Five Pillars of Islam, Hajj is an obligation for all Muslims who are able to do so

• In performing the Hajj, Muslims are following the example of the Prophets Ibrahim and Isma’il

• It shows a commitment to their faith, and Muslims believe that this will be rewarded by Allah

• It gives Muslims a chance to put worldly concerns aside and focus only on Allah

  • They believe this will bring them closer to Allah and strengthen their faith

• Pilgrims who complete Hajj (known as Hajji) often return home inspired and spiritually refreshed

• Muslims believe that by completing Hajj their sins are forgiven, and they can have a fresh start

• Hajj strengthens the Ummah by bringing people from all over the world together, with everyone united and equal in the experience

Challenges of Hajj

• Pilgrims face certain challenges in undertaking Hajj

  • The Hajj is physically demanding, which is why pilgrims must be fit enough to participate

  • The pilgrimage sites can become very crowded, which can make it difficult to have a spiritual experience

    • Some people post selfies on social media during the Hajj, showing the difficulties of remaining focused only on Allah and their spiritual journey

  • It can be difficult for people to ensure that they do not forget the lessons learned on Hajj when they return to their busy lives

• Overcoming these challenges only strengthens Muslims’ faith further; they learn to be patient and self-disciplined through the process