The Stages of Hajj (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Religious Studies): Revision Note

Ihram and why it is worn

• Ihram means purity

• In Hajj, Ihram refers both to:

  • The state of ritual purity and intention entered before the Hajj

  • The special white clothing worn during this state

• To enter Ihram, pilgrims must:

  • Perform ritual cleansing (wudu)

  • Pray and state their intention 

  • Put on Ihram clothing: 

    • For men, this is two unstitched white sheets

    • For women, it is modest dress in a single colour (usually white) that covers the whole body except the face and hands

• Ihram clothing is worn to:

  • Symbolise purity (white)

  • Remove distinctions of wealth and status, making everyone equal

  • Remove worldly concerns and vanity so that pilgrims are focused on their spiritual journey

  • Prepare mentally for the discipline of the pilgrimage

  • Emphasise the equality of everyone before Allah

  • Emphasise the unity of everyone present

The importance of Makkah

• Makkah is central to the Hajj

• As the holiest city in Islam and the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), it is considered the centre of the Islamic faith

• It is the destination for the Hajj, the fifth Pillar of Islam

• This is commanded by Allah in the Qur’an:

• The “house” refers to the Ka’aba in Makkah

• The Ka’aba is believed to be:

  • Originally built by the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and his son Isma’il as a place to worship Allah

  • The first house built for the worship of one God

• Muslims face the Ka’aba five times a day in prayer (salah)

• During the Hajj, the tawaf ritual involves circling the Ka’aba seven times

• Many other key rituals of the Hajj take place in or around Makkah

The hills of Safa and Marwa

• After circling the Ka’aba, pilgrims perform a ritual called Sa’y

• This involves walking seven times between the two small hills of Safa and Marwa

  • Pilgrims begin at Safa and end at Marwa

• This commemorates the story of Hajar, the wife of the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham)

  • Hajar ran between these two hills searching desperately for water for her baby son, Isma’il

• These hills are mentioned in the Qur’an

• Pilgrims perform this ritual to remind them to have faith in Allah, even in trying times, just as Hajar did

The well of Zamzam

• The well of Zamzam is a key part of the Hajj

• After walking between Safa and Marwa, pilgrims collect water from the well to drink or take home as a blessing

  • This is because Muslims believe the well was created by Allah as a miracle

  • When Hajar was searching for water for her baby Isma’il, the Zamzam well miraculously appeared, and water began to flow beneath him

• The well symbolises Allah’s mercy, provision and response to sincere faith

Muzdalifah

• Muzdalifah is an open, level area situated between Mount Arafat and Mina in Saudi Arabia

• During the Hajj, pilgrims spend the night under the open sky here, as the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) recommended

• The pilgrims say their sunset and night prayers together as a sign of unity 

• Sleeping on the ground with little or no shelter is a sign of equality and simplicity

• While on their way to Muzdalifah, pilgrims collect a handful of pebbles in preparation for the next stage of the Hajj

Mina and the stoning pillars

• After spending the night at Muzdalifah, pilgrims perform a stoning ritual at Mina

• They throw the pebbles they collected at Muzdalifah at each of three stone pillars known as the jamarat

  • The pillars represent Shaytan (Satan)

  • Participating in this ritual represents rejecting evil and the temptation to sin

• Many pilgrims also sacrifice an animal (a sheep, goat, camel or cow) here as part of the celebrations of ‘Id al-Adha, the festival of sacrifice at the end of the Hajj

‘Arafat and the stand on the plain

• Pilgrims travel to Mount ‘Arafat (also known as the Mount of Mercy), about 20 km east of Makkah

• Mount ‘Arafat is significant as the place where the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) preached his final sermon

  • Here, pilgrims stand on the plain in prayer, contemplation and reflection from noon to sunset

  • They pray for forgiveness, recite the Qur’an and make du‘a (personal prayer)

  • Standing for the whole afternoon under the hot summer sun is a reminder of what the Day of Judgement will be like

  • It is a chance to show devotion to Allah

• Allah is believed to forgive the sins of everyone who prays and repents at ‘Arafat

  • Therefore, taking part is a chance for pilgrims to cleanse themselves of their sins

• Taking part is the central spiritual event of the Hajj

  • If a pilgrim misses the stand on the plain, their Hajj is not considered valid

The Mount of Mercy

• The Mount of Mercy is another name for Mount ‘Arafat

  • It is the location of the Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) final sermon 

  • It is associated with the stand on the plain

• During the stand on the plain, pilgrims stand near or face the Mount of Mercy

• Some choose to climb the hill, although this is not a required part of the Hajj

• It is mentioned in the Hadith, in association with the forgiveness of sins, as part of the pilgrimage: