Hajj - is one of the five essential pillars of Islam, which acquired its ultimate expression in the time of Prophet Muhammad.This pilgrimage to several holy places (Mecca, Medina et al.), As well as compliance with a specific ritual.Every Muslim should at least once in a lifetime Hajj, without fail all conditions.
Five Pillars of Islam
Islam today is the second multiplicity of believers and its followers of all religions in the world.It is also one of the oldest, not including Christianity and Buddhism.Of course, such a long period of time allowed to create and consolidate certain rituals of worshiping the Lord.
There are five fundamental pillars of Islam and the Hajj - is one of them.The other four - a Shahada, prayer, charity, fasting.
What shahada (testimony)?This particular dogma, which stands for the One God (Allah).Without his words do not do any exercise, and each prayer begins with him.
also a Muslim should perform the prayer five times a day.For every time there is a certain time.This is a real ritual, which involves pre-washing, especially individual prayer and gestures.
special item is a charity, it is mandatory taxes and donations.All this implies a spiritual cleansing of the believer.
As in any religion, Islam, and there is also a post.However, it is not just abstaining from certain foods, and starvation in the solar time (from sunset to sunrise).This occurs in the month of Ramadan the Muslim calendar.Also prohibited at this time sex.Getting rid of the post can only infirm people, as well as children and pregnant women.
What is meant by Islam pilgrimage?Hajj - is one of the most important actions in Islam.As mentioned above, at least once in a lifetime believer must make his.It's pretty important experience that much unites all Muslims around the world, strengthens their faith.
Some historical facts about the pilgrimage, Hajj Ritual
has a fairly long history that dates back to the first prophet in Islam - Abraham and Ishmael.Thanks to them, built the Kaaba, which is considered the first house in which God was worshiped.
However, there are more ancient legend that tells that in place today the Kaaba was built by the very first house to worship the Lord, and made it the first people expelled from Eden - Adam and Hawwa.After the flood, it was destroyed.
And so begins the story of the hajj, just after the end of the Flood, when God commanded His Prophet Abraham to bring his family to the place which is now the Mecca that is the Kaaba.After that, the Prophet had to leave Palestine.
Very interesting point is the search for the wife of the prophet of water - Hajar.Thanks to her efforts and faith between the hills of Safa and Marwa came source called Zam Zam.Hajar ran seven times between the hills in search of water.This point is also reflected in the ritual of the hajj: now the pilgrims must also perform this action.A water source and where there is still, it is a healing Vodicka, drink it and pour it into the ritual.
Later the story takes a new milestone of Hajj, especially after Abraham built the Kaaba on the site and urged people to commit to this place of pilgrimage and worship of the One God.
Prophet Muhammad Hajj and
After the Prophet Ibrahim called on the people to perform Hajj, after a while its rituals were changed.There was idolatry, some actions have become quite shameful.
After the Prophet Muhammad began to return to the truth about how to make the hajj to Mecca.He returned clean and true ritual that passed was another prophet Ibrahim.All this is preserved to this day in the same tradition that has been returned by Muhammad.
Prophet himself made a pilgrimage only once in a lifetime.This was due to political considerations, as at the time the shrine worshiped during the hajj, were at the mercy of the Gentiles.
Hajj in the holy scriptures
Hajj - it really is an important ritual for a Muslim who even mentioned in the Koran.It is written that at the behest of Lord Prophet Ibrahim built the first house of worship.Then he called on the faithful to perform Hajj, but Allah conveyed to everyone about it.Even the stones and rocks of the earth responded.
requirements ritual
Those believers who are going to perform Hajj must meet the following conditions:
- at the time of the pilgrimage a person must be of legal age;
- also need to have the freedom at this time, a clear mind and physical health;
- ritual of Hajj (pilgrimage to the holy places) is made in person if it has sufficient funds to support themselves during this time, and his family;
- need to pay off all the debts before the Hajj, and you can not make it in debt;
- need to organize their own security and an early departure to not to miss the beginning of the implementation of the rite.
In addition, during the Hajj can not perform certain actions:
- prohibited to harm or hurt to all living creatures (animals, insects, plants, people);
- whoever makes a pilgrimage, trade, and should not do anything related to the worldly life;
- various matrimonial actions are prohibited, and sexual relations;
- prohibited haircut, shave, use a variety of spices, wear jewelry and ornaments;
- also can not smoke at this time.
If there is a violation of any paragraph, the Hajj can be considered flawed and invalid.
Preparations for the ritual
is mandatory pure state and pilgrim garb - ihram.This is achieved by completely washing the body, after which the male pilgrims clothed in simple white two covers, one of which must close the legs of the believer from the hips to the knees, and the second should be to throw on the left shoulder.
Women must also fully conceal the body ample white robe, and covered his head with a handkerchief.As a result, must remain open feet, hands and face.
Such clothing for believers means that, regardless of their position in the world, before Allah they are all equal, and shows their pure thoughts.Dress in such clothes in a special place called miqat.It is about four kilometers from the Kaaba.However, it is not considered reprehensible to dress right into a plane, if the pilgrim flies from afar.
miqat Once passed, you should read the prayer, which means entering into a special state of Ihram.This allows you to continue to further commit ritual.
Thus, we can say that the Hajj - is a special action that has great spiritual significance for Muslims.
Continued ritual of Hajj
ritual begins in the month, which is called Dhul-Hijjah, the seventh of his day.It begins in Mecca, the pilgrims should enter barefoot in the Masjid al-Haram Mosque.Hajj continues kissing or touching the black stone, which, according to legend, had belonged to the first man - Adam.This is done from his arrival in Mecca.
This is followed by seven times around the Kaaba.This ceremony is called tawaf.At this time, two corners should bow and say prayers.After the tour is finished, you should pull over to the door of the Ka'ba and say a prayer, he raised his right hand.Then double-take water from the holy Zam Zama, drunk and oblivshis it.
After the ritual is over, you need to go to the next.It is running between the hills of Safa and Marwa.Near each of them need to pray.Performing this action is considered to be the end of the small pilgrimage (Umrah).If a believer does not wish to continue to do the ritual, he comes out of Ihram.
Other rites of Hajj are performed collectively.Seventh day of Dhul-Hijjah should listen to a sermon about how the pilgrims to behave.
Valley Muzdalifah and Mina
eighth day you need to get water for the journey.It is necessary to make a transition through the valleys in order to continue the ritual of the hajj.The pilgrimage continues.This day is called the day intoxicated (yaum al-tarviya) because of its association with water.
night after the believers spend in the valley of Mina, and in the afternoon near the central rite of the mountain is done (about him below).
Mount Arafat
So, near Mount Arafat, pilgrims standing.It continues with the moment when the sun was at its zenith, and until such time as it comes.After it should listen to the khutbah, and say a prayer, referring to the one Lord.It needs to be read many times and loud.
Continued pilgrimage
After the sun went down, it should return to a very rapid pace in the valley of Muzdalifah.Before the mosque to pray, that lasts all night.And do not just those who perform Hajj, Muslims and the whole world.
On the tenth day of Hajj pilgrims after prayers should go back to Mina.Then you must throw seven pebbles from Muzdalifah valley in the post, which is a symbol of Satan.
After this is the tenth day in which to sacrifice (goat or bull), a small part of the believer to eat, and the rest to pay.
After that men should be fully shave their hair short or shaved and women cut off a lock.They should be buried in the Valley of Mina.Then all return to Mecca to get around the Kaaba again.
next three days the faithful should continue to visit the valley of Mina, to make sacrifices.Hajj is completed entirely on the fourteenth day.Pilgrims get the title of Haji.
Once completed all the rituals, the pilgrim gets a special status.This is evidenced by a green turban and white robes (galabeya), in which it is obliged to dress.At home he was greeted with full honors.
memory locations in Mecca
Once completed the hajj to Mecca, many remain in this city, to worship the holy places that are in some way connected with the Prophet Muhammad.The largest number of pilgrims went to Jabal al-Noor (Mountain of Light).There is a cave where the Prophet received his first revelation of the Qur'an.
also pilgrims to the hajj, when completed, may go further, to Medina.Before that, they go to the city of Taif, where he attended a mosque Abbas.They committed believers praying together.
Medina - the city where the prophet rests
very important for the pilgrims is a visit to the holy city of Medina.That it is the tomb of the Prophet Muhammad and his closest companions in life.It is in the Masjid an-Nabi.Then they say a special word of welcome to the prophet, then make a prayer.After that the pilgrims should go to Mohammed colleagues by repeating the same steps.
As for women, they can not approach them.They can only pray in the mosque of the prophet.
After that visit other holy places pilgrims who perform Hajj.Medina has a large number of them, as the Prophet lived here a very long time.For example, al-Taqwa mosque and Cuba.First, you must take a bath, then visit Cuba, to create there a prayer.After that, go to the al-Taqwa mosque.Also, men have to climb the mountain Jabal.That there is the tomb of the family of Muhammad, as well as other believers, who died near Uhud, in the battle.
So, why go to these places when the Hajj has been completed?Here lies one of the teachings of the Prophet, which states that Hajj should greet his grave, in return he will receive the same from Muhammad himself.
Reviews pilgrims of the sacred ritual
Those pilgrims who perform Hajj, left very enthusiastic reviews.For them, it's really union with the Lord and with all believers.This is a great commonality between the pilgrims.
Now there are many companies that organize such trips anywhere.If you decide to perform the Hajj, a native of Ingushetia if your place of residence or another, it is possible to apply to the relevant audited company that organizes all the Summit.
