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Hajj Rituals

There are many Hajj rituals that need a fuller explanation.

Ihram

Ihram

  • It is important for pilgrims to be in a state of holiness.
  • This holiness is demonstrated by performing certain rituals, called Ihram.
    • For example, wearing white clothes and simple bathing (without scented soap).
    • The white clothing also shows the equality of all the pilgrims before Allah.
Tawaf

Tawaf

  • Tawaf is the important ritual of walking counterclockwise around the Kaaba seven times.
  • Also, either kissing or touching the black stone.
    • The idea behind this action is that the pilgrims are focused only on Tawhid - their belief that Allah is the one true God.
    • Nothing else should distract them from this belief.
Safa and Marwah and the Zamzam Well

Safa and Marwah and the Zamzam Well

  • Pilgrims run between the Safa and Marwah hills seven times and visit the Zamzam spring.
    • According to tradition Hagar, Abraham’s wife, ran looking for water to give to their son Ismail.
    • Ismail eventually struck his foot on the ground and a spring of water, Zamzam, gushed forth.
  • Pilgrims try to recreate this story.
Wukuf and Mina

Wukuf and Mina

  • Wukuf means silence or stillness before God.
    • Pilgrims stand from noon until sunset in the desert at Arafat. They pray to Allah and seek his mercy for their sins.
    • This part of the ritual is essential to fulfill Hajj.
  • Pilgrims then spend the night camping at Mina.
    • They collect pebbles from Muzdalafah, which they throw at a pillar called Jamrat al-Aqabah and later at two other pillars.
    • This ritual represents stoning the devil or rejecting the power of the devil in their lives.
Animal Sacrifice

Animal Sacrifice

  • The pilgrims then sacrifice animals to remember that Allah asked Abraham to sacrifice his son as a test of obedience.
    • But, at the last moment, Abraham was allowed to sacrifice a ram instead.
    • Muslims all over the world share in this celebration, with their festival of Eid ul-Adha.
Shaving

Shaving

  • Muslim men then shave or trim their hair, and female pilgrims cut the tips of their hair.
    • Muhammad once asked Allah to show forgiveness to those who shave their heads.
  • After this pilgrims return to Mecca and repeat Tawaf.
    • This is also an essential part of the Hajj and shows that the pilgrim is anxious to obey and show his love for Allah.
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Year 7

1.1

Origins of Abrahamic Faith

1.2

Judaism

1.3

Christianity

1.4

Disciplinary Knowledge

2

Year 8

2.1

Islam

2.2

Hindu Dharma (Hinduism)

2.3

Buddhism

2.4

Sikhi

2.5

Atheism

2.6

Philosophy of Religion

2.7

Disciplinary Knowledge

3

Year 9

3.1

Life & Death

3.2

Extremism

3.3

Equality

4

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