Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam. Let’s discover five huge hajj facts for kids.
Every Muslim must make the pilgrimage (holy journey) to Mecca at least once in their lifetime. The Hajj is a ten-day journey that starts on the eighth day of Dhul-Hijjah, the Islamic Calendar’s 12th month, and concludes on the 13th day with Eid Al-Adha, the “Feast of the Sacrifice”.
Every Muslim is required to do the five duties known as the Five Pillars of Islam. The fifth pillar is the Hajj. Every Muslim who is capable both physically and financially must perform the pilgrimage. If it is not possible, the person who is unable to travel may be replaced by a friend or relative who is performing the Hajj.
Up to 2 million Muslims from more than 70 countries travel to perform the Hajj each year. Men and women pray side by side in the Kaaba during numerous prayers. Another popular activity is the nine-mile journey from Mecca to the Plain of Arafat and back. Muslims gather for prayer and ceremonies at the holy sites of Mina and Muzdalifah.
There were 2.4 million pilgrims who made the Hajj to Mecca last year, making it one of the largest human gatherings in history. Once the Hajj is complete, gender segregation is once again recognised. A person receives the title of Hajji if they have finished their pilgrimage to Mecca and satisfied the fifth pillar of Islam. To show their achievement of the Hajj, some Muslims even decide to use this title before their names.
Once people reach Mecca they walk seven times around the sacred shrine called the Kaʿbah in the Great Mosque. Inside the Kaʿbah there is the Black Stone which is encased in a ring of silver. Pilgrims try to kiss or touch the Black Stone in the Kaʿbah and then pray. This stone is an Islamic relic. Muslims believe that Adam of Adam and Eve received this stone from Allah to show where an altar should be built. During Hajj, many pilgrims try to stop to kiss the stone because the Prophet Mohammed is said to have kissed the stone. Pilgrims that are unable to reach the stone, point in the direction of the black stone.
When pilgrims are about 6 miles from Mecca, they enter a state of holiness known as ihram. While in ihram, pilgrims wear different clothing. Men wear two white sheets wrapped around their bodies. Women traditionally wear long white robes and their faces and hands remain covered. Pilgrims are also forbidden to cut their hair or nails while they are in a state of ihram. Both men and women cleanse themselves before dressing for Ihram. Ihram clothing presents all Muslims as equal no matter what status or wealth they may have.
The Eid al-Adha festival begins for Muslims not on the pilgrimage. This happens on the third day of Hajj. For pilgrims that are on the Hajj, they spend the time of Eid al-Adha stoning pillars. Yes, you heard correctly, throwing stones at pillars! Not just any pillars are stoned however, it is only pillars that represent the devil that are subject to a stoning. This can be quite dangerous as many people are throwing stones at the same time.
We hope you enjoyed learning more things about hajj as much as we loved teaching you about them. Now that you know how majestic the hajj is, you can move on to learn about religions festivals and rituals like: Obon, Day of The Dead, Songkran and Diwali.
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