Guide Note
The Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca, is the fifth pillar of Islam. The pilgrimage sets out to perform certain religious rites prescribed by the Prophet Muhammad.
Fast Facts
- First Hajj: Around 2000 BC
- Hajj means "to set out for a place"
- Participation: An estimated 2 million pilgrims in 2007
- An obligation for every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so, at least once in his or her life
- Largest annual pilgrimage in the world
- The same rituals performed at other times of year are known as the Umrah, or lesser pilgrimage
- Occurs during the last three months of the Hijri calendar
- Ihram for men requires special clothing without any shoes, socks, gloves, or head covering
Three Forms of Pilgrimage
- Tamattu - During the months of Hajj, the pilgrim wears Ihram for Umrah and shaves or clips his hair once he reaches Mecca. On the eighth day, the pilgrim assumes Ihram again. Tamattu is considered the most encouraged form of Hajj.1
- Al-Ifraad - The pilgrim assumes Ihram for Hajj only. The pilgrim does not shave or clip his hair.
- Al-Qiraan - The pilgrim assumes Ihram for both Umrah and Hajj.
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