The Essential Guide to Hajj, the Islamic Annual Pilgrimage

Every year, millions of Muslim pilgrims from around the world travel to Mecca to perform Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, between the eighth and the 12th days of Dhu Al Hijja, the last month of the Islamic calendar. Only those who are physically and financially capable are obliged to perform Hajj, which is aimed at cleansing pilgrims spiritually. It should be performed at least once in a lifetime. The ritual follows the path of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and his followers, retracing their journey and re-dedicating the Kaaba to Allah after destroying the idols placed there by polytheistic worshippers. Among the other rituals performed during Hajj are the stoning of the wall of Satan, the slaughter of an animal in honor of the sacrifice that Ebrahim made, and climbing Mount Arafat, where Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) made his last sermon. The Al Shaibi family from Saudi Arabia have been the key keepers of the Kaaba, which contains Al Hajjar Al Aswad (the Black Stone), for more than 16 centuries, a title inherited by the eldest family member. They are also responsible for changing the Kaaba’s Kiswa, the black cloth that covers it, every year. The cloth, made of 2,500 feet of pure silk, is produced in a Saudi Arabian government factory located in Mecca. The Grand Mosque of Mecca, which has undergone a number of expansions since the days of King Abdul Aziz Bin Abdul Rahman to cope with the increasing number of pilgrims, is able to accommodate 1.5 million worshippers during Hajj, Umrah, and Ramadan.