The Hajj pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, one of the world’s largest religious gatherings, will be attended by over 2 million Muslims this week, returning to full capacity after years of coronavirus restrictions. The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and all Muslims are required to undertake it at least once if they are able. For pilgrims, it is a spiritually profound experience that wipes away sins, brings closeness to God, and highlights Muslim unity.
The pilgrimage draws Muslims from around the world to Mecca where they walk in the footsteps of the Prophet Muhammad and retrace the journey of Ibrahim and Ismail, also known as Abraham and Ishmael in other religious traditions. The Kaaba, a cube-shaped structure covered in a black, gold-embroidered cloth, is not worshipped but is the most sacred site for Muslims and a powerful symbol of unity and monotheism. The Hajj has been held every year since the time of the Prophet, even through wars and other turmoil.
Pilgrims spend their whole lives saving up for the journey or wait years before receiving a permit, which Saudi authorities distribute according to a quota system. Travel agents offer packages catering to all income levels, and charities assist needy pilgrims. Pilgrims enter a state of spiritual purity called ihram where women forgo makeup and perfume and cover their hair, while men change into seamless terrycloth robes.
The Hajj begins with Muslims circling the Kaaba seven times while reciting prayers. Then they walk between two hills in a reenactment of Hagar’s search for water for her son, Ismail. All of this takes place inside Mecca’s Grand Mosque, which is the world’s largest and encompasses the Kaaba and the two hills.
The next day, pilgrims head to Mount Arafat, where the Prophet Muhammad delivered his final sermon. Here, they stand in prayer throughout the day and ask God for forgiveness for their sins in what many view as the spiritual high point of the pilgrimage. Around sunset, pilgrims move to an area called Muzdalifa, pick up pebbles to use the next day in a symbolic stoning of the devil in the valley of Mina. The pilgrims stay for several nights in Mina in one of the largest tent camps in the world.
The pilgrimage ends with a final circling of the Kaaba and further casting of stones at Mina. Men often shave their heads and women clip a lock of hair, symbolizing renewal. The final days of the Hajj coincide with Eid al-Adha, a joyous occasion celebrated by Muslims around the world to commemorate Ibrahim’s test of faith. During the three-day Eid, Muslims slaughter livestock and distribute the meat to the poor.
While the Hajj is a profoundly spiritual experience, for the Saudi royal family, which captured Mecca in the 1920s, organizing the pilgrimage is a major source of pride and legitimacy. Authorities have invested billions of dollars in modern infrastructure, but the Hajj has occasionally been marred by tragedy, such as in 2015 when over 2,400 pilgrims died in a stampede. Some individuals view the Hajj as a tool for Saudi Arabia to enhance its reputation and encourage tourism.
