Hajj 2023: Date, Significance, and History of Muslim Pilgrimage to Mecca
The annual pilgrimage of Muslims to Mecca, called Hajj, is one of the five pillars of Islam. This religious gathering is significant and mandatory for all physically and financially capable Muslims at least once in their lifetimes. The Hajj attracts over two million participants from all over the world every year, making it one of the largest religious gatherings globally.
The pilgrimage this year will happen between June 26 to July 1, 2023. The Hajj rituals include several days of religious practice and self-reflection. On the first day, the pilgrims enter the ihram, a pilgrim’s sacred state, and head to Mina, a tent city near Mecca, either by walking or taking a bus. On the second day, pilgrims spend a day at Mount Mercy in devout prayer after making the 15km journey from Mina.
On the third day, Dhul-Hijjah, Muslims worldwide observe Eid al-Adha, the greater of the two Muslim festivals. The pilgrims then head back to Mina to perform the rami by throwing stones at the three columns known as Jamarat al-Aqaba, signifying the act of stoning the devil as per historical tradition.
Days four and five are for the continuation of throwing stones, starting with Jamarat al-Ula (the tiny pillar), moving on to Jamarat al-Wusta (the second/middle pillar), and ending with Jamarat al-Aqaba (the third/large pillar), with seven pebbles thrown at each.
On the sixth day, after performing Rami, the men either shave their heads (halq) or trim their hair (taqsir). Women can trim their hair by a length of a fingertip. Afterward, the pilgrims take off their ihram clothing during the goodbye tawaf. Most of the pilgrims then travel to Mecca to re-perform the tawaf and sai again.
The Hajj 2023 pilgrimage will be the first without any restrictions imposed during the coronavirus pandemic. In 2020, less than 10,000 pilgrims performed the Hajj, and around 60,000 performed it in 2021, all of them residents of Saudi Arabia since pilgrims were forbidden to come from abroad. However, in 2022, around 900,000 pilgrims made their journey to Mecca and performed religious rituals, as Saudi Arabia allowed limited numbers of pilgrims from abroad.
The Hajj pilgrimage includes several days of religious significance and obligations, and despite COVID-19’s impact on last year’s pilgrimage, the upcoming Hajj 2023 is expected to be attended by millions of Muslims worldwide. The Hajj remains a significant religious gathering for Muslims worldwide, providing them with an opportunity to participate in religious activities and rituals that bring them closer to Allah.
