Hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca is one of the five pillars
of Islam
The Holy Prophet sent off 300 Muslims under the
leadership of Hazrat Abubakr Siddique (may Allah be
pleased with him) to Mecca so that they could perform
Hajj. That was the year when it was banned for the
Mushrikeen (those who associate partners with Allah) to
enter Ka’ba. It was also made unlawful to perform Tawaaf
(circling of Ka’ba) with naked body.

The following year, 10th Hijra, the Holy Prophet (peace
be upon him) announced a head of time he himself would
perform Hajj that year.
He led tens of thousands of Muslims to Hajj that year
and demonstrated to Muslims how to perform all the rites
and rituals of the Hajj.
This Hajj is known in history as Hajjatul Wida’ or
Farewell Pilgrimage because this proved to be the last
Hajj the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) performed. At
the end of this farewell pilgrimage, the divine
revelation that had started some 22 years ago came to an
end with the following verse of Surah Al-Maidah
“This day have I completed My commandments for you, and
have brought to its fullness the favor that I have
bestowed upon you, and have chosen Islam as your
religion”
Hajj is an act of worship just like Salat (five daily
prayers) and Sawm (fasting in the month of Ramadan).
Muslims from all over the world gather in Mecca in the
last month of Muslim calendar and worship Allah. Hajj is
a special worship that lasts for several days. This is
an occasion that brings Muslims of all countries,
colors, and races to one place – the Ka’ba. This is a
unique opportunity of worshipping Allah collectively in
a large gathering at one place.
Umrah
Umrah
is one of the important rituals in Islam and has been
performed from its inception said: "Accumulated sins are
expiated with each Umrah". |