Hajj
Saturday was the last day of Hajj, a very important part of Islam. It is the 5th pillar of Isalm. As Muslims, we are required to perform Hajj once in our lives, if we are capable (can afford it and are physically able) It is an amazing experience. I confess writing this made me very emotional and I cried a lot writing this. Every Muslim dreams of performing Hajj but I think once you’ve experienced it your heart is forever connected and every year when you see all the Muslims gathered for Hajj your heart longs to be with them. This year has been the hardest year, I long to be with them and every time I think about it, talk about it or write about I start crying. I’ve talked to my husband and we are planning to go next year, God willing. We plan on taking our two oldest and my mother and mother in law. I know when the time comes we might have more companions. This is something you want to do by yourself but when you have the right kind of companions, someone to help you focus and pray with you it is a beautiful connection.
I performed Hajj about ten years ago, I had three children at the time. My youngest had turned one about two months before, though I was reluctant to leave him, my mother encouraged me to go. I would only be gone for a week. Hajj is six days and can be 5 days. It takes place in different areas of Makkah and is such a beautiful spiritual journey. We took our kids to my parents’ house in Dhahran and came back to Riyadh because we (my husband and I) were going with my mother in law and two sisters in law plus two nieces and two nephews. They were all great company during Hajj. It was good to have so many people by my elderly mother in law’s side. Hajj takes place in the last month of the lunar calendar. Since the lunar calendar depends on the moon, the months aren’t always in the same season. For example, this year Hajj took place in June but when I went to Hajj, it was the month of October, I actually had my birthday while I was at Hajj and it was the best way to spend that day.
Hajj nowadays is very easy, transportation has become so much easier that you can focus on the spiritual part more. I won’t talk about the government’s massive effort to make hajj easy and comfortable for EVERYONE, because there is so much to say and it would require a post of its own. I will just say they have gone above and beyond to make it better and better every year and the thousands of volunteers who help each year, whom we are very grateful.
Hajj nowadays is organized by groups, you register with a group and they are responsible to provide the basic accommodations for hajj. In general, they are all almost the same with some minor differences. We slept on a small mattresses in tents, shared bathrooms with other people in our group. But it was all very clean ad comfortable yet simple. I think that’s key with hajj, it’s not necessary nor is there anything against making Hajj luxurious but to me and most Muslims its beside the point. We are not there to stay in five-star accommodations. We are there to purify our hearts, to find God. To achieve the ultimate goal in life, forgiveness of all our sins, for peace, for happiness. It sounds like an impossible goal but it isn’t.
As soon as we reached our tents in Mina, there was a sense of excitement and anticipation, tomorrow was the most important day for us at Hajj and is a very important for all Muslims, in Hajj, we don’t fast, we wake up early and later, leave Mina for Arafa, an area named after a mountain there. We don’t have to be on the mountain, just anywhere in the area. We spend the day praying, asking God for forgiveness and asking Him for anything and everything. This day is different than any other day because God descends to the Earth’s sky and waits to hear our prayers to answer them. Whether you are in Hajj or not, it includes you. People who aren’t Hajj fast this day, fasting this day is rewarded with forgiving all your sins for the year past and the year to come. Can you imagine?! A simple thing such as fasting from daybreak to sunset with such a big reward. After sunset, we all walk to another area called Muzdalifa, we have the choice to rest a little and then move on to Mina where our tents are or spend the night and leave in the early morning. We rested and moved on. It was such a peaceful night, there were rugs where we could sit or lay down under the stars, the weather was cool but not too cold. We rested and prayed and moved on. The next morning was Eid, our second holiday in Islam, we had all brought something nice to wear I remember what a happy day it was, its amazing how the people we shard our tent with and the group we shared the simple facilities we had were like old friends and family, I am still in contact with some Hajj friends, one of them has moved to the UK but we still keep in touch. An important part of Islam that is emphasized during Hajj is: we are all equal. We are all humans, we are all the same, we are all gathered for the same purpose, worshipping God, hoping to achieve the ultimate goal, complete forgiveness and eternal paradise in the afterlife. During Hajj we dress simply, the men wear white clothes that are not sewn. The women dress modestly in any color they choose. The simplicity in dress is a humble reminder that we are all the sme. No one is better than anyone. We are all equal. It helps the unity and love we have as a Muslim community grow stronger.
The last four days of Hajj are spent in Mina, I remember waking up in the middle of the night to pray, finding most of the group awake praying. At the sound of athan (the call to prayer) we would gather to pray morning prayers together. Then we would sit together and one of us would give us a short religious talk. Then after the sun had risen we would pray ‘al duha prayer” the prayer after sunrise and then we would head to our own tents to take a nap and gain strength for the day ahead fo prayer and worship. On the 5th or 6th day of Hajj (you have a choice) We head to Al Haram where al Kaaba is and prefer m the last part of Hajj; tawaf al wada’a, walking around the Kaaba. Al wada’a means farewell. Because you are leaving Mecca after this last part of Hajj.
I always get emotional leaving Mecca as most Muslims do. You always wonder if this will be last time you will be there. An unbearable thought.
I’ve already started planning our Hajj journey for next year God willing. I am going to do everything I can to make it happen.
I hope this gave you an idea of what Hajj is about. This isn’t a detailed explanation, it is just my experience. If you have any questions, I would be more than happy to answer them. I will add some information in my dictionary page and a link to a website with a detailed diagram of Hajj.