Curious about the Hajj season and wondering what the whole journey to Hajj entails not to mention attainment of a new status, becoming the esteemed title holder - 'Hajji'- or one who has completed the journey of a life time? Albawaba offers an overview of what is involved in the process and ultimate journey of pilgramage to Mecca.
Managing the flow of pilgrims to Mecca in the year , will represent no small challenge to Saudi authorities. With the world population set to peak at 7 billion somewhere around today end of October , what of the Muslim population of pilgrims?
Hajj over 3. Hajj expected to fall between November 4thth, , with Eid al Adha set to be marked November 6th-9th. Historically, the Hajj in its modern day practice, represents and harks back to a story narrated in the Quran of the Prophet Ibrahim Abraham with his wife, Hajira Hagar and their child Is'mail in Arabia.
When Abraham was tested by God, he had to leave wife and son in the Arabian wasteland, or valley of Mecca, without supplies. But this monolithic structure has since come to be the preserve of Islam and Muslim pilgrims exclusively. That dramatic story of the Prophet's Peace Be Upon Him forefathers, in mind, the Hajj, as we know it today, takes on a re-enactment quality, re-producing the story from the Quran almost like the nativity of Christ as it were ,where people year after year often traditionally children at school perform an enactment of the story of Jesus' birth.
As with the nativity which focuses on Mary, earthly mother of Jesus, there is a key woman character, Hagar, who suffers before finding salvation water for herself and child. The Hajj is a real pilgrimage - a journey, with rites and rituals to be done along the way to the 'kingdom' of the Prohphet PBUH. One of the pillars of Islamic faith, the Hajj must be carried out at least once in the lifetime by any Muslim who has the ability to do so.
