subject: The Islamic Pilgrimage, Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam [print this page] Islamic Pilgrimage or Hajj is one of the five duties which is also called the five pillars of Islam is incumbent on every Muslim. A pilgrim goes to Mecca, Saudi Arabia for pilgrimage. Islamic pilgrimage is the largest annual pilgrimage in the world. This religious duty must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by every Muslim who can afford to do so. The Islamic pilgrimage or The Hajj is a demonstration of the solidarity of the Muslim people and their submission to God (Allah).
The Islamic pilgrimage occurs from the 8th to 12th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the 12th and the final month of the Islamic calendar. Ihram is the sacred state which a Muslim must enter in order to perform the Hajj or pilgrimage. A pilgrim has to perform the cleansing rituals and wearing the prescribed attire.
The Hajj or Islamic pilgrimage is associated with the life of Prophet Mohammad in the 7th century. Pilgrims can also go to Mecca for Umrah which can be undertaken throughout the year but this is sort of lesser pilgrimage and these pilgrims are still obligated to perform the hajj at some point in their lifetimes. In 2009, about two million pilgrims participated in the annual pilgrimage. It becomes very critical to control the crowd and many of the rituals have become more stylized for the convenience for instance catch basins and long walls are added where pebbles are thrown on the devil , slaughtering can be done by appointing someone. The rituals have been stylized for safety concerns because pilgrims are trampled in crush causing hundreds of deaths.
The pilgrims shave their heads and perform a ritual of animal sacrifice or can appoint someone to do it and celebrate the four day global festival of Eid al-Adha.
In the last six years, BHUS has established itself as a market leader in offering people a Hajj to Mecca package or an Umrah package from the UK. They offer Islamic pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia for these rites of passage at prices ranging from budget to prestige levels.
The Islamic Pilgrimage, Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam
