hajj

Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca that every Muslim must undertake at least once in their lifetime, if physically and financially able.

Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. It is a major pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, required once in a lifetime for every adult Muslim who is physically and financially capable.

Hajj takes place annually during the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah, specifically from the 8th to the 13th day. The pilgrimage includes a sequence of prescribed rituals: entering the state of consecration (ihram), performing the tawaf (circling the Kaaba), walking between the hills of Safa and Marwa (saʿy), standing at Mount Arafat, staying overnight at Muzdalifah, throwing stones at the symbolic pillars in Mina, and sacrificing an animal, coinciding with Eid al-Adha.

Hajj has profound spiritual and communal significance: it symbolizes the believer’s submission to God, cleanses past sins, and unites Muslims from across the world. It differs from ʿumrah, the lesser pilgrimage that can be performed any time of year and is not obligatory.

Exemptions are granted to individuals unable to perform the pilgrimage due to health, age, or financial limitations.