![]() Pilgrims of Haj About three million pilgrims leave for Mecca during this month. Pilgrims travel to Mecca in groups with their friends or family, or people from their local mosque in order to save money. A woman is permitted to go to Mecca only in the company of a male relative (father, husband, or brother). The Saudi government permits an unaccompanied woman to go, provided, she travels in a group with other women and has written permission to do so from a male relative (even if the relative is not a Muslim or is younger than she is). ![]() On the first day of Haj, 'Ihram' is put on by the pilgrims. 'Ihram' or pilgrim's dress in Islam symbolizes leaving behind the material world and entering into a state of godliness or spirituality. It is made of two plain unstitched lengths of cloth. Most Muslims wear these clothes during Haj. Many female pilgrims wear a simple white or black dress with a head covering. Ihram is symbolic of the equality between the believers of Allah. An invocation called Talbiyah is chanted when a pilgrim dresses himself in Ihram in the Miqat (a place provided to change into ihram). After changing into Ihram, pilgrims leave for the nearby town of Mina. On the second day of Haj, pilgrims assemble in the plains of Arafat. Here, a pilgrim thinks of the Doomsday or the Judgment day by Almighty, when he shall have to account for the deeds he committed in this world. The stay at Arafat is called "Wuquf." At night, they collect stones at Mujdalif, a place between Arafat and Mina. ![]() On the afternoon of the fourth day (the 11th of the month), pilgrims must stone all three pillars at Jamarat in Mina. The same ritual is performed on the following day. Here, the pilgrims must perform the stoning ritual again on the sixth day, if they are unable to leave Mina before sunset on the fifth day of Haj. Haj teaches complete devotion to the Almighty. It teaches one to use his thoughts, words and deeds in service of Allah. Haj is a complete and compact form of worship in the performance of which one learns about the spiritually vital aspects of life. However, only those who perform Haj in its true spirit can experience these benefits. |
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