Hajj takes place at a specific time of the Muslim lunar calendar. At this time of the year, millions of Muslims from the four corners of the world come together on the pilgrimage to Mecca, the birthplace of Islam. Pilgrims are supposed to fulfill certain requirements before they can set out on Hajj. Each of the six days holds different rituals that have to be performed by the pilgrim in accordance to the prophet’s doings. Hajj is very significant and plays a very important role in a Muslims life.
The Religious Significance of Mecca The importance of Mecca for Muslims is inestimable. All Muslims, wherever they are on Earth, pray five times a day in the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca (located at 21° 25' 24" N and 39° 49' 24" E in DMS notation). The direction of prayer is known as the qibla. In addition, a pilgrimage to Mecca is required of every Muslim who can afford it as one of the Five Pillars of the faith. Every year about three million gather for the major pilgrimage, or Hajj, during the Muslim month of Dhu'l-Hijja, and many more perform the minor pilgrimage, or Umrah, at various times throughout the year.
• Before setting out, the pilgrim should redress all wrongs, pay all debts, plan to have enough funds for their own journey and for the maintenance of their family while they are away, and prepare themselves for good conduct throughout the Hajj. • In accordance with an article in the Sydney Morning herald about “2 and half million Muslims from more than 70 countries journey to the holy city of Makka each year” to make the spiritual pilgrimage known as the Hajj. This is a blessed journey to the house of Allah, which was built by prophet Abraham. The pilgrimage is one of the five pillars of Islam that form the framework of Islamic life. All Muslims who are physically and financially able are expected to perform the Hajj at least once.
3. Farewell ceremony for the Kitchen Gods (Ong Tao) Seven days (the 23rd night of the last lunar month) prior to Tet, each Vietnamese family offers a farewell ceremony for Ong Tao to go up to Heaven Palace. His task is to make an annual report to the Jade Emperor of the family’s affairs throughout the year. 4. New Year’s Eve However, in a literal translation, it means “Passage from the Old to the New Year”.
They are not supposed to eat, drink or have sexual relationships from sunrise until sundown. The fast intended to purify the believers. The fourth pillar is Zakat (alms giving) – as fasting purifies believers through renouncing the world, the zakat purifies the believers by encouraging giving and a lack of attachment to materialistic things. The last duty of Islamic religion is Hajj (the pilgrimage to Mecca) – every real Muslim believer, once in their lifetime, has to come to Mecca and participate in special rites held there. Religion is the
There is no God, but God and Muhammad is the “Messenger of God”. Muslims are also required to tell others of Islam so they will have the information needed to make an intelligent choice, the use of coercion is ruled out ( Fisher, 2005). The second pillar is the performance of a continual round of prayers. Five times a day Muslims are expected to face Mecca and go through a ritual of prayer in words and action, which signifies their submission to Allah. Muslims are encouraged to be in constant prayer to see their lives more objectively.
In 1325, Ibn Battuta set off for his hajj to Mecca reluctantly in fear of leaving his parents, when he made his travels from his home in Tangier to Mecca; a journey of 3,000 miles, he became curious about the world around him as he traveled through the cities of Jerusalem, Aleppo and Damascus. Ibn Battuta made the hajj to Mecca seven times, the second time he made the hajj he stayed and studied with Mecca’s great scholars. After numerous hajj’s Ibn Battuta set off for India. Ibn Battuta traveled to India in hopes of joining the court of the Sultan of Delhi. Ibn Battuta traveled through Egypt, Syria, Turkey, and Russia before he arrived in Delhi; where he served as a qadi for the sultan for eight years.
Muslims abstain from food, drinking, and sexual contact during daylight hours. This is opportunity for Muslims to increase their prayer and devotion time. Pilgrimage (Hajj): This is the pilgrimage that all Muslims are required to take at least one time during their lifetime to Mecca. It does require a financial sacrifice and it is considered to be part of the Muslims worship. The pilgrimage must be made the first half of the last month of the lunar year.
For e.g in verse 49:10 it says the believers are but a single. Brotherhood: so make peace and reconciliation between your two brothers and fear Allah that ye may receive mercy. In Islam once someone dies we wash the body then wrap it with a white cloth then we pray that Allah (S.W.T) may forgive the dead then we bury as soon as possible. Hinduism Is a polytheistic religion. Their main book is the Vedas.
Makkah al-Mukarrama Makkah is located in Saudi Arabia and is home to the holiest site in Islam: Masjid al-Haram. With a population of 1.7 million, Mekkah is host to millions of Muslim pilgrim since the 7th century. Its importance to Islam can be directly linked to the prophet Muhammad. In this paper I am going to elaborate on the religious significance of Mekkah in the life of Muslims and interesting facts about Mekkah city. Muhammad born in Mecca in 570, in the minority group of the Hashemites, began receiving his divine revelation around 610 AD.