Hajj

Hajj Quick Facts - ZA

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2021 Date	18 July 2021
2022 Date	7 July 2022

2021 Holidays & Dates

Hajj (Start) in 2021

Sunday, 18 Jul

Days to go:

Hajj History

Hajj (Arabic: حج‎ ) is a holy pilgrimage to Mecca that is obligatory for all Muslims who can afford to go. The 3rd chapter of the Quran, Surah Ale-Imran makes Hajj mandatory. During this pilgrimage, Muslims try to get closer to God. The Hajj is performed in the last month of the Islamic calendar, Dhul-Hijjah. All Muslims who can afford to go on the Hajj are required to do so at least once in their life. The purpose includes worshiping God and interact with Muslims who congregate for the Hajj from all around the world (Quran, 2:26-27).

Muslims believe that the Prophet Abraham built the Ka'aba with his son Ismael. Kaaba is a sacred cube-shaped shrine at the centre Al-Masjid al-Haram mosque, in Mecca (Saudi Arabia). Muslims walk around the Ka'bah seven times as part of the Hajj. Muslims face to pray in the direction of the Ka'bah no matter where they are in the world. It was the first house built solely for the purpose of worshipping God. To be completed, the Hajj requires a minimum of five days, during which pilgrims travel across Arabia to complete various rituals, some of which are optional, but considered highly beneficial.

Top Tweets for Hajj -

Do something pleasing to the Almighty today! Give up something for His sake. Experience the true meaning of sacrifice. Do it sincerely with full submission. It will strengthen our faith. May we achieve the benefits of these days.May He accept the sincere efforts of those on Hajj.
— Mufti Menk (@muftimenk) July 29, 2020

Almighty. We pray for peace in our hearts. Although we’re not able to carry out the Hajj this year because of the pandemic, we ask You to protect the chosen ones who are on their pilgrimage this year. We ask you to facilitate their journey & keep them safe. Aameen!
— Mufti Menk (@muftimenk) July 24, 2020

As soon as I get married we’re booking a hajj trip, InshAllah 🤞
— Mikhaeel Patel (@mikhaeel_patel) July 29, 2020

In the News and Trending for Hajj

Updated 21:24Muslims begin downsized Hajj pilgrimage amid coronavirus pandemic

aljazeera.com

Striking photos show socially-distanced Hajj

cnn.com

We are blessed to have been chosen for hajj': SA hujjaj - Voice of the Cape

vocfm.co.za

Unprecedented' Hajj begins -- with 1,000 pilgrims, rather than the usual 2 million

cnn.com

Hajj Facts

According to Sahih Bukhari (one of the six main hadith writings of Sunni Islam), the Prophet Muhammad once said that those who finish the Hajj without committing any obscenity or transgression will have their sins completely wiped away.
It is believed that to teach Muslims to remain humble and unified, God mandated the Hajj. During it, everyone wears the same clothes, prays together, and goes around the Ka'bah together.
All male pilgrims wear the ihram, a garment that is made of two pieces of unstitched clothing. They are forbidden from wearing anything that has stitches in it, clothes that cover their ankles, or anything that cover their heads. All female pilgrims are forbidden from wearing anything to cover their faces or hands.
Muslims on the Hajj are also forbidden from having sexual intercourse, proposing marriage, cutting their hair or nails, and killing animals.
According to the Saudi Arabian Embassy, the Hajj is the largest gathering of human beings on the Earth.

Hajj Top Events and Things to Do

If you are Muslim, go on a Hajj pilgrimage or attend the smaller Umrah.
Visit the mountains of Al-Safa and Al-Marwah in Mecca. Pilgrims walk between two hills, Safa and Marwa, seven times during the Hajj because they believe that Hagar, the wife of Abraham, did the same when looking for water for her thirsty baby Ismael. As soon as she finished her seventh run, the Zamzam well sprung out from under baby Ismael's foot. To this day, pilgrims on the Hajj drink the Zamzam's water, and often take it home with them in large canisters.
Visit the tower at Jamrat-al-Aqabah (Saudi Arabia). After sunset on the day of Arafah, as part of the Hajj, pilgrims throw small pebbles at Jamrat-al-Aqabah. This is the place where it is believed the Devil stood as he tried to tempt Abraham from carrying out orders from God. This is act commemorates and symbolizes Abraham's rejecting of the devil.