The Hajj is a pilgrimage to mecca(Makkah). It is the largest annual pilgrimage in the world and is the fifth piller of Islam an obligation that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so. The Hajj is a demonstration of the solidarity of the Muslim people, and their submission to Allah(God). The pilgrimage occurs from the 7th to 10th day ofdhu al-hijjah, the 12th month of theIslamic calendar . Because the Islamic calendar is aLunar calendar, eleven days shorter than the gregorian calendar used in the Western world, the Gregorian date of the Hajj changes from year to year. In 2007, the Hajj was from December 17–21; in 2008 from December 6–10, and in 2009 will be November 25–29. Ihram is the name given to the special state in which Muslims live whilst on the pilgrimage. The Hajj is associated with the life of muhammad from the 7th century, but the ritual of pilgrimage to Mecca is considered by Muslims to stretch back thousands of years to the time of Ibrahim(Abraham). Pilgrims join processions of hundreds of thousands of people, who simultaneously converge on Mecca for the week of the Hajj, and perform a series of rituals: Each person walks counter-clockwise seven times about the ka'bah, the cube-shaped building which acts as the Muslim direction of prayer; kisses the black stone in the corner of the Kaaba; runs back and forth between the hills ofal-safa and al-marwah :drinks from the zamzam well ; goes to the plains of Mount Arafat to stand in vigil; and throws stones in a ritualstoning of the devil . The pilgrims then shave their heads, perform a ritual of animal sacrifice, and celebrate the three day global festival of Eid-al-Adha.
Hajj step by step
Types of Hajj
Tamattu' Hajj
Tamattu` means performing `Umrah during the Hajj season, and on the Day of Tarwiah a pilgrim gets into the state of Ihram for Hajj. Anyone intending to perform a Tamattu`` Hajj should on approaching the Miqat make intention for `Umrah. After fulfilling the Hajj rituals, one should offer a sacrificial animal.
Qiran Hajj
In this type of Hajj, a pilgrim should declare his intention to perform both Hajj and `Umrah together. Only when he throws the Jamrah of Al-`Aqabah, gets his hair shaved or cut that he can put off his Ihram. However, he should offer a sacrificial animal.
Ifrad Hajj
In the Miqat, a pilgrim of Ifrad Hajj declares his intention for Hajj only. He maintains his Ihram up to the Day of Sacrifice. No offering is required from him.
Umrah
(Rituals of Umrah)In Arabic the word `Umrah is derived from I`timar which means a visit. However, `Umrah technically means paying a visit to Ka`bah, performing Tawaf [Circumambulation] around it, walking between Safa and Marwah seven times. A performer of `Umrah puts off his Ihram by having his hair shaved or cut.
Some importent links for Hajj information click here
i hope this will be hopeful in SEO
