Islam and Hajj
DESCRIBE THE SIGNIFICANT PRACTICE OF THE HAJJ
The Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and involves a physical, spiritual and mental journey to the Ka’ba which is known as ‘the house of God’ that is worship in Mecca. All Muslims are expected to take part in the hajj at least once in their lifetime, if they are physically and financially capable of it. The Hajj consists of preparing for the life changing experience through the renewal and rebirth of the individual. The preparation is when the pilgrims take part in ritual cleansing and change into white robes which are called ‘ihram’. At Mecca when pilgrims arrive they have to perform certain practices to complete the Hajj journey.
THE HAJJ HAS DEEP AND MEANINGFUL SIGNIFICANCE FOR THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY.
The Hajj s significant to the individual and to the Muslim community, as it provides opportunities for a pilgrim or person to improve their spirituality, through worship, hardship and salah. It also focuses the individual on the Jihad (spiritual struggle) in which every Muslim is required to be involved. Hajj enables the pilgrim to become renewed by cleansing themselves of the many sins they have committed during their lifetime. "Whoever performs Hajj and stays away from lewdness, wrangling, and obscenities will come home like a newborn" says Al-Bukhari. Through the constant prayer and submission to God at the Plain of Arafat, the individual is gaining humility, peace of mind and discipline. Through Jumraat, the stoning of the devil the individual is challenging satan, just as Abraham did, and is erasing the desire to commit evil acts. While taking part in Hajj, the individual strengthens their relationship with Allah their God and also gains a greater understanding of Islamic history. The Hajj is significant for the individual as it allows them to become a better person through an increase in understanding, love, an improvement in relationships and allows a greater prospect of reward
The Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and involves a physical, spiritual and mental journey to the Ka’ba which is known as ‘the house of God’ that is worship in Mecca. All Muslims are expected to take part in the hajj at least once in their lifetime, if they are physically and financially capable of it. The Hajj consists of preparing for the life changing experience through the renewal and rebirth of the individual. The preparation is when the pilgrims take part in ritual cleansing and change into white robes which are called ‘ihram’. At Mecca when pilgrims arrive they have to perform certain practices to complete the Hajj journey.
THE HAJJ HAS DEEP AND MEANINGFUL SIGNIFICANCE FOR THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY.
The Hajj s significant to the individual and to the Muslim community, as it provides opportunities for a pilgrim or person to improve their spirituality, through worship, hardship and salah. It also focuses the individual on the Jihad (spiritual struggle) in which every Muslim is required to be involved. Hajj enables the pilgrim to become renewed by cleansing themselves of the many sins they have committed during their lifetime. "Whoever performs Hajj and stays away from lewdness, wrangling, and obscenities will come home like a newborn" says Al-Bukhari. Through the constant prayer and submission to God at the Plain of Arafat, the individual is gaining humility, peace of mind and discipline. Through Jumraat, the stoning of the devil the individual is challenging satan, just as Abraham did, and is erasing the desire to commit evil acts. While taking part in Hajj, the individual strengthens their relationship with Allah their God and also gains a greater understanding of Islamic history. The Hajj is significant for the individual as it allows them to become a better person through an increase in understanding, love, an improvement in relationships and allows a greater prospect of reward