The hajj

The Ka’aba is special to Muslims because it’s a holy place and they face it when they pray. It’s located in Mecca and was constructed by Abraham and his son Ishmail.

The pilgrims follow the footsteps of the prophet Muhammad, Hajj is the biggest annual mass movement in the world; it’s organized by the Saudi authorities. All pilgrims must be vaccinated to avoid any contagious diseases in the hajj. In 1990 about 1400 pilgrims were killed during stampede in an overcrowded tunnel

Before entering Mecca , pilgrims perform cleansing rituals; men shave their heads cut their nails ,and wear two pieces of white robe; women as well have rituals; they wear long white robes and uncover their face. After that pilgrims perform their first Tawaf which is seven times around the Ka’aba; they also perform Sa’I which is going seven times between the two hills of Safa and Marwa .

On the first day of hajj, pilgrims travel three miles to Mina; the next morning they travel to Arafat where the prophet did his last sermon; that evening they travel to Muzdalifah where they camp for the night; in the morning they go back to Mina to throw seven pebbles at each of three places; after that they return to Mecca to perform Tawaf around the Ka’aba and again between the hills of Safa and Marwah; after that they go back to  Mina for three days; finally they go to Mecca for the farewell Tawaf.

240 words