The word Hajj literally means "to set out for a place," / "to undertake a journey"
In Islamic terminology , Hajj is an annual pilgrimage made to the Kaaba , in the sacred city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia , which connotes both the outward act of undertaking a journey and the inward act of intentions ( niyat ) of performing the Holy Pilgrimage with utmost purity of the heart
The rites of Hajj are performed over five or six days , beginning on the eighth day and ending on the thirteenth day of Zi’l-Hijj , the last month of the Islamic calendar.
“Ehraam” is the name given to the special spiritual state in which pilgrims wear two white sheets of seamless cloth and abstain from certain actions.
The Hajj is associated with the life of Islamic prophet Muhammad from the 7th century AD , but the ritual of pilgrimage to Mecca is considered by Muslims to stretch back thousands of years to the time of Abraham.
During Hajj , pilgrims join processions of millions 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 around the Kaaba , ( this act is called Tawaaf )
Then walks briskly back and forth between the hills of Safa and Marwah seven times ,
then drinks from the Zamzam Well ,
then goes to the plains of Mount Arafat to stand in vigil , the vigil lasts from noon through sunset and is considered as one of the most significant rites of Hajj ,
then the Pilgrims spend a night in the plain of Muzdalifa ,
Muzdalifah is an open level area located between Arafat and Mina.
Everyone sleeps on the ground in Muzdalifah.
This practice really humbles a person because you leave all your luxury and comfort behind , thereby experiencing first hand what it’s like to spend a night without the things you are used to.
The night in Muzdalifah should ideally be spent seeking forgiveness , making dua , and reflecting on Hajj and life.
Next the Pilgrims perform symbolic stoning of the devil by throwing stones at three pillars in Mina
The stoning re-enacts the story of the Prophet Abraham , who it is said , was confronted by the Devil , and the Angel Jibril ( Gabriel ) asked him to reject the Devil by throwing stones.
This ritual also symbolises the destruction of the inner devil.
Now comes the much-talked-about part of the entire Pilgrimage : The animal sacrifice , which to the uninitiated is perhaps the only visible ritual of the Pilgrimage ... A Pilgrimage that actually lasts for about a week ... And wherein the Pilgrims spend time praying , asking for forgiveness and above all undertaking the not-so-comfortable above mentioned rituals of the Pilgrimage
So after the sacrifice of an animal , which is a commemoration of the sacrifice made by Abraham , and also as an act of thanksgiving , the male Pilgrims then are required to either trim their hair or shave their heads
The females are required to trim the ends of their hair
A celebration of the three-day global festival of Eid uz Zuha proceeds thereafter
( Source of info : Wikipedia )
So the animal sacrifice is at best a part of the Hajj Pilgrimage and Eid uz Zuha is a celebration of the Hajj Pilgrimage ... A Pilgrimage which is hectic and tiring , but spiritually very gratifying for the pilgrims and believers ... 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
P S :
Eid means celebration , therefore we have Eid ul Fitr ( Celebration of having completed one month of fasting and giving fitra to the needy ) Eid e Milad ( the celebration of Prophet’s birth ) , and Eid uz Zuha
May this Hajj and Eid bring blessings of health prosperity sanity and happiness for all
( Thanks Nishath for the pics and video of Hajj this year 😘🙏🏼💕💕💕 )
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