Eid al-Adha 2020 Special : What does Haji do at Hajj?
Eid al-Adha 2020 special: What does Haji do at Hajj?
The Haj pilgrims first reach the Jeddah city of Saudi Arabia. From there, they go to Mecca city by bus. But just before Mecca, there is a special place from where the official process of Haj begins.
This special place begins from the radius of eight kilometers of the city of Mecca. This special place is called the Meeqaat.
All the pilgrims going on Haj wear a special kind of cloth called Ahram. However, some people wear Ahram long back. Even some people sit in the plane wearing Ahram.
Ahram is not stitched. Women do not need to wear Ahram, they can wear any cloth of their choice. Apart from this, Hajis have to take care of many more things.
Haj pilgrims-
- During this time, the husband and wife cannot make a physical relation.
- Can not cut their hair and nails
- Avoid applying perfume or any fragrance
- Avoid fights with anyone. Avoid killing any creature even.
Muslims first do Umrah upon reaching Mecca. Umrah is a minor religious process. Hajj is performed in a particular month but Umrah can be done at any time of the year.
But those who go on Haj also usually do Umrah, although this is not mandatory.
Many religious rituals are performed during the Umrah in Hajj.
The Haj officially begins on the eighth of the Islamic month of Zil-Hiz. On the 8th, Haji goes to Meena town, about 12 kilometers from Mecca. Haji spends the night of eight in Meena and reaches the grounds of Arafat on the next morning i.e. on the nine. The Haj pilgrims remember Allah by standing in the grounds of Arafat and apologize to him for their sins. In the evening, Haji goes to the city of Muzdalfa and stays there on the night of the 9th. On the morning of the 10th, travelers again return to Meena city.
After that, they go to a specific place and signally throw stones at the demon. It is called Jamaarat.
After stoning the devil, Haji sacrifices a goat or sheep. After that, the men cut their hairs and the women cut their hair a little.
The travelers then return to Mecca and make seven rounds of the Kaaba which are religiously called Tawaf. On this day i.e. on the 10th of Zil-Hiz, Muslims of the whole world celebrate the festival of Eid-ul-Azha or Bakrid or Eid al-Adha.
After the Tawaf, the Haj pilgrims again return to Meena and stay there for two more days. For the last time on the 12th of the month, Haj pilgrims offer prayers to the Kaaba and pray. In this way, the entire process of Hajj is completed.
Haj pilgrims go to the city of Madina, about 450 km from Mecca, and offer prayers in the Masjid-e-Nabvi present there. It has no direct connection with the religious process of Hajj, but since this mosque was built by Prophet Mohammad himself, that is why every Muslim considers it the second most important religious place after the Kaaba. There is also a tomb of Hazrat Mohammad here. Haj pilgrims also see that.
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