Expressions Of Faith: * The Muslim goal of devotional submission to God is put into practice through the five pillars of Islam * These 5 duties are performed by practicing Muslims and are a unifying force in Islam. * The five pillars of faith: * Shahada - declaration of faith * Salat - daily prayer * Zakat - obligatory (religious) almsgiving * Hajj - pilgrimage * Sawm - fasting in Ramadan

The Hajj:
Overview:
* 5th pillar of Islam. * Hajji for males and Hajjah for females. * A pilgrimage to the Ka’ba in mecca * A symbolic house of Allah dedicated to the belief and devotion of one God. * Must be undertaken at least once in a lifetime by Muslims that can afford it. * Performed during the period 8 – 13 Dhu’l–Hijja * Twelfth month of the Islamic calendar. * During this period all the barriers of language, territory, colour, race and culture disappear. * What is left in its place is the bond of faith. * Muslims go on the journey to: * Reflect on lives. * Collectively ask for forgiveness. * Be in his presence and worship him. * Fulfill one of the pillars. * Express their Islamic beliefs. * Share the experience with a worldwide community of Muslims. * Approximately 2 million Muslims take part on the journey to Mecca in Saudi Arabia every year. *

Hajj Journey: 1. Ihram: a. Clean yourself (ghusl) b. Wear ihram (remove their worldly clothing and put on the simple, white attire) garments c. Make intension for ‘umra (A set of religious and devotional rites performed in Mecca). d. Recite talbiya (A prayer that asserts the pilgrim’s conviction that the pilgrimage is only for the glory of Allah) e. Avoid forbidden acts of Ihram 2. ‘Umra: f. Make tawaf (Prayers recited while moving in a circular, anticlockwise procession) around the ka’ba (The cube-shaped central shrine of Islam that is the focal point for daily prayer and the pilgrimage) g. Pray to rak’at (A cycle or section of prayer) behind Maquam Ibrahim h. Make sa’y (The act of hurrying seven times back and forth between the hills of Safa and Marwa) between Sa’fa and Marwa i. Trim hair and remove Ihram garments 3. Going to Mina: j. Put on Ihram garments again k. Make intention for Hajj l. Remain in Mina for the Tarwiah day and perform 5 prayers starting with al-zuhr (The second of the five daily obligatory prayers performed just after the sun is at its zenith) prayer and ending with al-fajr (The two obligatory prayers between dawn and sunrise) prayer of the day of Arafat 4. Going to Arafat: m. Leave for Arafat on the 9th day of Dhu’l-Hijja 
and stay until sunset n. Stay in any part of Arafat o. Glorify Allah, repeat supplication, repent to Allah and ask for forgiveness.
Pray to Al-Zhur and Al-‘Asr (The four obligatory prayers of the later afternoon), shortened and combined at the time of Zhur. 5. Going to Muzdalifa: p. Leave Muzdalifa soon on the 9th day of Dhu’l-hijja. q. Perform al-maghrib (The third of the five daily obligatory prayers performed after the disappearance of the sun below the horizon) and al-‘isha’ (The four obligatory prayers at night) prayers. r. Stay overnight and perform al-fajr prayer. 6. Proceed to Mina: s. Shortly after sunrise, leave muzdalifa for Mina. Go to Jamra al-‘Aqaba and stone it with seven pebbles t. Perform nahr (The slaughter of an animal on the tenth day of Hajj). u. Shave head and trim hair v. Take off Ihram garments (all ihram restrictions are lifted except for sexual intercourse 7. Tawaf al-ifadha: w. Make sa’y between Safa and Marwa x. After Tawaf al-ifadha all restrictions are lifted 8. Return to Mina: y. Spend the tashriq (The eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth days of Dhu’l-Hijja) days in Mina z. After Al-zhur each day, stone the three jamrat, starting from the small and ending with Jamra al-‘Aqaba {. Can leave on the 12th after stoning the jamrat, but it must be before sunset. 9. Farewell tawaf: |. Go to mecca and farewell tawaf, perform two rak’at of tawaf }. Let the tawaf be the last thing you do in Mecca 10. Going home: ~. It is preferred that you visit the Prophets mosque in Medina but it is not a part of the Hajj.

Stages

1. Cleanse themselves, wear Ihram clothing B= all people are equal in the eyes of God a. Eliminating all obvious differences such as class and status to express the belief that all people are equal in the eyed of God (Allah). They also attain a state of Ihram (purity) – refraining from sex, violence etc. The Muslims then enter the Holy Mosque of Mecca, chanting: “…Oh Allah, forgive me of my sins and open me to the doors of your mercy…” 2. Circle the Ka’ba – B= oneness & unity of God, he is central to their life b. The Muslims then perform the first ritual called the tawaf which is praying whilst circling the Ka’ba – the cube-shaped building. This is a sacred building and is significant as Muslims orientate their 5 daily prayers towards this building and they get to see where Muhammad lived. As they circle the Ka’ba, they say: “here I am, O God of thy command” 3. Sa’y – run between 2 mts. Safa & Marwah – look for water recalling the search for water by Hagar and Ishmael – drink from the well Zamzam, water revealed by angel Gabriel. B= angels & how they guide Muslims in their lives c. Pilgrims walk quickly between the hills of Safa and Marwah recalling the event of Hagar and Ishmael searching for water. The angel Gabriel revealed a spring under their feet and this is now known as the well of Zamzam from which pilgrims drink. 4. Mt. Arafat – ask for forgiveness of sins like Adam & Eve did, they also pray & meditate d. Pilgrims walk to Mount Arafat and they spend the afternoon praying and meditating and asking for all sins they have committed in their lives to be forgiven. It recalls the event where Adam and Eve asked for forgiveness of their sins. 5. Stoning of the Devil (Satan) – throw pebbles at stone pillars to drive away Satan from tempting Abraham B= must submit to God’s will, not be tempted by others to reject his will, 3 tiers of life – present life, afterlife – heaven or hell e. The pilgrims throw stones at pillars representing Satan, recalling this event to drive him away. This ritual expresses the belief that a Muslim must submit to the will of God; obey him and not be influenced or manipulated by other figures to reject the will of God. 6. Festival of Sacrifice (nahr) – Abraham sacrificed a sheep by slaughtering it instead of sacrificing his son. B= submitting to God’s will f. In this event the Muslims are to slaughter a sheep or have one slaughtered in their name to recall the event of Abraham slaughtering a sheep which God provided in place of his son. This ritual expresses the Islamic belief ob submitting to God’s will. 7. Return to Mecca – for farewell prayers, circle Ka’ba again. B= oneness & unity of God g. Return back to Mecca and perform the last ritual which is a farewell prayer ceremony. The pilgrims once again circle the Ka’ba – expressing the Islamic belief of the oneness and unity of God and that he is central to life. The Muslims then have the option to visit the Prophet Muhammad’s mosque/tomb where he received his 1st revelation. 8. Optional – to visit the Prophet Muhammad’s mosque where he received his 1st revelation.
Conclusion:
Therefore, the significant practice of the obligatory pilgrimage (Hajj) can be considered one of Islam’s holiest rites as it is one of the 5 pillars of Islamic faith and must be undertaken if one’s wealth and health permit it. The Hajj is a significant practice as it expresses the central Islamic beliefs and is one of the 5 pillars of Islam & it unites a worldwide community of Muslims. The Muslims observe where the Prophet Muhammad lived and where the Qur’an’s divine revelations began.

I – I … Ihram
U – usually… Umra
M – make … Mina
A – a … Arafat
M – marvelous … Muzdalifa
M – moderate … Mina
I – indian … Tawif al-ifadha
M – my … Mina
T – teacher … Tawif
H – helped … Home

Significance of the individual: * Belief in faith stronger * Gain more experience and understanding of their religion * Gain peace * Recreate peace in their daily lives * Learn of: * Equality * Discipline * Self sacrifice * New status or social rank is gained

Significance for the community: * Unity and universality of Islam is highlighted and strengthened * World wide Islam community is brought together * Sense of community gained through: * Them all performing rituals together * All wanting to achieve a common goal * Largest annual peace gathering in the world * Learn more about: * Life * Others * The world * Reminds them of the day of judgment, when they will be judged on their intentions.