pilgrimageThe annual pilgrimage (hajj) to the Ka’ba in Mecca, which is
believed to have been built by Abraham and his son Isma’il, is argu-
ably the most famous journey in any religious tradition because
Muslims come from all over the world to attend this event. This pil-
grimage is required of all Muslim males and females at least once in
their lives, although a person must meet certain criteria: being of age
(i.e. having reached puberty), being able to afford the trip, and being
of sound mind. Prior to the journey, a pilgrim is required to assume a
sanctified condition (ihrām) by performing a purifying ablution with
water and donning an unsewn cloth garment made of two unsewn
white sheets. All pilgrims must maintain a state of purity throughout
the pilgrimage period. In addition to the purification requirements,
there are particular prohibitions that must be observed: no cutting of
hair and nails; no sexual intercourse; do not neglect one’s daily toilet;
avoid shedding of blood; no hunting, uprooting of plants, cutting of
wood; no contracting of marriages; no acting as a witness; and no
wearing of rings or perfume.
The Muslim pilgrimage begins with the lesser (‘umra) pilgrimage to
Mecca, which involves circumambulating the Ka’ba seven times and
kissing the black stone, assuming that one can get near enough to it.
Then, the pilgrims run seven times between the hills of Safā and Marwā.
On the seventh day, the pilgrims listen to a sermon in the mosque at the
Ka’ba; the eight day is called the “day of moistening” because the pil-
grims provide themselves with water for the following days. The pilgrims
proceed to Minā where they hear two sermons, and throw seven stones
three times at a stone pillar representing Satan. On the tenth day at Minā,
sheep or camels are sacrificed, and the pilgrims return the same day to
perform another circumambulation of the Ka’ba. Between the eleventh
and thirteen days of the pilgrimage, there is a respite for eating, drinking,
and sensual pleasure at Minā. Upon resuming a consecrated condition, a
pilgrim performs the final circumambulation of the Ka’ba. Afterwards, it
is not unusual for pilgrims to visit the Prophet Muhammad’s tomb in
Medina. If a pilgrim dies during the annual event, the pilgrim is consid-
ered a martyr.
The Muslim pilgrimage allows a believer to present oneself before
God. The attire and prohibitions associated with the event suggests that
everyone is equal before God. By making the journey, a pilgrim imitates
and repeats action performed by the Prophet Muhammad, and the journey
thus enables a pilgrim to relive the past. Because the pilgrimage binds
believers together in an annual congregation, it serves as a visible sign of
religious unity and functions to solidify the religion. Finally, pilgrimage
is not merely a journey to Mecca or another sacred location, but is also a