Hajj and Umrah
๐ In short
Hajj is a great journey to Makkah that a Muslim makes once in their life if they are able. Pilgrims wear simple white clothes, walk around the Kaaba and stand at Arafat, so everyone looks equal: there's no difference between rich and poor.
ููุฃูุฐููู ููู ุงููููุงุณู ุจูุงููุญูุฌูู ููุฃูุชูููู ุฑูุฌูุงููุง ููุนูููููฐ ููููู ุถูุงู
ูุฑู ููุฃูุชูููู ู
ูู ููููู ููุฌูู ุนูู
ูููู๐คฉ Did you know?
- Hajj takes place in the month of Dhul-Hijjah, month 12 of the Hijri calendar.
- The pilgrim walks around the Kaaba 7 times and between Safa and Marwah 7 times.
- The Day of Arafah is the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah, and the next day is Eid al-Adha.
- Pilgrims come from more than 100 countries and speak many languages, but they all call out the same words of the talbiyah.
๐ Find out more
๐ The Kaaba
The Kaaba is the Sacred House of God in Makkah, built by Abraham and his son Ishmael, peace be upon them. Muslims face it in their prayers, and it is covered with a beautiful black cloth called the โkiswahโ.
๐ The rites of Hajj
The pilgrim enters ihram and says: โHere I am, O God, here I amโ, then walks around the Kaaba, goes between Safa and Marwah, stands at Arafat calling on God, spends the night at Muzdalifah and Mina, and throws pebbles at the pillars.
๐ก Umrah
Umrah is a small pilgrimage to Makkah that can be made at any time of year: ihram, then seven circuits of the Kaaba, then seven walks between Safa and Marwah, then shaving or cutting the hair.
๐ฏ Zamzam water
When Abraham left his wife Hagar (Hajar) and their son Ishmael in Makkah, Hagar ran between Safa and Marwah looking for water, and God made the well of Zamzam gush out for them. Pilgrims still drink from it today.
๐ Key words
- Ihram
- The intention to begin Hajj or Umrah, and wearing its white clothes
- Tawaf
- Walking around the Kaaba seven times
- Sa'y
- Walking between the hills of Safa and Marwah seven times
๐ฑ Put it into practice today
Ask a relative who has made Hajj or Umrah to tell you about their journey and show you pictures of the Kaaba, then write down what you liked most.
๐งฉ Test yourself
1 Who built the Kaaba?
2 In which month is Hajj?
3 What is the name of the blessed well in Makkah?
๐ Read next
- ๐ The five pillars of Islam
- โจ The six pillars of faith
- ๐ง Wudu and purity
- ๐ง Prayer
- ๐ Ramadan and fasting
- ๐คฒ Zakat and charity
- ๐ Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha
- ๐ Friday
- ๐คฒ Du'a
- ๐ Hijri months
- ๐ The Qur'an
- ๐ The Prophet Muhammad ๏ทบ
- ๐ The mosque, the house of God
- ๐ฌ Honesty
- ๐ค Trustworthiness
- ๐จโ๐ฉโ๐ง Kindness to parents
- ๐ Mercy and kindness to animals
- ๐งผ Cleanliness is part of faith
- ๐๏ธ Being good to neighbors
- ๐ฝ๏ธ Table manners
- ๐ Greetings and smiles
- โต The story of Noah (Nuh)
- ๐ฅ The story of Abraham (Ibrahim)
- โญ The story of Joseph (Yusuf)
- ๐ The story of Moses (Musa)
- ๐ The story of Jonah (Yunus)
- ๐ฑ Patience