Why do muslims go to the Hajj?

Question

I am doing a homework assignment and having a hard time answering this question.

Answer 1

The Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca (Makkah), the largest annual pilgrimage in the world It is the fifth pillar of Islam, an obligation that must be carried out by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so, at least once in their lifetime. It is the demonstration of the solidarity of the Muslim people, and their submission to God.

The Hajj occurs from the 8th to the 12th day of Dhul Hijjah, the 12th month of the Islamic calendar. This date cannot be aligned directly with Western calendars, but in the early 21st century, it occurs roughly in the November-January timeframe. In 2007, the next month of Dhul Hijjah begins on December 11, with the week of the Hajj beginning on December 18, 2007.

The pilgrimage is associated with the life of Muhammad, but the ritual of the Hajj itself was considered ancient even during his lifetime in the 7th century. Many Muslims believe that it goes back to the time of Abraham in 2000 BC. Pilgrims would join processions of tens of thousands of people, who would simultaneously converge on Mecca for the week of the Hajj, and perform a series of rituals. Each person would walk counter-clockwise seven times about the Kaaba, the cubical building towards which all Muslims pray, kiss the sacred Black Stone on its corner, run back and forth between the hills of Al-Safa and Al-Marwah, drink from the Zamzam Well, go to the plains of Mount Arafat to stand in vigil, then proceed to Muzdalifah to gather pebbles, which they would throw at a rock in Mina to perform the ritual of the Stoning of the Devil. The pilgrims would then shave their heads, perform an animal sacrifice, and celebrate the three day global festival of Eid ul-Adha.

As of 2007, an estimated two million pilgrims participate in this annual pilgrimage.Crowd-control techniques have become critical, and because of the large numbers of people, many of the rituals have become more stylized. It is not necessary to kiss the Black Stone, but merely to point at it on each circuit around the Kaaba. Throwing pebbles was done at large pillars, which for safety reasons were in 2004 changed to long walls with catchbasins below to catch the stones. The slaughter of an animal can be done either personally, or by appointing someone else to do it, and so forth. But even with the crowd control techniques, there are still many Incidents during the Hajj, as pilgrims are trampled in the crush, or ramps collapse under the weight of the many visitors, causing hundreds of deaths. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj has a website, with the message, "Be peaceful, orderly and kind. No crushing.

Pilgrims can also go to Mecca to perform the rituals at other times of the year. This is sometimes called the "lesser pilgrimage", or Umrah. However, even if they perform the Umrah, they are still obligated to perform the Hajj at some other point in their lifetime.

Answer 2

The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam.Undertaking the Hajj at least once is a duty for all Muslims who are physically and financially able to make the journey to Makkah. The pilgrimage is the religious high point of a Muslim's life and an event that every Muslim dreams of undertaking.Performing the Hajj is the spiritual apex of a Muslim's life, one that provides a clear understanding of his relationship with God and his place on Earth.

Answer 3

Dear John.Hajj pilgrim is instructed by Allah the only one God as stated in the Qur'an,surah 2 Al Baqarah (female cow) verse 196 upto verse 203..In verse 196 God spoke :Please improve or complete your religious service or worship with hajj pilgrim and umrah (small haj pilgrim) in the name of Allah .If you are surrounded by enemies or have sick/illness you must slaughter animal for sacrifice(distributed to the poor
)and you do not cut your hair before the animal come to the place of slaughtering etc..Muhammad pbuh in his hadits he said that someone who made a hajj pilgrim was not allowed
to make sexual relation,speak cruelly,if he/she wants come back home like a new born baby (sinless)
In the surah 3 Ali Imran verse 97 God spoke that hajj pilgrim is the obligation of humans to God e.g for humans who have
adequate competence (can afford it)to go to Baitullah (the house of God) .Hajj means final goal and umrah means additional objective.The requirements for people who should go on hajj pilgrim are muslim and muslimah(muslim woman) grown up,have common sense (no crazy)have freedom and have capability going to the sacred places (Medina and Mecca with its surroundings)They should go to hajj pilgrim in certain month (Dzulhijjah the last month on islamic calendar)
Umrah is visiting Medina and pray in mesjid Nabawi for 48 time of prayings (8 days) then visit Mecca pray in mesjidil Haram and thawaf walking around the Kabaa 7 times with reciting in heart some verses of Qur'an, sai or walking 7 times from Safaa and Marwaa hill to and fro,drink zam zam water and pray in front of Kabaa.Then we should go to Arafaa on certain date for reminding and praying to God on the field and then by mid night go to Mudzalifah for getting stones and then in MIna thrawing stones to satans on 3 places and at the last come back to Mecca for thawaf and praying in mejidil Haram.That is the complete ceremony of hajj pilgrim and umrah.Hajj pilgrim was begun in the era of Abraham prophet and slaughtering animal was the event when Abraham got a dream that he should slaughter Ismael his beloved son.But at that time God replaced. him with a goat..Hajj pilgrim is one of the 5 pillars of muslim obligations (rukun Islam) eg (1)syahadat or vow that there is no other God than Allah and Muhammad pbuh as the last prophet,(2)shalat (praying) at least 5 times a day,(3)Zakat or paying islamic taxes (4) puasa or fasting at least during the month of Ramadhan and (5)hajj pilgrim.

Answer 4

hajj is cool

Answer 5

It is one of their five pillars of faith that they must fulfill before their death so that they may enter the kingdom of Allah.

Answer 6

it is one of the requirements of being a muslim - if you are able-bodied.