Fiqh
The pilgrimage to Makkah
Five days. Millions of people. The footsteps of Abraham's family.
6 min, Intro, Draft written with AI help: awaiting scholar review
Part 1 of 4
Before Makkah, at set points outside it, pilgrims enter ihram, a state of devotion. Men wear two plain white cloths. Women wear simple modest clothes. No perfume, no cutting hair, no arguing.
Qur'an 2:197
ٱلۡحَجُّ أَشۡهُرࣰ مَّعۡلُومَٰتࣰۚ فَمَن فَرَضَ فِيهِنَّ ٱلۡحَجَّ فَلَا رَفَثَ وَلَا فُسُوقَ وَلَا جِدَالَ فِي ٱلۡحَجِّۗ وَمَا تَفۡعَلُواْ مِنۡ خَيۡرࣲ يَعۡلَمۡهُ ٱللَّهُۗ وَتَزَوَّدُواْ فَإِنَّ خَيۡرَ ٱلزَّادِ ٱلتَّقۡوَىٰۖ وَٱتَّقُونِ يَٰٓأُوْلِي ٱلۡأَلۡبَٰبِ ١٩٧
197 The pilgrimage is in known months. Whoever commits himself to perform the pilgrimage, there should be no intimacy, foul language, and arguments during the pilgrimage. Whatever good you do, Allah is aware of it. And take provisions for the journey, but the best provision is righteousness. So fear Me, O people of understanding.
Lesson
Two white sheets erase every rank.
Part 2 of 4
On the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah, pilgrims stand on the plain of 'Arafah from midday to sunset in prayer and repentance. This standing is the heart of the Hajj: miss it, and the Hajj itself is missed.
Lesson
The heart of Hajj is a day of standing and asking.
Part 3 of 4
On the 10th, pilgrims stone a pillar representing Satan, sacrifice an animal if required, cut their hair, and leave ihram. The same day, Muslims worldwide celebrate Eid al-Adha, sacrificing and sharing meat with the poor.
Qur'an 22:37
لَن يَنَالَ ٱللَّهَ لُحُومُهَا وَلَا دِمَآؤُهَا وَلَٰكِن يَنَالُهُ ٱلتَّقۡوَىٰ مِنكُمۡۚ كَذَٰلِكَ سَخَّرَهَا لَكُمۡ لِتُكَبِّرُواْ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمۡۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ ٣٧
37 It is neither their flesh nor their blood that reaches Allah, but it is your piety that reaches Him. This is how He has subjected them to you, so that you may proclaim Allah’s greatness for having guided you. And give glad tidings to those who do good.
Lesson
One day's sacrifice, shared with the whole world.
Part 4 of 4
Pilgrims circle the Ka'bah seven times and walk seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwah, as Hagar ran searching for water for Ishmael. Then they return to Mina to stone the pillars on the following days.
Qur'an 2:158
۞ إِنَّ ٱلصَّفَا وَٱلۡمَرۡوَةَ مِن شَعَآئِرِ ٱللَّهِۖ فَمَنۡ حَجَّ ٱلۡبَيۡتَ أَوِ ٱعۡتَمَرَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيۡهِ أَن يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَاۚ وَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيۡرࣱا فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَاكِرٌ عَلِيمٌ ١٥٨
158 Indeed, Safa and Marwah [mounts] are among the symbols of Allah. So whoever performs the pilgrimage or ‘Umra, there is no blame upon him to go between them. And whoever does good voluntarily, then Allah is All-Appreciative, All-Knowing.
Lesson
Millions retrace the steps of one mother's search.
Reflect, just for you
Seen by lamplight. It gives more each time.
Five days. Millions of people. The footsteps of Abraham's family.