The Hajj, day by day

The Hajj, day by day: the cards as text

Fiqh. Draft written with AI help: awaiting scholar review.

  1. Card 1

    Five days. Millions of people. The footsteps of Abraham's family.

  2. Card 2

    Ihram: everyone the same

    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.

  3. Card 3

    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.

  4. Card 4

    Lesson: Two white sheets erase every rank.

  5. Card 5

    The day of 'Arafah

    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.

  6. Card 6

    Lesson: The heart of Hajj is a day of standing and asking.

  7. Card 7

    Stones, sacrifice and Eid

    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.

  8. Card 8

    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.

  9. Card 9

    Lesson: One day's sacrifice, shared with the whole world.

  10. Card 10

    Around the Ka'bah, in Hagar's footsteps

    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.

  11. Card 11

    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.

  12. Card 12

    Lesson: Millions retrace the steps of one mother's search.

  13. Card 13

    Reflect: Which day is called the heart of the Hajj?

    Answer: The day of 'Arafah. 'Arafah, the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah. Standing there is so central that missing it means missing the Hajj.

  14. Card 14

    The end of The Hajj, day by day.

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