The Spiritual Crescendo of the Islamic Calendar is underway as saudi Arabia has Officially signed the crusent moon, marking the beginning of dhuil hijah 1446 and announs EID-AZHA (also Known as bakra eid, bakrid, bakhreid, eid-l-zuha, eid al -adha, eid Qurban, this year Qurban Bayarami or victim’s holiday). Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to the north, the House of God, in the Holy City of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, and this is considered one of the five Islam pillars.
This is a duty for all able -bodied and financially capable Muslims to perform Haja at least once in life. During Hajj, millions of Muslims from all over the world are going to Mecca to perform religious rituals that remember the actions of Prophet Muhammad and the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), maintaining deep spiritual meaning and serve the sometimes reflection, repentance and clear among Muslims that do not belong to their bones, culture and color.
Date Hajj 2025:
Hajj’s pilgrimage takes place during the Islamic month of Dhula Hiji, in particular from the 8th to the 12th Dhul Hiji, which is the twelfth and last month of the Islamic lunar calendar. This year, Hajj is scheduled to start on June 04, 2025, while on the day of Arafa-Verkhniki Haj-Upada Pilgrimage on Thursday, June 05, 2025, and followed by Friday, June 6, 2025.
History:
The visit to the Holy Shrine of Kaaba to Mecca has a wonderful story. It began when the Prophet Ibrahim or Abraham, the dear friend of God and the father of the prophets, was entrusted to God to leave his wife Hajar and his son Ismail in Mecca’s desert.
Ibrahim, as he left the family well, but over time everything decreased, and his wife Hajar and son Ismail faced a lot of trouble. One time, Hajar traveled seven times between the hills of Saf and Marva, but could not find any sources of water.
However, when her little son Ismail, when he pressed his foot, a fountain of water appeared in place. Then this place was marked by the saint, and God ordered Ibrahim to build a koab in this place and invite people to make a pilgrimage there.
Thus, Kaaba is considered to be the most holy place in Islam and serves as the main point of the Hajj pilgrimage. Hajj’s origins are closely linked to the history of the unwavering faith of Ibrahim and his willingness to obey God’s orders.
The Prophet Ibrahim, together with Ismail, built the foundations of Kaaba as a place for people to worship one true God Allah. Ibrahim and Ismail, as it was stated, and the Quran even tells how the Archangel Gabriel brought a black stone (which was initially white but became black, absorbing the sins of thousands of pilgrims that kissed and touched him) from heaven to be tied to Kaaba.
Over time, the pilgrimage to Kaaba became a significant annual meeting of the Arab tribes of the Arabian Peninsula, but the rituals related to Hajam were reformed and lively by the prophet Muhammad in the 7th century. During Muhammad, pagan practices were eliminated and idols, which became connected with the Dislam Hajj, and the pilgrimage was restored to the original monotheistic.
In Dislam Arabia, Jahili’s time, some pagan idols were located around Kaaba, but in 630, Prophet Mohammed (Pbuk) brought believers from Medina to Mecca and cleared Kaaba, destroying all the Gentiles. He was another Messiah and the last prophet, which he considered in Islam, and after clearing Kaaba, he overcame the building with Allah.
Muhammad held Haja pilgrimage in 632, adding his famous farewell to thousands of Muslims collected on the Araf plain, and that’s how Hajj became one of the five Islam pillars. After the example of Mohammed, the rites and rites of Hajj were standardized, and this became a mandatory act of worship for all Muslims.
Value:
Hajja facilitates and seeks to unite Muslims around the world in the spirit of unity and brotherhood without any discrimination based on the bone, culture and color, does not soften the idea of equality. It is believed that the one who performs the rites of Hajj is truly and with cleanliness, returns home, washing away all his life sins.
This annual pilgrimage not only provides equality, but also rewards the pilgrims of the sky after death, when the obligations are fulfilled. It symbolizes kindness, positiveness and is the highest form of pride, earned, because it is the restoration of the victims and obedience of the Prophet Abraham to God Almighty, following the instructions laid down by the prophet Muhammad.
The pilgrimage includes a number of prescribed actions and rites that symbolize different aspects of faith, devotion and unity. Throughout the history, Hajja’s pilgrimage has noticed fluctuations in the number of pilgrims and the level of organization.
The expansion of Islam outside the Arabian Peninsula has led to an increasing number of Muslims involved in Hajj from different regions of the world, and today millions of Muslims from different stretches of society and countries conduct pilgrimages annually.
In cooperation with the religious authorities, the Saudi Arabian government manages and facilitates the pilgrimage logistics to ensure the safety, comfort and well -being of pilgrims. Hajj remains a significant spiritual journey for Muslims, contributing to the sense of unity, humility and devotion to God.
It serves as a deep reminder of the overall heritage and common connection that Muslims have with the prophet Ibrahim and their commitment to the principles of Islam.
Rituals:
Hajj’s rituals include –
- Ihram: The pilgrims are in a state of consecration called Tira. They dress in simple white clothes, symbolizing the equality and abandonment of secular possessions.
- Tawaf: The pilgrims conduct a number of circles around Kaaba, a sacred black cube located in the center of Masjid-al-Haram. This act means unity of Muslims and their devotion to God.
- Sa’i: The pilgrims walk between the hills of Saf and Marva, walking along the path of Hajar (Hagara), the wife of Ibrahim, who sought water for his son Ismail (Izmael). This symbolizes persistence and trust in God’s provisions.
- Arafat: The pilgrims gather on the Araf plain, where they participate in prayer, delivery and contemplation. This is considered the most important Hajj day known as Araf’s Day.
- Medalif and Mina: The pilgrims spend the night in Mvzdalif, collecting pebbles for the next ritual. Then they move to the mines where they perform the symbolic stones of the devil, throwing pebbles into three stone pillars.
- Id al-Edha: The culmination of Hajj was marked by the celebration of the al-Adha, the victim festival. Pilgrims donate the animal, usually sheep or goat, symbolizing the readiness of Ibrahim to sacrifice their son.
The unification of Muslims from different layers, cultures and languages, the spiritual journey of Haja strengthens the principles of equality, humility and devotion to God. Pilgrims are looking for forgiveness, spiritual purification and a deeper connection with their faith, and this is a life that leaves a strong impact on the hearts and minds of those who take it over.
