Name:
Hajj keywords
Match the correct term to its meaning:
Pilgrimage: A Muslim who has completed Hajj.
Tawaf: A hill in Mecca where Muslims stand in the heat and think about the Day of
Judgment.
Hajj: The annual pilgrimage to Mecca that every Muslim should try to make at least
once in their life.
Jamaraat: A journey by a believer to a holy site for religious reasons; an act of worship
and devotion.
Hajji: The name for the three walls Muslims throw pebbles at, which represents the
stoning of the devil and rejection of anything evil.
Safa and Marwah: The Arabic word for the circling of the Ka’bah seven times.
Ihram: Ihram refers to the sacred state which a Muslim must enter to perform a
pilgrimage. It is a ‘change of the state of mind’ of a Muslim to be peaceful and
forget about their normal everyday lives as pilgrims must prepare to
communicate with God in what is believed to be the world's most sacred
ground.
Ka’bah: Two small hills now located in the Great Mosque of Mecca in Saudi Arabia
named the Masjid Al-Haram.
Arafat: The black, cube-shaped building in the centre of the Grand Mosque in Mecca,
the holiest place in Islam.
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Hajj postcard
Imagine that you’ve just
completed Hajj and, using the
‘Hajj postcard’ worksheet
provided, write a postcard to
a friend or family member
about your experience.
Consider reflecting upon what
you experienced and saw,
how this experience made
you feel, and why you felt it
was important to go on Hajj.
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Hajj rituals
The holy journey of Hajj requires pilgrims to perform certain rituals in a prescribed order.
Match the ritual with the meaning. In some place the images from British Library manuscripts and photographs will
act as clues…
Rituals:
Ihram is when the pilgrim recites their intention to perform Hajj, adheres to a specific dress code and abstains from
certain things. Men wear a white unstitched garment, women wear normal clothes and a headscarf- but not a burqa
or niqab. Certain acts are prohibited, such as sex and arguing.
Tawaf is the circling of the Ka’bah. Pilgrims circle the Ka’bah seven times in an anti-clockwise direction, with the al-
Hajar al-Aswad, or the Black Stone at the eastern corner of the Ka’bah, as the marking point.
Sa‘i is to walk seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwah.
Mina is the tented city where pilgrims camp overnight.
Mount Arafat is the where pilgrims journey to the desert planes of Arafat. Muslims spend the day standing in the
vicinity of the Mount, praying and repenting in an act called wuquf, until sunset.
Muzdalifah is where pilgrims camp overnight. They also gather forty-nine pebbles for the next ritual.
Ramy al-Jamarat is when pilgrims throw stones at three walls, in the city of Mina. The stoning marks Eid al-Adha.
Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice, is also celebrated by Muslims who are not on pilgrimage. Traditionally pilgrims
slaughtered an animal themselves, today many pilgrims buy a sacrifice voucher and an animal is slaughtered
elsewhere on their behalf. After the sacrifice, pilgrims shave or cut their hair.
Meanings:
………………….. expresses the unity and harmony of all Muslims in worshipping one God and is the fulfilment of the
Quranic command to ‘compass round it’ (Q. 22.26).
…………………… is often referred to as the “most important day of hajj,” – if it is not completed the Hajj is not valid.
According to tradition this is the place where the Prophet delivered his Farewell Sermon. Pilgrims spend this
time making a renewed commitment to dedicate themselves to the principles of Islam, repenting their sins and
reflecting on the day of judgement. In return their sins are forgiven.
Name:
…………………… is symbolic of the stoning of the devil and re-enacts when God commanded Ibrahim to sacrifice his
son and the devil appeared to tempt him against God’s will. The Angel Jibril ordered him to Ibrahim to cast
stones at the devil. The act is symbolic of casting aside temptation.
…………………….. signifies a ‘change of the state of mind’ for a Muslim, and is part of the preparation of mind, body
and soul for the pilgrimage. It is also intended to show modesty and equality by removing all external signs of
wealth.
At …………………… pilgrims converge for prayer and remembrance of God, and they are required to stay until the
sunrise.
……………………….. commemorates the journey made by Ibrahim’s wife Hagar to find water for her child Ismail,
after they were left in the desert as a test of faith. She ran between the mountains searching for help, when she
returned she found a miraculous spring known as the ‘Well of Zamzam’. The well is a testament of the
miraculous will of God, and the strenuous exercise is a demonstration the commitment of the believer.
At…………………….. after a day of reverence pilgrims rest or spend the night in worship, preparing for the next
ritual.
During …………………………….. pilgrims slaughter animals to mark Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail.
The act of cutting hair symbolises the shedding of worldly attachments and marks the end of the consecrated
state (ihram).
Name:
Pilgrimage article
Read the article Islamic pilgrimages and sacred spaces (www.bl.uk/sacred-texts/articles/islamic-
pilgrimages-and-sacred-spaces), then answer the questions below:
1. Who should go on Hajj?
2. What are some barriers to people performing Hajj?
3. What are some of the rituals of Hajj?
4. Is Hajj mentioned in the Qur’an?
5. Are there any other sources of wisdom and authority that command Muslims to perform Hajj?
6. How has technology changed the way Hajj is undertaken?
7. What is the special significance of Mecca to Muslims?
8. What role does Mecca have in the everyday lives of Muslims?
