| Arabic | حج |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | HAJJ (with a breathy 'h') |
| Etymology | From the Arabic root ح-ج-ج (h-j-j), whose primary meaning is 'to intend, to aim for, to set out toward a destination.' The verb hajja (حجّ) specifically means 'to make হজ্জ' or 'to visit a sacred place with intention.' A related meaning of the root is 'to argue, to present proof' (as in hujjah, meaning 'proof' or 'argument'), linking the concepts of purposeful journey and establishing evidence — the হজ্জ serves as the হাজী's living proof of faith. The word has been in use since pre-Islamic times when Arab tribes made annual হজ্জs to the কাবা শরীফ. |
হজ্জ(حج) হজ্জ is the annual Islamic হজ্জ to the Sacred House (কাবা শরীফ) in মক্কা মুকাররমা, performed during specific days of the month of Dhul Hijjah. It is the fifth pillar of Islam, ওয়াজিব once in a lifetime for every Muslim who has the physical health and financial means.
حج
হজ্জ is the largest annual gathering of human beings on Earth, bringing together two to three million Muslims from virtually every country, ethnic background, and social class. It takes place during the 8th through 13th of Dhul Hijjah, the twelfth and final month of the Islamic lunar calendar. The obligation of হজ্জ is established in আল-কুরআন: 'And হজ্জ to the House is a duty owed to Allah by people who are able to find a way there' (3:97). নবী করীম Muhammad (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম) performed one হজ্জ in his lifetime — the Farewell Pilgrimage (Hajjat al-Wada) in 10 AH (632 CE) — which established the rites as practiced today. The হজ্জ rites follow a precise sequence over several days. On the 8th of Dhul Hijjah (Yawm al-Tarwiyah), হাজীগণ enter ইহরাম and proceed to মিনা. On the 9th (Yawm Arafah), they stand at the plain of আরাফাত in the most critical rite of হজ্জ (wuquf). After sunset they move to মুযদালিফা, where they spend the night and collect pebbles. On the 10th (Yawm al-Nahr, the Day of Sacrifice), they stone জামারাত al-Aqabah, offer an animal sacrifice (qurbani), shave or trim their hair (halq or taqsir), and perform তাওয়াফ al-Ifadah. The 11th, 12th, and 13th (Ayyam al-Tashreeq) involve stoning all three জামারাত pillars and spending nights in মিনা. Before departing মক্কা মুকাররমা, হাজীগণ perform তাওয়াফ al-Wida (farewell তাওয়াফ). There are three types of হজ্জ: Ifrad (হজ্জ only), Tamattu (উমরাহ first, then হজ্জ with a break in ইহরাম), and Qiran (উমরাহ and হজ্জ combined in one continuous ইহরাম). Tamattu is the most commonly practiced and was মুস্তাহাব by নবী করীম. A হাজী who completes a valid হজ্জ is given the honorific title 'Hajji' (male) or 'Hajjah' (female), and নবী করীম stated that 'an accepted হজ্জ has no reward except Paradise' (Bukhari and Muslim).
From the Arabic root ح-ج-ج (h-j-j), whose primary meaning is 'to intend, to aim for, to set out toward a destination.' The verb hajja (حجّ) specifically means 'to make হজ্জ' or 'to visit a sacred place with intention.' A related meaning of the root is 'to argue, to present proof' (as in hujjah, meaning 'proof' or 'argument'), linking the concepts of purposeful journey and establishing evidence — the হজ্জ serves as the হাজী's living proof of faith. The word has been in use since pre-Islamic times when Arab tribes made annual হজ্জs to the কাবা শরীফ.
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