Haji

What Does Haji Mean in Detail?

Haji 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 Dzulhijjah, the twelfth and final month of the Islamic lunar calendar. The obligation of Haji is established in Al-Al-Quran: 'And ibadah haji to the House is a duty owed to Allah by people who are able to find a way there' (3:97). Nabi Muhammad (shallallahu alaihi wa sallam) performed one Haji in his lifetime — the Farewell Pilgrimage (Hajjat al-Wada) in 10 AH (632 CE) — which established the rites as practiced today. The Haji rites follow a precise sequence over several days. On the 8th of Dzulhijjah (Yawm al-Tarwiyah), jamaah haji enter ihram and proceed to Mina. On the 9th (Yawm Arafah), they stand at the plain of Arafah in the most critical rite of Haji (wuquf). After sunset they move to Muzdalifah, where they spend the night and collect pebbles. On the 10th (Yawm al-Nahr, the Day of Sacrifice), they stone Jamarat al-Aqabah, offer an animal sacrifice (qurbani), shave or trim their hair (mencukur habis or memotong rambut), and perform Tawaf al-Ifadah. The 11th, 12th, and 13th (Ayyam al-Tashreeq) involve stoning all three Jamarat pillars and spending nights in Mina. Before departing Mekkah, jamaah haji perform Tawaf al-Wida (farewell tawaf). There are three types of Haji: Ifrad (Haji only), Tamattu (Umrah first, then Haji with a break in ihram), and Qiran (Umrah and Haji combined in one continuous ihram). Tamattu is the most commonly practiced and was sunnah by Nabi. A jamaah haji who completes a valid Haji is given the honorific title 'Hajji' (male) or 'Hajjah' (female), and Nabi stated that 'an accepted Haji has no reward except Paradise' (Bukhari and Muslim).