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| 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 hac ibadeti' 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 Hac serves as the haci's living proof of faith. The word has been in use since pre-Islamic times when Arab tribes made annual hac ibadetis to the Kabe. |
Hac(حج) Hac is the annual Islamic hac ibadeti to the Sacred House (Kabe) in Mekke, performed during specific days of the month of Dhul Hijjah. It is the fifth pillar of Islam, farz once in a lifetime for every Muslim who has the physical health and financial means.
حج
Hac 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 Hac is established in Kur'an-i Kerim: 'And hac ibadeti to the House is a duty owed to Allah by people who are able to find a way there' (3:97). Hz. Peygamber Muhammad (sallallahu aleyhi ve sellem) performed one Hac in his lifetime — the Farewell Pilgrimage (Hajjat al-Wada) in 10 AH (632 CE) — which established the rites as practiced today. The Hac rites follow a precise sequence over several days. On the 8th of Dhul Hijjah (Yawm al-Tarwiyah), hacilar enter ihram and proceed to Mina. On the 9th (Yawm Arafah), they stand at the plain of Arafat in the most critical rite of Hac (wuquf). After sunset they move to Muzdelife, where they spend the night and collect pebbles. On the 10th (Yawm al-Nahr, the Day of Sacrifice), they stone Cemerat al-Aqabah, offer an animal sacrifice (qurbani), shave or trim their hair (halq or taqsir), and perform Tavaf al-Ifadah. The 11th, 12th, and 13th (Ayyam al-Tashreeq) involve stoning all three Cemerat pillars and spending nights in Mina. Before departing Mekke, hacilar perform Tavaf al-Wida (farewell tavaf). There are three types of Hac: Ifrad (Hac only), Tamattu (Umre first, then Hac with a break in ihram), and Qiran (Umre and Hac combined in one continuous ihram). Tamattu is the most commonly practiced and was sunnet by Hz. Peygamber. A haci who completes a valid Hac is given the honorific title 'Hajji' (male) or 'Hajjah' (female), and Hz. Peygamber stated that 'an accepted Hac 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 hac ibadeti' 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 Hac serves as the haci's living proof of faith. The word has been in use since pre-Islamic times when Arab tribes made annual hac ibadetis to the Kabe.