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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 حج' 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 حج serves as the حاجی's living proof of faith. The word has been in use since pre-Islamic times when Arab tribes made annual حجs to the کعبۃ اللہ. |
حج(حج) حج is the annual Islamic حج to the Sacred House (کعبۃ اللہ) in مکہ مکرمہ, performed during specific days of the month of Dhul Hijjah. It is the fifth pillar of Islam, واجب once in a lifetime for every Muslim who has the physical health and financial means.
حج
حج 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 حج is established in قرآن مجید: 'And حج to the House is a duty owed to Allah by people who are able to find a way there' (3:97). نبی کریم Muhammad (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) performed one حج in his lifetime — the Farewell Pilgrimage (Hajjat al-Wada) in 10 AH (632 CE) — which established the rites as practiced today. The حج rites follow a precise sequence over several days. On the 8th of Dhul Hijjah (Yawm al-Tarwiyah), حجاج enter احرام and proceed to منیٰ. On the 9th (Yawm Arafah), they stand at the plain of عرفات in the most critical rite of حج (wuquf). After sunset they move to مزدلفہ, where they spend the night and collect pebbles. On the 10th (Yawm al-Nahr, the Day of Sacrifice), they stone جمرات al-Aqabah, offer an animal sacrifice (qurbani), shave or trim their hair (halq or taqsir), and perform طواف al-Ifadah. The 11th, 12th, and 13th (Ayyam al-Tashreeq) involve stoning all three جمرات pillars and spending nights in منیٰ. Before departing مکہ مکرمہ, حجاج perform طواف al-Wida (farewell طواف). There are three types of حج: Ifrad (حج only), Tamattu (عمرہ first, then حج with a break in احرام), and Qiran (عمرہ and حج combined in one continuous احرام). Tamattu is the most commonly practiced and was مستحب by نبی کریم. A حاجی who completes a valid حج is given the honorific title 'Hajji' (male) or 'Hajjah' (female), and نبی کریم stated that 'an accepted حج 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 حج' 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 حج serves as the حاجی's living proof of faith. The word has been in use since pre-Islamic times when Arab tribes made annual حجs to the کعبۃ اللہ.
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انٹرنیٹ کے بغیر کام کرتا ہے — حج کے لیے بہترین