| Hajj is
the fifth Pillar of Islam and another form of worship.
It is an annual pilgrimage to the holy sites in
Mecca which each adult Muslim, who can afford it,
has to perform once in life time. Apart from the
financial aspect, the ability to afford the
pilgrimage also means that one is able to travel and
perform the Hajj in peace. |
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| Muslims
perform Hajj in order to visit for themselves the
holy sites where their faith started. More
importantly it is a pilgrimage to the Ka'aba, which
we believe is the first place of worship ever built
on this earth, Muslims thus refer to it as House of
God. The ceremony of Hajj is also symbolic of the
Unity of God; all Muslims gather from four corners
of the earth in one spot at an appointed time and
worship God. There are no difficulties to perform
Hajj apart from the obvious financial commitment in
order to travel to Mecca. That is the reason why,
strictly speaking, Hajj is only obligatory to those
who have fulfilled all their worldly needs and have
no pressing commitments left and indeed can afford
the passage to Mecca. |
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| It is a
Muslim belief that God is everywhere and He answers
those who truly seek Him. In this respect indeed
going to a particular place to seek the pleasure and
nearness to God is not the issue. However, it is the
physical presence of being in the holiest of the
holy places for the Muslim faith and indeed the
congregational worship with millions of other fellow
Muslims that leaves an indelible mark on the
spiritual life of a person. It is a most supreme
form of worship and is most desirable to God.
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| During
Hajj, the person who intends to perform it is
required to travel to Mecca during the prescribed
days and observe all the rites and ceremonies.
During Hajj Muslims from all corners of the world
gather in Mecca and perform the rites of Hajj and
thus strengthen the bond of Muslim unity.
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| During
Hajj each place brings to mind some event of the
blessed life of the Holy Prophet (peace and
blessings on him). It refreshes the memory of the
supreme sacrifices made by the Holy Prophet (peace
and blessings on him) for the sake of Islam.
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