What is Hajj?

Hajj is one of the 5 pillars of Islam, which form the basic foundations of a Muslim’s religious practise. It is a sacred pilgrimage that every able Muslim is required to complete at least once in their lifetime. Each year, millions of Muslims from across the world travel to Mecca, Saudi Arabia to perform hajj.

Muslims are commanded by Allah (SWT) to fulfil the sacred pilgrimage of hajj as relayed in the holy Qur’an: “God willing, you will most certainly enter the Sacred Mosque in safety, shaven headed or with cropped hair [as part of the pilgrimage rituals], without fear! God knew what you did not – and He has granted you a speedy triumph.” (48:27)

Hajj is only obligatory for Muslims who are physically and financially able to undertake the pilgrimage.

What is the purpose of hajj?

The purpose of hajj, as with the other pillars of Islam, is for Muslims to fulfil their spiritual duties to Allah (SWT) and show submission to Him.

Muslims believe hajj offers a chance to wipe clean past sins and start anew before Allah (SWT). As the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever performs Hajj for the sake of Allah and does not utter any obscene speech or do any evil deed, will go back [free of sin] as his mother bore him.”

The act of performing hajj with taqwa (God-consciousness) and to a high standard is highly rewarding and leads to Paradise, as the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “A mabroor [accepted] Hajj has no reward for it but Paradise.” (Muslim)

When does hajj take place?

Hajj occurs in the sacred month of Hari Raya Haji (Dhul Hijjah), the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar. According to the Gregorian calendar, this year hajj will take place between 4-9 June 2025, depending on when the crescent moon is sighted.

Hajj begins on 8 Hari Raya Haji (Dhul Hijjah) and lasts approximately 5-6 days, again depending on the sighting of the moon. It includes Yawm Al Arafah, which falls on 9 Hari Raya Haji (Dhul Hijjah), and is known as the best day of the year as it is a significant opportunity for Muslims to seek forgiveness from God. The tenth day of Hari Raya Haji (Dhul Hijjah) marks the beginning of the 4-day festival of Eid al-Adha, a joyful occasion.

What happens during hajj?

Muslims who perform the sacred pilgrimage of hajj are required to undergo a series of rites and rituals which each offer their own unique purpose and wisdom.

Here are the 18 steps of hajj at a glance:

1. Preparation and intention
2. Enter state of ihram (a state of sanctity signified by wearing certain clothing and accompanied by certain restrictions, including the prohibition of arguing)
3. Tawaf x7 (circumambulation of the Kaaba)
4. Sa’ee (walking/running between the hills of Safa and Marwa)
5. Clip/shave hair (umrah ends)
6. Resting and praying
7. Enter state of ihram
8. Arrive at Mina
9. Day of ‘Arafah
10. Muzdalifah (under the night sky)
11. Rami (stoning of the devil)
12. Korbani
13. Shave head
14. Tawaf al-Ifadha/Tawaf al-Ziyarah (once completed, ihram restrictions end)
15. Rami
16. Spend night at Mina
17. Rami
18. Tawaf al-Wida (farewell tawaf)

Alongside the various challenges, the sanctity of the hajj provides an experience and opportunity like no other for drawing closer to Allah (SWT), and many Muslims around the world strive their whole lives for the opportunity to perform hajj.

How many Muslims perform hajj each year?

Each year, millions of Muslims from across the world travel by land, sea and air to Mecca to perform hajj. Approximately 2-3 million people attend hajj each year.

Here is a snapshot of attendee figures over the years:

1999: Over 1.8 million

2009: Over 2.3 million

2019: Over 2.4 million

2024: Over 1.8 million

How do pilgrims prepare for hajj?

While hajj is first and foremost a spiritual duty, it is also very physically demanding.

As pilgrims walk on average between 5km-15km per day, Muslims are encouraged to begin physically preparing for hajj weeks in advance to ensure the travel between locations is not a shock to the system.

What’s the difference between hajj and umrah?

Hajj and umrah are both sacred pilgrimages in Islam and share many of the same qualities, rites, and rituals. However, there are some key differences, one of the biggest being that hajj is a pillar of Islam and required of every able Muslim, whereas umrah is a voluntary pilgrimage.

Here are some more differences between hajj and umrah:

• Hajj can only take place between the eighth and twelfth or thirteenth days of Dhul Hijjah each year, whereas umrah can be performed at any time of the year.
• Hajj lasts approximately 5-6 days (depending on the sighting of the crescent moon), whereas umrah can be performed within a day.
• There are 18 steps to perform in hajj, whereas umrah has far fewer.

The history of hajj

In 628 CE, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the early Muslims performed the first hajj. The Prophet (PBUH) was instructed to re-establish the traditions started by the Prophet Ibrahim (upon him be peace) as instructed by God millennia before.

Under the commandment of Allah, Ibrahim (AS) travelled to the barren desert of Mecca to perform various acts of worship, including building the Kaaba, which Muslims today circumambulate as part of hajj.