MUSLIM PILGRIMAGE

Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of the Muslim faith.

Hajj is an act of worship just like Salat (five daily prayers) and Sawm (fasting in the month of Ramadan). Muslims from all over the world gather in Mecca in the last month of the Muslim calendar and worship Allah. Hajj is a special worship that lasts for several days. This is an occasion that brings Muslims of all countries, colours, and races to one place – the Ka’aba.

The Prophet Muhammad said that a person who performs Hajj ''will return as a newly born baby [free of all sins]".

Sunrise over the Noble Sanctuary

A Muslim who cannot go on Hajj goes on the lesser pilgrimage to Makkah (Mecca) called Umrah. Like durung the Hajj the pilgrim performs a series of ritual acts to commemorate the trials of prophet Abraham and his family.

Another important holy destination for Muslims is to travel to is the Noble Sanctuary in Jerusalem to visit the Al-Aqsa Mosque. It is believed that the Prophet Muhammad was transported from the Sacred Mosque in Makkah to the Al-Aqsa during the Night Journey (Isra and Mi'raj). Then he was taken up to the heavens to be shown the signs of God.

Muslims often travel to the city of Madinah north of Makkah after they have performed Hajj.