This post was wonderfully written by Samaa Elibyari – President of CCMW’s Quebec Chapter.
Among the duties enjoined to every sane adult, adherent to Islam, physically and financially able to do so, is a pilgrimage, the Hajj, to the holy places in and around Mecca, in Saudi Arabia, at least once in a lifetime.
The Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, is a ritual that transcends nationality, language, race, and social class, bringing together believers in a shared expression of devotion to Allah. It renews our hope in the Mercy of the Almighty and revives our bonds to our Muslim community worldwide, the Ummah. Undertaking the Hajj carries the hope of forgiveness of previous sins and misgivings. It also implies strengthened devotion to Allah and righteous behaviour toward Allah’s creations.
Over the years, the Hajj has sent in motion floods of travellers across the worlds’ continents, at one time with caravans, on camels’ back, nowadays by super-sonic jets. Last year, according to Saudi official statistics, 1,673, 230 representing 171 countries, undertook the Hajj, over 95 per cent arriving by air.
Although the origins of the pilgrimage to Mecca predate Islam, it is only in Dhu al-Hijja (March) in 632 C.E., the year of his death, that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), as a Muslim, went on what was to be his first and final Hajj, called the pilgrimage of Farewell. The details of this journey were later lovingly recalled and served as the foundation of all future performances.The purpose of this article is to present the core rituals, i.e. if any of them is missed, then the pilgrimage is deemed incomplete and to reflect on this unique experience.
First, pilgrims express their intention, niyyah, to undertake the Hajj by entering a state of worldly renunciation and chastity known as ihram. Outwardly, all pilgrims stand equal before their Creator. Men wear two plain, unsawn white cloths, and sandals. Women dress modestly and simply with no adornments and with their face and hands uncovered. This attire is meant to erase visible distinctions of wealth and status since at one time women of higher ranking didn’t show their faces. Geographically, Ihram, must take place in well defined places outside of Mecca.
Standing on Mount Arafat
The most important moments occur on the plain of Arafat, the emotional and spiritual climax of the Hajj, on the 9th of Dhul al-Hijja. Pilgrims gather in prayer and reflection, seeking forgiveness from Allah, from after dawn to sunset.
Tawaf Al-Ifadah
On the 10th of Dhu al-Hijja, pilgrims return to the Masjid Al-Haram, in Mecca, and perform Tawaf al-Ifadah, thecircling of the Ka’aba, that marks the place where the house of Prophet Ibrahim stood.
They start and end the cycle at the Black stone, seven times, reciting invocations to Allah. In pagan times, the Kaaba housed the idols that Meccans worshipped and asked for their blessings and protection.
After Tawaf al-Ifadah, comes the walk between the two hills, Al-Safa and Al-Marwa, seven times, beginning with the former.
According to Islamic tradition, Allah commanded Prophet Ibrahim to leave his wife Hajar and their infant son Ismail in the barren desert valley of Mecca. In an act of unwavering faith, Hajar searched desperately for water for her child, running between the hills of Safa and Marwa seven times. Allah responded by causing the Zamzam well to spring forth beneath Ismail’s feet.
Today, pilgrims reenact Hajar’s search for water, commemorating her perseverance and trust in Allah, and a reminder of Allah’s infinite mercy.
For many pilgrims, the Hajj is a life-changing experience, a journey that leaves a lasting imprint on the hearts of those who undertake it, long after the pilgrimage has ended.
US black activist Malcolm X described how his 1964 pilgrimage to Mecca profoundly transformed his worldview. Experiencing the Hajj forced him to “rearrange much of his thought patterns” and toss aside his previous belief that all white people were inherently evil.
He witnessed tens of thousands of pilgrims from all races—”from blue-eyed blondes to black-skinned Africans”—praying, eating, and sleeping as absolute equals, thus the erasure of the racial divisions he had known in America.
Pilgrims often describe feelings of renewal, inner peace, and a powerful sense of belonging to a global community. Muslims from every continent walk side by side, speaking different languages yet participating in the same rituals. Rich and poor, young and old, all wear similar clothing and share the same sacred spaces at a set of given times.
In a world fragmented by politics, borders, and prejudice, the Hajj stands as a sacred journey of faith and devotion, a reminder of equality among people and a bond among Muslims.The 10th of Dhul al-Hijja, the 27th of May 2026, marks the first day of Eid al-Adha, celebrated by Muslims around the world. Wishing you all a Blessed Eid and for those who haven’t undertaken the Hajj, a journey to Arafat, next year, Insha Allah.
