Hajj

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =The Hajj= The Hajj is a wonderful experience for all Muslims. This journey happens once on a lifetime for a Muslim and is the event to look forward to. It makes one closer to Allah, the Muslim God and is the fifth pillar of Islam. It consist s of several steps influenced by the actions of Muhammad, Abraham and Hagar and Ismael. The Hajj it a spiritual journey for Muslims physically and mentally and happens every year, once a year on the last month of the Islamic calender.
 * [[image:http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:2MPTk0x8iqfNiM width="76" height="80" align="left" caption="See full size image" link="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/24/61091337_fee598e979_m.jpg"]]Claytonian Stricklonian F Perionian
 * Sam B/a
 * Meredith M/b
 * Dennis K/d

Basics of the Hajj
The Hajj is a for filling journey that gives Muslims a sense of purity and renewal. The Hajj is is the fifth pillar of Islam along with Shahadah, Salat, Zakat, and Sawn. 2.5 million people a year go on this journey to assimilate ones self with the will of God, or Allah. The Hajj takes place in Mecca where the Kaaba is located. There are seven step to the Hajj that must be proceeded such as walking around the Kaaba, kissing our touching the black stone, running of the hills, drinking water out of the Zamzam well, going to Mount Arafat, stoning of the pillars and the Eid al-Adha. The Hajj is required for every Muslim to go through once in their lifetime. The definition of the Hajj means to travel or a pilgrimage as many Muslims travel many miles to arrive in Mecca. It is trouble for most Muslims to get to Mecca and it is expensive so most Muslims can only afford to go once in their lifetime. In order to participate in the Hajj one must go into the state of Ihram. The state of Ihram is the state of peace in which no one is unkind to another and one respects everyone else. Also no drinking, sexual activity, no causing harm or fighting. Also the Ihram is cleansing yourself of sins and wearing white garments to symbolize equality of everyone. The Hajj is on the last month of Islam calendar, Dhu-al-Hjjah.

The seven steps
The Hajj consists of seven steps. All the steps are located near the city of Mecca. The first step is to circle the Kaaba seven times. Over 2.5 million people do this every year. On one corner of the Kaaba sits the black stone. This stone is known to be highly holy and if people can get up to it they will kiss it to be closer with God, or Allah. This symbolizes the beginning of the journey to complete the Hajj and become pure and on level with god. The next step after circling the Kaaba seven times is the running of the hills. The running of the hills symbolizes Hagar running between two hills looking for water for her son Ismael who desperately needed it. The people participating in the Hajj proceed this in a building that represent the two hills so they can feel the anxiety and desperation that Hagar felt to when trying to find water. After the people run the hills they go and drink from the zamzam fountain. The meaning of the zamzam fountain is to symbolize Gaberial the angel helping Haggar to save her son by making a well for water for Haggars son. The next step is to go the plain and mountain of Arafat. There is were they reflect on their life and prey to god and ask for one or two favors from him or she. They also ask for forgiving of their sins on the mountains. After the reflect on life they go to stone the pillars. Each person gets around a handful of stones to throw at these pillars. The stoning of the pillars represents Abraham warning off the devil because the devil told him to disobey Gods orders of sacrificing his son, but Abrahan stayed loyal to God. They collect 49 stones to throw at the three pillars. The last step is the Eid al-Adha or the feast of the sacrifice. There is were they sacrifice the sheep to symbolize Abraham sacrifice of the sheep instead of his son. When Abraham warded off the devil and was going to sacrifice his son, Ismael but God let him sacrifice a sheep instead. So they feast on sheep and other animals.. After that they circle the Kaaba seven time as a farewell to the journey they went on. Each year 2.5 million people participate in this journey of seven steps that symbolizes the beginning of Islam.


 * Different versions of the Haj__j__**

There are many different versions of the Hajj. One of the many versions of the Hajj is the Al-Tamattu. The main difference between the versions of the Hajj are the steps the people do who participate in it. For example here are the steps for the version of the Hajj called Al-Tamattu; first was the welcoming to Mecca. Next they enter the state of Ihram or the calm state. Afterwords, They go to Mina and then go to Mount Arafat where they reflect on life and ask for forgiveness. On the traditional Hajj Muslims do not travel to Mina. Next they go to Mazdalifah then they go back to Mina. There is where the celebration the last step the festival of Tawaf-al-lfadha. in the original Hajj this is called the Eid al-Adha. As for the steps for the original version the involve other steps as explained above in the sub topic the steps. In conclusion There are many different version of the Hajj and the main difference between them is the steps taken by the people.

The pilgrimage to mecca always occurs from the 7th to 13th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the twelfth and last month of the Islamic calendar, which usually falls around late November/ early December on our calender. There are many people who are willing to take place in this event that the people must pay a entrance fee of $150. Part of this fee goes to paying for all of the employees and props in which they need to pay for. Another big issue is limitation of space. So some people leave early from there home so that they can claim good seating and all other ceremonial placing and necessities. They do this because once all of the other Muslims arrived in Mecca, it is a free for all, once all of the other worshipers arrive. In 2009 there was a crowd of about two million participants in the annual pilgrimage to mecca. Every year the crowd increases and increases and now it getting so filled up that there are not even enough seats for everyone. Every year the crowd is increasing by population but the stadium is not increasing by size to hold the participants. Even though it is wonderful for Muslims to have so many followers, it is an unfortunate problem that the area is not large enough for the Hajj events to occur with so many people.
 * Time of year**

[[image:http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:fbN1NaY9NzCZiM width="373" height="212" caption="See full size image" link="http://www.islamicinstitute.ca/images/hajj.jpg"]]
The Hajj is a journey that provides Muslims a new life. Muslims promise to lead a better life for Allah and to keep themselves pure. They feel renewed and relieved of their sins after the pilgrimage. When they complete the Hajj, they have also proceeded with the fifth pillar of Islam. There are many versions of the Hajj and even though it is a tough journey to Mecca and there is a fee, it is worth is in the end. The Hajj is proceeded by all Muslims who are physically and financially able and it has been happening for many years and will continue to happen for many years to come.\

Virtual tour of the Kaaba

Sources:
[] [|www.hajjinformation.com]

[|www.religioustolerance.org] (Pictures are from google images for Hajj and Kaaba)

Messages Hi, I finished one sub topic about the seven steps you can write another one. Good notes!!!!!!!-sam okey dokey arctichokey

Messages Hi, i editied the paragraph sam did on the steps and done three quaters of the basiscs of the Hajj. Feel free to edit and i suggest to start writing about a different subtopic. Good luck! - Meredith M

Messages Helllllllo i edited everyhting and made a feqw changes and just began to work on the sub topic. Need peole to continue to work and finish the subtopic. from claytonian stricklonian

Messages I wrote a paragrpah on the time of year that this pilgrimage takes place, someone needs to edit it and now we only need one more paragrpah. from the clayton sssssttttrrrrrriiiiccccckkkkkllllllleeeeeerrrrrrrrrrr

Added conclusion and link for virtaul tour, work more on conclusion, thanksss-dennis Messages. i edited the paragraphes and written the intro and i found a video that i will post in it later. The person who did not write a subtopic needs to write one it to be fair. i can write the conclusions tonight if needed. fel free to edit and take out notes. -Meredith M

Hi i wrote my second subtopic paragraph but i had some troubles please be free to add more. I don't have enough time so if you guys have time please copy and paste all notes on bottom and we might need conclusion.-sam

i have edited all the spelling and grammar mistakes and added the conclusion. ALso i put the notes at the bottom to clean it up a bit. my first conclusion was better but i hit a button and all my work disapeered so i had to go to history, go to the most recent enrty and do my changes again...sorry.. But we are pretty much done so anyone whos on can edit and add stuff- good luckk!!!- Meredith M