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From June 4 to 8, millions of Muslims will perform the HajjA unique pilgrimage for all adult Muslims who are physically and financially able to undertake the trip.
But have you ever wondered what this trip on the field looks like?
The animated video below illustrates the five-day process. Do you prefer a detailed view? Continue to scroll for daily ventilation.
Arrive for hajj
Before the start of Hajj, pilgrims must enter into a physical and spiritual condition known as Ihram. It starts with the Niyah, or the intention of performing hajj, and includes the wearing of specific clothes of two simple white fabrics for men and a modest outfit for women. These identical white clothes undress visible markers of class, wealth or nationality, symbolizing that all pilgrims are equal before God.
Day 1 – Tapif arrival
After entering Mecca in Ihram, many pilgrims perform an initial tawaf by touring the Kaaba, a black stone structure in the heart of the great mosque of Mecca (Masjid al-Haram), seven times in the antihorarous sense. This symbolizes unity in the worship of the God. Pilgrims can then perform the Sa’i, a ritual of walking seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwa, located in the mosque.
The Kaaba, which means cube in Arabic, is the most sacred site of Islam and serves as Qibla, the direction with which Muslims are confronted during prayer. Muslims believe that the Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim) and his son Ishmael (Ismaeel) built the Kaaba by the command of God, symbolizing the return to pure monotheism.
The Kaaba measures 13.1 meters (43 feet) high, 12.8 m (42 feet) in length and 11.03 m (36 feet) in width. Kaaba is covered with a black fabric known as Kiswah and is decorated with golden Arabic text with Koranic verses.
Day 1 – Mina
The pilgrims then go to Mina, located about 8 km (5 miles) east of Kaaba, where they will spend the night in prayer and reflection. Mina is known as the “city of tents” due to the large expanse of 100,000 white tents to house the millions of pilgrims.
