When people hear about Islam, they often come across the idea of the “five pillars.” These aren’t just abstract beliefs, they’re practices acted upon that shape a Muslim’s life.
Hajj is unique. It doesn’t just represent one form of worship, it brings them all together. You speak words of devotion, perform acts with your body, spend from your wealth, and restrain yourself, all in a single, powerful journey.
But what exactly is Hajj? Where did it come from? And why does it matter so deeply to over a billion people?
How did Hajj originate? A Story of Tawakkul (Trust in Allah)
To understand Hajj and its inception, you have to go back to the story of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) when he was commanded by Allah to leave his infant son, Isma’il, and Isma’il’s mother, Hajar in a barren desert with no visible means of survival. When their provisions began to run out, Hajar went on a search for water, desperately running between the two hills of Safa and Marwa. Not once, but seven times. Then came relief from Allah, when the well of Zamzam gushed open quenching their thirst and what started as survival became sustenance, not just for them, but for generations to come.
Years later, Ibrahim (AS) returned and faced another test. The command to sacrifice his son. Both father and son submitted to the will of Allah with Isma’il (AS) understanding his duties to Allah and his parents. But at the moment of sacrifice, Isma’il was replaced with an animal, marking not loss, but the mercy of Allah.
These moments of searching, trusting in Allah and sacrificing are not just stories. They are relived by millions of pilgrims during Hajj.
From History to Ritual
Ibrahim (AS) and Isma’il were later commanded to build the Kaaba, the sacred structure in Makkah that Muslims face during prayer.
Over time, the purity of this worship became distorted, filled with idols and cultural practices. It wasn’t until the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) restored it that Hajj returned to its original purpose, the worship of one God, free from distortion and today, millions retrace those same steps.The 7 Steps of Hajj
Pilgrims begin in a state called Ihram, wearing simple clothing that strips away visible markers of status. No designer labels, no symbols of wealth, just human beings, equal before God.
The first night of Hajj is spent in the tents in Mina remembering Allah (dhikr) and making supplications (du’a).
The second day of Hajj is spent on the plains of Arafah. This is the defining day of the Hajj. Muslims gather together and stand in deep reflections making du’a for several hours asking Allah to save them from the punishment of the Hellfire.
The night is then spent under the open skies in Muzdallifa.
The third day, when everyone else around the world is celebrating Eid Al-Adha, the pilgrims are performing their rituals of Hajj. They throw stones at pillars representing Satan, echoing what Ibrahim (AS) did when Satan was dissuading him from sacrificing his son. They offer sacrifice, cut their hair, and circle the Kaaba (Tawaf) in an act of devotion that has continued for centuries.
The fourth, fifth and optionally sixth day is spent again in Mina, alongside the continuous remembrance of Allah, the pilgrims will pelt the pillars representing Satan.
The final step before leaving Makkah is to do Tawaf al-Wada (farewell) which is signifying a respectful goodbye to the Kaaba and a final prayer for acceptance. It ensures the pilgrim’s last act is one of obedience, acting as a spiritual closing to the pilgrimage while hoping for a future return.
Hajj isn’t a single event, it’s a sequence of days, each filled with meaning. Physically, it’s demanding. Spiritually, it’s transformative.
Spiritual Meaning of Hajj
What makes Hajj so powerful isn’t just what people do, but what it does to them.
In a world obsessed with identity, followers and appearance, Hajj strips everything back. Everyone looks similar. Everyone moves together. Everyone is seeking the same thing. Allah’s mercy. My teacher once said to think of any acts in Islam and you’ll be able to relate it back to Hajj whether it be du’a, sacrifice, patience and more. Hajj can be described as a school, a believer goes through all its trials and they are come out equipped with all the skills required to live a life centred around the worship of Allah.
There’s a moment on the Day of Arafah that many describe as overwhelming. Millions stand, hands raised, asking, hoping, reflecting.
“There is no day on which Allah frees more people from the Fire than the Day of Arafah…”
For many, it’s a reset. A chance to return home lighter than they arrived.
What If You Can’t Do Hajj?
Not everyone is able to perform Hajj, whether that be financially, physically or for whatever reason and that’s okay. The doors of Allah’s mercy aren’t closed.
One of the most powerful opportunities is fasting on the Day of Arafah (the 9th of Dhul Hijjah). The Prophet (PBUH) taught that it wipes away the sins of the previous year and the coming year.
The Prophet (PBUH) was asked about fasting on the day of Arafah (the 9th of the month of Dhul Hijjah). He replied, “Fasting on the day of Arafah is an expiation for the preceding year and the following year.”
That’s not a small thing, it’s a chance for renewal and an opportunity we should not miss.
So even from afar, you can be a part of this journey. Fast, reflect and make du’a, not just for yourself, but for those standing in Arafah that Allah accepts their efforts and their Hajj and most importantly, ask Allah to allow you to receive the blessed call of Hajj.
