Hajj is the fifth and final pillar of Islam and takes place in the month of Dhul-Hijjah, which is the twelfth month of the Islamic lunar calendar.

In simple terms, it is an act of worship obligated on every able person to perform at least once in their lifetime if they have the means to do so.  Hajj is to perform a set of rites and rituals as ordained in the Holy Quran and during a prescribed five day period, in Islam’s holiest city, Mecca.

Pilgrims performing the Hajj follow in the footsteps of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) (peace be upon him) and his family, and is perceived to be a journey of the body and soul. The acts of worship performed during Hajj follow those of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) over 1,400 years ago.

An important part of the pilgrimage is the circumambulation around the Kaaba “House of God”.  These are done in a counter clockwise direction and are thought to express the unity between Muslims in worshipping one God.  To further express the unity of the faith, and shedding all signs of wealth, men are required to dress in two pieces of unstitched white garments during the pilgrimage days. There are a number of other rituals including spending a day praying and repenting at the Mount of Mercy in Arafat, where Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) gave his last sermon; and the symbolic stoning of the devil.

Hajj is known to be one of the world’s largest annual religious gatherings, and a life changing experience for many. Where a person has performed Hajj with pure intention and sincerity, it is believed that that they return free from sins just as the day their mother gave birth to them.

Since the end of the pandemic, we have seen a return to near normality for many events and festivals, and Hajj is no different. For the first time in our lifetime, we saw a complete ban on Hajj in 2020 to anyone from outside Saudi Arabia, limited numbers over the next couple of years, before a return to Hajj as we know it.

To mark the end of Hajj, Muslims around the world celebrate Eid Al-Adha.  This is a three day celebration commemorating Prophet Ibrahim’s (Abraham) willingness to sacrifice his son on Allah’s command. Following morning Eid prayers in the mosque, friends and family traditionally spend this time visiting each other in their finest clothes and sharing food and gifts.

This is a time for Muslims to pledge their willingness to submit to the will of the God not just by way of performing the sacrificing of an animal, but also by committing themselves to other acts of charity; such as donating sums of money, food and clothes to the homeless and the poor during Eid Al-Adha.

We wish all our Muslim staff, patients and colleagues Eid Mubarak!