الْحَجُّ

The fifth pillar is hajj: الْحَجّ al-ḥajj, the pilgrimage to Makkah.

Allah says: وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا wa lillaahi 'ala n-naasi ḥijju l-bayti mani staṭaa'a ilayhi sabiilaa "Pilgrimage to the House is a duty owed to Allah by people who are able to make the journey." (meaning of part of verse 3:97)

The House is the Kaaba. The Prophet Ibrahim and his son Isma'il built it to worship Allah (2:127). It is the Kaaba we face when we pray!

Who makes hajj? Those who can: an adult with enough money and good health. Once in a lifetime it is obligatory; you may do it again if you wish. Hajj takes place every year in the month of Dhul-Ḥijjah, the 12th month.

How does hajj go? (very simply) • Men wear two simple white cloths, women wear simple clothes: rich and poor look alike. • Everyone repeats the talbiyah: لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ labbayka llaahumma labbayk: "Here I am, O Allah, here I am!" (Bukhari 1549, Muslim 1184) • We walk seven times around the Kaaba. • We walk between the two little hills of Ṣafaa and Marwa (2:158), like Haajar, the mother of Isma'il, who was looking for water for her baby. Allah made the water of Zamzam spring up for them (Bukhari 3364). • On the day of 'Arafah, we pray and make dua on the plain of 'Arafat. • Then comes the celebration of Eid al-Aḍḥaa, for all the Muslims in the world!

Little activity: on a globe or a map, look for Makkah with your parent. Then find where you live: in which direction is the Kaaba?

Understanding the lesson

Explanation Hajj is the only pillar we do just once in our life, and only if we can. Allah never asks for more than we are able to do. During hajj, millions of Muslims from every country, of every colour and every language are together, dressed the same way, saying the same words: before Allah, we are all equal. What counts is piety (49:13). Hajj also reminds us of the story of Ibrahim's family: his trust in Allah, and the courage of Haajar, who ran between Ṣafaa and Marwa. The Prophet ﷺ said that a well-done hajj (mabruur) has no reward other than Paradise (Bukhari 1773, Muslim 1349).

Lessons to draw from it • I respect everyone: before Allah, we are all equal. • I trust Allah, like Haajar in the desert. • I can make a dua: "O Allah, let me go and make hajj one day."

Key points to remember • Hajj is the fifth pillar: once in a lifetime, for those who can (3:97). • The Kaaba was built by Ibrahim and Isma'il (2:127). • The talbiyah: "Labbayka llaahumma labbayk" (Bukhari 1549, Muslim 1184). • The reward of a hajj mabruur is Paradise (Bukhari 1773, Muslim 1349).

The main message Hajj brings all Muslims together before the House of Allah, equal and dressed alike: I dream of going one day, and I respect everyone starting today.