Definition
This entry entails the history, rites, and rituals of the fifth pillar in Islam, the Hajj. The Hajj is a pilgrimage thought to be performed even before Muhammad received revelation. There are a number or rites and rituals that belong to this sacred journey, and this excursion should be taken at least once in a Muslim’s life.
Introduction
Central to any understanding of Islam is the knowledge that there are five pillars, which most Muslims believe to be mandatory. The pillars are shahada (faith), salat (prayer), zakat (almsgiving), sawm (fasting), and hajj(pilgrimage). The Saudi Embassy in Washington, D.C., states on their website unequivocally, “Undertaking the Hajj at least once is a duty for Muslims who are physically and financially able to make the journey to Makkah.” In September 2015, the Hajj made headlines as the site of a massive stampede, the deadliest in Hajj history, which killed at least 2,177 pilgrims. Exploring the history of the Hajj, the demographics of...
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References
Arabic transliteration done by Arkan Dawoud from New York University AH denotes the Hijri year used in the Islamic lunar calendar. This calendar starts in 622 C.E. when Muhammad and his first supporters migrated from Mecca to Yathrib, now known as Medina in Saudi Arabia
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Irwin, N.S. (2019). Hajj. In: Gooren, H. (eds) Encyclopedia of Latin American Religions. Religions of the World. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27078-4_293
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