History of Hajj in Islam

Hajj brings together the entire spectrum of Islam. Pilgrims dress in simple white sheets and intend to go on a trip on which they wish to come closer to Allah and erase all their sins to go back home like the day they were born. An act that removes one class, status, and culture. All are presented before Allah in the same clothes with the same request, all are equal and are asking Allah’s forgiveness. 

Who was the first pilgrim?

The origins of the Hajj date back to 2,000 B.C. when Prophet Isma’il, Prophet Ibrahim’s son was brought with his mother Lady Hajar by his father and left alone in the desert. With Prophet Isma’il close to death from thirst, Hager ran back and forth between the hills of Al-Safa and Al-Marwa looking for water until Gabriel touched down to earth and created a spring of fresh water for the baby, known as the Well of Zemzem. 

Following the orders of Allah, Ibrahim and his son Isma’il began building the House of Allah, Al-Kaba’a. Worshipers from all faiths traveled to revel at the site; in 630 A.D.

Hajj in pre-Islam ages

Arabs from all over the region used to do Hajj to Al-Kaba’a during the month of Zul Hejjah. The people of Makkah used to participate in Hajj as well. The months of Zul Qa’adah, Zul Hejjah, Moharam, and Rajab were considered holy months, in which it was forbidden to fight, in respect of the pilgrimage. 

Many religious scholars say Hajj has always been a purely religious ritual. But some Koranic scholars also believe trading and business are reasons of Hajj particularly in Makkah, some also believed that it was done for some political reasons as well. 

 Al-Kaba’a was the source of livelihood for the people of Makkah and idols used to bring tribes from everywhere, so Quraish paid great attention to it and were preparing food and drink for pilgrims till the end of the Hajj season. The rituals of Hajj before Islam were carried out in an absurd and disorderly manner. While some circumambulate Al-Kaba’a naked, others run between Al-Safa and Al-Marwa, a few ascend from Mount Arafat, and others slaughtering sacrifices and smearing blood.

Check out The lessons learned from The Farewell Hajj

Hajj in Islam

Hajj in Islam is the pilgrimage of Muslims to Makkah every year to perform the rituals of Hajj, and it is the duty of every capable adult Muslim once in a lifetime.

Hajj has been imposed in the sixth year of migration. It  began by Prophet Muhammad seeing a dream which was validated by the Quran verse 

لَّقَدْ صَدَقَ اللَّهُ رَسُولَهُ الرُّؤْيَا بِالْحَقِّ ۖ لَتَدْخُلُنَّ الْمَسْجِدَ الْحَرَامَ إِن شَاءَ اللَّهُ آمِنِينَ مُحَلِّقِينَ رُءُوسَكُمْ وَمُقَصِّرِينَ لَا تَخَافُونَ

The Muslims emigrated from Mecca after thirteen years and left their homes and their money unjustly, only for believing that Allah is the only God and Prophet Muhammad is his messenger. They remained in Medinah for another six years defending the message of Allah with Prophet Muhammad and repelling the plots of the polytheists.  

On the seventh year of the Hijrah, the Messenger and his companions came to perform Umrah, and they entered Makkah and the polytheists left it for them for three days. 

On the eighth year of the Hijrah, Makkah was conquered, and the Messenger entered with ten thousand Muslims and purified Al-Kaba’a of idols, because of Allah’s saying: “The truth has come and falsehood has perished.

وَقُلْ جَاءَ الْحَقُّ وَزَهَقَ الْبَاطِلُ ۚ إِنَّ الْبَاطِلَ كَانَ زَهُوقا

On the ninth year of the Hijrah, Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq went to Makkah as a trustee of Muslim pilgrims. And Since then, no polytheist was permitted to enter Al-Haram to perform Hajj executing Allah’s orders in preserving his Sacred House.

Hajj is one of the pillars of Islam, and the timing of its hypothesis is a statement of the perfection of religion