The Greater Pilgrimage

The Greater Pilgrimage

It is the ninth day of Zul-Hijjah and the greater pilgrimage has started. Where are you? It does, not matter! Wherever you may be - at Masjid-ul-Haram ...

The Three Idols

The Three Idols

Recall that the three idols in Mina represent Satan who tried to tempt Ibrahim. Is it not true that man has to experience three stages in order to ...

The Dialogue between Father and Son

The Dialogue between Father and Son

  In Mina, in a quiet corner, Ibrahim talked to his son! The father gray-haired and bearded, lived a century, while Ismail was just growing ...

The Sacrifice of Ismail

The Sacrifice of Ismail

Your dear son, the fruit of your life, your joy, your reason for being, the meaning of your existence, your son, no, your Ismail - Knock him down as a ...

Sacrifice

Sacrifice

After you have shot the last idol, offer the sacrifice immediately since these three idols are the statues of trinity and the symbols of three, ...

The Battle Front

The Battle Front

The three Satans, situated along the King's Street, are about one hundred meters apart from each other. Each represents a "monument", a ...

Mina

Mina

At Mina, the longest and last pause occurs! It signifies hope, aspiration, idealism and ... love! Love is the last stage it follows knowledge and ...

Mashar

Mashar

The sun is disappearing in Arafat and you must leave too! Arafat is lost and killed by the darkness of the night. You do not stay here overnight but ...

Arafat

Arafat

Upon wearing your Ihram garments and leaving Mecca, you will start traveling toward the east (Arafat) where you must remain until the sunset of the ...

The Delay in Mina

The Delay in Mina

There is a two day stay over in Mina to think about your ideology and what you have done. On the 'Id day and after the sacrifice, the ceremonies ...

The End of Sa y

The End of Sa y

At the last point of your Sa'y, at Marwa, cut your hair short or clip your nails. Remove your Ihram garments and wear your regular clothes. Feel ...

Between Tawaf and Sa y

Between Tawaf and Sa y

When completing the tawaf prayer in Ibrahim's position, you must go to "Masa" which is the space between the mountains of Safa and Marwa ...

Ibrahim s Position

Ibrahim s Position

After completing the seventh round of circumambulation, the state of Tawaf ends. Seventh? Yes! It is not simply the sum of six plus one, but it is a ...

Allegiance and the Black Stone

Allegiance and the Black Stone

Circumambulation must begin at the point where the BLACK STONE is located. This is where you enter the universe's system. You join the other ...

Circumambulating

Circumambulating

Like a roaring river circling around a stone, Kaaba is surrounded by a crowd of highly excited people. It is like a sun in the center while the people ...

The Ka aba

The Ka aba

Made of dark rough stones laid in a very simple manner with white chalk filling the fissures, the Kaaba is an empty cube - nothing else. You cannot ...

Avoiding Certain Actions

Avoiding Certain Actions

There are certain things which you are expected to avoid while in the state of Ihram. These include any sort of reminders of your business, position, ...

Praying in Miqat

Praying in Miqat

When at Miqat and ready to start the Hajj, you are aware of what must be done and why. In the Ihram attire you will perform the prayer of Ihram, ...

the spritual aspect of hajj

the spritual aspect of hajj

Now that we are at the threshold of performing our auspicious religious precept of Hajj, it is necessary to consider its gnostic, spiritual, social, ...

Fotnote

Fotnote

  1. From Imam Khomeini’s message to the world Muslims on the occasion of opening the great devotional-political Hajj Congress and Eid-e ...

Disgust at the pagans

Disgust at the pagans

1.Principally, disgust at the pagans is a political duty of Hajj and without it, one's Hajj will not be regarded as Hajj. (Vol. 20, p. 202.) 2. ...

THE DUTIES OF THE CARAVAN MANAGERS

THE DUTIES OF THE CARAVAN MANAGERS

You must be models of good deeds, representing the Islamic Republic of Iran, whether as clerics, caravan heads or Hajj pilgrims. This year your ...

GENERAL

GENERAL

The philosophy of Hajj, i.e. one of the major philosophies of Hajj, lies in its political dimensions, for the suppression of which criminal hands are ...

The  Id

The Id

  The action is over and soon Hajj ends.  Where? In Mina!  Surprisingly, in the neighborhood of Mecca! Why does Hajj end here ...

Epilogue - Poem by Naser Khosrow

Epilogue - Poem by Naser Khosrow

  The pilgrims returned with reverence. They were thankful to the Merciful God.  On their way to Mecca from Arafat, They repeatedly said ...

A More Important Lesson

A More Important Lesson

The fact that Imam Hussein left Mecca for Karbala where he was martyred before completing his Hajj duties taught us a more important lesson than ...

Conclusion

Conclusion

The time for staying in Mina is over and the ceremonies end near the border of Mecca. There is one more Tawaf and Sa'y that you can do anytime ...

The Last Message

The Last Message

The actions of Hajj transmit the message that the Quran relates in words. Before the completion of Hajj, it is recommended that you read the whole ...

Consequent attacks after  Id

Consequent attacks after Id

During your first attack on the first day, you shoot the last idol and open the way to the place of sacrifice. Then you take off your Ihram and ...

Declaring your Intention (Niyyat)

Declaring your Intention (Niyyat)

Before entering Miqat, which is the beginning of a great change and revolution, you must declare your intention. What does this encompass? It is the ...

Entering Miqat and Becoming One

Entering Miqat and Becoming One

The show begins at Miqat. At this point, the actor (mankind) must change his clothes. Why? Because one's attire covers the person as well as his ...

Reaching Toward Allah

Reaching Toward Allah

Hajj occurs during the highly respected month of Zul-Hijjah'. The land of Makkah (Mecca) is tranquil and peaceful. Instead of fear, hatred, and ...

Rejecting an Empty Philosophy

Rejecting an Empty Philosophy

Life today (not life as it should be carried on) is an idle cyclical action a movement with no goal! A meaningless pendular action starts with the day ...

Introduction

Introduction

What has the experience of Hajj taught me? First one must ask - what does Hajj mean? In essence, Hajj is man's evolution toward Allah. It is a ...

Preface by the Author

Preface by the Author

As a person who is "knowledgeable about religion" and whose field of study is "the history of religions", I reached the following ...

Foreword by the Translators

Foreword by the Translators

Efforts to translate this book began two and one half years ago. Its completion was delayed due to the difficulties in finding appropriate words for ...

About the Author

About the Author

Dr. Ali Shariati was born in Mazinan, a suburb of Mashad, Iran. He completed his elementary and high school in Mashad. In his years at the ...

Introduction

Introduction

What follows in this short book is a glance at the secrets of the Hajj, as expounded by the great scholar and teacher of Akhlaq (Islamic Etiquette) ...

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

  SOCIAL EFFECTS OF HAJJ   HAJJ, THE ASSEMBLY OF DISPERSED POWERS IN SINGLE FORUM وَأَذِّنْ فی النَّاسِ ...

Chapter One

Chapter One

THE PURPOSE OF ACTS OF WORSHIP The purpose of acts of worship is to draw man's attention to the privilege he has in the universe. That purpose ...