Here are terms and vocabulary associated with the ajj.
ajj = The Muslim Pilgrimage to Makkah. The ajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. For many Muslims, it is the most important event of their life. Any Muslim who is physically and financially able is supposed to make the ajj once in their lifetimes. The ajj is in some ways a rehearsal for the Day of Judgement. Each year, over two million Muslims from around the world gather in Makkah to perform the ajj rituals. aajj = A man who has made the Pilgrimage. aajjah = A woman who has made the Pilgrimage.
Makkah = Mecca, the holiest city in Islam. Al-Madiinah = Medina, the second holiest city of Islam. Al-Madiinah means "The City" and is short for "The City of The Prophet"
Dhu-l-ijjah = (Zuu-l-ijjah) The name of the Islamic month during which the ajj is undertaken. cUmrah = The "Lesser Pilgrimage" made during any other time of the year.
al-Kacbah = Literally "The Cube," al-Kacbah is the center of the Muslim world. Muslims pray toward it five times a day. Muslims believe the Kacbah was built by the Prophet Abraham (Ibraahiim in Arabic) as the first house of worship dedicated to the One God, some 4,000 years ago.
al-Masjid al-araam = The Holy Mosque in Makkah. The Masjid al-araam is built around the al-Kacbah. Over 300,000 people can fit inside it.
Kiswah = The covering of the Kacbah. It is made of black silk, and embroidered with verses of the Qur'an in gold. It is changed every year.
The Black Stone (Al-ajar al-Aswad) -- The Black Stone is actually believed to be a meteorite, which Muslims believe was sent by God as sign to Abraham--Abraham built it into the Kacbah. Map courtesy World Factbook 2001.
By the time of Prophet Muammad, 2,500 years after Abraham, the Kacbah was full of over 300 pagan idols. Makkah had become a center for pilgrimages to worship pagan gods. The people of Makkah made a lot of money off of this pilgrimage traffic, and when when Muammad began preaching his message of obedience to the One True God (al-Islaam,) they got very angry and tried to kill him. Then he had to flee to Al-Madiinah, which is over 200 miles north of Makkah. This flight to Al-Madiinah is called al-Hijrah. When Prophet Muammad returned victorious to Makkah, he cleared out all the pagan idols and rededicated the Kacbah to The One God.
The rituals of theajj commemorate the trials and sacrifices of Abraham, his wife Hagar and their son Ishmael (Ismaaciil in Arabic.) Muslims believe that the Prophet Muammad is descended from Abraham through Ishmael. Abraham brought his wife Hagar to the wilderness of the Arabian desert. God said that He would provide for her and ordered Abraham to leave her there.
The Prophet said the person who performs the ajj returns like a baby newly born (free of all sins).
The ajj used to be long difficult journey by camel through desert. It could take months if the Pilgrims were coming from Morocco or India. Now there are modern facilities, all built by the government of Saudi Arabia. Most Pilgrims arrive by boat or plane first in Jeddah, located on the Red Sea coast, and from there go to Makkah.
"ajj Mabruur wa thanb maghfuur" = May your Pilgrimage be accepted by God and your sins forgiven." Said to people making the ajj.
What do pilgrims do on ajj? It takes several days to complete the rituals. Here are some terms associated with the ajj rituals:
Iraam --State of ritual purity that pilgrims must be in to perform the ajj. The Iraam also refers to the white garment which men wear, made of seamless cloth. Women do not have to wear a special garment, but when they perform the Tawaaf they cannot be veiled. Pilgrims should not wear jewelry or dress up. The Iraam symbolizes that all people are the same before God--no rich, no poor. The white cloth also reminds people of death shroud in which they will be buried.
at-Tawaaf --Circling the Kacbah. Pilgrims do this 7 times, at three diffent points during the ajj. While performing the Tawaaf, they say "Labbayka Allahumma Labbayk!" "I am here, O God, at your service!"
as-Sacy --Running 7 times between the hills of afaa and Marwah. This action imitates Abraham's wife Hagar's desperate search for water in the middle of the desert.
cArafaat--Mountain where Prophet Muhammad gave his farewell address. cArafaat also refers to the plain next to the mountain, where all the Pilgrims stand and pray for God's forgiveness. This is known as the "Standing Day" and is viewed as sort of a rehearsal for the Day of Judgement.
Minaa--One site where the Pilgrims camp on their way to cArafaat.
Muzdalifah--Plain between Minaa and cArafaat where all Pilgrims camp. The Saudi government has constructed a huge tent city in Muzdalifah--it is the world's largest campground.
ar-Rajm--Act of throwing stones at 3 pillars which symbolize Satan. Jamrah--The 3 pillars. These are at Minaa.
The next day begins the cIid al-Adaa = (Eid al-Adha) The Feast of Sacrifice. It is the most important holiday of the Islamic year. It begins on the 10th day of the month of Dhu-l-ijjah, which this year will be March 6. It marks completion of ajj rituals by the Pilgrims, and commemorates Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael (Isaac in the Jewish and Christian traditions). God provided a lamb instead. In commemoration of this, Muslims who can afford to do so buy a sheep, goat, or even a cow or a camel to slaughter. The meat is distributed to poor families. In Muslim countries the Eid is a 3-4 day holiday. Because so many animals are slaughtered by the Pilgrims in Makkah, the Saudis have built a large meat-packing plant to preserve the meat. This is then distributed around the world for hunger relief efforts.
cIid Mubaarak = "Blessed Eid" the Eid greeting.
Then the Pilgrims return to Makkah for final Tawaaf and Sacy.
Well of Zamzam--The well located in Makkah, which Muslims believe God created in response to Hagar's prayers.
The trip to Medina not an official part of ajj, but most Muslims go to visit the Prophet's Mosque, where he is buried, after the ajj rituals have been completed
