thegreathajj1

by Julie Yu and Eunice Lee

** __Who Travels on the Hajj__ **
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Anyone in good physical and financial health IS required to go at least once in a lifetime. The journey is expensive, however, and most Muslims need to save up for years before they can make the trip, which is why many pilgrims are elderly. Sometimes, a community may pool together their resources to send a representative to the hajj. Although children are not obligated to attend the Hajj, they often accompany their parents. Over 2 million Muslims make the journey, which makes the hajj the largest religious gathering in the world.

** __Requirements for the Hajj__ **
A pilgrim needs a Hajj visa to travel. All women are required to travel on the Hajj with a Mahram (male relative). Proof that they're related must be turned in with the application form. Any woman over the age of 45 may travel without a Mahram with an organized group if she turns in a letter of admission from a male relative, authorizing her to travel on the hajj with the named group. The //ihram// is made from two pieces of white cloth or toweling to make a simple robe; one covers the body from waist down past the knees, and the other is thrown over the shoulder. This garment was worn by both Abraham and Muhammad and is worn on the hajj. Men’s heads must be uncovered. Once someone puts on this robe, he/she cannot shave, or cut his/her nails or hair. The //ihram// represents equality and purity before Allah.

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==** __What Happens on the Hajj__ ** ==

There are 3 days in the hajj. On the first day, pilgrims travel from Mecca toward Mina, an uninhabited village east of the city. There, the pilgrims follow the Prophet's example by spending their time praying or meditating. During the second day (aka the 9th of Dhu al-Hijjah), pilgrims leave Mina for the plain of Arafat where they rest. Pilgrims worship and pray for Allah's help, asking for forgiveness; this is usually an emotional time. There they achieve the climax of their religious lives as they experience a new closeness with their merciful God. On the third day before dawn, pilgrims travel from Muzdalifah back to Mina. Following the Prophet Abraham's example, they collect pebbles beforehand to throw at white pillars, which represents humans attempting to throw away evil and immorality. Afterwards, most pilgrims make an animal sacrifice, which is usually a sheep or a goat. Sometimes, the majority of the meat is given to the poor.After this practice, pilgrims are allowed to shed the //ihram// and wear their normal clothes again since they've completed an especially significant aspect ofthe //hajj.// Next,//Tawaf// is performed, when pilgrims circle the Ka'aba seven times and recite a prayer each time

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==** __Women and the Hajj__ ** ==

Women should shower before //ihram// to wash away any impurity they might have. Brushing hair is forbidden because that may lead to hair loss or hair-cutting. Cutting of the hair is strictly forbidden when one is in an //ihram//. Women can wear any kind of clothing they desire, so long as it doesn't look like men's clothing, is not transparent, tight-fitting, or attractive in any respect. A woman can wear any colors she wants from among those assigned to women (such as dark red, green or black). A woman can also change these colors if desired. Women are allowed to wear jewelry while they are in a state of //ihram//, but the face should remain uncovered.

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** Check out what these experts have to say about modern-day hajj: **

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** Subtopic 1: Who travels on the Hajj ** ** " Hajj - The Journey of a Lifetime (part 1 of 2): The Day of Arafah and its Preparation." islamreligion.com. Jan, 27 2012. ** ** [] ** ** "Millions Travel to Mecca for Annual Hajj." kidculture.wordpress.com. Jan, 27 2012 ** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">** [] **

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">** Subtopic 2: Requirements for the Hajj ** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">** " Documents required for Hajj visa." hajinformation.com. Jan, 27 2012. ** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">** [] ** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">** "Fatwas on Women's Hajj." go-makkah.com. Jan, 30 2012. ** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">** [|http://www.go-makkah.com/english/dossier/articles/342/Fatwas+on+Women's++Hajj.html] ** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">** "Islamic Law in Nigeria." Council on Foreign Relations. Jan, 31. 2012. ** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**[]**

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">** Subtopic 3: What happens on the Hajj ** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">** " Hajj - The Journey of a Lifetime (part 2 of 2): The Rites of Abraham." islamreligion.com. Jan, 30 2012. ** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">** [] ** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">** "The Importance of Pilgrimage to Muslim Americans." pewforum.org. Feb, 1. 2012. ** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**[]**

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">** Subtopic 4: Women and the Hajj ** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">** " A Woman's Guide To Hajj." performhajj.com. Jan, 30 2012. ** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">** [] ** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">** "Women pilgrims outnumber men on sacred ground in Mecca." todayszaman.com. Jan, 30 2012. ** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">** [] **