Pilgrimage to Mecca is one of the five pillars in Islam. It is obligatory for every able muslim to visit Mecca once in his lifetime for pilgrimage because Allah said in the holy Qur’an :
إِنَّ أَوَّلَ بَيْتٍ وُضِعَ لِلنَّاسِ لَلَّذِي بِبَكَّةَ مُبَارَكًا وَهُدًى لِلْعَالَمِينَ فِيهِ آَيَاتٌ بَيِّنَاتٌ مَقَامُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمَنْ دَخَلَهُ كَانَ آَمِنًا وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا وَمَنْ كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ
“The first House (of worship) appointed for men was that at Bakka: Full of blessing and of guidance for all kinds of beings. In it are Signs Manifest; (for example), the Station of Abraham; whoever enters it attains security; Pilgrimage thereto is a duty men owe to Allah,- those who can afford the journey; but if any deny faith, Allah stands not in need of any of His creatures.” (Q.S. Ali Imran : 96-97)
Our prophet Muhammad SAW also said :
“Islam is built upon five pillars. First, there is no other God but Allah and Muhammad is His messenger. Second, to observe the five daily prayers. Third, to give zakat, the divine tax. Fourth, to fast during the month of Ramadhan. And fifth, to perform the pilgrimage to the holy House of God in Mecca, for those who are able to offer the journey.
Hajj in Islam means visitting the sacred Mosque in Mecca during certain dates in the Muslim year, which are called “the month of Hajj”. These month are Syawwal, Zul Qa’idah and Zul Hijjah. The pilgrimage to mecca can only be accepted at these time and the condition of performing Hajj can not be accepted before these months.
Another important place for Muslims is the city of Madinah, the second holiest place in Islam, in Saudi Arabia, where Muhammad rests in Al-Masjid al-Nabawi (the Mosque of the Prophet). The ihram (white robes of pilgrimage) is meant to show equality of all pilgrims in the eyes of God: that there is no difference between a prince and a pauper. Ihram is also symbolic for holy virtue and pardon from all past sins. While wearing the ihram in Mecca, a pilgrim may not shave, clip their nails, wear perfume, swear or quarrel, hunt, kill any creature, uproot or damage plants, cover the head for men or the face and hands for women, marry, wear shoes over the ankles, perform any dishonest acts or carry weapons. If they do any of these their pilgrimage is invalid. (From ed.wikipedia.org and English for Islamic Studies)
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