The Hajj pilgrimage is one of the five pillars of Islam, and every Muslim who can afford it must perform it at least once in their lifetime. The journey to Mecca, in Saudi Arabia, takes place between the eighth and 12th days of the last month of the Islamic calendar, Dhu al-Hijjah, and culminates with the Hajj itself on the last day. It’s estimated that over 2 million Muslims participate in the event every year and with so many on the road, it’s important to be as prepared as possible.
10 Facts About the Hajj
Did you know that every year over 2 million Muslims travel to Mecca, Saudi Arabia for pilgrimage? (Hajj) The pilgrimage is a religious duty that must be carried out at least once in your lifetime. If you have plans of performing hajj, you should find yourself a good Hajj Packages in the UK. It will offer you various benefits and make your trip more enjoyable. Below are 10 facts about Hajj that may give you insight into how special and important it is.
The Rituals of Hajj
The first ritual is called ʿUmrah. This rite, which takes place at any time of year, prepares pilgrims for their pilgrimage and starts on an odd-numbered day during Ramadan. After completing ʿUmrah, they will then formally declare that they are embarking on a pilgrimage to Mecca, known as Ḥajj. After pilgrims have made their intention to go on Ḥajj, they must wait four months until it can be performed. The Islamic calendar may move back by 10 or 11 days per year, so depending upon when a person began his/her intention to make a pilgrimage, he/she may need to wait more than four months before he/she is ready to complete Ḥajj.
Advice for Pilgrims on their Journey
If you’re traveling from outside of Saudi Arabia, you will be going through two stages to get to your destination. First, there is an airport transit which usually takes around 1-2 hours; second, you will travel from Riyadh to Mecca by car or coach. This journey can take anywhere between 5 and 12 hours depending on what type of transport you are using and how many people are in your group. Once in Mecca, you are free to explore and enjoy yourself, but it is a good idea to have a plan or some way of organizing things before arriving.
Planning Your Hajj Trip
Before you can start looking for a Hajj Packages, you’ll need to plan your trip. The Islamic calendar is based on 12 lunar months, so there are about 354 days in a year. The sacred month of Dhu al-Hijjah, during which Muslims attend hajj, falls toward the end of one of these years—in 2013 it will be from Sept. 21 to Oct. 20—and it’s recommended that Muslims go on hajj at least once in their lifetime if they have enough money and health to do so. Specific hajj dates aren’t set until about two weeks before Dhu al-Hijjah begins; your travel agent can get you more information on the exact dates and times when they become available…
Where To Stay in Makkah/Madina
A question that will come up early in your search for Hajj packages is: Where should I stay? There are so many different accommodations in Makkah and Madina. There are also several types of accommodation within each city, making it easy to find exactly what you’re looking for. As a general rule, if you want to be close to religious landmarks, then there are many options for you. If you want modern comfort (with less-than-modern views), then there are plenty of options for that as well. When looking at your housing choices, keep a few things in mind: How far do I want to walk from my accommodation? What am I willing/able to spend on accommodations? How important is central location vs. luxury?
Where To Stay on your way back to your home country
If you’re planning to head home after completing your Hajj or Umrah, you might be wondering where you should stay. And yes, it is a challenge choosing where to rest your head before heading home. That’s why we put together a list of our favorite hotels and resorts near airports in cities around the world; each has been vetted by several members of our team and holds up to five-star ratings (like TripAdvisor). Whether you want something right on an airport runway or something more remote but still comfortable, these options are sure to meet your needs. After all, no one wants their trip back home to be over before it even began.
