Pilgrimage to Mecca

Part I) Pilgrimage to Mecca

• Go to http://www.unn.ac.uk/societies/islamic/islam/hajj.htm to learn more about the "hajj" or pilgrimage to Mecca.
  1. According to this document how many people make the pilgrimage to Mecca each year?
  2. How often must a Muslim perform the Hajj?
  3. Do they wear special clothes? If so, why?
  4. The pilgrimage (Hajj) commemorates the actions of a historical individual who is important to Judaism and Christianity as well. Who is this "patriarch" and what is his relationship to the idea of pilgrimage?
  5. Using a dictionary define "circumambulation."

• Go to http://www.islamicity.org/Mosque/jlthajj/hajj.htm to learn more about the origins of the pilgrimage.
  1. Read about the origins of the pilgrimage and restate it in your own words.
  2. What did the original pilgrims to Mecca wear on their journey?

Part II) Now make your travel arrangements.

• Go to http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Cabana/7086/index.html for information and tips on planning your journey.
  1. How much should the total trip cost you?
  2. Calculate the exchange rate and estimate how much you will spend on your hotel room in Mecca.
  3. List five items that will be important to take with you and note why they are important in this context.
  4. What immunizations will you need? List at least three:
  5. Using the five W's write a paragraph describing the Hajj. Be specific and comprehensive.

• Visit http://Hajj.al-islam.com/eng/album/album.htm for a virtual photo album of important Islamic sites.
  1. View the photos from Mecca. Don't miss the photo of people circling the Ka'ba in Mecca.
  2. While you are waiting for the images to download begin a reflective paragraph on why you think so many people make this pilgrimage each year. What do you think they feel? You might try a first person narrative "as if" you were really there.

• Other Links
  • Hajj and Umrah Links
  • Hajj
  • Hajj and Eid-ul-Adha