JAKARTA (14/05/2026)

Every Muslim knows that there are five fundamental pillars upon which their religious life is built the Five Pillars of Islam. It begins with the two declarations of faith (shahadah) as the gateway into Islam, followed by the five daily prayers, paying alms (zakat), fasting during the month of Ramadan, and culminating in its highest point: the pilgrimage of Hajj. These five pillars do not stand in isolation; they represent a gradual journey of a Muslim drawing closer to Allah, each carried out in accordance with one’s own capacity and readiness.

Among the five pillars, Hajj holds a uniquely exalted place. It is the crown the culmination and completion of all the acts of worship a Muslim has performed throughout their life. And right now, millions of Muslims from every corner of the globe are preparing themselves, or have already arrived in the Holy Land, to answer this magnificent call.

So what exactly is Hajj? What are its origins? What are its conditions and rituals? And what wisdom can we draw from one of the greatest acts of worship in Islam? Let’s explore it all.

What Is Hajj?

Linguistically, the word hajj (حَجّ) means to intend or to set out toward. As a religious term, Hajj refers to the act of deliberately journeying to the Ka’bah in Mecca during a specific period on the month of Dhul Hijjah and carrying out a prescribed series of ritual acts as ordained by Islamic law.

The pilgrimage generally lasts around 40 days for regular pilgrims, from departure to return home. More recently, a shorter package of approximately 20 days has also been made available for select regions. Throughout this time, pilgrims undertake a series of sacred rituals across several locations, including Mecca, Mina, Muzdalifah, and the Plain of Arafah.

The History of Hajj: The Grand Legacy of Prophet Ibrahim

To truly understand Hajj, we must trace its remarkable roots, a story of obedience, sacrifice, and a servant’s profound love for his Lord.

It is narrated that Allah commanded Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) AS to build a sacred house in the valley of Mecca, which at the time was barren and desolate. With full devotion, Prophet Ibrahim AS and his son, Prophet Ismail (Ishmael) AS, began laying stone upon stone to construct the Ka’bah — a simple cube-shaped structure that has since become the qiblah(direction of prayer) for all Muslims around the world.

Allah immortalized this magnificent moment in the Qur’an:

وَإِذْ يَرْفَعُ إِبْرَاهِيمُ الْقَوَاعِدَ مِنَ الْبَيْتِ وَإِسْمَاعِيلُ رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا إِنَّكَ أَنتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ

“And when Ibrahim was raising the foundations of the House and [with him] Ismail, [they prayed]: ‘Our Lord, accept [this] from us. Indeed You are the Hearing, the Knowing.'” (QS. Al-Baqarah: 127)

Once the Ka’bah was complete, Allah commanded Prophet Ibrahim to call upon all of humanity to make a pilgrimage to this sacred place. From that call, the tradition of Hajj was born passed down through generations until the Prophet Muhammad SAW reaffirmed it as one of the obligatory pillars of Islam.

The Ruling on Hajj and Its Scriptural Basis

From the Qur’an

The obligation of Hajj is stated explicitly in the words of Allah:

وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ

“And [due] to Allah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House  for whoever is able to find thereto a way. But whoever disbelieves then indeed, Allah is free from need of the worlds.” (QS. Ali Imran: 97)

From the Hadith

The Prophet Muhammad SAW also affirmed the obligation of Hajj in a hadith narrated by Ibn Abbas RA:

بُنِيَ الْإِسْلَامُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ: شَهَادَةِ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ، وَإِقَامِ الصَّلَاةِ، وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ، وَصَوْمِ رَمَضَانَ، وَحَجِّ الْبَيْتِ لِمَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا

“Islam is built upon five [pillars]: testifying that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing prayer, paying zakat, fasting in Ramadan, and performing Hajj to the House of Allah for whoever is able to do so.” (HR. Bukhari and Muslim)

Based on these two scriptural foundations, the ruling on Hajj is fardhu ‘ain  (individually obligatory for every Muslim who meets the required conditions) and it is sufficient to perform it once in a lifetime.

The Conditions for Hajj to Be Obligatory

Hajj is not a light burden — physically, financially, or mentally. For this reason, Islam has established a set of conditions that must be met before Hajj becomes obligatory upon a person.

1. Islam

The obligation of Hajj applies only to Muslims. A non-Muslim is not obligated, and even if they were to perform every single ritual, it would not be considered valid under Islamic law.

2. Baligh (Puberty / Adulthood)

Children who have not yet reached puberty are not obligated to perform Hajj. However, if they do so, it is considered a voluntary act of worship (sunnah) and still carries reward. That said, once they reach adulthood, they are still required to perform Hajj again, as it only becomes obligatory from that point onward.

3. Sound Mind

A person who is mentally incapacitated or suffers from severe mental illness is not held to the obligation of Hajj, as they are unable to understand and carry out the pilgrimage’s full set of rituals.

4. Freedom

This condition stems from the historical context of slavery during the time of the Prophet. A slave who was sent on Hajj by their master would have their pilgrimage counted as voluntary. Once freed, they would be required to perform Hajj independently.

5. Capability (Istitha’ah)

This is perhaps the most prominent condition, and what makes Hajj distinct from other pillars. Capability (istitha’ah) encompasses:

• Having sufficient funds to cover round-trip travel to Mecca and living expenses while there
• Having proper Hajj equipment and necessities
• For women: being accompanied by a mahram (husband or legal male guardian) or a trusted woman designated through official channels
• Having good physical and mental health to endure the pilgrimage’s demands
• Having knowledge of the proper procedures and rulings of Hajj

6. Safety and Security

Safety of one’s life, body, and property throughout the journey and stay in the Holy Land is a required condition. Without a reasonable assurance of safety, a person cannot be held obligated to perform the pilgrimage.

7. Availability of Transportation

Access to adequate and functioning transportation is also a condition. This ensures that pilgrims can move between the various ritual sites smoothly and safely throughout the pilgrimage.

Hajj: Obligatory, Yet Deeply Considered

Although Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, it is an act of worship that cannot be forced upon those who are not yet ready. Islam is deeply humane in this regard. Allah Himself clarifies in QS. Ali Imran: 97 that the obligation applies only to “those who are able.”

Preparing for Hajj is not something that can be done overnight. There are three dimensions of readiness that must be met simultaneously:

First, financial readiness. The cost of Hajj is substantial. A person may need to save for years to cover travel, accommodation, food, and other needs while in the Holy Land. Islam does not endorse forcing oneself to perform Hajj at the expense of leaving one’s family in hardship or going into debt to fund the journey.

Second, physical readiness. Hajj is far more than a spiritual tourism trip. It is an act of worship that demands extraordinary stamina,walking several kilometers under a blazing sun, standing for hours on the Plain of Arafah, and casting stones at the Jamarat amid a crowd of millions. Good physical health is an absolute prerequisite.

Third, knowledge and mental readiness. A pilgrim who does not understand the rules and procedures of Hajj risks making errors that could affect the validity of their pilgrimage. Seriously studying the fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) of Hajj well before departure is itself an obligation.

This is precisely why many scholars emphasize:

it is far better to delay Hajj until one is truly prepared, than to rush into it without meeting the conditions or risk squandering such a tremendous act of worship.

How Hajj Is Performed

Hajj consists of a series of rituals performed in a specific sequence. Here are the four main stages:

1. Ihram

Ihram is the act of making the intention to enter a state of ritual consecration to begin Hajj, while simultaneously donning a specific garment also called ihram. For men, ihram consists of two seamless white cloths wrapped around the body. For women, it refers to modest clothing that covers the entire body except the face and hands.

Ihram is entered at designated boundary points called miqat, geographical markers determined based on the pilgrim’s region of origin. Once in a state of ihram, a person is prohibited from certain actions, such as cutting hair or nails, using perfume, hunting, and others. Throughout the ihram, pilgrims continuously recite the talbiyah:

“Labbaikallahumma labbaik, labbaika laa syariika laka labbaik, innal hamda wan ni’mata laka wal mulk, laa syariika lak.”

(Here I am, O Allah, here I am. Here I am, You have no partner, here I am. Verily, all praise and blessings belong to You, and all sovereignty. You have no partner.)

2. Tawaf

Tawaf is the ritual of circumambulating the Ka’bah seven times in a counterclockwise direction, with the Ka’bah always on the left side, beginning and ending at the Hajar Aswad (Black Stone). Tawaf is performed with deep reverence, accompanied by supplication and remembrance of Allah.

The tawaf performed upon arrival in Mecca is called Tawaf Qudum (the welcoming tawaf). There is also Tawaf Ifadhah, which is one of the essential pillars of Hajj and must be performed, as well as Tawaf Wada’ (the farewell tawaf) performed before departing Mecca.

3. Sa’i

Sa’i is the ritual of walking and jogging between two hills, Safa and Marwah, a total of seven times. This ritual commemorates the struggle of Hajar (Hagar), the mother of Prophet Ismail, who ran frantically between the two hills with unwavering faith, desperately searching for water for her infant son until Allah caused the spring of Zamzam to gush forth, a spring that has never run dry to this day.

Sa’i begins at the hill of Safa and concludes at Marwah. Between the two green markers along the sa’i path, male pilgrims are encouraged to jog, while women simply walk at a normal pace.

4. Wuquf at Arafah

The wuquf (standing) at the Plain of Arafah is the heart of Hajj. The Prophet SAW declared: “Al-Hajju Arafah” (Hajj is Arafah). Without the wuquf, Hajj is invalid.

Wuquf is performed on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah, from the time the sun passes its zenith (Dhuhr) until sunset. On this vast plain, millions of pilgrims gather together without distinction of race, nationality, or social class.

This is the most emotionally profound moment in the entire Hajj journey: supplicating, remembering Allah, seeking repentance, and reflecting on the meaning of life in the presence of the Creator.

Throwing the Jamarat

After the wuquf, pilgrims make their way to Muzdalifah to spend the night and collect small pebbles. These pebbles are then used for the ritual of throwing the Jamarat in Mina, on the 10th, 11th, 12th, and for those who stay longer, the 13th of Dhul Hijjah.

There are three pillars (jamarat) to be stoned: Jamrah Ula, Jamrah Wustha, and Jamrah Aqabah, each with a specified number of throws. This ritual commemorates the steadfastness of Prophet Ibrahim when he drove away the devil who tried to tempt him into defying Allah’s command. Throwing the jamarat is not merely hurling pebbles. It is a bold declaration that a Muslim stands ready to resist the temptations of evil in real, everyday life.

The Wisdom Behind Hajj

Just as every act of worship in Islam carries deep wisdom, Hajj holds lessons that go far beyond mere ritual.

Cultivating Patience

Hajj is perhaps the most real school of patience there is. Imagine: millions of people from different countries, cultures, and languages, all converging in the same place at the same time. Long queues, massive crowds, scorching heat, and exhausted bodies ut is all a genuine test of patience. A pilgrim who completes Hajj with composure, free of anger and complaint, carries that patience home as a lifelong gift.

Nurturing Gratitude

Witnessing millions of fellow believers from all over the world. Some are from the wealthy, others who saved for an entire lifetime just to be there. It is a powerful reminder of how tremendous Allah’s blessings are. To set foot in the Holy Land, to gaze upon the Ka’bah, to drink from the well of Zamzam none of this is a right; it is all a gift. Hajj teaches us to never take even the smallest blessing for granted.

Deepening Focus in Worship

In daily life, we are constantly distracted by worldly affairs. Hajj compels a person to be truly present by leaving behind work, family, the comfort of home, and all worldly activities for the sole purpose of turning wholly to Allah. This experience becomes an extraordinary spiritual reset, a pivotal moment to renew one’s relationship with Allah and realign one’s priorities toward what truly matters.

Fun Facts:What’s New in Hajj 2026?

The 1447 AH / 2026 Hajj season brings several noteworthy developments:

1. Around 1.8 million pilgrims are expected to attend Hajj 2026, making it one of the largest gatherings in history.
2. The Nusuk system,the official Hajj and Umrah app from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is now the primary platform for booking and managing pilgrimage packages.
3. A mandatory Nusuk digital smart card must be carried by all pilgrims for identification and access throughout their time in the Holy Land
4. A valid vaccination certificate (Yellow Card) is compulsory for all pilgrims before departure.
5. A 20-day Hajj package is now available for certain regions, allowing pilgrims to fulfill the pilgrimage in a shorter timeframe than the standard package.

Closing

Hajj is not merely a physical journey to Mecca. It is a journey of the soul — a servant’s journey toward their Lord, treading in the footsteps of the prophets, and reaffirming their identity as a true Muslim. No wonder the Prophet Muhammad SAW declared that a Hajj Mabrur (an accepted pilgrimage) has no reward except paradise.

For those who have not yet had the opportunity, Hajj is a goal worth striving for. And for those who have performed it, Hajj is a trust — to become a better person in all that follows. For the real journey of Hajj truly begins the moment a pilgrim returns to the life they left behind.

May Allah grant us all the opportunity to complete this fifth pillar of Islam. Aamiin.

Written by:  Alhayya Maritza

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