Lesson video

Hello, there, my young scholars of religion.

My name is Ms. Marx and I'm going to be your religious education teacher today.

Today, we're going to be doing all about how and why Muslims perform Hajj as well as learning how it is one of the five pillars and one of the 10 obligatory acts of Shia Islam.

And through doing this, we'll look at the different actions that happen and when this takes place for Muslims, as well as linking it to some of the really important stories that we already know within Islam.

So when you're ready, let's go.

So by the end of this lesson, you'll be able to explain how and why Hajj is performed by Muslims. So let's start with our key terms. Ibrahim, important prophet in Islam who many of the steps of the Hajj pilgrimage are connected to.

Ka'aba also known as the Ka'ba, a sacred cube-shaped building in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

Makkah, a city in Saudi Arabia where the Prophet Muhammad was born and received the first revelations of the Qur'an.

Pilgrimage, a religious journey to a holy site or sacred place and act of worship and devotion.

So look out for those in today's lesson.

So our lesson today, we'll have two sections.

Hajj, a special pilgrimage, and what happens during Hajj.

So let's start with our first section.

Hajj, a special pilgrimage.

What would you consider to be a once in a lifetime trip? If you could think of anywhere that you could go that would be that once in a lifetime trip, where would it be? Pause the video and have a think, and you could talk to the person next to you or talk to me.

Could you say Mount Everest, the Northern Lights, New York City? Maybe some of these were your once in a lifetime trips ideas that you could go to.

Well, for many Muslims taking the Hajj pilgrimage is a once in a lifetime trip with very special religious significance.

So here we have the five pillars of Islam, which are particularly important within Sunni Islam as the five pillars like this.

And Hajj is the fifth of the five pillars of Islam.

Hajj is also one of the 10 obligatory acts within Shia Islam.

And every able Muslim is obligated to take this pilgrimage once in their lifetime if they can afford to.

So if they're able to and they can, they must take this pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime.

So where is the Hajj pilgrimage then? Well, it takes place in and around Makkah, which is where the Ka'aba is.

And you can see this map here showing where Saudi Arabia is and then you've got Makkah there just by the Red Sea.

And in Makkah we've got the Ka'aba, which you may have already learned about being connected to the stories of Ibrahim and Adam and Muhammad within Islam.

Well, let's look at the term Hajj then.

When we look at an Arabic word, we can look at the root letters, which could tell us more about what that word means, and Hajj comes from Arabic and has this root, h, j, j.

Now these root letters means to set out for a place so to go, to travel and go towards a place.

So someone who's completed their Hajj pilgrimage is often given the title Hajji.

Someone who's done that, they've gone on that pilgrimage.

They've set out for that place.

So we have this term meaning like a journey and a kind of particular meaning for why you're going to somewhere, a pilgrimage.

So Hajj is an annual pilgrimage that takes place during the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah.

Muslims can visit the same special sites at other times of the year, and this is called Umrah.

So many Muslims might still go to the Ka'aba and do some of the actions and go to the special sites that is called Umrah, and it's kind of a form of pilgrimage, but the Hajj is a very special pilgrimage 'cause it takes place during this particular month.

Over 2 million Muslims each year complete the Hajj.

Let's do a quick check.

Hajj is a pilgrimage to which of these sites and cities? Is it A, Jerusalem, B, Karbala, or C, Makkah? Which of these places does the Hajj pilgrimage go to? Pause the video and have a go.

We'll see you've done in a moment.

Well done, it's Makkah, which is in Saudi Arabia.

Well done.

So the steps of Hajj have their origins in Ibrahim's story and we've said he's a very important prophet within Islam.

So let's understand what this story is then.

Ibrahim was commanded by Allah to take his wife Hagar and son Isma'il into the desert.

After he left them there, Hagar needed to find some water so she could feed her child.

She ran between two hills looking for this or signs of other people, but could find none.

She cried out to Allah for help and then miraculously water appeared where her son laid on the ground.

The discovery of water meant that life could be sustained in the desert and people came to settle at the oasis.

Ibrahim later returned to see his wife and saw the settlement which would later become the city of Makkah.

One day, Ibrahim had a dream where he was commanded by God to sacrifice his son and Isma'il dreamt the same thing.

They were both willing to obey Allah's command, but at the last moment, Isma'il was miraculously replaced with a ram.

After this time, Ibrahim was shown a special spot where Adam, the first human and prophet, had worshipped Allah before.

He was given a precious heavenly stone by Angel Gabriel.

He placed the stone on the spot where Adam had worshipped Allah.

And there, together Ibrahim and Isma'il rebuilt a place of worship for Allah, the Ka'aba.

Muslims believe that above this spot in the heavenly realms is a Ka'aba, which the angels circle in worship of Allah and Ibrahim and Isma'il circled the earthly Ka'aba once they had built it.

And so today, Muslims reenact some of these steps as part of the Hajj pilgrimage.

But it's not only to do with Ibrahim that the Hajj pilgrimage is connected, it's also very closely connected to Prophet Muhammad.

Let's see how.

By the time of Prophet Muhammad, the sacred sight of the Ka'aba had become a place where people worship many gods and idols.

After Muhammad received the revelations of the Qur'an, he reinstated monotheism at the site and he received instructions from Allah for how the steps of Ibrahim and his son could be completed fully to enable pilgrims to focus completely on Allah and not worldly things.

For example, they needed to enter a state of purity or ihram.

In this state, they were able to focus solely on Allah and received the full benefits of completing the pilgrimage.

Muhammad completed the Hajj in front of witnesses who recorded this in the hadith for Muslims to follow today.

The Hajj also includes a prayer vigil on the plains of Mount Arafat, which is where many Muslims believe Ibrahim was asked to sacrifice his son and where all people were resurrected ready for judgement day.

And it's the site where the prophet Muhammad gave his last sermon, his religious speech before he died.

So let's do a quick check before we move on.

Which three of these statements are correct about the origins of the Hajj pilgrimage? Ibrahim circled the Ka'aba in worship of Allah.

Muhammad received the full instructions for Hajj.

Muhammad gave his first sermon on Mount Arafat, and Hagar ran between two hills looking for water.

Which three of these are correct? Pause a video and have a go.

We'll see you've got in a moment.

Well done.

A, B and D were correct.

C wasn't correct because it was the Prophet Muhammad's last sermon that he gave on Mount Arafat.

Well done.

Well, let's look to some sources of authority to help us understand this more then.

Well, the Qur'an is the source of authority.

It's the ultimate source of authority for Muslims and it speaks about the origins of the Hajj pilgrimage.

And it says in Surah 2, "We commissioned Abraham and Isma'il sanctify My house, the Ka'aba, for those who circle around it and those who secluded themselves in it and those who kneel and prostrate." So what could this passage tell Muslims about the origins of the Hajj pilgrimage then? Pause the video and have a think and you can talk to the person next to you or talk to me.

What we've got here, Abraham and Isma'il.

We know that Abraham and Isma'il are connected to the Ka'aba and that's circling around at the Ka'aba.

We have this phrase here "To circle around," and then this idea of prostrating, which is bowing down and kind of praying towards something.

So we've got Ibrahim and Isma'il circled around the Ka'aba and Muslims circle this and prostrate and pray there.

We've also got in Surah 22 in the Qur'an, another source of authority that could support the Hajj pilgrimage, "And announced the pilgrimage Hajj to humanity.

They will come to you on foot and on every transport, they will come from every distant point.

Then let them perform their acts of cleansing and fulfil their vows, and circle around the Ancient House, the Ka'aba." And that's in Surah 22.

So what does this passage tell me since by the practise of the Hajj pilgrimage then? Pause the video and have a think.

And again you can talk to the person next to you or talk to me.

Well, here we've got this idea of people travelling towards to come and do this pilgrimage.

They will come to you on foot, and on every transport.

So the idea of everybody coming together to this place for their acts of cleansing.

It's for all of humanity.

People will travel from afar to complete it.

And there are certain acts to complete focused on the Ka'aba.

Certain things to be done around this ancient house of worship.

Well, Lucas and Sam are discussing the origins of the Hajj pilgrimage here then.

And Lucas says, "I think Hajj is about the story of Ibrahim, most of all, as he rebuilt the Ka'aba with his son Isma'il.

Many of the steps of the pilgrimage are retelling his story.

When Muslim circling the Ka'aba, they're circling it as Ibrahim and Isma'il did." Yeah, I think I agree with Lucas there.

And Sam says, "I see your point, but really it's Muhammad's steps Muslims are retracing.

He reinstated the worship of Allah at the Ka'aba.

Also, he received more instructions from Allah for the pilgrimage, like the instruction to enter a state of purity at the start of Hajj." Hmm.

Yeah, I kind of see Sam's point too.

I wonder which of those you would agree with more.

Which view do you find the most convincing and why? Pause a video and have a think.

You can reread them and you can talk to the person next to you or talk to me.

Well, let's do a practise task with this to see what we've learned then.

In this table, we've got four points relating to the origins of Hajj.

And for each one, you're going to decide which prophet it's most related to.

And then after that, you're gonna explain which prophet you think is more important for the origins of the Hajj pilgrimage, Muhammad or Ibrahim.

So your points are, was willing to sacrifice his son and rebuilt the Ka'aba with him.

Had the full steps of Hajj revealed to him in the Qur'an.

Gave his final salmon on Mount Arafat, and his wife Hagar ran between two hills looking for water.

So which prophet is that related to? And then which prophet do you think is more important for the origins of the Hajj pilgrimage? Pause the video and have a go and we'll see you've done in a moment.

Well done, some really good thinking there, and your table should look something like this.

Ibrahim was willing to sacrifice his son and rebuilt the Ka'aba with him.

Prophet Muhammad had the full steps of Hajj revealed to him in the Qur'an.

Prophet Muhammad gave his final sermon on Mount Arafat and prophet Ibrahim had a wife, Hagar, who ran between two hills looking for water.

And the second part of your practise task was to explain which prophet you think is more important for the origins of the Hajj pilgrimage, Muhammad or Ibrahim? And you could have said the following: "Ibrahim is the most important prophet for the origins of the Hajj pilgrimage because his wife was miraculously shown water in the desert and he and his son rebuilt and circled the Ka'aba." Or you might have said, "Muhammad is the most important prophet for the origins of the Hajj pilgrimage because the steps were completed by the revelations given to him in the Qur'an." Well done.

So onto our second section then.

What happens during Hajj? Muslims perform Hajj for many different reasons.

Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and one of the 10 obligatory acts.

Hajj follows in the footsteps of the Prophet Muhammad and Ibrahim.

The steps of Hajj can mean a pilgrims sins are forgiven, so that cleansing of sins.

Hajj can help Muslims connect to their religion more.

Feel that deeper connection to the religion.

Hajj also unites the worldwide Muslim community.

Remember that passage in the Qur'an that said about people travelling from a far by foot and all forms of transport to that one spot? Hajj also shows great commitment and dedication because you've got to save up the money to be able to get there.

You've got to work out how you're going to get there.

And then also physically, it's quite gruelling to do some of these steps in that heat.

So what are the steps of Hajj today then? The steps of Hajj Muslims take today were first performed by the Prophet Muhammad, 19 years after the first revelations of the Qur'an.

The different steps take place over five to six days.

Pilgrims must first set their intentions and enter a state of purity or ihram.

They then circle the Ka'aba seven times in a clockwise direction.

In one part of the Ka'aba is the black stone, which musts belief has been there since the time of Hamad, also the time of Ibrahim before him.

Some Muslims managed to touch or kiss the stone as a mark of respect whilst others might point to it.

Pilgrims then run or walk between two hills nearby as Hagar had done.

Other steps then involve a prayer vigil on the plains at Mount Arafat.

Spending the night under the sky at Muzdalifah.

Stoning the devil at Mina, and circling the Ka'aba again.

The pilgrimage ends when a new crescent moon is cited and the festival Eid al-Adha begins.

So let's look at this map which shows us some of the steps of Hajj.

And here we've got Makkah and we can see some of the different places where things take place.

We've got Mount Hira there, which is where the Prophet Muhammad first received those revelations of the Qur'an.

So here we can see Mina and we can see a pilgrim here who's in the clothing, which shows he's in a state of ihram or purity and he's throwing pebbles at these huge pillars.

And the pillars represent the devil and wanting to be strong against the devil and the temptation of the devil.

So here he is throwing stones at the devil here in Mina.

Then we've got here Mount Arafat.

And this is where Muslims believe that Prophet Muhammad gave his last sermon as well as where everyone would be resurrected physically in time for the day of judgement.

And Muslims hold a prayer vigil here and you can imagine some things might be thinking about and praying as they stand there and hold a vigil as part of the Hajj steps.

We've also got Muzdalifah here and you can see in the picture lots of people there under the starry sky, staying out under the stars, preparing themselves for the next step of what they're going to do in the Hajj pilgrimage.

That actually comes before when they go to Mina.

So they might be collecting the stones there, which they'll then throw at the devil in Mina.

And then here we've got the Ka'aba, which Muslims circle as part of the Hajj pilgrimage.

If you remember from Ibrahim and Isma'il rebuilding that and circling that themselves.

Let's do a quick check.

Which site do pilgrim spend a night under the sky of the four you've got here? We've got Ka'aba, Mina, Muzdalifah, and Arafat.

Which of those do pilgrim spend a night under the sky? Pause the video and have a go.

We'll see you've done in a moment.

Well done.

It was Muzdalifah.

So let's understand a bit more about why some of these steps are so significant for Muslims then.

So Lucas is asking Jamila, "Why was circling the Ka'aba important for you, Jamila?" And Jamila says, "I have prayed facing the Ka'aba my whole life as a Muslim to circle this with other Muslims was such a special moment for me.

It's a symbol of the oneness of Allah that all Muslims are united in worshipping in this direction each day.

I felt so happy to be circling the Ka'aba that I felt tears coming to my eyes." And Jamila here is wearing her white outfit that signifies she's in that state of ihram.

Why would someone argue that this is the most important step in the Hajj pilgrimage then, that circling of the Ka'aba? Could someone argue that's the most important? Pause the video and have a think and you can talk to the person next to you or talk to me.

Maybe we could link that back to the story of Ibrahim and Isma'il and rebuilding the Ka'aba.

So now Sam is asking Dina, "Why was stoning the devil Mina important for you, Dina?" And Dina says, "After Hajj is completed, I know I'll be cleansed of sin.

And so I won't want to sin again and give into the temptations of the devil.

Stoning the devil at Mina symbolises that for me, just as Ibrahim did it, given to the temptations of the devil before.

I am determined to be strong." So Dina is going to return from Hajj with this resolution that she will not give to temptation from the devil.

What might the devil have been tempting Ibrahim to do? Why is she mentioned Ibrahim here in the idea of temptations from the devil? Pause the video and have a think, and you could talk to the person next to you or talk to me.

And Lucas is asking Iqbal, "Why the steps that Muzdalifah and Mount Arafat important to you, Iqbal? And here's Iqbal in his ihram clothes.

And Iqbal says, "Spending the night in Muzdalifah under the sky reminded me we're all equal as creations of Allah.

I slept side by side with other Muslims and we gathered our pebbles to use at Mina together.

The vigil Mount Arafat was very powerful for me.

I was thinking about not only the words of the prophet's last sermon, but also that I'll be resurrected there for the day of judgement , when my eternal destination will be decided and I long to be with Allah." So for Iqbal it was a very powerful moment in Muzdalifah as well as Mount Arafat.

So time for another check now to see what we've learned.

At which of these sites during Hajj do Muslim believe they'll be resurrected on the day of judgement ? Is it Mount Arafat, Mina, or the Ka'aba? Pause the video and have a go.

We'll see you've done in a moment.

Well done.

Mount Arafat.

So we saw earlier that Muslims will travel from all over the world to come to do the Hajj pilgrimage.

In fact, the Qur'an says that people will travel by foot in all kinds of transport and the whole of humanity has had the Hajj proclaimed to it.

But how many Muslims do come from different parts of the world to do the Hajj pilgrimage? Well, here's a survey that was done by pure research of Muslims across 39 different countries, and those countries were grouped into different areas and they were surveyed to see if they had completed the Hajj pilgrimage.

And we can see here a variety in the number of people who actually had done the pilgrimage.

What if you can spot to any links here as to why some might be higher than others? Have a look at the data and see whether you can spot something.

What can we notice about the geographical areas and the percentage of people who've completed the Hajj? Pause the video and have a think and you can talk to the person next to you or talk to me.

Well, what we can see here is that the area closest to Makkah and in Saudi Arabia has the highest percentage of people who've actually completed the Hajj pilgrimage.

And the furthest away, which is southeastern Europe from this list of different options, this has the lowest percentage of people who've actually been able to complete the Hajj pilgrimage.

So why might it be that people who live closer to Makkah have been able to do the Hajj than people who live further away? Pause the video and have a think and you can talk to the person next to you or talk to me.

Well, there can be special challenges for Muslims wanting to complete the Hajj who live far away.

It could be there's a limit to the number of pilgrims who could take parts of special visas are issued to ensure that there's not crushes of too many people there at once, especially after COVID-19, there's a limit to how many people can actually take part each year.

Also, special visas and other documentations have to be applied for.

Different vaccines have to be taken.

Different health considerations as well.

People have to consider transport, so physically getting to it.

And once they're there, where are they going to stay and the different food costs involved.

And if people are travelling from a long way, they have to factor in extra time off from school or work to be able to get to even start to do the Hajj pilgrimage.

There can be health risks for those who are not used to the climate.

It can be very, very hot if that month falls during the summer period.

And there could be a language barrier, there could be that issue of actually making the bookings and getting things sorted, if you can't speak the language.

So why might some of these six ideas here pose a greater challenge to Muslims who live in the United Kingdom then? Pause the video and have a think and you could talk to the person next to you or talk to me.

Well, let's look at a case study here.

We can think about Iqbal who we know has completed the Hajj.

So Iqbal travelled from Croydon, which is kind of near London in the UK, to Jeddah, which is in Saudi Arabia by plane to complete his Hajj pilgrimage.

It took him five years for his name to be chosen and for his money to be saved up.

Flights, accommodation and other costs all came to 8,000 pounds.

And visas and medical records all had to be gathered in order for him to be able to go and do the Hajj pilgrimage.

Why do you think he saved up for five years and got all of that documentation together and saved all that money up and kept asking for his name to be chosen to be able to do the Hajj pilgrimage then? Pause the video and have a think and you can talk to the person next to you or talk to me.

Well, we can think back to all those benefits that Muslims have from completing the Hajj pilgrimage.

Not only that it's in a bigotry act and each person who's able to should do this, but also the many benefits that Muslims may have to do with their religion, feeling connected to their faith, connected to the stories that their religion as well as having their sins forgiven.

So we've seen there's many benefits from Muslim who completes the Hajj pilgrimage.

So together, let's give two benefits from Muslim completing the Hajj pilgrimage.

Hmm, I think the forgiveness of sins must be a big benefit for Muslims on completing the Hajj pilgrimage.

So over to you then.

Give two more benefits from Muslim completing the pilgrimage.

Pause the video and have a go and we'll see you've got in a moment.

Well done.

You could have said feeling more connected to the stories of the prophets in Islam.

Feeling connected to other Muslims from around the world.

Feeling closer to Allah and the angels.

Well done.

So time for another practise task to see what we've learned then.

You're going to complete this table with an explanation for each step of Hajj and why it's important for Muslim pilgrim.

And the steps are the Ka'aba, Mina, Muzdalifah, and Mount Arafat.

What you're going to write is what happens there, but also why it's important.

Pause the video and have a go and we'll see you've done in a moment.

Well done, some really good thinking there.

So I asked you to complete the table which had each step from Hajj that we've looked at with what happens there and then why it's important.

And you could have said, "The Ka'aba, is where pilgrims circle the Ka'aba and may touch or point to the black stone.

And it's important because it symbolises the worship of Allah.

The angels are doing this in heaven.

Ibrahim and Muhammad did this." Mina, pilgrim's throw pebbles here at the columns representing the devil.

And this is important 'cause it symbolises remaining strong against the temptations the devil, as Ibrahim did.

Muzdalifah, pilgrims stay the night under the stars here and collect the pebbles.

And this is important because Muslims are together under the sky as Muhammad would've been reflecting and preparing for Mina.

And Mount Arafat, pilgrim's praying reflect here as a vigil.

And this is important because this is where Prophet Muhammad gave his last sermon and bodies will be resurrected for judgement day." Well done.

So let's summarise everything we've learned today then.

Hajj as one of the five pillars.

Hajj is a pilgrimage taken to the Ka'aba and other special sites.

Hajj is a obligatory for all Muslims to take at one point in their lifetime if able.

The origins of the Hajj steps are related to the stories of Prophets Ibrahim and Muhammad.

Pilgrims circle the Ka'aba, throw stones at the devil at Mina, sleep under the sky at Muzdalifah, and have a vigil at Mount Arafat.

There are many benefits to a Muslim for completing the Hajj and there are some challenges for those completing the Hajj from countries such as the United Kingdom.

So well done for your hard work today and I hope to see you again soon.

Bye-bye.