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      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can explain what happens on Hajj and how it reminds Muslims of important events and stories.

      Key learning points

      1. Makkah is a city in Saudi Arabia and is a sacred place for Muslims.
      2. Many Muslims will hope to make Hajj to Makkah in their lifetime.
      3. Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam.
      4. Hajj has several steps which have symbolic meaning.

      Keywords

      • Hajj - the pilgrimage to Makkah and one of the five pillars of Islam

      • Makkah - the most holy place for Muslims

      • Ka'bah - a stone building in the Great Mosque which Muslims turn towards when praying

      Common misconception

      Pupils might think that only men go on Hajj.

      Men and Women may both go on Hajj. They might have different clothes to wear but will carry out the same actions.

      Teacher tip

      It may help to print out pictures of the different stages of Hajj for children to then make a journey round the classroom to add comments to the pictures of what is happening and why.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      What is a pilgrimage?

      another word for a holiday
      a journey to another country
      Correct answer: a journey to a sacred place

      Q2.
      Match each key word to the correct description.

      Correct Answer:tourist,somebody who goes on holiday to see sights
      Correct Answer:pilgrim,someone who goes on a journey to a sacred place for their beliefs
      Correct Answer:explorer,someone who wants to discover a new place for them

      Q3.
      What is someone called who goes on a pilgrimage?

      Correct Answer: a pilgrim, pilgrim

      Q4.
      For which religion is Makkah a sacred place?

      Christianity
      Correct answer: Islam
      Judaism

      Q5.
      Why might a person make a pilgrimage?

      Correct answer: to connect with God
      to have some time away to relax
      Correct answer: to visit places connected to religious stories and people
      Correct answer: to learn more about their faith

      Q6.
      What does 'sacred' mean?

      Correct answer: something special to a believer
      something very old
      something very expensive
      something special to a country

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      What is the name of the pilgrimage to Makkah?

      Correct Answer: Hajj, hajj, the hajj

      Q2.
      Why do Muslims go on Hajj?

      Correct answer: it is one of the five pillars of Islam
      to enjoy friendships with other people
      Correct answer: it is a requirement to go once in a lifetime if you are physically able
      to see the world

      Q3.
      Why is Makkah the most sacred place for Muslims?

      Correct answer: it is the birthplace of Prophet Muhammad
      it is a tourist destination in Saudi Arabia
      Correct answer: the Qur'an was revealed to Muhammad in a cave near the city
      it is a place of pilgrimage for many religions

      Q4.
      Match each key word to the correct description.

      Correct Answer:ihram,a state of purity symbolised by wearing white clothes
      Correct Answer:Kab'ah,the first place of worship to Allah, built by Abraham and Ishmael
      Correct Answer:Jamarat,three stone pillars at which Muslims throw stones
      Correct Answer:Eid ul-Adha,a holy festival held at the time of Hajj

      Q5.
      Which story does the stoning of the pillars of Jamarat symbolise?

      Hagar and Ishmael running between the hills
      Abraham building the Ka'bah
      Correct answer: Abraham being tempted by the Devil to disobey Allah
      the miraculous zamzam well

      Q6.
      Put the steps of Hajj in the correct order.

      1 - putting on white robes (ihram)
      2 - circling the Kab'ah for the first time
      3 - drinking zamzam water
      4 - travelling between the two hills, Safa and Marwah
      5 - visiting the Plain of Arafat to pray for forgiveness
      6 - stoning the pillars (Jumarat)

      To help you plan your 4 religious education lesson on: Hajj: a sacred duty for Muslims, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...