Hajj

Hajj is the annual pilgrimage to Makkah that all able adult Muslims are obliged to perform at least once in a lifetime. Every year, around two million Muslims perform the pilgrimage, which is a five-day event taking place in the last month of the Islamic (lunar) calendar, called Zul Hijjah.

Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and is a sacred event in Islam. Whilst in the state of ‘Ihram,’ (in which men should strip themselves of all sewen clothes and underwear and wrap themselves with two pieces of clothe) a sacred state that Muslims must enter to perform the pilgrimage, it is forbidden to engage in sexual activity, use of perfume, argue, engage in violence, and cut hair and nails. Muslims must always remain calm in ‘Ihram’ due to its religious significance, even when exhausted by the journey they undertake.

Why do Muslims go on Hajj?

It is also believed that the journey allows Muslims to wipe away any sins and become clean in front of Allah (SWT).

By performing the pilgrimage, Muslims retrace the route of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and prophets Ibrahim (AS) and Ishmael (AS) before him, as well as the path of the wife of Ibrahim (AS), Hajara, who ran seven times between the hills of Safaa and Marwah as she sought water for her thirsty son, Ishmael. Allah (SWT) created a spring for them which continues to run to this day.

As per the significance of Hajj, it is also encouraged for Muslims to seek ways to deepen their devotion to Allah (SWT) and one such way is through continuous “zikrullah”, which means remembrance of Allah and supplications.

What Happens on Hajj?

Hajj takes place during Dhul Hijjah, the 12th month of the Islamic year, and begins two days before Eid ul-Adha and continues through the three-day festival of the sacrifice, which means that Hajj lasts for five days in total.

On the first day of Hajj, which is called “Yawmu Tarwiya”, pilgrims proceed to Mina where they spend the rest of the day and night.

The second day of Hajj sees pilgrims head towards Mount Arafat where they will spend the afternoon. They will also climb the hill, Jabal al-Rahma, which is where the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) delivered his farewell sermon.

At Arafat, the pilgrims would spend the rest of the day praying and making supplications till sunset before proceeding to Muzdalifah, where they spend the night praying and picking pebbles, which are part of the Hajj rituals.

Muzdalifah is a place where pilgrims are supposed to spend the whole night till daybreak (Fajri) but it is religiously permissible for women, the aged men and crucial service providers for pilgrims to depart Muzdalifah after midnight.

Over the course of the final three days of Hajj, pilgrims engage in stoning the Jammaraat, performing Tawaf & Safa-Marwah, sacrificing a lamb coinciding with with Eid ul-Adha, shaving (men) and women cutting about an inch of their hair as a sign of coming out of the state of Ihram.

Who Goes on Hajj?

In Islam, it is mandatory for every adult Muslim who is physically healthy and financially able to go on Hajj at least once in their lifetime.

Hajj translates from Arabic as ‘to intend a journey’, thus giving the pilgrimage its name. There is no obligation for children to undertake Hajj as they are not yet adults, similar to why all those under the age of puberty do not observe the fast in Ramadan. Whilst saying that, children may perform Hajj with their parent/guardian and the rewards of the pilgrimage will be bestowed upon the child as well as the guardian.

Hajj in Sierra Leone

Hajj in the Republic of Sierra Leone is facilitated by the Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Social Welfare and supervised by the Honourable Vice President.

The Ministry of Social Welfare has a Hajj Committee that facilitates Hajj matters.

The Ministry of Social Welfare usually sends out an announcement for intending pilgrims to apply and make the necessary payment through the Bank of Sierra Leone to ensure that intending pilgrims perform the Hajj.

Eventually the Ministry of Social Welfare processes the applications and visas of the intending pilgrims based on the requirements of the Saudi Authorities, and successful applicants who meet the Hajj requirements are flown to Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj and it is the Government of Sierra Leone that also facilitates their return after the Hajj rituals.

Following the outbreak of the COVID 19 Pandemic, Saudi Arabia limited the registration for the 2020 and 2021 Hajj pilgrimage to only citizens and residents of the Kingdom.

In 2020, 9 Sierra Leoneans in Saudi Arabia (mainly students) participated in the Hajj which was free of cost while in 2021 a total of 60,000 citizens/residents of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were selected for the 2021 Hajj after applying through an online portal and out of that figure, only 6 Sierra Leoneans participated paying approximately four Thousand United States Dollars ($4000) each. They were the Head of Mission of the Embassy of the Republic of Sierra Leone in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Dr. Ibrahim Jalloh, his wife Mrs. Mariama Dalan Bah, Minister Plenipotentiary/Head of Chancery, Mr. Ibrahim V. Kondoh, Information Attaché, Mr. Abubakarr S. Bah, Mr. Sheku Golfa, an employee of UNICEF and Alhaji Bailah Bah, a resident of Riyadh.