How was the Hajj in the year. How much does hajj cost? What to visit in Medina

Assalamu alaikum, dear pilgrim! May the Almighty send you and your family and friends His boundless blessings and mercy! May Allah grant you the will and strength to perform Hajj and Umrah - the fifth pillar of Islam - in such a way that they are accepted by the Almighty.

Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam and its path is very difficult. Here, the strength of the Muslim faith, his devotion to religion, his character and disposition are tested.

From the very day when Iblis was cursed by Allah Almighty because of his refusal to bow down to Adam, he has been at enmity with the offspring of Adam and tries to mislead him. Sparing no effort and time, he and his army strive to ensure that Muslims miss the deeds rewarded in Ahirat.

Since Iblis knows what reward awaits the pilgrim for the accepted hajj and die, as Allah forgives the countless sins of the pilgrims, he tries to sow enmity, hatred and disputes between the pilgrims in order to spoil the hajj for them.

BRIEFLY ABOUT THE HAJJ

When Prophet Ibrahim (AS) completed the construction of the Kaaba, Allah Almighty ordered him to call people to make a pilgrimage to the sacred Kaaba. Ibrahim, peace be upon him, said: “O my Creator! I will call, but will they hear my call? Allah Almighty answered: “You call, I will bring your call to them.” Then Ibrahim (a.s.), obeying the command of the Creator, began to call: “O people! Your Lord has ordered you to make a pilgrimage - a hajj to the Kaaba, do the hajj. And all whose souls, by the will of Allah, heard the call of Ibrahim (AS) answered him with the words “Labbaika” (“I obey and am ready to serve the Creator”). How many times the soul responded, answering “Labbaik” to the call of Ibrahim (a.s.), the same number of times, respectively, a person makes a hajj in his life.

Benefits of performing Hajj

Hajj, both large and small, is one of the five pillars of Islam, and every free Muslim who has reached the age of majority, having the physical and material ability, is obliged to perform it once in his life. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever dies without performing the Hajj, having physical and material capabilities, let him die a Jew or a Christian.” This hadeeth warns of the high probability that this person will die in disbelief.

Speaking about the virtues of the Hajj, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “The Hajj accepted by Allah is rewarded with Paradise.” Also, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever makes a pilgrimage to the Kaaba, he will be cleansed of all sins as he was clean on the day of his birth.” There is also a saying of the Prophet (peace be upon him): “Those who make pilgrimage to the Kaaba are the guests of Allah. He will give them what they ask for, accept their repentance, and forgive their sins. Allah will accept their prayers and will not deny them their intercession.” The Companion of the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) Umar, son of Khattab (s.a.), says: twenty days of the month of Rabi al-Awwal.

To find out more

Arriving in Mecca and performing tawaf al-kudum

Upon arrival in Mecca, it is advisable for pilgrims to perform a full bath and head to the mosque al-haram to commit tawaf al-kudum , i.e tawaf in honor of their arrival in Mecca. It is advisable to enter the mosque through the gate Babu salam and at the sight of the Kaaba, read the following prayer:

Tawaf conditions

At the time of making tawaf six prerequisites must be met:

  • the presence of a full and small ablution, cleanliness of the body and clothes from impurities ( najas );
  • covering those parts of the body ( avrat ), which must be covered during prayer;
  • acceptance of the intention to commit tawaf , If it is not tawaf al-kudum or mandatory tawaf hajj and "die ,
  • tawaf should start from Hajar al-aswad so that the whole body passes in front of the stone;
  • throughout tawaf The Kaaba must remain to the left of the pilgrim (excluding the beginning tawaf when the pilgrim is facing the Kaaba, opposite Hajar al-aswad );
  • obligatory completion of seven full circles (the circle starts from Hajar al-aswad and ends there).

To find out more

All arriving in KSA, including pilgrims, must have a visa, which is issued at the consular offices of Saudi Arabia.

According to the existing procedure, passports are held by the Saudi authorities when crossing the border, and a receipt is issued. Therefore, you must have a photocopy of your passport. The passport is returned when leaving the country. If the passport is lost, then this must be reported to the serving tour operator or the police authorities. The police are obliged to issue a certificate of the loss of the passport by the applicant, after which he can apply to the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Jeddah, which decides on the possibility of issuing a document for an early return to Russia. Registration is paid by the consular fee at the current rate through the local branch of the bank. It is also recommended to have the addresses and telephone numbers of the place of residence with you., the tour operator who organized the trip, as well as the coordinates of their acquaintances, with whom the pilgrimage is made.

For the personal safety of pilgrims, it is recommended to avoid crowded places, in particular when throwing the symbol of Satan in Mina and bypassing the Kaaba by pilgrims. At certain moments, the number of participants in the ritual alone reaches 2 or more million people, and therefore a careless action can lead to serious consequences, especially for physically weakened people. Group members and families should set a meeting point ahead of time in case they get lost in the crowd. Every pilgrim must know the location of his hotel or tent. Unfortunately, even during the Hajj, thefts happen, so it is necessary to be vigilant with regard to personal property.

Since the climate of Saudi Arabia is characterized by high air temperature, must be protected against overheating, dehydration, exhaustion, fear of respiratory and stomach diseases. It is recommended to bring a minimum of food and water, as well as an umbrella. Any cuts, scratches and wounds should be thoroughly disinfected. It is strongly recommended to bring spare sandals with you, as shoes often become unusable.

Pilgrims who take medicines on a regular basis must carry a first aid kit and doctor's prescriptions confirming the need to carry certain medicines with them in order to avoid misunderstandings at customs. In any case, it is desirable to have a set of the most necessary medicines, ointments and creams.

Consulate General in Jeddah Russian Federation , one of the priorities of which is the provision of consular assistance to Russian pilgrims.

It should be remembered that persons who have committed offenses (trading without a license, or trading in places not designated by the KSA authorities, or staying in the Kingdom after the expiration of a visa) may be arrested or fined.

Consulate General in Jeddah:

THE ADDRESS:
Saudi Arabia, Jeddah, Al-Hamra "a dist-2, Al-Andalus str., 14;
PO BOX 15786 Jeddah 21454
PHONE: (8-10-9662) 665-9255, 665-9212
Phones are open 24/7

SITE: www.gconsjed.mid.ru

As well as:

  1. Choose the right time to perform religious rites:
  2. In case of strong pandemonium and crush, you can perform tawaf and sagy on the upper floor of the Haram.
  3. Be calm and humble, avoid crowds and do not push other pilgrims.
  4. Do not bring bags of food and drinks with you to the Haram, as this creates crowdedness in the mosque.
  5. Do not bring goods, money, jewelry and other valuables with you that can get lost in crowded places. For safety reasons, you can check them in special lockers at the locations of the field service teams.
  6. Do not cook food in living rooms keep them clean.
  7. Save water, because everyone needs it. Use toilets correctly.
  8. Do not throw boxes, cans, napkins, rags and juice boxes inside the tents.
  9. Leave your habitats only at the time of the arrival of the buses. While waiting for transport, do not create crowds on the sidewalks.
  10. When boarding the bus, remain calm, do not create crowding, sit in your seats and in no case sit on the roofs of cars.
  11. Let women, the elderly and the disabled pass ahead.
  12. Keep your tent clean, help each other. May your stay be pleasant.
  13. Do not make a fire inside the tent, cook in specially designated areas.
  14. Avoid prolonged exposure sun rays. Avoid the crush.
  15. Don't go far from your tent. Since all tents are similar, you can easily get lost.
  16. Always carry a pilgrim card with your personal details, a wristband, and a field service group card with its address in Mecca and holy places.
  17. Use designated pedestrian roads and tunnels in accordance with the indicated traffic directions and avoid crowding.
  18. Choose a convenient time for the Jamarat rite. Before you make the final decision to go there, make sure that there are no big crushes on the way to and around it.
  19. Do not rest on motorways and footpaths. This hinders the movement of other pilgrims and causes them inconvenience.
  20. It is advisable to have waist bags for storing money and other valuables.

According to Islam, the Lord established the rules for the Hajj during the time of Prophet Ibrahim (identified with the biblical Abraham). Ibrahim and his son Ismail were instructed to build the house of God in Mecca - the Kaaba.

“Behold, We indicated to Ibrahim (Abraham) in place of the House (Kaaba): “Do not associate anything with Me as partners and cleanse My House (Kaaba) for those who make a detour, stand up prayers, bow and prostrate” (Quran 22:26).

Having built the Kaaba, Ibrahim and his son returned home, but every year they visited the house of God and took care of him. After the death of Ibrahim, his son went to the Kaaba with his children and grandchildren.

Photo report: Pilgrims flock to Mecca for the Hajj

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But years passed, and over time, the Hajj was forgotten. The Kaaba became a haven for idolatry, and people covered its walls with drawings of people and animals and hieroglyphs.

Muslims believe that the tradition of the Hajj was restored by the Prophet Muhammad in the eighth year of the Hijra (630).

Mohammed cleared the Kaaba of idols, destroyed pagan symbols - removed pictures from the walls of the temple, introduced Muslim rites.

It was Mohammed who decided that the pilgrimage should be performed on the tenth day of the month of Zul-Hijjah, and it was necessary to fast before him.

“The Prophet Mohammed was asked: “What is the best business?” He replied: "Faith in Allah and His Messenger." He was asked: "And after that?" He replied: "Fight in the way of Allah." He was again asked: "And after that?" He replied: "An impeccable Hajj."

The Qur'an specifically spells out the rules by which you need to perform the Hajj. “Hajj is performed in certain months. Whoever intends to perform the Hajj during these months, he should not have sexual intercourse, commit sins and enter into disputes during the Hajj ... "

“Neither their meat nor their blood reaches Allah. Only your God-fearing reaches Him…”

“When you complete your rituals, then remember Allah as you remember your fathers, and even more,” the holy book says.

AT modern world Hajj can only be performed by an adult devout Muslim who must be legally free and must have sufficient funds to pay for the pilgrimage. If a person, for good reasons, cannot perform the Hajj, he can hire a Muslim who has already made such a pilgrimage, who will do it for him. Such a "messenger" is called "wakil al-hajj".

Prices for the hajj vary - for example, on various sites for Russians they are $3-7.5 thousand. There are also "anti-crisis options" - a pilgrimage for $2 thousand. The price of a ticket usually includes a training lecture on performing the hajj and 5 liters of water from a sacred source Zamzam.

The border of sacred places is called miqat. Only believers in a special state - “ihram” can pass through it. In order to “put on ihram”, Muslims must perform body ablution, dress in a certain way, and follow a number of strict rules.

On the seventh day of the month of Zul-Hijjah (this day marks the anniversary of the death of Imam Muhammad al-Baqir, the theologian and developer of Shiite religious law and dogma), pilgrims make their first detour around the Kaaba.

According to the rules, they must enter the territory of the mosque Masjid al-Haram (Forbidden, or Preserved, Mosque) barefoot and on the right foot.

There they strive to kiss the black cube located in the courtyard, or at least touch it. They are then given a sermon on their duties.

In the courtyard of the mosque there are also two hills, Safa and Marwa, mentioned in the Qur'an. There, pilgrims perform sai - they run between them seven times.

The next stage is the collection of water in the Zamzam well, which, according to legend, was formed from the blow of the angel Jibril (identified by the Orthodox with Gabriel) with his foot or wing into the ground. Water is collected twice: first for drinking, then for ablution.

On the ninth day, Muslims perform the central rite of the Hajj - standing at Mount Arafat, where they believe Muhammad delivered his last sermon.

Standing lasts from the zenith to sunset and is accompanied by a sermon and prayers.

On the tenth of Zul-Hijja, pilgrims head to the Mina Valley (where, according to legend, the army of the Ethiopian king Abraha died) to throw seven special stones at a pillar symbolizing Satan. Then the pilgrims make a sacrifice, shaving their heads and beards, and the women cut off a lock of their hair. This hair is buried in the Mina Valley. Eid al-Adha begins on the same day.

Sacrifices and rituals continue until the 14th Zul-Hijj, when the pilgrims leave the state of ihram and receive the honorary title of Haji for Muslims. After the end of the Hajj, Muslims often visit other revered places (the tomb of the Prophet Muhammad, the graves of the caliphs, the Quba and At-Takwa mosques).

Hajj- this is a pilgrimage of Muslims to holy places associated with the most important events in the history of Islam and with the life and work of the prophet Muhammad. During the Hajj, which every true Muslim is ordered to perform at least once in his life, believers visit at a certain time Mecca and its surroundings. The Hajj includes a visit to the Forbidden Mosque in Mecca. Masjid al-Haram), the mountains Arafat, as well as valleys Muzdalifa and Mine. Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam after Shahada (the creed "There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet"), prayer (prayer), tax (zakat) and fasting in the holy month of Ramadan (saum).

What is Umrah

In addition to the Hajj, which is performed at a strictly defined time, there is also the so-called "small pilgrimage" - die- also associated with a visit to Mecca, but not in the month intended for the Hajj, but at any other time.

Hajj times in 2016

The time of the Hajj is determined according to the Islamic calendar (the so-called Hijri calendar), which is based on moon calendar. Every year, the Hajj is held for five days, starting on the evening of the eighth day. last month Islamic year Dhul-hiji and ending on the twelfth day. The ninth day of Dhul Hiji is called the "Day of Arafat" and is considered the day the Hajj begins.

History of the Hajj

Translated from Arabic, the word "hajj" means "the intention or desire to join the glorified", as well as "return, renewal". This is interpreted as an appeal to the origins and shrines of Islam.

The history of the Hajj goes back centuries. According to legend, the first man is a prophet Adam and his wife Hava (Eva) after the expulsion from Paradise and met the prophet on Mount Arafat Ibrahim (Abraham) and his son, who, according to the command of God, was to be sacrificed. (Muslims believe that we are talking about the "illegitimate" son of Ibrahim (Abraham) - Izmail- the progenitor of the Arabs.) However, God (Allah), having tested the strength of Ibrahim's faith, opposed the human sacrifice, at the last moment replacing the young man with a sacrificial ram. So, having tested the faith of his prophet - Ibrahim, Allah not only saved the life of his son, but also ordered to abandon human sacrifices, replacing them with sacrificial animals.

It is believed that the tradition of the Hajj was restored and formalized into strict instructions by the Prophet Muhammad.

In the modern world, Muslims around the world on the tenth day of the month of Zul Hijjah - just at the time when the Hajj takes place - celebrate Eid al-Adha(Turk.) or Eid al-Adha(Arabic) - a feast of sacrifice, which is absent in other Abrahamic religions (in Judaism and Christianity).

Hajj Rules

According to Islam, the Hajj must be performed at least once in a lifetime by every adult, healthy, able-bodied Muslim who has the appropriate (including material) opportunity.

If a person, for valid reasons, is not able to perform the Hajj himself, he can hire a Muslim who has already made such a pilgrimage, who will do it for him. To such a messenger, who is called "wakil al-hajj", the inviter pays all the expenses associated with the hajj.

When performing the Hajj, the following conditions must be met:

  • pilgrimages can only be made by devout Muslims;
  • the pilgrim must be of age;
  • the pilgrim must be mentally and physically healthy;
  • the pilgrim must be legally free;
  • the pilgrim must have enough funds to pay for the hajj.

Obligatory actions during the Hajj:

  • the intention to perform charitable actions and putting on ihram by the pilgrim - snow-white clothes in a special place (miqat), as well as special slippers;
  • a seven-fold circuit around the Kaaba (a Muslim shrine in the form of a cube in the courtyard of the Masjid al-Haram mosque in Mecca);
  • prayer in the main mosque of Mecca - Masjid al-Haram;
  • seven times walking between the hills of Safa and Marwa with a visit to the sacred well of Zamzam;
  • stay on the sacred Mount Arafat;
  • throwing stones in the valley of Mina, meaning the symbolic beating of the devil;
  • sacrifice - Eid al-Adha;
  • ritual haircut or shaving of hair, which will be dedicated to the prophet Muhammad;
  • visiting the Mina valley;
  • farewell Tawaf - a seven-fold circuit around the Kaaba.

Hajj participants

More than a million pilgrims from all over the world have already arrived in Saudi Arabia to participate in the hajj, and about one and a half to two million are expected in total. The pilgrimage is made by representatives of almost two hundred nationalities from the most different countries, including from Iran, although Tehran and Riyadh, between which there are no diplomatic relations, have already exchanged harshness about the organization of the hajj. The fact is that last year, due to a serious crush (a common problem during the Hajj), about five hundred Iranian citizens died in the Mina Valley in 2015.

This year, the Saudi authorities promised to pay attention to the safety of pilgrims Special attention about 20,000 police officers will be involved for this.

The cost of the Hajj for Russians

Among the participants of the Hajj-2016 there are also Russians, including more than three hundred people from Crimea. According to the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Russia, in 2016, the Hajj from various Russian regions about 16 thousand pilgrims set off, which is 95% of the allocated quota.

Judging by the data of the travel agencies organizing the hajj, in the economy version such a trip will cost a Russian pilgrim an average of one hundred to two hundred thousand rubles. It is clear that if you plan to make the conditions of your stay more comfortable, then this will entail more serious expenses.

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Hajj is not a tour, but a test. Checking passports at the border can take several hours, no one will provide the pilgrim with a personal transfer, and in a hotel room he may end up with several strangers. A huge crowd of people accumulate in the Kaaba, the crowd there is so dense that even non-claustrophobic people begin to panic. An even greater crush occurs during the first stoning of Satan. During this rite, people sometimes die. But this does not stop the pilgrims, they are ready to come to Mecca again and again to feel their closeness to the Almighty. And even death during the Hajj is considered blessed, since those who die on the way to Allah go to Paradise.

What is Hajj?

Hajj is a pilgrimage to Mecca, a city in Saudi Arabia, where the main shrine of Islam, the sacred Kaaba, is located in the Al-Haram mosque. Every Muslim who has the strength and means for this must perform the Hajj once in a lifetime. Moreover, the money for the trip must be earned in an exclusively honest way.

Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam - the prescriptions that must be followed. The remaining four are shahada (pronouncing the formula “There is no God but God, and Muhammad is His prophet”), namaz (daily five times prayer), uraza (fasting on time) and zakat (property tax).

When is the time for Hajj?

The Hajj begins in the month of Dhul Hijja, 2 months after the end of Ramadan. Since the Muslim lunar calendar is 11 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar, the timing of the Hajj changes every year. The rites of the Hajj last for three days - on the 8th-10th of Zul-Hijjah. The most important of them is the second, the Day of Standing at Arafat. In 2018, "Arafat Day" falls on August 20.

What is Kaaba?

Muslims believe that the Kaaba is the first temple on earth. Various legends say that it was built by Adam, expelled from Paradise, or his son Shis, or even angels. But during Flood, says the legend, the temple was destroyed. Centuries later, the Almighty pointed out to the prophet Ibrahim (biblical Abraham) the place of construction, forgotten by that time, and he, together with his son Ismail, erected a new temple on its foundation, where pilgrims from all over the world now flock. And the faces of all Muslims who perform namaz are turned to him.

The Koran tells that when the Almighty ordered Ibrahim to announce the Hajj to people, he exclaimed: “Lord! How can I convey this call to people, because my voice will not reach them ?! And he received the answer: “You call, and We will definitely convey [your call to them].” Then Ibrahim went up to the hill and called out: “O people! Your Lord has chosen the [Forbidden] House, so go on Hajj to it!”

What is a black stone?

To the left of the doors of the Kaaba is a black stone (Hajarul-Aswad). From here, all pilgrims begin to perform tawaf - an obligatory rite of passage around the Kaaba.

According to the hadiths (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad), the stone was sent down from Paradise. The angel Jibril (Gabriel) brought it to the prophet Ibrahim during the construction of the Kaaba. The legend says that at first the stone was whiter than milk, but the sins of the people made it black.

What is Zam-Zam?

The sacred source of Zam-Zam in Mecca is another of the miracles of Islam. Every pilgrim must drink from it. Zam-Zam appeared in the desert when Hajjar (Hagar), together with his son Ismail, left by the command of Allah by the prophet Ibrahim, was looking for a spring to water the child. In search of water, she ran from Mount Safa to Mount Marwa. And today, one of the obligatory rites of the Hajj is running between these hills.

According to legend, the angel Jibril appeared to Hajar in the desert, he touched the ground with the tip of his wing, and water flowed from the stones.

Geologists cannot estimate the reserves of Zam-Zam: the source does not have underground reservoirs. Water flows into it along the slopes of the rocks. It is very pure and is considered healing.

What should the pilgrim do?

Hajj consists of a series of obligatory rites. As a rule, groups of pilgrims are accompanied by a guide who explains all the subtleties of their commission. After all, a violation of the canonical order can make the Hajj invalid.

The first rite - tawaf - circumambulation around the Kaaba. Then the pilgrims must pass between the hills of Safa and Marwa. But the most important rite is staying in the Arafat valley, where, according to legend, Adam and Havva (Eve), expelled from Eden, met. Here you need to spend the whole day, begging for forgiveness. Some pilgrims try to climb Mount Arafat, although this is not necessary.

This is followed by an overnight stay in the Muzdalifah valley, a stay in the Mina valley and stoning of Satan. This rite goes back to the Koranic story about the sacrifice of Ibrahim. It is identical to the biblical legend about Abraham, whom the Lord ordered to sacrifice his beloved son. On the way to the place of slaughter, Ibrahim met Iblis (shaitan) several times and tried to dissuade the prophet from his intention. He responded by throwing stones at the tempter. In memory of this story, the pilgrim must pick up stones three times and throw them into special pillars, personifying Satan.

How does the Hajj end?

The Hajj ends with the most important Muslim holiday of sacrifice -. Usually pilgrims turn to special services, whose employees cut a ram, camel or bull on their order. The meat is sent from Mecca to the starving countries of Africa. If the pilgrim is not able to make a sacrifice, he must fast for three days during the Hajj and seven after.

The men then cut their hair. After that, the pilgrims return to Mecca to go around the Kaaba for the second time and perform the rite of running between the hills of Safa and Marwa.

Saying goodbye to Mecca, they make another farewell tawaf.

What to visit in Medina?

After the completion of the Hajj, the pilgrims head to the city of the Prophet Muhammad - Medina. All Medinans wear white robes and are very friendly. They regard the pilgrims as "guests of Allah" and compete to help them and show them hospitality.

The hadiths say that prayer in the mosque of the prophet is a thousand times more valuable than prayer in any other temple - except Al-Haram, where prayer is valued a hundred thousand times more.

The Medina mosque delights with its decoration. Here is the room of the prophet's wife, Aisha, in which he is buried according to his will. Nearby are the graves of the first companions of the prophet - Abu Bakr and Umar, and behind the mosque, in the Bakiya cemetery, other famous heroes of Islamic history are buried.

How do women perform Hajj?

Women dress in light-colored clothes, different from men's, while remaining the same as prescribed for Muslim women on ordinary days, with the only difference being that in the Hajj a woman cannot completely cover her face and wear gloves that cover her hands.

At the request of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia, women under 45 years old must be accompanied by a mahram - a man from close relatives over 17 years old.

During the Hajj, women perform the same rituals as men, except for cutting their hair.

What to wear for Hajj?

One of the striking attributes of the Hajj is ihram - two pieces of plain fabric that are worn by all pilgrims without exception. The same clothes mean the equality of people before God. Ihram must be put on when crossing the border of the sacred territory of Mikat, forbidden for sin. This border does not coincide with the state or administrative, it is the historically established territory around Mecca.

Since Russian pilgrims are most often taken to Mecca by plane, they cross Mikat while still in the air, where they put on ihram. You can put it on before boarding the plane.

Hajj and Umrah: What's the difference?

Umrah is a small pilgrimage performed at any time of the year, unlike the Hajj. Umrah rituals consist of walking around the Kaaba and between the hills of Safa and Marwa. Russian pilgrims prefer to come to Mecca in advance, perform Umrah, then leave the ritual state of ihram and, after the day of the beginning of the hajj, put on ihram again and perform the hajj.

How do they get to Mecca?

Russian pilgrims go on the Hajj 10 or sometimes 25 days before it starts. Numerous travel agencies provide packages of 2-3 week tours with a stay in the cities of Saudi Arabia, with sightseeing trips to significant places. Given the difficulties of crossing borders, the easiest way to fly to Mecca is by plane. But some get by road or. Getting a Saudi visa on your own is very difficult, it is better to act through an accredited travel agency.

How much does hajj cost?

In 2017, tour operators offered an economical option for a hajj tour for an average of $2.6 thousand - a direct flight from the cities of the North Caucasus and $3-3.6 thousand from Moscow. have practically not changed. VIP tours cost about $6,000. For residents of the Caucasus, low-budget, combined routes have been selected - by bus and plane - for $ 1950.

The cost of the tour depends not only on the number of stars at the hotel, but also on its remoteness from the Kaaba in Mecca and the mosque of the prophet in Medina. Today, many tour operators include in the package of services 1-2 single meal, although a few years ago it was not provided at all, even VIP tours.

Why are quotas needed?

In a matter of days, millions of Muslims arrive in Mecca, increasing the population of the city by 4 times, and every year the number of pilgrims is growing. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is taking unprecedented steps to modernize and expand the territory of Al-Haram, where the most crowded ceremonies take place.

In addition, the kingdom sets quotas for pilgrims from other countries at a ratio of 1 place per thousand Muslims. In 2018, the all-Russian quota is 20,500 places. Almost half went to the two republics of the North Caucasus: Dagestan was allocated a quota for 8600 places, Ingushetia - for 1400.

What do you need to know about Mecca?

In honor of the prophet who brought the Koran to the people, all men in Mecca are called Muhammad. This is how they turn to sellers, taxi drivers, waiters, policemen.

Mecca is a beautiful, modern city with tall buildings and many mosques. The entire territory of Mecca is considered forbidden for sin, here you can not harm anything living, even plants. After adhan - a call to prayer - sellers leave their shops open without fear of theft, drivers stop cars right on the roadway, the whole street turns into a mosque. Nevertheless, pilgrims sometimes become the prey of thieves and beggars.

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UmmaTour organizes hajj tours to Mecca and Medina. In 2019 Hajj takes place in August.

Hajj is an obligatory pilgrimage performed by believers who have the material and physical means to visit the holy lands of Mecca and Medina. "UmmaTour" organizes hajj tours 2019 and helps to realize in the best way one of the most major events in the life of a Muslim. This pillar can only be fulfilled in a certain month of the Hijri calendar. Hajj trip 2019 will be organized in August.

Essence of Hajj

Hajj is a whole series of obligatory rituals, the fulfillment of which brings a Muslim closer to Allah Almighty and symbolizes faith, unity and equality of pilgrims.

History of the Hajj

Prophet Adam (A.S.) and his wife Hava built a house of worship and worship to the Lord of the worlds on the spot where the Holy Kaaba is now located. However, the Great Flood destroyed it. After that, Allah Almighty showed the way to the Prophet Ibrahim (AS) to the lands of Holy Mecca. On the site of the first house of worship, Ibrahim (AS) erected the Holy Kaaba and encouraged all believers to worship.

Performing the Hajj

Not every Muslim can perform Hajj. Please make sure you comply with all terms and conditions before you travel. Here are some of them:

  • Only an adult Muslim in his right mind and mind, in good physical condition, can go on a pilgrimage to sacred places.
  • A person must be free not only in spirit, but also in body: not to be a slave or a prisoner.
  • The trip cannot be made on credit and in the presence of other debts. For the hajj, there should be enough material opportunities to provide for oneself and one's family.
  • You need to be prepared for the fact that during the Hajj in the state of ihram, a Muslim is forbidden to have a haircut, wear jewelry, and also perform any actions related to marriage, sexual intimacy, etc.

Obligatory rituals performed during the Hajj include fards (fards) and wajibs.

Fards are actions with clear and understandable instructions from the Qur'an. A Muslim must enter the state of ihram, stand on Mount ‘Arafat and perform the ritual of tawaf-ifada.

Wajiba conditions are close to obligatory:

  • enter the state of ihram;
  • Accept what can and cannot be done in ihram;
  • Make standing on ‘Arafat from day to night;
  • Spend time in the Muzdalifah valley;
  • Make three extreme rounds;
  • Make a salutatory tawaf in a state of purification with water in clothes that cover the ‘awrah;
  • Make tawaf from the black stone left side;
  • Make two rak'ats of prayer;
  • Run seven times between the two hills of Safa and Marwa;
  • Throw stones at poles;
  • Make a sacrifice
  • Cut hair after ihram;
  • In any ritual, observe a clear sequence;
  • Make a farewell tawaf if you are a non-local resident.

If the pilgrim misses any point, then it is necessary to make a sacrifice as a punishment. Or you need to make up for the unfulfilled Wajib.

Hajj term

The timing of the Hajj changes every year. This is due to the fact that the pilgrimage is performed according to the Muslim calendar, which is called the Hijra.

“Arafat Day” falls on the ninth day of the month and is considered the most important day of the Hajj, on which a Muslim must beware of any mistakes and mistakes.