The Origin of Hajj

Hajj is undeniably the greatest journey a Muslim will take in his lifetime. It's a journey of self-discovery, sacrifice and above all, obedience and servitude to God Almighty. But, how did the hajj all begin?

Well, it all began in the time of Prophet Ibrahim. In his older years, Ibrahim was commanded by Allah to take his wife Hajar and his new-born son Ismaeel to live in the barren desert plains of Makkah, only to leave them with nothing more than dates water. As Ibrahim begins to leave, his wife Hajar emotionally cries out “To where are you going? To whom will you leave us?”

She frantically repeats this again and again until she asks “Has Allah commanded you to do this?” To which Ibrahim replies yes. Being a noblewoman of God, she replies, 'if that is the case then Allah will not let us down' So with her complete and utmost reliance on God, Hajar began to search for a means of sustenance. She traversed back and forth between the mountains of Safa and Marwah seven time, until one narration states that Angel Gabriel descended and with the tip of his wing hit the ground and out sprouts the well of Zamzam.

This miraculous event is encapsulated in the “Saee”, or running between “Safa” and “Marwa” that Muslims perform in the days of Hajj. A few years later, Ibrahim returned to reunite with his beloved wife and son Ismaeel. Shortly after his arrival, Ibrahim witnessed a dream, whereby God revealed to him that he was to sacrifice his son. Of course, this is an extreme test and a trying one, yet both Ibrahim and his son Ismaeel comply willingly.

Ibrahim takes his son up to a mountain and places him face-down on a rock. Yet, just as Ibrahim was about to make the sacrifice, God commands the knife not to cut and explains to Ibrahim that he has passed the test. A sheep is brought in exchange for the sacrifice and this would then go on to form the basis of the sacrificial animal slaughter Muslims perform at the end of Hajj. A few years pass and once Ismaeel reaches his youth, Allah commands Ibrahim alongside his son to build the “Kaabah”. The house of God on Earth. Upon the completion of this monumental task, Allah commands Ibrahim to call the people to perform the pilgrimage of Hajj. Bear in mind that this is still in the middle of the desert, and the city of Makkah is still extremely small. Yet once again, in sheer obedience to God, Ibrahim fulfills and calls the people.

 Today, that very call has been answered. Every year millions upon millions of people travel from all corners of the world to visit the House of God to walk in the footsteps of Ibrahim. Yet the story doesn’t end here. For it is while Ibrahim is on his own pilgrimage, that he is approached by Satan. Satan tries to corrupt his pilgrimage. However, in defiance to Satan, Ibrahim pelts him with stones and overcomes him. This event has been embodied in the 'Rami', whereby Muslims symbolically cast away Satan by pelting these same areas with stones.

These important key events in the life of Ibrahim went on to become the 'Manasik' or rituals of Hajj. In one way or another, we can see that Hajj in fact is a celebration of the life of Ibrahim and an embodiment of his path. Allah commands the believers in the Quran to follow the path of Ibrahim, and just like that come every year for Hajj, Muslims once again walk in the footsteps of one of the greatest men to ever live, Ibrahim. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon Ibrahim, his family, and the noble Messenger Muhammad.