Hajj Part 4

Hajj continued...

The day after Eid Al-Adha the pilgrims return to Jamarat (generally after noon prayers) and stone the pillars again. First Jamarat al-Ula seven times, then Jamarat al-Wasat seven times, and finally Jamarat al-Aqabah seven times. After this the pilgrims make their way back to Mecca by foot. Many head back to their hotel/boarding-rooms for a shower and rest. At some point during that day the pilgrim heads to Masjid al-Haram to perform their Tawaf (circling the Kabaa) and their Say (walking back and forth between Safa and Marwa). Kaaba was thought to have been built by Ibrahim and Prophet Ishmael by order of God on the site of the first house of worship of built by Prophet Adam. The Tawaf is begins from the eastern corner of the structure where Hajar al-Aswat is placed in the wall. Hajae al-Aswat is a black stone thought to be a meteorite sent by Allah during the time of Prophet Adam and Eve. The stone is encased in silver because of the damage it had sustained during an attempted robbery. So the pilgrim begins his Tawaf by saying Allahu Akbar and walking around the Kaaba without allowing his circle extending outside the circle of Maqam Ibrahim. Maqam Ibrahim is a site where it is believed that Prophet Ibrahim was building the Kaaba and put pressure on a stone to stabilize his footing and his feet left an imprint in the stone. The pilgrim makes the Tawaf seven times each time reaching Hajar al-Aswat saying Allahu Akbar. Once complete the pilgrim finds a place anywhere behind Maqam Ibrahim and makes two rakats salat (prayer). Then the pilgrims makes his way to Safa to make say. The pilgrim walks the distance of Safa to Marwa seven times ending at Marwa. This is in reverence to Hajar Prophet Ishmaels mother who between the mountains of Safa and Marwa over and over looking to find water for her infant son. Many follow this with taking a drink some water from the well of zamzam. This is the spring that caming bubbling out at the feet of the baby Ishmael after Hajar had looked and prayed to Allah for help. These steps are repeated the next day and the hajj is completed.