Hajj is the pilgrimage to the Makkah in the Saudi Arabia, is a central duty of Muslims. It can be traced back to the era of prophet Abraham A.S. For fourteen centuries, countless millions of Muslims, men and women from each and every corner of the earth, have made the pilgrimage to Makkah, the birthplace of Islam. While fulfilling this obligation, they comply with one of the five "pillars" of Islam, or central religious duties of the believer.

Here I am, O God, at Thy Command! Here I am at Thy Command! Thou art without associate; Here I am at Thy Command! Thine are praise and grace and dominion! Thou art without associate. .

Making the Talbiyah, the Muslims rush towards the Kabba and perform the Tawaaf e Kaaba. This is a supplication made by the Muslims throughout the Hajj and Umrah journey. The hajj to Makkah is an obligation upon male and female adults whose health and means permit it, or, in the words of the Quran, upon "those who can make their way there." It is not an obligation on children, though some children do accompany their parents on this journey.

It is compulsory that before setting out for the Hajj, a pilgrim should redress all wrongs, pay all debts, plan to have enough funds for his own journey and for the maintenance of his family while he is away, and prepare himself for good conduct throughout the Hajj. In the time before the Prophet Muhammad, the Pagans made this practice that they beg and collect the funds for the Hajj journey from the others. The Holy Prophet in his teachings and practice made it clear that the Hajj is only obligated to those who have physical and financial means.

When pilgrims undertake the hajj journey with cheap hajj packages, they follow in the footsteps of millions before them. The pilgrimage occurs from the 8th to 12th of Zil-Hijjah, which is the last month of the Islamic year. As the Islamic calendar is lunar, the Islamic year is about eleven days shorter than the Gregorian year, the Gregorian date of Hajj changes from year to year.

Arriving at the Kaaba, Muslim performs the Umrah first. From 7th Zil Hijjah to 10th Zil-Hijjah they went to Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat. They stone the devil and sacrifice animals for the Allah. After trimming the hair they give up the Ahram and before leaving the Makkah, they offer a Tawaaf al Widah to the Holy Kaaba.

Pilgrims can also go to Makkah to perform the rituals at other times of the year. This is called the Umrah. However, even if they choose to perform the Umrah, they are still obligated to perform the Hajj at some other point in their lifetime if they have the means to do so.

Author's Bio: 

Umer Fiaz is an efficient author for Umrah Experts UK, who is well learned and skilled in writing about the Hajj and Umrah, the rituals of Islam. He is working complimentary for the Muslims residing in the UK. His most of the writings are on Hajj and Umrah, as he is a freelance writer.