Hajj 2025 4th - 9th June 2024
What is 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. Whilst in the state of ‘Ihram,’ (in which men should strip themselves of all sewn clothes and underwear and wrap themselves with two pieces of cloth) 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 (Zam Zam) 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 during 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 that will be used to symbolically “stone shaitan”, as 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 at the Haram or Holy Mosque, 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.
Preparations
Following the successful completion of the Hajj 2024 edition and the unfortunate circumstances of some of our Sierra Leonean brothers and sisters living abroad, His Excellency the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone has directed the Taskforce to ensure all Sierra Leoneans living home and abroad who can afford a Pilgrimage to Mecca should be given an opportunity to do so through the Sierra Leone Hajj quota.
As a response to the Presidential directive, this year’s Hajj number from Sierra Leone is expected to be significantly higher for both national and international.
The Taskforce is therefore currently seeking expressions of interest from agencies and Sierra Leoneans living abroad to join us in ensuring that this is achieved.
The Sierra Leone quota for Hajj 2025 is 3500. Those who wish to perform Hajj 2025 should contact the Hajj Secretariat in Freetown or through the website for further details.