Each year, Saudi Arabia welcomes a multitude of Muslim pilgrims for the Hajj, a central pillar of Islam. During this sacred pilgrimage, devotees unite in acts of worship and religious rituals, fulfilling a profound duty. The Hajj offers a deeply spiritual experience, providing an opportunity for participants to seek divine forgiveness and cleanse themselves of past transgressions.
When is Eid al-Adha and how is it linked to the Hajj pilgrimage?
During the month of Hajj, Muslims also celebrate Eid al-Adha. This is a separate event from Eid al-Fitr and marks the prophet Ibrahim’s test of faith. For pilgrims, performing the Hajj fulfills a religious obligation and is also a deeply spiritual experience.
What is Eid al-Adha?
Eid al-Adha, or the “Feast of Sacrifice,” is the Islamic holiday that begins on the 10th day of the Islamic lunar month of Dhul-Hijja, during the Hajj. A joyous occasion celebrated by Muslims around the world, Eid al-Adha commemorates Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son as an act of submission to God. During the festive holiday, Muslims slaughter sheep or cattle and distribute some meat to the poor.
When is Eid al-Adha in 2026?
This year, Eid al-Adha is set to commence on the evening of Tuesday, 26th May 2026, with its main day falling on Wednesday, 27th May. The three-day festival will continue until Friday, 29th May. The holy month of Dhul Hijjah begins on Monday, 18th May 2026, with Hajj taking place from Monday, 25th May 2026, and the Day of Arafah on Tuesday, 26th May 2026.
What is the Hajj?
The Hajj is the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia and involves a series of religious rituals. It is required once in a lifetime of every Muslim who can afford it and is physically able to make it. Some Muslims make the journey more than once. It is also one of the five pillars of Islam, in addition to the profession of faith, prayer, almsgiving, and fasting.
When is the Hajj?
The Hajj occurs once a year during the lunar month of Dhul-Hijja, the 12th and final month of the Islamic calendar. This year, the Hajj will start on June 4. When the Hajj falls during the summer months, intense heat can be especially challenging. Amid extreme high temperatures last year, more than 1,300 people died during the Hajj, Saudi authorities announced. The country’s health minister stated that the vast majority of fatalities were unauthorized pilgrims who walked long distances under the sun.
What is the significance of the Hajj?
For pilgrims, performing the Hajj fulfills a religious obligation and is also a deeply spiritual experience. It is seen as a chance to seek God’s forgiveness for past sins, to grow closer to God, and to walk in the footsteps of prophets. Communally, the Hajj unites Muslims of diverse races, ethnicities, languages, and economic classes from around the world in performing religious rituals and acts of worship at the same time and place. This leaves many feeling a sense of unity, connection, humility, and equality. Pilgrims also bring personal appeals, wishes, and experiences, often carrying prayer requests from family and friends. Some spend years hoping and praying to one day perform the Hajj or saving money and waiting for a permit. Preparations may include packing essentials, seeking tips from previous pilgrims, attending lectures, and spiritually readying oneself.
What are the rituals?
Pilgrims make the intention to perform the Hajj and enter a state of “ihram,” which includes abiding by certain rules and prohibitions. For instance, men are not to wear regular sewn or stitched clothes; instead, they wear simple ihram cloth garments to discard luxuries and vanity, shed worldly status symbols, and immerse in humility and devotion to God. A spiritual highlight for many is standing on the plain of Arafat, where pilgrims praise God, plead for forgiveness, and make supplications, often with tears streaming down their faces. Other rituals include performing “tawaf,” circumambulating the Kaaba in Mecca counterclockwise seven times. The Kaaba, a cube-shaped structure, is the focal point toward which Muslims face during daily prayers. Pilgrims also retrace the path of Hagar, the wife of Prophet Ibrahim, who ran between two hills seven times searching for water for her son.
