Pilgrimage To Makkah- Why It Is The Best Way To Transform A Pilgrim’s Life

For Muslims, the Hajj and Umrah are the peak of their time on earth. The pilgrimages and rituals form a huge part of what it means to be part of the Muslim faith. The Hajj, one of the Five Pillars of Wisdom, needs to be undertaken by all able-bodied and financially able Muslims at least once in their lifetime. Hajj 2011 is estimated to take place from November 4th to the 9th and Hajj Packages 2011 have accommodations, transfers and flights that are flexibly designed around those dates. Visas, Hajj drafts, confirmed flights, educational programmes, free Hajj kits and qualified guides should be part a responsible Hajj package. Devout followers will have saved all of their lives in order to be able to afford the pilgrimage without debt and to provide for their dependants while they are gone. For this reason any Hajj Package should have graduated levels suitable for all financial means. And no wealth will be on show during the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages, for these are times of brotherhood and solidarity. This equality and the purity of the pilgrim is symbolised by the wearing of the simple Ihram clothing, for males, of two white cloths covering upper and lower body. In order to be ready for Ihram, pilgrims must perform a ritual cleansing, shaving and a manicure. Thus they are ready to submit to Allah. As they will when they meet Allah on their death, many former pilgrims choosing to be buried in their Ihram garments. A state of devotion is required throughout the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages, with no vulgarity, vanity or fighting allowed as pilgrims prepare to perform a series of holy rituals including walking counter-clockwise round the Kaaba seven times, running many times between the Al-Safa and Al-Marwah hills in the Saee ritual, and standing on the plains of Arafat commemorating the vigil of Muhammad. It is in the memory of Muhammad and also in the earlier magnificent and unsurpassed sacrifice of the Prophet Abraham that pilgrims travel to Makkah for the Hajj and for the lesser pilgrimage the Umrah, which is not compulsory. Around 3 million pilgrims embark on the Hajj every year, most from overseas using specific Hajj packages. They do it to show their devotion to Allah and to show unity with all other Muslims, bringing a real transformation to their individual lives and to their communities back home, fostering harmony, peace and equality.