Al-Manasik المناسك → rites / rituals
Al-Ihram الإحرام → the sacred state that entails:
1. wearing two white, unstitched pieces of cloth for men, and any loose-fitting clothing for women,
2. abstaining from cutting one’s hair or nails, wearing perfume, hunting or slaughtering, and engaging in a sexual activity.
Al-Miqat الميقات → the outer boundaries of the city of Mecca
Al-Tawaf الطواف → circumambulating the Kaaba 7 times beginning and ending at the Black Stone
Al-Sa'ai السعي → the ritual walking of 7 journeys between Al-Safa and Al-Marwah (men only jog between the two green posts)
Pilgrimage to Mecca is one of the five pillars of Islam, the obligations that all Muslims must fulfil. Every adult Muslim, male or female, who has the physical and financial means must perform pilgrimage at least once in his/her lifetime. In Mecca, Muslims from all over the world gather in a display of faith, unity and unquestioning obedience to Allah. Prophet Muhammad, the prayer and peace of Allah be upon him and his family, recreated what Prophet Ibrahim, his wife Hagar, and their son Ismail, the prayer and peace of Allah be upon them all, had done when they first settled in Mecca.
