Why do Muslim go for the pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia?

Question

Just curious. I ain't no Muslim but I just want to find out. What does it mean for a Muslim to go for the pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia every Islamic new year (?). I heard it is a necessity for a Muslim to go there at least once in a lifetime.

What does it mean to go there during the festival and going there at other times? Other times means for example when my Muslim friend went to Saudi Arabia to visit a friend and for a short holiday. It wasn't a Islamic holiday.

Additional Details

What about other holy sites like Jerusalem? Do they also go there as well? Or maybe Egypt?

I think tomorrow is a Islamic holiday, isn't it?

Is Dubai also a holy site? I keep hearing about it these days.

Answer 1

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As muslims the exact spot where the Kaaba (the black building) is actually on the spot where Adam prayed to God.. This is also where Abraham and his son built an alter to God.. This is a traditional spot for all prophets to pray towards.. sort of like a focal point where all muslims all over the world face towards to pray..
hajj as it is done now is in memerance of these former prophets and new rituals.. Its to purify your soul, to get closer to God. to look amongst fellow muslims, all colors, races, creeds, languages and to feel the brotherhood and no distinction in rank amongst humans.. Its a time to reflect on your life. and meditate and become closer spiritually to God..


did you know, the pilgramage was mentioned even in the bible?

Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
(Psalm 84:5-6)
(beca or becca is the old name of Mecca).. think even.. day before yesterday, the autumn rains fell to hard in Mecca that it made lakes and pools all along some of the roads.. it fits this bible verse exactly..

Answer 2

Because weak minds need to be lead.
It is a consiquence of the evolving ego.

Answer 3

The Hajj is a demonstration of the solidarity of the Muslim people, ... Pilgrims can also go to Mecca to perform the rituals at other times of the year. .... A pilgrim's Hajj is considered invalid if they do not spend the afternoon on .... "More than 1.7 million pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia for the Hajj".

Answer 4

It's customary. All religions have customs. It's no big deal.

Answer 5

I won’t be able to explain the hajj for you coz my English isn’t really good

but I will answer part of your question >>why Saudi Arabia ?

In Islam there is three and only three holy cities which are
1-Makka in Saudi Arabia ( because it has he )
2- Almandine Almunawara in Saudi Arabia ( which has the prophet mosque )
3-Jerusalem (alquds ) in Palestine

these are the only cities in Islam consider to be holy and have a special place

For pilgrimage Muslim go to Makkah because it has the Ka’aba and God believers since the prophet Ibrahim do hajj (pilgrimage) there

Answer 6

it's an islamic ritual which has been coverd by many Tv networks

it's to MAKKAH not to saudi arabia

Answer 7

to be a muslim , you should do 5 things
1)
addmit that allah ( God ) is the only god and mohmad ( the prophet ) is god massenger .
2) pray 5 times daily
3)give 2.5% yearly of your money to poor people ( called zakka )
4) fast 1 month a year ( ramadan )
5) GO TO MAKKA to perform HAJJ

so people go to saudi arabia where makka is located to complete their islam and submission to God.

Answer 8

Mecca was a pilgrimage site long before the birth of the Prophet. It is tradition.

Answer 9

Islam stands for 5 pillars, haj is the fifth one, but you only do it when you have the ability. it has to be done in Makkah,, there's a particular way to do the haj but basically it's to visit the holy masjed in makkah and spent the time praying to allah. Egypt is no holy place,, it's just historical

Answer 10

because saudi arabia has the holiest site where all pilgrims go (makkah, mina, muzadlifa, arafa). hajj is performed only once a year in the 12th month of thul-hijja.

Answer 11

like when Hindus go to their holy sites...it is used to have advantage ..people trade cultures and goods in the past..Nowadays somehow it is ((((( distracted)))).