(The Family of Imran 96 – 97) Surely, the first House (of worship) established for mankind is Ka’aba in Makkah, full of blessings and guidance for the universe. There are clear signs of (Allah), with the platform of Ibrahim (to pray), and whoso enters it, he is in peace. And the Hajj (Muslim pilgrimage) to this House is obligatory from Allah to Mankind who can afford an access to it. (Dr. A. Majeed Auolakh – LHR – 1999

The first House of worship for mankind is the Holy Ka’aba situated at the holy city of Makkah. It had been the qibla of mankind and giants since ever. When Prophet Adam Alyhe Salam. descended from paradise to earth, he prayed Allah to allow him to build a place of worship. Thus Gabriel and other angels erected the first building of worship for Hazrat Adam Alyhe Salam and his children. Hazrat Adam Alyhe Salam started praying with his face towards it and performed ‘Tawaf’ (circumambulation) around it.

At the time of Noah’s Deluge, the structure was raised to Heaven and it was then a raised platform. Even then, the people visited the place and offered prayers there. It was still a platform, when Prophet Ismail Alyhe Salam and his mother Bibi Hajra Alyhe Salam started living there. After the demise of Hazrat Hajra Alyhe Salam, Allah ordered Prophet Ibrahim to build Ka’aba. So he constructed the building with the help of his son Hazrat Ismail Alyhe Salam.

Allah orders us to perform Hajj by visiting the Holy Ka’aba at Makkah. It is the fifth and the last pillar of Islam. The literal meaning of Hajj is the desire and will to visit. But in the terminology of the Shariah, it connotes the will to visit the Holy Ka’aba at Makkah. Allah commands us to perform Hajj with all its obligations and conditions but Hajj is not obligatory for all the Muslims. It is compulsory for the adult rich, once a year, having all the provisions of travel and are sound of mind. The children or the insane are not required to perform it as an obligation. It is the only worship, which requires both physical as well as financial sacrifices.

Hajj is performed in Zil-Hajj, the twelfth month of the Muslim calendar. It is an annual congregational worship. According to Hazrat Imam Abu Hanifa, Hajj is the greatest of all worships. It is, in fact, the culmination of worship. Muslims from all over the world gather at Makkah every year and get a chance to discuss the problems that face the Muslim Ummah. It presents a great spectacle of equality, brotherhood, discipline and punctuality.

Muslims come to Makkah from all parts of the world. All of them wear ‘Ahram’, divesting all marks of status. They have to abstain from marital relations, quarrelling or using bad language. They are prohibited to harm any living being in the boundary of Makkah. Visit to the tomb of the Holy Prophet Sallalaho Alyhe Wasalam is necessary after performing Hajj.