The Kaaba, the building that houses the Black Stone, originally built by Adam (of Adam and Eve), and rebuilt by Abraham almost four thousand years ago is an amazing sight to see. It is probably one of the most recognizable holy places in the world, and now you know its significance.
As part of the hajj, we got to see the three pilgrims on their spiritual journey and discover what Islam means to them. It is important, with the way some Americans view Muslims today, I believe, that there is a balanced portrait of Islam and what the religion is. We cannot base our views upon the actions of a tiny group of extremists.
So, in 200 words or more, tell me what insights you have gained from watching Inside Mecca. Thanks.
Due Monday, October 20 by class.
27 comments:
I found the movie about Mecca absolutely eye opening. So many things happened during the ceremonies that I did not know about. I did not know that the Muslims threw stones at a pillar to represent Satan. I learned that this is done in order to represent Abraham throwing stones at the devil when Ishmael was to be killed. I also learned that even though all of the Muslims on the pilgrimage were supposed to be equal, this was not always true. For example, if someone had more money than someone else, they would have a more comfortable living situation. Also, racism played a factor in the trips of some of the Muslims. The South African man was looked down on by his tent mates because he is black. The woman from America was also questioned about whether or not she is a Muslim. Obviously she is Muslim because she would not be allowed into Mecca if she were not Muslim. Another part of the pilgrimage to Mecca that I learned is that is how far all of the Muslims had to walk everyday. Since the ceremonies took place in more than just the city of Mecca, the pilgrims had to walk many miles everyday in order to be closer to God. I really enjoyed seeing how close all of the Muslims feel to God while fulfilling the fifth pillar of the Five Pillars of Islam.
While watching the video of the Hajj I learned many things that I had not known before. One of those insights was that most Muslims want to do the Hajj. I learned that they will go through a lot just to say that they did the Hajj and add Hajji to the end of their name. From around 2 to 3 million Muslims from all over the world travel to Mecca for the Hajj. The Video talks specifically about what a American women, a African man, and Asian man have to do to prepare for the Hajj, what they do during the Hajj and what was done after. Before the Hajj all of the Muslim attending had to get a certificate from their Masque confirming that they are Muslim. Before she went to the Hajj the American woman had to buy modest clothing, also she needed a male relative to sign a letter allowing her to go to the Hajj. In her case she had her son sign it. Both of the men had to take a bus to the airport. The Asian had to buy a pack of simple clothing that came in two pieces, also known as an Ihram. His son gave him a Malison travel prayer. During the Hajj the woman climbed mount mercy. The African man bought food and gave it to the poor. Both men put on their Ihrams. All of the Muslims walked to planes of Arafat and threw rocks at three pillars. These three pillars were placed where Abraham fought the devil. After all of this the Muslims went back to Mecca to walk around the Kaaba. The Kaaba was placed where God talked to Muhammad. After they were done with the Hajj the Muslims walked around the Kaaba one last time and then added Hajji to the end of their name. This is what I learned from the video we watched about the Hajj.
Jay Griffin
After watching the video about Mecca and how the experience had an effect on the people we watched I also gained an insight from the video. First off I learned that only Muslims were allowed in the holy city in Mecca. I also learned there were a lot of preparations for entering the holy city. For example men had to wear an Ihram a traditional clothing piece that looks like to towels and the women had to get clothing to cover their hair. Women also needed to get permission from a male husband, son, or father so security knows you were given permission to enter. Also you needed something signed by the pastor of their mosque so they’re known as an actual Muslim. Once in the city there were a lot of people who would come every year and participate in the events available. For example the walk around the Kaaba. This event is pretty much before the prayer during the pilgrimage everyone who’s taking part of the celebration walk around the Kaaba seven times before they pray. Some other activities include the walk Muhammad made to visit his wife and child after God told him to abandon them in the desert. This activity everyone just goes into the desert and sets up camp to feel closer to Muhammad and his family. There are also the closing activities like the walk back around the Kaaba and then the men get their heads shaved. In conclusion these are some of the things I learned from the video.
The film Inside Mecca follows three Muslims- an Asian man, an American woman, and an African man- on their journey of the Hajj. The Hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam, is a five day journey to Mecca that only certified Muslims can attend. Only twenty percent of the people who go are Arab. It must be completed once in Muslims’ lifetime if affordable. The price ranges from 8,000-10,000 dollars; a tent costs $2500 alone! During the journey, the state of ihram, a peaceful mindset, has to be kept. An ihram can also refer to the outfit worn by all men to maintain equality. This outfit is made of two white pieces of cloth: one going up and one going down. Women’s dress code consists of modest clothing. The streets of Mecca are a bustling market one minute and a place of worship the next. Despite the hajj being a religious event, people are still stereotyped and judged. In the chaos of everything, people are even killed. On judgment day, the Muslims attending head to Plains of Arafat to pray at the mount of Arafat until sundown. Another event that takes place is the stoning of “Satan”. People throw about forty seven stones at the three stone pillars of Satan to cast away temptation. After this, a lamb is sacrificed a feast takes place.
As the birthplace of Muhammad and the site of Muhammad's first revelation of the Quran 2 miles from Mecca, Mecca is regarded as the holiest city in the religion of Islam and a pilgrimage to it known as the Hajj is obligatory for all able Muslims. Mecca is home to the Kaaba, by majority description Islam's holiest site, as well as being the direction of Muslim prayer. Mecca was long ruled by Muhammad's descendants, the sharifs, acting either as independent rulers or as vassals to larger polities. It was absorbed into Saudi Arabia in 1925. In its modern period, Mecca has seen tremendous expansion in size and infrastructure, home to structures such as the Abraj Al Bait, also known as the Makkah Royal Clock Tower Hotel, the world's third tallest building and the building with the largest amount of floor area. During this expansion, Mecca has lost some historical structures and archaeological sites, such as the Ajyad Fortress.Today, more than 15 million Muslims visit Mecca annually, including several million during the few days of the Hajj. As a result, Mecca has become one of the most cosmopolitan and diverse cities in the Muslim world, despite the fact that non-Muslims are prohibited from entering the city. Jamil LEE
During this video we saw three people carry out the ritual of the Pilgrimage. This is when a person who is Muslim goes to Mecca and performs different rituals to get rid of their sins. First, I learned that if the person traveling to Mecca has children they perform a ceremony for their parent’s departure. Also, the people performing the Pilgrimage or Hajj have to dress accordingly and modestly. Girls have to cover everything except for their face throughout their whole trip. Men wear a two-piece white outfit wrapped around their bodies. I also learned that the government has a little city type area 5 miles away from Mecca. Some people take buses and some decide to walk to be able to get closer to God and getting rid of their sins. When the masses of people arrive they find their specified tent and meet the people they will be staying with for the next few days. One very important detail that I have also leaned is at the end of their trip they throw stones at three pillars called The Pillars of Satin. This symbolizes the people killing their sins and starting a new clean slate. This is what I have leaned from the Video Inside Mecca and about the rituals of the Hajj.
I have gained a lot from watching inside mecca about Muslims and their culture. In many circumstances muslins are stereotyped as violent and intolerant when they are not. All Muslims are required to visit mecca once in their lifetime as a sort of cleansing ritual, but before they go there is a lot of preparation they must go through. We saw into the lives of three people an American woman, an African man, and an Asian man. Each of these people had to begin by getting proven that they are indeed muslin by their masque. In the case of the woman she needed permission from a male member of he family. Next they all had to purchase specific clothing called Iram made from basic cloth.
Once in Mecca they went through many different rituals before finally visiting the kaaba. They did many prayers during the pilgrimage. They were also not allowed to groom until right before they visit the kaaba. The pilgrims also did many rituals in rememberance to Abraham including the stoning of satin where they through stones and pillars to symbolize casting away temptation. After all of this preparation they finally visit the kaaba where they pray to it and circle it 7 times. Some even get to touch it but most are happy enough just to see it.
James Shelton Blog 29
From the video “Inside Mecca” I learned that being Muslim takes a lot of work and there are lots of componets that tie into this religion like the hajj, the five pillars,beliefs, praying, etc. The Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, and a mandatory religious duty for Muslims which must be carried out at least one in their lifetime by all Adult Muslims who are physically and financially capable to take this journey and can support their family during their absence.The gathering of the Hajj is considered the largest annual gathering of people in the world. The “Five Pillars Of Islam” are the five basic acts in Islam, considered mandatory by believers and are the foundation of Muslim life. The first one is the Shahadah: Declaring that there is no god except God and Muhammad is God’s messenger. The second one is Salat: Ritual prayer five times a day, Day, Noon, Later afternoon, Sunset, Before going to bed. The third one is Zakat: Giving 25% of one’s savings to the poor and needy. The fourth one is Swam:Fasting and self-control during the month of Ramadan no eating or drinking from sunrise to sunset. The fifth one is the pilgrimage to the Hajj to mecca at least once in a lifetime.Other religious practices are only up to four wives allowed at once, No alcohol or park, No gambling, Sharia the body of Islamic law to regulate daily living, the three holiest cities in Islam are Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem. From this video I learned that being Muslim is kinda weird to me and that’s only because I believe in something else but its kinda cool at the same time to see people who all believe in the same God to come together as one.
While watching Inside Mecca, non-Muslims like myself, had a chance to see the holiest place in the Muslim world. There were many unknown facts that I was not familiar with while Muslims went on the hajj. One unknown fact to me about the hajj was that some people died and were born on this trip. With millions of people going to Mecca every year it is evident that this will happen, but I never took this into consideration. Another fact that I was not familiar with was the attire that those have to wear throughout the journey. Each Muslim on the hajj has to wear an ihram which is similar to a dress with white garments along the lines of towels. During the hajj, many Muslims visit the third pillar of Satan. The Muslims then have to collect pebbles and then the pebbles are thrown at the pillar of Satan. After this stoning ritual, Muslims then go to the area of animal sacrifice. There is one sheep per person on the hajj of that year. The sheep are then beheaded and are used for their meat. Personally I don’t agree with this ritual, but it is a tradition and is part of their trip during the hajj. During a section of the hajj, no Muslim can cleanse themselves in a way of personal hygiene as well. Throughout the entire hajj, Muslims pray for a variety of important reasons relating to their lives. People come from all over the world to go on this pilgrimage as it is required for Muslims to make the pilgrimage at least one time in their life. In the centre of the Grand Mosque, lies the Kaaba which is an ancient stone building in which Muslims pray. On the Eastern side of the building lays the Black Stone of Mecca and many Muslims try to kiss this stone when they have a chance for the prophet Muhammad. Throughout the entire film I was enlightened about the religion of Islam and how it is different between the other “Peoples of the Book” religions.
In class, we watched the movie Inside Mecca, I thought it was really interesting. It was cool to see what it was like in a place where only Muslims could enter. There were three people that the movie was focusing on, an American women, an Asian man, and an African man. I chose to focus on the American women because I can relate to her the best. Before the pilgrimage to Mecca she had to do a lot of things ahead of time to get ready. She would be traveling from Texas, she was not born a Muslim so she had to study with a group. In order for her to go to Mecca she had to buy the right clothes because casual clothes were not allowed. All the people going had to where the same thing because God sees us all as equals. She also had to prove to her Mosque that she was a Muslim so she could get her visa to be able to enter Mecca. And she had to have her son write a letter to enable her to go to Mecca because the man of the house was in charge. When she got to Mecca, people would look at her funny because of her race. When she saw the Kaaba she was instantly overwhelmed, all the praying and dedicating her life to Muslim has final paid off. The first thing she did was walk around the Kaaba seven times because that is how many time Abraham circled the Kaaba. After she would have to walk between two hills seven times because Abraham crossed between the hills looking for water. After her trip to Mecca she was believed to be one with God. And now people did not care about her race, they only cared that she was Muslim now.
The video “Inside Mecca” was a very interesting and special chance to see what goes on during the hajj. I think it was an amazing idea to show how different types of people reacted to their experience at the hajj. At one point I learned a very important thing. Even though this is one of the holiest cities people were extremely rude to the African man, so he made a smart decisions to leave those people so he could enjoy his hajj in peace. Another so to say problem was that some people did not live simply the whole time. There was a part where if you had the money you could upgrade your tent size. That doesn’t seem very holy or equal. The journey of the hajj was full of many experiences for the Muslims to embrace their faith in doing. One of the most important things was to stone Satan. This is a visual of the Muslims literally throwing rocks at stone pillars to “cast out Satan.” They had to do this at three separate places. Which take me to another thing I learned which was that the hajj was not specifically in one place. The people walked many miles each day to get to certain holy places.
Erinn Costello
Personally I have learned a lot from watching Inside Mecca video. I learned what has to be done to participate in the hajj, what happens during, and the history of the Hajj.
To participate in the hajj you must be Muslim, need a certificate from your masque and if you are female you need an approval letter written by a male family member. You will also need to practice and learn the religion and the prayers that are done. Males must wear the proper attire of an ihram, females where modest clothes that cover them.
Many things happen during the hajj. The people walk around the Kaaba seven times in resembling how Muhammad did. The people also throw 40-46 rocks at three different pillars in a mall representing Muhammad throwing rocks at Satan casting him away. One last event that happens during the hajj is skinning of lambs and sending them to the hungry resembling when the angles replaced Isaac with a lamb before he was killed. The people also come together and worship god and pray together in the camps that they stay in for the five days of the hajj.
Jackie Sullivan
October 19, 2014
3rd
Blog #29: Inside Mecca
In the National Geographic video about Mecca I learned about the hajj and the Muslim religion. Before the hajj, Muslim women must go shopping for a hijab, which is the traditional Muslim headdress. Muslim men wear a payer cap under a white turban called an Imama. Women have to get permission from their Muslim priest and a male family member saying that they can go on the hajj. Also before the hajj, Muslims read scripture. During the hajj, the people reenact the things that Abraham did thousands of years ago. Some things that they reenact during the hajj are running between two walls, walking in certain paths, and throwing stones at columns. Muslims walk in certain paths that is said Abraham did thousands of years ago during the hajj. They cannot walk back to where they stay until the sun goes down. Also the Muslims throw 47 stones at three columns, which are resembled as Satan. Lastly during the hajj, the Muslims have a very large feast day that feeds all two million people. The extra food is given to the poor all around the world. After the hajj, the Muslim people are free from sin and continue to spread their Muslim religion around the world.
I learned a lot from the video Inside Mecca. I learned a few things about how people prepare for the Hajj. One of the things I have learned is that they need a certificate from their mosque and also an authorization letter from a male relative. Another thing that they have to do is study their religion. One of the things the women have to do is buy modest clothing to wear during the Hajj. I learned that the men have to wear an ihram. I also learned a lot about what the Muslim people experience during the Hajj. I learned that they have to jog between two hills a few times like how Hagar did when he was in search of water. They also have to walk around the Kaaba seven times. They also walk to the Plains of Arafat where they pray from sun set to sun down. They also slept in tents where that they were assigned to. Another thing I learned is that they throw forty-seven rocks at three pillars that resemble Satan. There are three pillars where they throw these rocks because it is the exact spots where Abraham threw rocks at Satan to banish him away when Satan was trying to persuade him not to kill his son like God had ordered him to do. I also learned that they cut the throats out of sheep and give each family a whole sheep. I also learned that after the Hajj the Muslim people walk around the Kaaba one more time before they leave and live their new life.
By: McKenna Moosekian
I learned a lot from the video Inside Mecca. I learned a few things about how people prepare for the Hajj. One of the things I have learned is that they need a certificate from their mosque and also an authorization letter from a male relative. Another thing that they have to do is study their religion. One of the things the women have to do is buy modest clothing to wear during the Hajj. I learned that the men have to wear an ihram. I also learned a lot about what the Muslim people experience during the Hajj. I learned that they have to jog between two hills a few times like how Hagar did when he was in search of water. They also have to walk around the Kaaba seven times. They also walk to the Plains of Arafat where they pray from sun set to sun down. They also slept in tents where that they were assigned to. Another thing I learned is that they throw forty-seven rocks at three pillars that resemble Satan. There are three pillars where they throw these rocks because it is the exact spots where Abraham threw rocks at Satan to banish him away when Satan was trying to persuade him not to kill his son like God had ordered him to do. I also learned that after the Hajj the Muslim people walk around the Kaaba one more time before they leave and live their new life.
Some new facts that I have learned from watching “Inside Mecca” were . . . it was a cleansing to all the people. They had this feeling that they were new and improved people. Another thing is they can ask God for forgiveness. They might have done sins they regret and feel bad for. Something else I learned from “Inside Mecca” was that the people that went had to be a full Muslim. They couldn’t say, “oh, I’m becoming one in the process.” Also the people had things they had to do like, study rituals. The men also had to wear Ihram’s. The women had to get an approval from a male relative, stating that she could go. They would throw stones at a pillar to get rid of Satan. They threw about 47 stones. The Asian men had to have a Malaysian send off from his son if he ha one. Another thing I learned is that they had to cut their hair. The trip was very expensive. One of the last things I learned was their family, or even they didn’t know if they would ever come back. It was a sad moment sending them off, and not knowing if they would ever see them again. These are the things I learned about “Inside Mecca”.
Stephanie Green
3rd hour
I learned and gained a lot of insights from the Inside Mecca video. I first learned how serious and big of a religious experience it is; it is very costly, and in order to go not only are certifications needed displaying that you are a Muslim and practice being a Muslim. In addition females need verification from a male relative. It is supposed to be completed at least once in a Muslims lifetime. While at Mecca, everyone is getting forgiven of their sins. They are making sacred prayers (at least five a day) and asking God for forgiveness. I was surprised to learn that even in the Holy place where they were supposed to be patient and your status wasn’t supposed to matter segregation was still present. This is shown when the African man is told to pray in a room with other African men. It is also shown with the American women, who was constantly being asked if she was a “true Muslim” because she was white and from Texas. I was also surprised that even though their economic status wasn't supposed to be an issue and your status was supposed to be masked because everyone got changed into very similar outfits, the people with more money were treated better.
Blog #29
Chaise During the video I have learned that Ford 3rd
There are people that are very spiritual and take there religion very serious. The pilgrimage to Mesca, is one of the biggest spiritual thing that occurs in the year. There is a big huge gathering that takes place before the big event. You travel in groups on the way to the Mesca, and everyone must not sin or fight with other people into the Mesca is finally over. During your years of life you make the religious event once, and you must also have to be Muslim to participate. During the event some people choose to climb the same mountain that Abarham climbed, but there is little space and you have to watch out for peoples hands and etc, just because so people sit down to rest there feet. As the religious holiday comes to an end the people geather one more time to throw 46 stones at this peace of rock that symbol the devil. Some throw from the top of a bridge some people throw from the ground and some people throw from under ground. They react what Abarham did when the devil tired to stop him from killing his own kid, and try to make him not listen to the Lord. When people run out of stones some people even go as fair as throwing there shoes at the stone. This is very dangerous there are many deaths that take place during this part of the event, but people still do it for showing their respect and trying to was away every peace of devil in them.
Blog 29: What did you learn new that you didn’t know about Islam?
After watching the video in class, I learned a majority of new things. The first thing I realized was that the lady from America needed a male’s (in her family) approval in order to go to Islam. Another thing I learned was that when you arrive, you are criticized by people there who don’t believe you are Muslim. Even though everybody is surrounded by the same religion, some people think it is necessary to discriminate, like the man from Africa. Also, children are not supposed to come to the event. Did you know that the people were required to cut or shave their head to please the god? The people also are required to pray five times a day when they are there. Something I noticed while watching was that the people who were wealthy got luxuries like air conditioning, better food, etc. However, since this is a religious gathering, I don’t think it was fair for the rest of the people to suffer. Near the end of the ceremonial, the Muslim people would gather mostly pebbles and toss them at pillars. They considered the pillar as Satan and they did this to warn off the bad. Finally, when you arrive home, you are expected to be a good person until next time.
From watching Inside Mecca I learned many things about Islam and Muslim. When we first watched Inside Mecca; it took us inside the lives of Muslims who were seeking to go to Saudi Arabia to become pilgrims or go through their pilgrimage. Before their journey to Saudi Arabia, Muslim women must shop for modest clothing so their bodies will not be seen. Women must also have proof that they are Muslim by having their leader write them a certificate showing that they are Muslim. In order for Muslim women to be able to go to Saudi Arabia, they must have a male family member’s permission to go. There is a whole different way for men to leave. When all Muslim men are getting ready to go the must pack Ihram (clothing that they wear when they are in mecca and at the Kabba, etc) with them for their trip. A sendoff from the son to the father is a Malaysian tradition when leaving for the Kabba. During the pilgrimage; the men must change into their ihram and women are already changed. They walk around they kabba 7 times. They climb Mount Anafact and pray for repentance. The pick 47 rocks each and throw them at a statue as if it was Satan. In the end of the pilgrimage they walked around the kabba for one last time, the men shave their heads, witness to more Islams, and they each get a lamb. The leftovers are shipped to other people. These traditions are still used today.
Kalaya
During the religious side of a Muslims life they have 5 pillars of Islam. These five pillars include The Shahaba, The Salat, The Zakat, The Sawm, and The Hajj. The one I have wanted to talk about is Hajj, this is the pilgrimage to Mecca this must happen at least once in a Muslims life. Many people pray their whole lives to actually witness the pilgrimage from Mecca because for years they pray towards this spot for years UNTIL they can finally get the chance to go there. Only about 20% of the Muslims that travels there are Arabic and lots come from American. For example one lady that traveled to Mecca was from Texas, but the catch is that she never started off Muslim. Many different people of many different races travel to Mecca. But once in Mecca only Muslims may enter this holy place and judgment is NOT allowed. All rituals must be followed for example all of any girls hair must be covered and men must only where a two peace cloth outfit. In order to go on this trip to mecca you must study the religion, find a group to go with, be granted a visa by her pastor, some male in her family had to write a letter giving her permission to talk the trip to Mecca, and she needed a certificate from her masc. Once there they must be very patient. While being over whelmed by seeing the Kaaba for the first time they have to walk around it seven times. They also have to pray a lot like before the trial of the soul and many people pray for their family! They soon after have to walk between two mountains seven times as well. Then they must use stones to cast away Satan, objects, and disagreements with others and with themselves. In the end many Muslims feel like they have become one with God and she was one with her religion.
Larkin
Muslims don't believe that Muhammad was the last prophet, and that Jesus was a prophet, not the son of God and didn't die of crucifixion. Muslims believe Muhammad received the last revelation fr
om God aka Allah from the Angel Gabriel in the Cave of Hira in 610. Muslims have five very strict traditions which must be followed by every Muslim. First The Shahaba: The Declaration of Faith by stating there is no God worthy of worship except God. and Muhammad and his messengers (or Prophets)The mandatory prayers performed five times a day at least once at dawn, noon, late afternoon, sunset, and before going to bed. Also, The Salat (the call to prayer by the muezzin in the minaret and praying in the mosque on Friday). The Zakat Almsgiving ( charitable donations) and they give about 2.5% of their income. The Sawm Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan which is considered a method of self-purification where this is no eating or drinking from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan. And Finally, The Hajj. The Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca in modern day Saudi Arabia. This trip must be done at least once in a Muslim lifetime. where the whole week they don’t bathe or partake in any sexual activists, women must dress modestly and get permission from a Man to even go on this trip, travel places on which They Believe Muhammad has been and re-enact some events that took place. Those who complete the pilgrimage can add Hajji to their name
and I suppose brag about the great religious trip they've been on.
Janai
Dominik Headlee
3rd hour
I found that the video “Inside Mecca”, taught me many things that I didn’t know about Islam. They had many rituals that I didn’t know about, such as throwing stones at pillars that represent satin. They also killed hundreds of goats in order to feed all of the people in the Hajj. They chose goats because, when Abraham was ordered to kill his son Ishmael, he was replaced with a goat that he killed instead. They walk in seven circles around a building called the Kabba. The Kabba is a religious building that was once filled with statues of idols that the people once worshipped, until Muhammad came along and smashed them all so that people would be inclined to worship the one and only true god, Allah. There are five pillars of the Islamic religion. They represent the laws or rules. The Muslims go on a long journey called the hajj, in which the Muslim people go on a long journey- the same journey that Muhammad himself in order to reach Mecca. They worship God in large temples called Mosques. They have a large mosque surrounding s large rock that supposedly lifted Muhammad up into the air to speak with heavenly beings.
Inside the Mecca shows the true religion of Muslim. Before watching Inside the Mecca I didn’t know much about the religion. Inside the Mecca showed that all types of people can join the Muslim religion Asian, American, African American, etc. I`ve learned a lot about the Muslim religion such as there holy book (Quaran) is in Arabic and in order to be Muslim you have to read the book, so you have to learn Arabic to read the Quaran. In order to live the Muslim life you have to attend an event called the Hajji before you go the upper room. Not anyone can go to the Hajji. In order to attend the Hajji there are a lot of processing to go through. Such as, you have to prove your pastor that you are truly muslim and he signs a note saying you are good to go. Hajji is about a few weeks long. The Hajji is the full life of a Muslim and they pray 3 times a day. No matter they are doing in the day the Muslim stop and arrange their carpet and say their prayer. One of my favorite part about the Muslim religion is when they act like this stone wall is Satain and they stone it. -----------CRIstion Williams
Some insights I have gained from watching Inside the Mecca is what the religion Muslim really is. I never knew much about it before, only that they wore scarves. But now I learned that they must go to the hajj at least once in their lifetime and there is al of preparation for it. Many people take buses or ride the airplane, and the city that holds the hajj must prepare for what is like ten super bowls in America. Some Muslims get emotional when they finally get there because it's so hard seeing it in real life for them, something some only dreamed about seeing. During the hajj, I learned that they all literally stop during the time for prayer. Then, they sing the anthem of heart together. Everyone wanted to walk around the building several times so it looked like a mob. The Asian man felt alone and started to cry during the hajj because he left all his family behind. After the Hajj, everyone goes back with a 'clean slate'. All of the people in the movie felt grateful and refreshed afterward. The Asian man wanted to share what he learned with his family. Inside the Mecca gave me a look inside that many people aren't allowed to see, and was a very interesting movie to see all the rituals and things people had to do.
I learned a lot from inside Mecca. It is a very interesting place that that most religions don’t have something like it. The fact that only Muslims are allowed there is a special thing. It makes it more interesting and even more special for the people that are allowed to go. The Kaaba is an interesting structure, and it is a one of a kind of thing. Only Muslims are allowed to see it and touch it, and they get to have an experience like no one else. Mecca is a place to take worshipping the Muslim religion to a whole new level. When someone that worships the Muslim religion wants to go to Mecca they have to make sure its ok from a man in their family. Millions of people go to Mecca every year. They all call for the same reason. They go to get more involved with their religion and to see the Kaaba and Hajj. Those things are special for the Muslim religion. Seeing the video changed my thoughts on what the Muslim religion is. It changed my perspective on how Muslims are, how I won’t be a little nervous when I see them in the airport. It is a very interesting religion
-George
Recently we have been learning about Islam. The Islamic people go on a 2 week retreat to there place of worship called The Hajj. The Hajj is a pilgrimage in Mecca and is one of the 5 pillars of Islam. Going on the journey shows submission to Allah and solidarity. The Hajj video showed the perspective of the Hajj from a muslims point of view.
When going on Hajj you must prepare for your journey. The men pack there "towels" or Ihrams. After packing they have to make a donation. The flight to Mecca is long. Once you land you get on the bus to Mecca. Once there you must find your tent. They then visit Mina and pray morning, noon, afternoon, and night. The next day they visit Arafat. Leaving Arafat they gather stones to throw at Satan (pillars). The next day of there journey they make animal sacrifices. This mimicks the incident of Muhammad and Ishmael. The men then carry on with the Halak which is a tradition to shave or trim their hair. They finally perform the Tawaf as they circle the Kaaba 7 times. Some pilgrims then travel to Medina this is not mandatory.
The whole process is eye opening , and is an amazing opprtunity. Even though as we watched the video we saw lots a different factors play out. The American women suffered being accused of being a fake muslim. This showed that some muslims forgot that only muslim people are accepted into Mecca. The African man was being discriminated against for being black. This showed that people forgot that at the Hajj every woman or man is equal rich or poor. The Asian man suffered being alone and didn’t have the support. This showed that some people forgot that the Hajj is a place for help and supporting one another.
Sanae
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