'''Haji''' adalah rukun (tiang agama) Islam yang kelima setelah syahadat, shalat, zakat dan puasa. Menunaikan ibadah haji adalah bentuk ritual tahunan yang dilaksanakan kaum muslim sedunia yang mampu (material, fisik, dan keilmuan) dengan berkunjung dan melaksanakan beberapa kegiatan di beberapa tempat di Arab Saudi pada suatu waktu yang dikenal sebagai ''musim haji'' (bulan Dzulhijjah). Hal ini berbeda dengan ibadah umrah yang bisa dilaksanakan sewaktu-waktu. 

Kegiatan inti ibadah haji dimulai pada tanggal 8 Dzulhijjah ketika umat Islam bermalam di Padang Arafah pada tanggal 9 Dzulhijjah, dan berakhir setelah melempar jumrah (melempar batu simbolisasi setan) pada tanggal 10 Dzulhijjah. Masyarakat Indonesia lazim juga menyebut hari raya Idul Adha sebagai Hari Raya Haji karena bersamaan dengan perayaan ibadah haji ini.

== Definisi ==
Secara ''lughawi'', haji berarti menyengaja atau menuju dan mengunjungi. <ref name="Haji2">Nogarsyah Moede Gayo, ''Pustaka pintar haji dan umrah'', Inovasi, Jakarta:2003</ref> Menurut etimologi bahasa Arab, kata haji mempunyai arti ''qashd'', yakni tujuan, maksud, dan menyengaja. Menurut istilah syara', haji ialah menuju ke ''Baitullah'' dan tempat-tempat tertentu untuk melaksanakan amalan-amalan ibadah tertentu pula. Yang dimaksud dengan temat-tempat tertentu dalam definisi diatas, selain Ka'bah dan Mas'a(tempat sa'i), juga Arafah, Muzdalifah, dan Mina. Yang dimaksud dengan waktu tertentu ialah bulan-bulan haji yang dimulai dari Syawal sampai sepuluh hari pertama bulan Dzulhijjah. Adapun amal ibadah tertentu ialah thawaf, sa'i, wukuf, ''mazbit'' di Muzdalifah, melontar jumrah, ''mabit'' di Mina, dan lain-lain. <ref name="Haji1">Sundarmi Burkan Saleh, ''Pedoman haji, umrah, dan ziarah'', Senayan Abadi Publishing, Jakarta:2003</ref>

== Latar belakang ibadah haji ==
Orang-orang Arab pada zaman jahiliah telah mengenal ibadah haji ini yang mereka warisi dari nenek moyang terdahulu dengan melakukan perubahan disana-sini. Akan tetapi, bentuk umum pelaksanaannya masih tetap ada, seperti thawaf, sa'i, wukuf, dan melontar jumrah. Hanya saja pelaksanaannya banyak yang tidak sesuai lagi dengan syariat yang sebenarnya. Untuk itu, Islam datang dan memperbaiki segi-segi yang salah dan tetap menjalankan apa-apa yang telah sesuai dengan petunjuk syara' (syariat), sebagaimana yang diatur dalam al-Qur'an dan sunnah rasul. <ref name="Haji1">Sundarmi Burkan Saleh, ''Pedoman haji, umrah, dan ziarah'', Senayan Abadi Publishing, Jakarta:2003</ref> Latar belakang ibadah haji ini juga didasarkan pada ibadah serupa yang dilaksanakan oleh nabi-nabi dalam agama Islam, terutama nabi Ibrahim (nabinya agama thawaf didasarkan pada ibadah serupa yang dilaksanakan oleh umat-umat sebelum nabi Ibarahim. Ritual nabi Ismail. Sementara wukuf di Arafah adalah ritual untuk mengenang tempat bertemunya nabi Adam dan Siti Hawa di muka bumi, yaitu asal mula dari kelahiran seluruh umat manusia.

== Jenis ibadah haji ==
200px|thumb|left|Ritual haji, rukun Islam yang terakhir.
Setiap jamaah bebas untuk memilih jenis ibadah haji yang ingin dilaksanakannya. Rasulullah SAW memberi kebebasan dalam hal itu, sebagaimana terlihat dalam hadis berikut. 

:''Aisyah RA berkata: Kami berangkat beribadah bersama Rasulullah SAW dalam tahun hajjatul wada. Diantara kami ada yang berihram, untuk haji dan umrah dan ada pula yang berihram untuk haji. Orang yang berihram untuk umrah ber-tahallul ketika telah berada di Baitullah. Sedang orang yang berihram untuk haji jika ia mengumpulkan haji dan umrah. Maka ia tidak melakukan tahallul sampai dengan selesai dari nahar''.<ref>HR. Ahmad, al-Bukhari, Muslim dan Malik dari 'Aisyah RA</ref><ref name="Haji2">Nogarsyah Moede Gayo, ''Pustaka pintar haji dan umrah'', Inovasi, Jakarta:2003</ref>

Berikut adalah jenis dan pengertian haji yang dimaksud.<ref name="Haji2">Nogarsyah Moede Gayo, ''Pustaka pintar haji dan umrah'', Inovasi, Jakarta:2003</ref>
*Haji ifrad, berarti menyendiri. Pelaksanaan ibadah haji disebut ifrad bila sesorang bermaksud menyendirikan, baik menyendirikan haji maupun menyendirikan umrah. Dalam hal ini, yang didahulukan adalah ibadah haji. Artinya, ketika mengenakan pakaian ihram di '''miqat'''-nya, orang tersebut berniat melaksanakan ibadah haji dahulu. Apabila ibadah haji sudah selesai, maka orang tersebut mengenakan ihram kembali untuk melaksanakan umrah. 
*Haji tamattu', mempunyai arti bersenang-senang atau bersantai-santai dengan melakukan umrah terlebih dahulu di bulan-bulah haji, lain ber''tahallul''. Kemudian mengenakan pakaian ihram lagi untuk melaksanakan ibadah haji, ditahun yang sama. Tamattu' dapat juga berarti melaksanakan ibadah didalam bulan-bulan serta didalam tahun yang sama, tanpa terlebih dahulu pulang ke negeri asal.
*Haji qiran, mengandung arti menggabungkan, menyatukan atau menyekaliguskan. Yang dimaksud disini adalah menyatukan atau menyekaliguskan berihram untuk melaksanakan ibadah haji dan umrah. Haji qiran dilakukan dengan tetap berpakaian ihram sejak '''miqat makani''' dan melaksanakan semua rukun dan wajib haji sampai selesai, meskipun mungkin akan memakan waktu lama. Menurut Abu Hanifah, melaksanakan haji qiran, berarti melakukan dua thawaf dan dua sa'i.

== Kegiatan ibadah haji ==
thumb|225px|right|Padang Arafah pada musim haji
thumb|225px|right|Rute yang dilalui oleh jamaah dalam ibadah haji
Berikut adalah kegiatan utama dalam ibadah haji berdasarkan urutan waktu:
* '''Sebelum 8 Dzulhijjah''', umat Islam dari seluruh dunia mulai berbondong untuk melaksanakan Tawaf Haji di Masjid Al Haram, Makkah.
* '''8 Dzulhijjah''', jamaah haji harus bermalam di Mina. Sebelumnyanya pada pagi 8 Dzulhijjah, semua umat Islam memakai pakaian Ihram (dua lembar kain tanpa jahitan sebagai pakaian haji), kemudian berniat haji, dan membaca bacaan Talbiyah. Pagi hari tanggal 8 Dzulhijjah, jamaah menuju Mina. Malam harinya, semua jamaah haji harus bermalam di Mina.
* '''9 Dzulhijjah''', pagi harinya semua jamaah haji pergi ke Arafah. Kemudian jamaah melaksanakan ibadah Wukuf, yaitu berdiam diri dan berdoa di padang luas ini hingga Maghrib datang. Ketika malam datang, jamaah segera menuju dan bermalam Muzdalifah.
* '''10 Dzulhijjah''', setelah pagi di Muzdalifah, jamaah segera menuju Mina untuk melaksanakan ibadah Jumrah Aqabah, yaitu melempar batu sebanyak tujuh kali ke tugu pertama sebagai simbolisasi mengusir setan. Setelah mencukur rambut atau sebagian rambut, jamaah bisa Tawaf Haji (menyelesaikan Haji), atau bermalam di Mina dan melaksanakan jumrah sambungan (Ula dan Wustha).
* '''11 Dzulhijjah''', melempar jumrah sambungan (Ula) di tugu pertama, tugu kedua, dan tugu ketiga.
* '''12 Dzulhijjah''', melempar jumrah sambungan (Ula) di tugu pertama, tugu kedua, dan tugu ketiga.
* Sebelum pulang ke negara masing-masing, jamaah melaksanakan Thawaf Wada' (thawaf perpisahan).

== Lokasi utama dalam ibadah haji ==
=== Makkah Al Mukaromah ===
Di kota inilah berdiri pusat ibadah umat Islam sedunia, thawaf haji.

=== Arafah ===
Kota di sebelah timur Makkah ini juga dikenal sebagai tempat pusatnya haji, yiatu tempat wukuf dilaksanakan. Daerah berbentuk padang luas ini adalah tempat berkumpulnya sekitar dua juta jamaah haji dari seluruh dunia. Di luar musim haji, daerah ini tidak dipakai.

=== Mina ===
Tempat berdirinya tugu jumrah, yaitu tempat pelaksanaan kegiatan melontarkan batu ke tugu jumrah sebagai simbolisasi tindakan nabi Ibrahim ketika mengusir setan. Dimasing-maising tempat itu berdiri tugu yang digunakan untuk pelaksanaan: Jumrah Aqabah, Jumrah Ula, dan Jumrah Wustha. Di tempat ini jamaah juga diwajibkan untuk menginap satu malam.

=== Muzdalifah ===
Tempat di dekat Mina dan Arafah, dikenal sebagai tempat jamaah haji melakukan '''Mabit''' (Bermalam) dan mengumpulkan bebatuan untuk melaksanakan ibadah jumrah di Mina.

=== Madinah ===
Adalah kota suci kedua umat Islam. Di tempat inilah panutan umat Islam, Nabi Muhammad SAW dimakamkan di Masjid Nabawi. Tempat ini sebenarnya tidak masuk ke dalam ritual ibadah haji, namun jamaah haji dari seluruh dunia biasanya menyempatkan diri berkunjung ke kota yang letaknya kurang lebih 330 km (450 km melalui transportasi darat) utara Makkah  ini untuk berziarah dan melaksanakan salat di masjidnya Nabi.

== Rekaman tragedi ibadah haji ==
*Desember 1975: 200 jamaah tewas di dekat kota Makkah setelah sebuah pipa gas meledak dan membakar sepuluh tenda.
*4 Desember 1979: 153 jamaah tewas dan 560 lainnya terluka setelah petugas keamanan Arab Saudi yang dibantu tentara Perancis mencoba membebaskan Masjidil Haram yang disandera sekelompok militan selama dua minggu.
*31 Juli 1987: 402 jamaah tewas, 275 diantaranya dari Iran, setelah ribuan jamaah Iran yang melakukan demonstrasi mendapat perlawanan fisik dari keamanan Arab Saudi. Akibat dari insiden itu Arab Saudi memutuskan hubungan diplomatik dengan Iran, yang akhirnya tidak mengirimkan jamaahnya ke Makkah hingga tahun 1991.
*10 Juli 1989: satu jamaah tewas dan 16 terluka akibat penembakan didalam Masjidil Haram. Akibatnya 16 orang Kuwait yang melakukan penyerangan dihukum tembak mati.
*15 Juli 1989: lima jamaah asal Pakistan tewas dan 34 lainnya terluka akibat insiden penembakan oleh sekelompok orang bersenjata di perumahan mereka di Makkah.
*2 Juli 1990: 1.426 jamaah tewas kebanyakan dari Asia akibat terperangkap didalam terowongan Mina.
*24 Mei 1994: 270 jamaah tewas akibat saling dorong dan injak di Mina.
*7 Mei 1995: tiga jamaah tewas akibat kebakaran di Mina.
*15 April 1997: 343 jamaah tewas dan 1.500 lainnya terluka karena kehabisan nafas karena terjebak didalam kebakaran tenda di Mina.
*9 April 1998: 118 jamaah tewas karena berdesak–desakkan saat pelaksanaan lontar jumroh.
*5 Maret 2001: 35 jamaah tewas serta puluhan lainnya luka – luka karena berdesak – desakan di Jammarat.
*11 Februari 2003: 14 jamaah tewas di Jumrotul Mina – enam diantaranya wanita.
*1 Februari 2004: Sebanyak 251 jamaah tewas selama pelaksanaan lontar jumrah.
*23 Januari 2005: 29 jamaah tewas akibat banjir terburuk dalam 20 tahun terakhir di Madinah.
*5 Januari 2006: Sebanyak 76 tewas akibat runtuhnya sebuah penginapan al-Rayahin di jalan Gaza, sekitar 200 meter sebelah barat Masjidil Haram.
*12 Jan 2006: Sedikitnya 345 jamaah tewas di Jammarat selama pelaksanaan lontar jumrah. Insiden ini terjadi pada pukul 15.30 waktu setempat usai shalat dzuhur, setelah jutaan jamaah saling berdesak–desakkan di pintu masuk sebelah utara lantai dua Jammarat.

thumb|right|250px|A supplicating pilgrim at [[Masjid al-Haram, the mosque which was built around the Kaaba (the building at center).  Thousands of pilgrims walk around the Kaaba in a counter-clockwise direction seven times.]]
The '''Hajj''' (, , IPA2: ħaʤːə) is a pilgrimage to Mecca.  It is the largest annual pilgrimage in the world.<ref>''Atlas of Holy Places'', p. 29</ref> It is the fifth pillar of Islam, an obligation that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so.  It is a demonstration of the solidarity of the Muslim people, and their submission to Allah.<ref>Dalia Salah-El-Deen, [http://www.islamonline.net/english/introducingislam/Worship/Pilgrimage/article01.shtml Significance of Pilgrimage (Hajj)]</ref>  
The pilgrimage occurs from the 10th to the 15th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the 12th month of the Islamic calendar. Because the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, eleven days shorter than the Gregorian calendar used in the Western world, the Gregorian date of the Hajj is eleven days earlier from year to year. In 2007, the Hajj was from December 17 to December 21; in 2008 from the first week of December.

The Hajj is associated with the life of Ibrahim and Is'mail, prominent figures in both Islam and in Judaism. Pilgrims join processions of hundreds of thousands of people, who simultaneously converge on Mecca for the week of the Hajj, and perform a series of rituals. As part of the Hajj, each person walks counter-clockwise seven times about the Kaaba, the cube-shaped building which acts as the Muslim direction of prayer (''qibla''); runs back and forth between the hills of Al-Safa and Al-Marwah; drinks from the Zamzam Well; goes to the plains of Mount Arafat to stand in vigil; and throws stones in a ritual Stoning of the Devil. The pilgrims then shave their heads, perform an animal sacrifice, and celebrate the four day global festival of Eid al-Adha.<ref name=armstrong/><ref name=ngeo/><ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/holydays/eiduladha.shtml BBC - Religion & Ethics - Eid ul Adha<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

As of 2007, an estimated two million pilgrims participated in this annual pilgrimage.<ref>[http://www.altmuslim.com/a/a/a/as_hajj_begins_more_changes_and_challenges_in_store/ altmuslim - As Hajj begins, more changes and challenges in store<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Crowd-control techniques have become critical, and because of the large numbers of people, many of the rituals have become more stylized.  It is not necessary to kiss the Black Stone, but merely to point at it on each circuit around the Kaaba.  Throwing pebbles was done at large pillars, which for safety reasons were in 2004 changed to long walls with catch basins below to catch the stones. The slaughter of an animal can be done either personally, or by appointing someone else to do it, and so forth.<ref name=AtoZ/> But even with the crowd control techniques, there are still many incidents during the Hajj, as pilgrims are trampled in a crush, or ramps collapse under the weight of the many visitors, causing hundreds of deaths. <ref>The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj has a website, with the message, "Be peaceful, orderly and kind.  No crushing." - </ref>

Pilgrims can also go to Mecca to perform the rituals at other times of the year.  This is sometimes called the "lesser pilgrimage", or Umrah. However, even if they perform the Umrah, they are still obligated to perform the Hajj at some other point in their lifetimes.

==History==
The ''Hajj'' is based on a pilgrimage that was ancient even in the time of Muhammad in the 7th Century. According to Hadith (supplemental writings to the Koran), elements of the Hajj trace back to the time of Abraham, around 2000 BC.  The belief is that the Prophet Abraham was ordered by God (Allah) to leave his wife Hagar and his infant son Ismael alone in the desert. While he was gone, the child became thirsty, Hagar ran back and forth seven times searching for water for her son.  The baby cried hit the ground with his foot (some versions of the story say that an angel scraped his foot or the tip of his wing along the ground), and water miraculously sprang forth.  This source of water is today called the Well of Zamzam.

Each year tribes from all around the Arabian peninsula would converge on Mecca, as part of the pilgrimage. The exact faith of the tribes was not important at that time, and Christian Arabs were as likely to make the pilgrimage as the pagans.<ref>Armstrong, ''Jerusalem: One City, Three Faiths'', p. 221. "Each year the tribes would assemble from all over the peninsula to take part in the arduous and intricate rites of the ''hajj'' pilgrimage, Christian Arabs alongside the pagans.  By Muhammad's time, the Ka'bah was dedicated to the Mary and Allah (God).<ref name=freeman>Freeman-Grenville, ''Islam: An Illustrated History'', p. 28</ref>

Muhammad was known to regularly perform the Umrah, even before he began receiving revelations.<ref name=armstrong></ref> 
Historically, Muslims would gather at various meeting points in other great cities, and then proceed en masse towards Mecca, in groups that could comprise tens of thousands of pilgrims.  Two of the most famous meeting points were in Cairo and Damascus.  In Cairo, the Sultan would stand atop a platform of the famous gate Bab Zuwayla, to officially watch the beginning of the annual pilgrimage.<ref></ref>

In 632 AD, when Muhammad led his followers from Medina to Mecca, it was the first Hajj to be performed by Muslims alone, and the only Hajj ever performed by Muhammad. He cleansed the idols from the Kaaba, and re-ordained it as the house of God.<ref>''In the Lands of the Prophet'', Time-Life, p. 31</ref> It was from this point that the Hajj became one of the Five Pillars of Islam.

== Incidents during the Hajj ==

There have been many incidents during the Hajj that have led to the loss of many hundreds of lives. The worst of these incidents have usually occurred during the casualties among pilgrims performing the Hajj.

==Preparations==

Pilgrims generally travel to Hajj in groups, as an expression of unity. Some airlines have special package holidays for Muslims going to Mecca. Ships also take pilgrims to Mecca so they can perform Hajj.

During the Hajj, male pilgrims are required to dress only in a garment consisting of two sheets of white unhemmed cloth, with the top draped over the torso and the bottom secured by a white sash; plus a pair of sandals. Women are simply required to maintain their hijab - normal modest dress, which does not cover the hands or face.<ref name=AtoZ/>

The Ihram clothing is intended to show the equality of all pilgrims in the eyes of Allah: there is no difference between a prince and a pauper when everyone is dressed the same. The Ihram also symbolizes purity and absolution of sins. A place designated for changing into Ihram is called a ''miqat''. 

While the pilgrim is wearing the Ihram, they cannot shave, clip their nails, or use deodorant or perfume. They may not swear or quarrel, kill any living thing, or engage in sexual intercourse.

== Rites ==
thumb|250px|left|The route the pilgrims take during the Hajj

Upon arrival in Mecca the pilgrim, now known as a ''Ibrahim (Abraham) and his concubine Hajar (Hagar).  The acts also symbolize solidarity of Muslims worldwide.  

The greater Hajj (''al-hajj al-akbar'') begins on the eighth day of the lunar month of Mina, where they spend the rest of the day.  The Saudi government has put up thousands of large white tents at Mina, to provide accommodations for all the pilgrims.<ref name=ngeo></ref>

===Umrah===
right|thumb|Direction of the Tawaf around the Kaaba

On the first day of the Hajj, the 8th day of the 12th month, Dhu al-Hijjah, the pilgrims perform their first ''Tawaf'', which involves all of the pilgrims entering The Sacred Mosque (Masjid Al Haram) and walking seven times counter-clockwise around the Kaaba, kissing the Black Stone (Hajr Al Aswad) on each circuit. If kissing is not possible due to the crowds, they may simply align themselves with the stone and point to it. Each complete circuit constitutes a "Shout" with 7 circuits constituting a complete tawaf. The place where pilgrims walk is known as "Mutaaf". Only the first three Shouts are compulsory, but invariably almost all perform it seven times. 

Eating is not allowed and the tawaf is normally performed all at once, the only exception being the drinking of water. Men are encouraged to perform the first three circuits at a hurried pace, followed by four times, more closely, at a leisurely pace.<ref name=AtoZ></ref>

After the completion of Tawaf, all the pilgrims have to offer two Rakaat prayers at the Place of Abraham (Muqaam E Ibrahim), a site near the Kaaba.  However, again due to large crowds during the days of Hajj, they may instead pray anywhere in the mosque.

Although the circuits around the Kaaba are traditionally done on the groundlevel, Tawaf is now also performed on the first floor and roof of the mosque.

After Tawaf on the same day, the pilgrims perform ''sa`i'', running or walking seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwah. This is a re-enactment of  the frantic search for water for her son Ismael by Abraham's slave and concubine, Hagar, before the Zamzam Well was revealed to her by Ismael, who started to cry for water and  hit the ground with his feet, upon which the water of the Zamzam started coming up from under his feet . The circuit used to be in the open air, but is now entirely enclosed by the Masjid al-Haram mosque, and can be accessed via air-conditioned tunnels.  Pilgrims are advised to walk the circuit, though two green pillars mark a short section of the path where they are allowed to run, along with an 'express lane' for the disabled. The safety procedures are in place because previous incidents in this ritual have resulted in stampedes which caused the deaths of hundreds of people.

As part of this ritual the pilgrims drink water from the Zamzam Well, which is made available in coolers throughout the Mosque. The pilgrims then return to their tents.

===Arafat===

thumb|250px|right|Pilgrims on Plains of Arafat on the day of Hajj
The next morning, on the ninth of Dhu al-Hijjah, the pilgrims leave Mina for Mount Arafat where they stand in contemplative vigil, near a hill from which Muhammad gave his last sermon. This is considered the highlight of the Hajj.  Pilgrims must spend the afternoon within a defined area on the plain of Arafat until after sunset. No specific rituals or prayers are required during the stay at Arafat, although many pilgrims spend time praying, and thinking about the course of their lives. If a pilgrim does not spend the afternoon on Arafat then their pilgrimage is considered invalid.<ref name=ngeo/>

===Muzdalifah===
As soon as the sun sets, the pilgrims leave Arafat for stoning of the Devil (Shaitan). Many pilgrims spend the night sleeping on the ground at Muzdalifah before returning to Mina. It is now the 10th of the month, the day of Eid ul-Adha.

===Ramy al-Jamarat ===
right|thumb|Pilgrims at the Jamrah of Aqaba at Hajj, 2006
 
At Mina the pilgrims perform ''Ramy al-Jamarat'', throwing stones to signify their defiance of the Devil. This symbolizes the trials experienced by Abraham while he decided whether to sacrifice his son as demanded by God. The Devil challenged him six times, and three times Abraham refused.  Each pillar marks the location of one of these refusals. Each pilgrim must hit each pillar with a stone at least seven times.<ref name=ngeo/> Because of the crowds, in 2004 the pillars were replaced by long walls. Pilgrims climb ramps to the multi-levelled Jamarat Bridge, from which they can throw their stones at the one jamarat.