When Is the Hajj Held?

Hajj pilgrimage

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Every year, millions of Muslims gather in Makkah, Saudi Arabia for the annual pilgrimage, called Hajj. Arriving from every corner of the globe, pilgrims of all nationalities, ages, and colors come together for the largest religious gathering in the world. One of the five "pillars of faith," the Hajj is a duty upon every Muslim adult who is financially and physically able to make the journey. Every Muslim, male or female, strives to make the trip at least once in a lifetime.

During the days of the Hajj, millions of pilgrims will gather in Makkah, Saudi Arabia to pray together, eat together, remember historical events, and celebrate the glory of Allah.

When Does the Pilgrimage Happen?

The pilgrimage occurs during the last month of the Islamic year, called "Dhul-Hijjah" (i.e. "The Month of Hajj"). The pilgrimage rites occur during a 5-day period, between the 8th - 12th days of this lunar month. The event is also marked by the Islamic holiday, Eid al-Adha, which falls on the 10th day of the lunar month.

In recent years, overcrowding of pilgrims during the Hajj has caused some people to ask why the Hajj cannot be spread out throughout the year. This is not possible due to Islamic tradition. The dates of Hajj have been established for over a thousand years. Pilgrimage *is* done at other times throughout the year; this is known as Umrah. The Umrah includes some of the same rites, and can be done throughout the year. However, it does not fulfill the requirement for a Muslim to attend Hajj if able.

2015 Dates: Hajj fell between September 21-26, 2015.

2016 Dates: Hajj fell between September 10-15, 2016.

2017 Dates: Hajj fell between August 30 - September 4, 2017.

2018 Dates: Hajj fell between August 19-24, 2018.

2019 Dates: Hajj is expected to fall between August 9-14, 2019.

2020 Dates: Hajj is expected to fall between July 28 - Aug 2, 2020.

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Huda. "When Is the Hajj Held?" Learn Religions, Feb. 16, 2021, learnreligions.com/when-is-the-hajj-2003770. Huda. (2021, February 16). When Is the Hajj Held? Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/when-is-the-hajj-2003770 Huda. "When Is the Hajj Held?" Learn Religions. https://www.learnreligions.com/when-is-the-hajj-2003770 (accessed March 19, 2024).