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Pilgrimage a climax
in Muslim’s life

Have you ever imagined what is like to go to a Super Bowl game with 2 million people sitting in the same stadium? Can you imagine how crowded it would be? How management would take care of safety, traffic and sanitation? How organizers would ensure that all have a good time? As Saudi Minister of Hajj Iyad Madani expressed it, performing the pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia "was like playing the football game with another 2 million players in a stadium."

Currently the Islamic lunar calendar is in its last month, special because Muslims from around the world go to Mecca on the spiritual journey of hajj between the eighth and 13th days. Islam requires Muslims to perform the pilgrimage once in their lifetime if they are physically and financially able.

To prepare, a Muslim must pay all debts, redress all wrongs, write a will and find someone who will look after one's family as needed, reflecting an era when international travel was a lifetime event. In addition, present-day Saudi authorities require Muslim women to either travel with a male relative or to provide a written statement from a male relative giving her permission to travel alone. Saudi Arabia also requires pilgrims to travel with its national tour group.

In Mecca, pilgrims will head for the Kaaba -- a simple square mosque covered with black cloth in the center of Mecca -- which, according to Islamic tradition, was built by Adam and then rebuilt by Abraham. Muslims do not worship the Kaaba, but what it represents: the oneness of God. It is Abraham's story that lays down the core rituals of the hajj. Islamic history tells that Abraham came to Mecca with his wife Hagar and son Ishmael. One day, God called on Abraham to rebuild the Kaaba and perform a pilgrimage.

As the centuries passed, idol worship replaced Abraham's religion in the Kaaba. Then, in the seventh century, Mohammed cleared the Kaaba of idols and returned Mecca to the worship of one God. The pilgrimage to Mecca is therefore a restoration of the steps of Abraham connecting today's pilgrims to the traditions of the past.

Muslim pilgrims start by traveling to a valley in Mena, five miles east of Mecca, which becomes a massive tent city that lodges the 2 million people overnight. The tent city is organized by nationality, which number in the dozens. Muslims rest there, as Prophet Mohammed did 1,400 years ago.

When performing hajj, Muslims must be in the state of "ihram," a pure frame of mind that places a premium on patience, courtesy and respect. Men must wear two pieces of white cloth only, while women wear modest clothing and head scarf, keeping the face and hands exposed.

There are four stages of hajj. On the second day, pilgrims go to the plains of Arafah to spend the day in prayer. This is the most important day because it is a day of one-on-one with God. Mohammed said, "Hajj is Arafah."

Then pilgrims return to Mena to perform a ritual stoning of pillars that represent Satan. For some it is a symbolic way to affirm that there is good and evil, righteousness and sinfulness. Lastly, pilgrims return to Mecca to circle the Kaaba seven times and to walk between the two hills, Safaa and Marwa, emulating Hagar's steps when she sought water for her thirsty son. When a Muslim comes home from hajj, she or he starts with a clean slate.

On Friday, Muslims worldwide and in Hawaii will celebrate Eid al-Adha, the Feast of the Sacrifice. We celebrate the end of the hajj and commemorate the tradition that God allowed Abraham to slaughter a sheep instead of his son Ishmael. In Mecca, 2,000 Muslim butchers are recruited to slaughter 800,000 sheep and cows. The meat is distributed worldwide to the poor.

Muslims worldwide celebrate it in different ways. In Egypt my grandmother cooked a special breakfast, stewed lamb soup with bread crumbs. In Brazil, where I used to live, we visited Muslim friends, ate sweets and gave meat to the poor. In Hawaii some choose to spend the entire day at the park, Manoa or Kapiolani, entertaining children and talking story.

So if you are near the parks and see us, please stop by. I will be happy to see you.

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