Glencoe World History © 2008

Chapter 6: The World of Islam

Web Activity Lesson Plans

The Hajj

Introduction

The hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. It is not a single ritual, but a defined set of rituals that are observed at a set time each year in and around Makkah. Each able-bodied Muslim is expected to participate in the hajj at least once in his or her life. In this activity, students will explore the hajj in detail and gain a greater appreciation for how the hajj reinforces values and stories that are central to Islam.

Lesson Description
Students will read about the history of the hajj, the rituals it comprises, and its symbolic value for Muslims. Students will answer four questions about what they have read. They will then compose a diary entry from the perspective of a Muslim participant in the hajj during the ninth century reign of Harun al-Rashid.

Instructional Objectives

1. The learner will be able to summarize the symbols, stories, and rituals around the hajj, one of the Five Pillars of Islam.
2. The learner will be able to apply their knowledge of the hajj rituals to a specific period of Islamic civilization.

Student Web Activity Answers

1. According to the Quran, Makkah was the site where Hajar found water for herself and her young son Ishmail. When Ishmail was about thirteen years old, Abraham and Ishmail built the Kaaba (Kahbah) there.



2. The hajj commemorates the trials of Abraham and his family in Makkah, which show Abraham’s total submission to the will of Allah. This includes Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son in response to God's command.



3. A tawaf is a counter-clockwise procession around the Kaaba, performed as one of the hajj rituals.



4. Ihram is a state of purity, which is required for all pilgrims during hajj. It also refers to the white, simple attire worn by the pilgrims. The white clothing symbolizes a state of human equality and unity before God, in addition to the pilgrim’s purity.



5. Students' diary entries should contain details about the prosperity of Islamic civilization during this period. The entries should reflect the diversity of pilgrims in Makkah and an understanding of the hajj rituals and their meanings.