By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
When Hatice Burakgazi Yilmaz learned that she and her husband would be able to go on the hajj to Mecca, she felt she was one of the luckiest Muslims in the world.
The hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, and it is a religious duty that must be carried out by every Muslim who is able to do it. The hajj is a demonstration of solidarity among Muslims worldwide.
Dr. Yilmaz, who went on the hajj last year with her husband, shared her experiences with about 30 members of the Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville at the church’s adult forum Sunday afternoon. She is a psychiatrist whose practice is based in Cherry Hill.
The hajj has its roots in the story of Abraham and the sacrifice of his son, Ishmael. Abraham was ordered by God to leave his wife, Hagar, and son in the desert. Hagar searched for food, water and shelter. She begged for God’s help, and the angel Gabriel provided a well for water.
Abraham also was told by God to sacrifice Ishmael. The devil challenged Abraham not to follow God’s orders, but he resisted. Having tested Abraham, God told him not to sacrifice his son. An animal was sacrificed, instead.
Going on the hajj is the goal of every Muslim, said Dr. Yilmaz, who emigrated to the United States from Turkey. When the opportunity to go on the hajj arose, she could not turn down it down — and that’s how Dr. Yilmaz and her husband found themselves on the way to Mecca.
Dr. Yilmaz said that as soon as they arrived in Saudi Arabia to begin the hajj, they visited Medina. That’s where the tomb of the Prophet Muhammad is located. From Medina, they traveled to Mecca — Islam’s holiest city and the birthplace of Muhammad. Muslims believe it is the location of the House of God.
Mecca also is where Muslims begin the rituals associated with the hajj.
”It was a big day for us,” Dr. Yilmaz said. “There were three million people in the same place. You pray for years (to be able to make the hajj). It’s really difficult to explain the feeling. It was the most peaceful feeling in my life. You just focus on giving praise to God.”
One of the rituals associated with the hajj requires men to wear white clothing, but women dress “in a modest way,” Dr. Yilmaz said. The goal is create a sense of equality among the pilgrims. “It doesn’t matter if you are an engineer or a doctor or poor — you are all the same,” she said.
Men and women are required to visit the Kaaba, or House of God, Dr. Yilmaz said. They must walk counter-clockwise around the Kaaba seven times. The Kaaba is a large black box in the middle of the mosque.
Then, the pilgrims — or hajji, as they are known — move on to hills of Safa and Marwah. This is where Abraham left Hagar and Ishmael. Hagar ran between the two hills, searching for food and water for her son. Muslims run between the two hills seven times. They also drink from the zamzam well — the one that the angel Gabriel provided for Hagar and Ishmael.
Having completed that ritual, they moved on to Mina, where Abraham took Ishmael to be sacrificed, Dr. Yilmaz said. They also visited Mount Arafat to pray. A hajj is not complete unless the pilgrims visit Mount Arafat, where God forgives all of their sins, she said.
The pilgrims traveled to Muzdalifah, where they spent the night sleeping in the open without tents, Dr. Yilmaz said. Although it is physically uncomfortable, “you really feel close to God,” she said.
They picked up pebbles in the morning and returned to Mina. That’s where they performed the ritual of tossing stones at jamarat, which is symbolic of throwing stones at Satan, she said. Satan tried to interfere with Abraham’s plan to sacrifice Ishmael, but he did not pay heed.
Finally, animals are slaughtered in remembrance of the story of Abraham and Ishmael. Abraham was prepared to sacrifice Ishmael, until God told him not to do so. A ram was sacrificed, instead. The modern-day ritual occurs in Mecca.
The series of rituals is repeated over several days, Dr. Yilmaz said. Finally, the hajj is completed.
”The hajj is only a requirement for people who can afford it. When you come back from the journey, you are a role model for the community,” Dr. Yilmaz said.
