MECCA, Saudi Arabia — Straw hats, cross-body baggage, and collapsible chairs: These are simply a few of the necessities Muslims convey to the Hajj pilgrimage.
Spiritually, the five-day Hajj is awe-inspiring for the trustworthy, an expertise they are saying brings them nearer to God and to the complete Muslim world.
Bodily, it’s grueling. Pilgrims stroll outside for hours in broiling warmth round holy websites in Mecca and the encircling desert. They’re caught in unimaginable and overwhelming crowds, all making an attempt to get to the identical place. Limitations directing the site visitors imply that for those who miss your flip, you would possibly stroll hours extra to get the place you wish to be.
So the greater than 2 million pilgrims don’t simply study the sophisticated guidelines of easy methods to correctly carry out the rituals, which started Monday. In addition they decide up useful hints and tips of the commerce to get by, realized from different hajjis — as those that have accomplished the pilgrimage are identified.
Right here’s a have a look at what they are saying is important gear.
WHAT TO WEAR
Costume for the warmth, since daytime temperatures commonly soar previous 40 levels Celsius (104 levels Fahrenheit). Nearly all of rituals happen outside within the desert, together with climbing the Mount of Mercy and stoning the Jamarat, a row of pillars representing the satan.
Solar hats are key. Pilgrims typically go for wide-brimmed straw hats and even cowboy hats. Umbrellas of each colour are in every single place. Some stability their prayer mats on their heads or the canopies from umbrellas.
All males are required to put on easy white robes with none stitching, a rule geared toward uniting wealthy and poor. Girls should forego magnificence merchandise and canopy their hair however have extra latitude to put on materials from their native nations, leading to a colourful show of Islam’s multiculturalism.
In relation to footwear, it’s finest to put on one thing that’s sturdy for the lengthy walks however that additionally slips on and off simply, as pilgrims should take away their sneakers earlier than getting into Mecca’s Grand Mosque.
Sandals are smart, however some pilgrims say it’s finest additionally to put on socks because the mosque’s marble flooring will be surprisingly chilly as they stroll across the Kaaba seven instances.
WHAT TO CARRY
A daypack of some form is important for carrying meals, water, sunscreen and different sundries. However backpacks could be a trouble whenever you’re crammed shoulder-to-shoulder.
Way more well-liked are cross-body baggage that you may entry with out turning round.
Many pilgrims additionally carry a separate drawstring bag or pouch for his or her sneakers. Often at mosques, you may depart your sneakers with an attendant on the entrance, however with a whole lot of hundreds on the Grand Mosque, that is a positive technique to lose your sneakers, or at finest waste a very long time getting them again. It will additionally imply you must exit the identical manner you entered, not all the time doable when the group takes you in one other course.
Umaima Hafez, a five-time hajjah from Egypt, packs like a professional.
Sitting on her moveable plastic stool, she reaches into her massive pack and pulls out a blanket, selfmade granola and crackers, a journey towel that she wets and locations on her head when it will get sizzling, an extra-thick prayer mat — for her knees — and a few drugs. The stool matches into the bag as effectively. She’ll carry it all through Hajj, then depart it behind for another person to make use of.
She insists her bag isn’t heavy. “Every thing is gorgeous and simple with God. … And other people give out plenty of water and meals right here.”
Hassan Hussain, a 24-year-old first-time pilgrim from Britain, additionally went for a maximal method. His bag holds his telephone, charging cable, energy financial institution, sun shades, water bottle, British and Saudi forex, financial institution playing cards, his shoe bag, a prayer mat and hydrating facial mist.
He stated his sister, who did the Hajj final yr, instructed him what to convey. His recommendation to different pilgrims is to overpack.
“You don’t know whenever you’re going to wish issues,” he stated. “The particular person subsequent to you would possibly want issues. Simply take every part and work it out as you go alongside.”
In distinction, Ali Ibn Mousa, a 30-year-old Russian and father of seven, goes for maneuverability and velocity, so he stays mild.
His drawstring bag holds solely his telephone and his pilgrim ID. He’s extra inquisitive about what he’ll convey again from the Hajj, saying that alongside the non secular journey he’s looking out for a second spouse.
“If I had a heavy bag, I wouldn’t have the ability to do a few of the issues I wish to,” he stated. “That’s why I take a small bag that’s simple to hold, so I can run inside” whereas circling the Kaaba.
CAMPOUT CHECKLIST
The large flows of pilgrims transfer forwards and backwards between holy websites unfold out over a size of greater than 10 miles (16 kilometers) from the Grand Mosque to the Mount of Mercy, or Mount Arafat, out within the desert. Even inside a single ritual web site, it could take a lot of the day to stroll from one finish to a different, like Mina, the place pilgrims will keep in one of many world’s largest tent camps and stone the pillars representing the satan.
A pilgrim must be ready to be caught in a spot exterior for ages, ready for a transport to reach or a crowd to clear, typically in the course of the night time.
Ikram Mohammed’s grocery store in Mecca sells tenting necessities similar to light-weight tents, sleeping mats and collapsible water pouches.
“They purchase dried fruit and nuts, biscuits, chips. Something they will eat simply whereas they’re on the transfer that doesn’t want refrigeration or utensils,” Mohammed stated. A particular part focuses on fragrance-free toiletries, consistent with the prohibition on fragrance.
Mohammed additionally sells souvenirs for pilgrims to take again dwelling with them, every part from chocolate and sweets to water from the sacred Zamzam effectively close to the Kaaba.
One other well-liked merchandise: Ache reduction cream for achy joints.
___
Related Press faith protection receives help by way of the AP’s collaboration with The Dialog US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely chargeable for this content material.