Millions of Muslims take part in Hajj pilgrimage top stories direct to your inbox SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up to receive our rundown of the day'sdirect to your inbox When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Hajj is a special pilgrimage every Muslim should make in their lifetime. Mecca is a holy place in Saudi Arabia where Muslims travel to during the month of Hajj - Dhul Hijjah - the 12th month of the Islamic lunar calendar. During Hajj, pilgrims perform acts of worship and they renew their sense of purpose in the world. For Muslims, it is the fifth and final pillar of Islam. A man who has completed the Hajj is called a Hajji, a woman who has completed it is called a Hajjah. What is Hajj? Hajj is the annual pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia - it is a pilgrimage every Muslim should make at least once in their lifetime. Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam - the others are shahadah (declaration of faith), salat (daily prayer), zakat (giving of alms) and sawn (fasting in Ramadan). Hajj begins on Sunday, August 19 and continues until Friday, August 24, although the dates are contingent on the sighting of the moon. There are many rituals in the performance of Hajj and these may be completed over the course of the five days. Hajj 2018 pilgrimage: What is Hajj? What does the pilgrimage mark in the Muslim calendar? Hajj 2018 pilgrimage: Hajj is a special pilgrimage every Muslim should make in their lifetime The pilgrimage begins on the 8th day of Dhul-Hijjah and ends on the 13th day of the same Islamic month. Every year, Muslims the world over flock to the holy city for the pilgrimage. In Arabic, the word ‘Hajj’ means ‘to intend a journey’. What does the pilgrimage mark in the Muslim calendar? The pilgrimage to Hajj takes place in the Dhal Hijjah - the month of Hajj - and is the 12th month of the Islamic lunar year. Hajj 2018 pilgrimage: Hajj is the fifth and final pillar of Islam<doc-sep>When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Sign up to receive our rundown of the day'sdirect to your inbox The 2018 Hajj officially begins on Sunday August 19 until Friday August 24, where three million Muslims are expected to gather at the Masjid al-Haram (Grand Mosque) in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Today, thousands have already arrived at the Kaaba, Islam’s holiest site, inside the Grand Mosque, to pray. Pictures show a mass of people during morning prayers, before the sun rises. The Hajj is the largest single gathering of people on the planet, with the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia being one Muslims are expected to make at least once in their lifetime.<doc-sep>Join the Secret Elves to get first access to our exclusive reviews of the must-have products this year Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Whereas the first Eid comes at the start of a month, the second one is almost in the middle of a month. Eid ul Fitr falls on the first day of Shawwal, the month following Ramadan when Muslims fast each day. It's followed a couple of months later by Eid ul Adha, which begins on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah - whose name means month of the pilgrimage because it's when the Hajj takes place. Dhul Hijjah - also written as Dhu al-Hijjah - is the 12th and final month of the Islamic calendar. So when does that start? Here's what we know so far. When is Dhul Hijjah in 2018? Dhul Hijjah had been expected to start on August 12 or 13. It has now been announced as starting on Sunday, August 12. This is just after the partial solar eclipse on Saturday, August 11. This eclipse - when the new moon covers part of the sun - won't be visible in the UK. The Islamic calendar is based on the moon, with months determined by an official sighting of the first crescent of the new moon. The new moon is on August 11 but won't be seen anywhere (except for a piece of it over the top of the sun during the solar eclipse). It was, however, easily visible on August 12. (Image: central-mosque.com) Muslims were asked to look for the first crescent of the new moon on August 12, the 29th day of the existing month of Dhul Qadah. The Central Mosque website asked Muslims to report moon sightings to Wifaqul Ulama, the UK Board of Islamic Scholars based in London, via Twitter or Facebook Worshippers were asked to look out for the moon after sunset. If the moon is seen, then Dhul Qadah is deemed to have ended and Dhul Hijjah begins. If it's not seen, then Dhul Qadah goes on for another day. So what about Eid? With Dhul Hijjah beginning on August 12, then Eid ul Adha will fall on August 21. Eid ul Adha means Festival/Feast of the Sacrifice. It marks the date when Ibrahim was commanded by Allah to sacrifice his son, Ishmael, to show his devotion. Ibrahim was about to go ahead with the sacrifice when he was given a lamb to slaughter instead. It’s similar to the Christian and Jewish accounts in which God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. The story illustrates devotion to Allah and willingness to accept the command of the Almighty. It's said that the Devil appeared and tried to dissuade Ibrahim from heeding the command. Ibrahim hurled stones to drive the Devil away. And for those on the Hajj pilgrimage at Mecca, this is the day of the ritual of throwing stones at a pillar representing the Devil. The Hajj take place over five days from August 19 to 24, with most Hajj package trips for two to three weeks. The second day of the pilgrimage is called the Day of Arafat. It begins on the evening of August 20 and lasts until the evening of August 21. Key events in Dhul Hijjah Fasting is undertaken for the first nine days of the month. The Hajj is from the 8th to the 12th day of the month - though pilgrims generally travel out to Mecca for two or three weeks. The 9th day is the Day of Arafat (also called the Day of Arafah). Eid ul Adha (the Festival of the Sacrifice) begins at sunset on the 10th day and ends on sunset of the 13th day. Fasting is forbidden on this day - instead Muslims traditionally slaughter a domestic animal (usually a sheep, goat or cow) or pay for this to be done. (Image: AP) This symbolises the sacrifice in the original story. British law insists the animal must be killed in a slaughterhouse. A third of the meat is kept by the family, another third is given to relatives, friends and neighbours, and the final third to the poor and needy. Large family gatherings are often organised, where the sacrificial meat is served. Muslims often go shopping for new Eid clothes a few days before the celebrations, so Islamic retailers hold their biggest sales at this time.<doc-sep>
Millions of Muslims take part in Hajj pilgrimage The first celebration, Eid al-Fitr, began on Thursday, June 14 this year, the date determined by the Islamic calendar. The date of Eid al-Adha, said to be the holier of the two Eids, is also dependant on the lunar calendar each year. Eid al-Adha falls on the tenth day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the 12th and final month in the Islamic calendar. In the international solar Gregorian calendar, the dates drift about 11 days earlier each year. The dates of the upcoming Eid al-Adha are determined by the moon sighting, applied on the 29th day of the 11th month of the lunar calendar. However, the sighting of the new moon will vary between countries, so the exact date depends on local religious authorities. In Saudi Arabia, the date of Eid al-Adha determines the date of Hajj. This year, local news has reported that the crescent was sighted, making Sunday, August 12 the first day of the 12th month and August 21 the first day of Eid al-Adha. Eid 2018: Hajj is an annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia What is Hajj? Hajj is an annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, the holiest city for Muslims. It is a mandatory religious duty for Muslims, that must be carried out one in their lifetimes by all adults who can physically and financially undertake the journey. It is one of the five pillars of Islam, along with Shahadah (belief in the oneness of God and acceptance of Muhammad as prophet), Salat (prayer), Zakat (charity) and Sawm (fasting). The Hajj is a demonstration of the solidarity of the Muslim people, and their submission to Allah. Hajj: Muslims gather atop the mountain during the Day of Arafat What date is Hajj 2018? Hajj begins on the eighth day of the Dhu al-Hijjah, so is also dependant on the moon sighting. This year, it is due to commence on August 19, and will continue until August 24. On the tenth day then, Eid al-Adha will commence and those on the pilgrimage will observe the festival. This is the day when an animal will be slaughtered in honour of the prophet Ibrahim. Eid 2018: Last year, about two million Muslims travelled to Mecca for Hajj.