hajj

American  

[haj] / hædʒ /

Or haj,

noun

hajjes plural

1. the pilgrimage to Mecca, which every adult Muslim is supposed to make at least once in their lifetime: the fifth of the Pillars of Islam.

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hajj British  

/ hædʒ /

noun

1. the pilgrimage to Mecca that every Muslim is required to make at least once in his life, provided he has enough money and the health to do so

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Usage

What is hajj? Hajj refers to the pilgrimage to Mecca that every adult Muslim is supposed make at least once in their lifetime. Mecca is a city in Saudi Arabia that is believed to be the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad and is considered the spiritual center of Islam. The specific destination of the hajj is the Kaaba, a cube-shaped building in Mecca that is considered Islam’s holiest site. Hajj is one of the five Pillars of Islam, which together form the basis for the practice of the Islamic faith. Muslims believe that those who are able to make the hajj (meaning those who are physically and financially able) are required to make the trip at least once in their lives. The plural of hajj is hajjes. Hajj is sometimes spelled haj or hadj. A person who has completed the pilgrimage can be called a hajji (or haji or hadji).

Etymology

Origin of hajj

First recorded in 1665–75, hajj is from the Arabic word ḥajj “pilgrimage”

Explanation

The hajj is a pilgrimage, or religious trip, that Muslims try to make at some point in their lives. The hajj is taken to the city of Mecca, the holiest site of Islam. The hajj is one of the Pillars of Islam — acts that Muslims consider mandatory — which include faith, prayer, charity, and fasting. Unless they are financially or physically unable to make the trip, Muslims are expected to make the hajj at least once in their lives. The hajj is the world's biggest annual gathering, and it demonstrates Muslim faith and solidarity. The Arabic hajj comes from hajja, "he went on a pilgrimage."

Example Sentences

More than 1.7 million people are taking part in the hajj this year.

From Barron's • May 27, 2026

After more than 1,300 died at the 2024 hajj, when temperatures soared past 50C, Saudi authorities ramped up anti-heat measures including giant fans, mist sprayers, cooled floors and trucks distributing drinking water.

From Barron's • May 27, 2026

"I can't believe I've finished the hajj rituals," Iraqi pilgrim Adnan Hamad, 58, told AFP, as his daughters in white robes, or abayas, looked on.

From Barron's • May 27, 2026

This last day of the hajj coincides with Eid al-Adha, the festival celebrating the memory of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son before the angel Gabriel intervened and offered him a goat in Ishmael's place.

From Barron's • May 27, 2026

In his album I find a photo of him on hajj with his hair shaved, as is typical of pilgrims.

From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali