Wikipedia Trail: From Allah to Ilhram
After learning about religions in my summer semester, I have been wanting to do a little more research on the specifics of an existing religion.
Which led me to my first stop, Allah, the Arabic word for God in Abrahamic religions. The origin of the word is unknown, some believe that it came about 'spontaneously' and other think that it was derived from another Arabic word or another language entirely. He is honored by a pilgrimage to a sacred site, which led me to my next stop.
The Kaaba resides in the center of Islam's most sacred mosque. It interesting to learn about the history of such a respected and holy site. It was also nice to learn about the dimensions, it stand at about 43 ft tall, which for some reason is larger than I expected. I had only seen images and videos on the Kaaba, so know I can actually picture it to a more realistic standard now. It is also called 'The House of God' and holds such religious significance. The most known is the pilgrimage that I chose to research next.
The pilgrimage of Hajj is an annual event and is considered a mandatory religious duty. It occurs somewhere between August and December, usually at the end of the Islamic calendar, which is a lunar calendar so there are variations. There are a series of rituals performed during this pilgrimage, including the throwing of stones which represent the stoning of the devil. I found one of the rites of Hajj to be really interesting because of what it represents.
My last stop on this trail is on the page for Ihram, which is a state that a Muslim must enter before starting Hajj. Men must wear a white seamless garment and women are forbidden from wearing a burqa or a niqab, but they do have to wear a hijab or dupatta. There is no gender segregation, to remind everyone that men and women stand together, side-by-side. I found this state to be interesting, because it strips away the surface items such as wealth and make everyone equal. All the men look alike, as they are there for the same thing and are to be treated equally during the rites. It allows them to focus on God.
I have never really considered myself a religious person. If I was to identify with one, I would say Catholic because that is what I grew up with. But I really do enjoy learning about other people's beliefs and the actions that are influenced by those beliefs. I thoroughly enjoyed doing this Wikipedia Trail.
Which led me to my first stop, Allah, the Arabic word for God in Abrahamic religions. The origin of the word is unknown, some believe that it came about 'spontaneously' and other think that it was derived from another Arabic word or another language entirely. He is honored by a pilgrimage to a sacred site, which led me to my next stop.
The Kaaba resides in the center of Islam's most sacred mosque. It interesting to learn about the history of such a respected and holy site. It was also nice to learn about the dimensions, it stand at about 43 ft tall, which for some reason is larger than I expected. I had only seen images and videos on the Kaaba, so know I can actually picture it to a more realistic standard now. It is also called 'The House of God' and holds such religious significance. The most known is the pilgrimage that I chose to research next.
The pilgrimage of Hajj is an annual event and is considered a mandatory religious duty. It occurs somewhere between August and December, usually at the end of the Islamic calendar, which is a lunar calendar so there are variations. There are a series of rituals performed during this pilgrimage, including the throwing of stones which represent the stoning of the devil. I found one of the rites of Hajj to be really interesting because of what it represents.
(The Kaaba in 1907, Source: Wikipedia)
I have never really considered myself a religious person. If I was to identify with one, I would say Catholic because that is what I grew up with. But I really do enjoy learning about other people's beliefs and the actions that are influenced by those beliefs. I thoroughly enjoyed doing this Wikipedia Trail.
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