HAJJ+GROUP+5

The Hajj is a significant journey that Muslims undertake in their lifeime. There are a number of reasons in which it is such a significant part of their lives. The following are reasons to why it is so significant for the Muslim Community.
 * __HAJJ - Significance for the Muslim Community:__ **

1. __**Brings community together:**__
 * Everyone comes together to celebrate their faith in Islam, in order to become sanctified with Allah and the Hajji.
 * It is the largest religious gathering, congregating over 1.5 million Muslims each year.
 * Ummah - Arabic word meaning community.
 * It is a humbling reminder of the quality of all people before God.
 * People complete the Hajj on behalf of people within their communities that are unable to undergo the Hajj themselves.

2. __**Hospitality towards those undertaking the Hajj.**__  3. __**Beliefs:**__
 * The community and those undertaking the Hajj are looked after very well, contributing to the hospitality given by the community to the community.
 * This shows the way the Hajj brings together Muslims from all over the world, signifying Ummah.
 *  While Hajj is personal, the organisations which support pilgrims and help them to travel to these places or provide the services while they are there are also important.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It allows Muslims to come together to celebrate their central beliefs of:
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Submission to Allah (Hajj is a symbol of this)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tawhid (The unity and oneness of God)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Salah (Prayer)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zakat (Charity)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shahada (Faith Declaration - "There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His prophet")
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sawm (Fasting)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Qur'an (Expression of belief)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Prophets (show belief and respect of Muhammad by following in His footsteps)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Afterlife (By participating in Hajj, there is a greater reward in the afterlife)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reaffirms the belief that they are 'Brothers and Sisters'

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. __**Allah:**__
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Those participating in the Hajj are strengthening their relationship with Allah, as well as building a relationship with the Muslim community.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It allows Muslims to ask spiritual questions, which therefore means that they can assess the submission to Allah.

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. __**Promotes awareness of Islam:**__ <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. __**Muslim Participation:**__
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The millions of individuals which follow its path of pilgrimage continually support the concept of Islam, the Muslim organisations and continue to validate the importance of submission.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a result of this, the organisation grows, If it considered itself a corporation, it now has widespread advertising and an enlarged market.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Religion gains by having a larger percentage of its following involved in the active participatiin within the religion rather than simply labelling oneself and being an individual.