Short answer: Muslims go to Makkah (Mecca) to perform Hajj, the pilgrimage that is one of the five pillars of Islam. Every adult Muslim who is healthy enough and can afford it must do it once in a lifetime (3:97). They also go for Umrah, a shorter pilgrimage that can be done at any time of year. Makkah holds the Kaaba, which the Quran calls the first house of worship set up for mankind (3:96), built by the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and his son Ismail.
Hajj happens once a year, in the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah. Pilgrims walk seven times around the Kaaba (tawaf), walk between the hills of Safa and Marwah as Hajar did when she searched for water for baby Ismail, and stand in prayer on the plain of Arafah.
What the Quran says
إِنَّ أَوَّلَ بَيْتٍۢ وُضِعَ لِلنَّاسِ لَلَّذِى بِبَكَّةَ مُبَارَكًۭا وَهُدًۭى لِّلْعَٰلَمِينَ ﴿٩٦﴾ فِيهِ ءَايَٰتٌۢ بَيِّنَٰتٌۭ مَّقَامُ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ ۖ وَمَن دَخَلَهُۥ كَانَ ءَامِنًۭا ۗ وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ حِجُّ ٱلْبَيْتِ مَنِ ٱسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًۭا ۚ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَنِىٌّ عَنِ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ ﴿٩٧﴾
Inna awwala Baitinw wudi'a linnaasi lallazee bi Bakkata mubaarakanw wa hudal lil 'aalameen Feehi Aayaatum baiyinaatum Maqaamu Ibraaheema wa man dakhalahoo kaana aaminaa; wa lillaahi 'alan naasi Hijjul Baiti manis tataa'a ilaihi sabeelaa; wa man kafara fa innal laaha ghaniyyun 'anil 'aalameen
(96) Indeed, the first House [of worship] established for mankind was that at Makkah - blessed and a guidance for the worlds. (97) In it are clear signs [such as] the standing place of Abraham. And whoever enters it shall be safe. And [due] to Allah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House - for whoever is able to find thereto a way. But whoever disbelieves - then indeed, Allah is free from need of the worlds.
Quran 3:96-97 · Sahih International · Read Surah Al-Imran
The Quran tells how Ibrahim and Ismail raised the foundations of the House, praying "Our Lord, accept [this] from us" (2:127), and how Ibrahim was told to "proclaim to the people the Hajj; they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel" (22:27).
What the Prophet ﷺ taught
The Prophet ﷺ named Hajj among the five things Islam is built on (Sahih al-Bukhari 8; Sahih Muslim 16). He also said:
مَنْ حَجَّ لِلَّهِ فَلَمْ يَرْفُثْ وَلَمْ يَفْسُقْ رَجَعَ كَيَوْمِ وَلَدَتْهُ أُمُّهُ
Whoever performs Hajj for Allah and does not commit obscenity or sin returns like the day his mother bore him.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1521; Sahih Muslim 1350 · narrated by Abu Hurayrah · sahih
الْعُمْرَةُ إِلَى الْعُمْرَةِ كَفَّارَةٌ لِمَا بَيْنَهُمَا، وَالْحَجُّ الْمَبْرُورُ لَيْسَ لَهُ جَزَاءٌ إِلاَّ الْجَنَّةُ
One Umrah to the next is an expiation for what is between them, and an accepted Hajj has no reward but Paradise.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1773; Sahih Muslim 1349 · narrated by Abu Hurayrah · sahih
The wisdom scholars mention
- Equality. Men wear the same two plain white sheets (ihram), rich and poor, from every country, side by side.
- Following Ibrahim's family. Many of the rites retrace the steps of Ibrahim, Hajar and Ismail, and their trust in Allah.
- A rehearsal for the Last Day. Millions standing together at Arafah remind pilgrims of standing before Allah on the Day of Judgement.
- A new start. The hadith above promises forgiveness, so many pilgrims come home resolved to live better.
Wisdom, not the reason. These are benefits scholars have reflected on. Muslims follow this because Allah and His Messenger ﷺ commanded it, and would follow it even if none of these benefits were known.
The ruling, Hanafi first
Hajj is fard once in a lifetime on a Muslim who is adult, sane and free, with health, enough money for the journey and for the family left behind, and a safe route. In the relied-upon view it is due straight away once you are able, not to be delayed without reason. A woman travels for it with her husband or a mahram. Umrah is a confirmed sunnah (sunnah mu'akkadah), not an obligation.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i, Hanbali
- Umrah is also obligatory once in a lifetime. The Shafi'i school allows a woman to travel for the obligatory Hajj with a group of trustworthy women.
- Maliki
- Umrah is a confirmed sunnah, as in the Hanafi school. For the obligatory Hajj a woman may travel with a safe company if she has no mahram.
Planning Umrah?
Every step of Umrah, from ihram to cutting the hair, with the duas and a checklist.
Open the Umrah guideMore "why do Muslims" questions
- Why do Muslims not eat pork?
- Why do Muslims wear the hijab?
- Why do Muslims wash their feet?
- Why do Muslims pray five times a day?
- Why do Muslims have beards?
- Why do Muslims eat halal?
- Why do Muslims say peace be upon him?
- Why do Muslims shave a baby's head?
- Why do Muslims face Makkah when praying?
- Why do Muslims not drink alcohol?
- Why do Muslims get circumcised?
- Why do Muslims fast in Ramadan?
FAQ
Can non-Muslims go to Makkah?
No. The sacred area of Makkah is closed to non-Muslims, following Quran 9:28, and Saudi law enforces this. The rest of Saudi Arabia is open to visitors.
Why do Muslims walk around the Kaaba seven times?
Because the Prophet ﷺ did so and taught it, and Ibrahim was commanded to purify the House for those who circle it (22:26). Muslims circle it in worship of Allah, not of the building.
What is the difference between Hajj and Umrah?
Hajj is done only on set days in Dhul Hijjah and includes Arafah, Muzdalifah and Mina. Umrah can be done any time and is mainly ihram, tawaf, walking between Safa and Marwah, and cutting the hair.
When is Hajj 2027?
Hajj falls in Dhul Hijjah 1448, expected to begin on 14 May 2027. See the expected dates on our Hajj 2027 page.
Do Muslims worship the Kaaba?
No. Muslims worship Allah alone. The Kaaba is His house and the direction of prayer. See why Muslims face Makkah.
The rulings on this page are pending review by the scholars on our team.
Sources
- Quran 2:127, 3:96-97, 9:28, 22:26-27, translation by Sahih International.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 8 and Sahih Muslim 16, from Ibn Umar.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 1521 and Sahih Muslim 1350, from Abu Hurayrah.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 1773 and Sahih Muslim 1349, from Abu Hurayrah.
- Al-Marghinani, al-Hidayah, Kitab al-Hajj, for the Hanafi conditions and the ruling on Umrah.
- The other schools' positions are summarised from al-Nawawi, al-Majmu; Ibn Qudamah, al-Mughni; and al-Dardir, al-Sharh al-Kabir.
Quran: Arabic from the Tanzil Uthmani text, English translation by Sahih International. Hadith gradings are those of the hadith scholars named. AmalKit cites the scholars; it does not issue fatwas.