As head of the Dar Al-Tawheed Colorado Muslims Community Center, Imam Karim AbuZaid emphasizes an approach to faith that places the Qur’an front and center. Among the diverse topics that Karim AbuZaid has addressed in his additional role leading the Tafseer Al-Qur’an Institute is “how to perform Hajj.”

Occurring each 12th month within the Dhul-Hijjah, or Islamic lunar calendar, Hajj is a six-day pilgrimage that follows Prophet Muhammad’s actions from nearly 1,400 years ago. Making this journey at least once in a lifetime is an obligation for all Muslims who are of sound health and have sufficient means, and approximately two to three million people take part in the ritual annually.

While there are many ways of performing the complex steps of the Hajj (depending on scholarly interpretation), the basic format begins with entering the pilgrim’s sacred state of ihram. This involves crossing the physical boundary Miqat, or the outer circumference of Mecca. Adherents wear plain, loose-fitting clothes and are forbidden from sexual activity or venting anger during their time of pilgrimage.

The second day of Hajj, the Day of Arafat, is one of the most important remembrances of the Islamic calendar, and involves a journey to Mount Mercy at Arafat, where Prophet Muhammad gave his last sermon. The Hajj rituals continue over four additional days and include prescribed activities such as throwing stones at the pillars and having sacrifices performed in their names.