Meaning & use
haj
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Meaning
nounsingularreligion
The annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, which every Muslim who is able to afford and complete it should make at least once in their life.
Grammar: Usually used with the or a possessive: the haj, his haj. Also spelled hajj.
Patterns
- go on the haj
- perform the haj
Millions of people travel to Saudi Arabia each year for the haj.
My grandfather saved for decades to make the haj.
Pilgrims wear simple white clothing during the haj.
Common combinations
- go on the haj
- She hopes to go on the haj next year.
- perform the haj
- Pilgrims perform the haj over several days.
- haj pilgrim
- Each haj pilgrim receives a travel permit in advance.
- haj season
- Flights to Jeddah fill up quickly in haj season.
- return from the haj
- Relatives welcomed him when he returned from the haj.
Synonyms and how they differ
- pilgrimage
- Pilgrimage is the general word for a religious journey, while haj names one specific Islamic pilgrimage at a set time of year.
- hajj
- Hajj is the more common spelling in scholarly and news writing and means exactly the same thing.
- umrah
- Umrah is a shorter, voluntary pilgrimage to Mecca that can be made at any time of year, unlike the haj.
Word family
Commonly confused: haj or umrah?
haj vs umrah
Umrah is a lesser pilgrimage and does not count as the haj, which must take place on specific dates.
Practice
Which statement about the haj is correct?
Choose one answer.
The haj is the pilgrimage to Mecca. Halal food and daily prayer are separate ideas, and the haj is not held in every town.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “haj”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.