The first to start this tradition were Abraham and Ishmael. Changing ones clothes to two pieces of white linen wrapped around the body is the first step of the Hajj. This represents cloth that would be wrapped around a person that has died, otherwise known as a death shroud. The old self has died, and one is coming into a new beginning, free of sin, and ready to become the best Muslim one can be. On arrival begins the lesser hajj. One makes seven counter-clockwise circulations of the Ka"bah (a fifty feet high and forty feet square structure covered with a gigantic black cloth). Then runs back and forth to the hills "looking for water" where there is a well. Next, one goes to the Plain of Arafat, where one stands until sunset, facing the mountain of mercy. This is where all human beings will be brought on the Day of Judgment. Picking up stones to take back to Mina is the next step. There is a brick pillar and three others at Mina. The brick pillar represents Satan; one takes the stones and throws them at the pillar. Finally, there is a blood sacrifice of an animal, and then it is back to Mecca where one circles the Ka"bah and heads back home. .
Allahu Akbar, "God is greater than _____." Muslims believe that anything can be put into this blank, and the statement would hold its truth. Of course, the many prophets, said to be 124,000 by the Muslims, would believe in this statement. The Koran says there were twenty-six prophets, with five singled out. The five are Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed. Jesus was born of a virgin and performed miracles like Christians believe. But Jesus did not die, instead, he ascended directly to heaven. Some Muslims believe that Jesus will return at the end of history, defeat Satan, and establish true Islam on Earth. The two messengers of Islam were Moses and Mohammed. Moses met God in the wilderness and received a revelation on how to establish law and an Islamic community.
