Language and Culture Notes

1. Haji is both the title given to someone who has made the pilgrimage to Mecca and the obligation for a Moslem to make the pilgrimage to Mecca once in her/his lifetime if possible. The hajj pilgrimage must coincide with the celebration of Idul Adha, the commemoration of Abraham's sacrifice. Those who have made the pilgrimage are given the respected title of haji (male) or hajah (female). In Indonesia, for example, a man who has return from Mecca will be addressed as follows: Pak Haji mau ke mana?
2. Umroh is sometimes called haji kecil because it is the pilgrimage to Mecca that can be done at any time of the year. As in the hajj pilgrimage, an umroh pilgrimage includes worship at the Kaaba and other shrines in the area. However, no special titles are given to those who make the umroh. Umrah is the Arabic and standard Indonesian spelling, but this word is commonly spelled as umroh in Indonesia.
3. In this reading text there is variation in the spelling of the city of Medina (Meddinah, Medinah, and Madinah). The preferred spelling of this city in Indonesian is Madinah.