THE PLACE OF HADJ IN THE CULT AND RITUAL PRACTICE OF ISLAM
The article examines one of the most important components of the cultural and religious life of the Muslim world - a pilgrimage to Mecca, which is obligatory for every «orthodox» (Hadj), which has become one of the five mandatory pillars of Islam since the 7th century. The subject of study is the history of the origin of this sanctified custom, its ceremonial side - rituals, ceremonies and their timing. For the entire history of the Muslim world, the most important and tradition-backed circumstances were the following: who (which dynasty or political force) is the guardian of the Holy Cities of Mecca and Medina, the organization of the main destinations of pilgrims permeating the entire Muslim world, its economic and religious-political significance.