Title: Pagan Rituals in Hajj & Umrah Question: Some elements of Hajj and Umrah are very similar to what Arabians used to do in pagan rituals and during Prophet Mohammed's time. For example, to throw rocks at satan, circle the Ka`bah , and kiss the black stone today. What is the history of these rituals and why are they so similar to that of the pagans? Answer: Your observation is quite correct. I would like to add that it is not the case only with Hajj and Umrah , but can also be observed in Sala'h , Tawaaf, Ai`tikaaf, Zaka'h (to a great extent) and in almost all other forms of worship in Islam. To fully understand the reason for this similarity, it is important to understand that the Prophet (pbuh) is not the first, but rather the last messenger of God. The mission of the Prophet (pbuh), according to the Qur'an was not to introduce people to a new religious philosophy and practice, but to cleanse and revive the true teachings of the prophets of old. This is the precisely reason why the Qur'an has mentioned that it has come to teach people of the true Deen-e-Ibraheem [1] . The Qur'an in Al-An`aam 6: 161 says: Say [O Prophet,]: Indeed, my Lord has guided me to a path that is straight. A righteous religion. The path of Abraham, the devout. Then again, in Al-Nahl 16: 123, the Qur'an says: Then we revealed to you that you follow the path of Abraham, the devout. It should also be kept in mind that the people of Arabia, the banu Ishmael [2] , since the time of their father Ishmael , were adherents of whatever was left with them of Deen-e-Ibraheem . Although a number of alterations had come about in these practices and beliefs over the centuries, there were also a number of practices that had maintained their original shape and structure. Many practices in Hajj, Umrah , Sala'h , Tawaaf, Ai`tikaaf, and Zaka'h belonged to this category of practices. Islam, normally, did not change or alter the practices that had maintained their original shape. Islam only made corrections to these practices where they had been wrongly altered. For instance, in the case of Hajj , the Qur'an only corrected the alterations that had crept into its original form over centuries, and thus, the practice of Hajj was completely restored to its original shape. The same was the case for all other forms of worship. 9 th June 1999 [1] i.e. the Abrahamic traditions of religion. [2] i.e. the children of Ishmael (pbuh).