Hajji

For other uses, see Hajji (disambiguation).

Hajji (sometimes spelled Hadji, Haji, Alhaji, Al hage, Al hag or El-Hajj) is a title which is originally given to a Muslim person who has successfully completed the Hajj to Mecca.[1] In its traditional context, it is often used to refer to an elder, since it can take time to accumulate the wealth to fund the travel, and today, in many Muslim societies, it is an honorific title used for a respected man. The title is placed before a person's name (for instance, Saif Gani becomes Hajji Saif Gani). It is derived from the Arabic ḥājj, which is the active participle of the verb ḥajja 'to make the pilgrimage [to Mecca]'. The alternative form ḥajjī is derived from the name of the Hajj with the adjectival suffix -ī, and this was the form adopted by non-Arabic languages. In some areas, the title has been handed down the generations, and has become a family name. Such usage can be seen, for example, in the Bosniak surname Hadžiosmanović, which means 'son of Hajji Osman'.

In other languages

Arabic: حاج‎‎ Ħājj or حجّي Ħajjī; Egyptian Arabic: حجّ/Ḥagg‎‎, pronounced [ħæɡ]; Persian: حاجی Hâji/Hāji or حاج Hâj/Hāj; Pashto: حاجی, Hāji; Greek: Χατζής; Albanian: Haxhi, Хаџи; Bulgarian: Хаджия, Hadžija, حاجىيا; Macedonian: Хаџија, Hadžija; Bosnian: Hadžija/Хаџија, حاجىيا; Belarusian: Хаджы, Chadžy, خاجِ; Kurdish: Hecî‎, Һәщи, ھەجی; Serbian: Хаџи/Hadži; Azerbaijani and Turkish: Hacı; Hausa: Alhaji. All mean "pilgrim".

Women who complete the Hajj are referred to as Hajjah or حاجة ḥājjah,[2] Egyptian Arabic: Ḥagga‎‎, [ˈħæɡɡæ]; Hausa/Fulani: Hajia or in Yoruba: Alhaja.

Use

In Arab countries, ḥājj and ḥājjah (pronunciation varying based on the form of Arabic spoken) is a common respectful manner of addressing any older person, regardless of whether or not the person in question has actually performed the pilgrimage.

The term is also used in the Balkan Christian countries that were once under Ottoman domination (Bulgaria, Serbia, Greece, Montenegro, Macedonia and Romania) for a Christian who had traveled to Jerusalem and the Holy Lands.[3]

In Cyprus, where for centuries Christians and Muslims intermixed freely and Jerusalem is conveniently local, the title became so prevalent as to be permanently integrated into some Greek Christian family names, such as Hajiioannou, regardless of any lack of qualification.

In Iran, the honorific title Haj (حاج) is sometimes used instead of the title "General" (Sardar) for IRGC commanders.

Racial slur

Hajji, Haji, Hadji or Hodgie is more recently used as a derogatory term by many as a comprehensive term for Iraqis, Arabs, Afghans, or Middle Eastern and South Asian people in general. It is comparable to the term "gook," used by U.S military personnel during the Vietnam War.[4][5][6][7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Malise Ruthven (1997). Islam: A very short introduction. Oxford University Press. p. 147. ISBN 978-0-19-285389-9.
  2. ↑ "Guide to going to Mecca". BBC. Retrieved December 8, 2008.
  3. ↑ "Jerusalem and Ancient Temples (in Greek)". apologitis.com. Retrieved May 4, 2010.
  4. ↑ http://www.mca-marines.org/gazette/article/put-%E2%80%98haji%E2%80%99-rest
  5. ↑ "Learning to 'embrace the suck' in Iraq" - http://articles.latimes.com/2007/jan/28/opinion/op-bay28
  6. ↑ Slang from Operation Iraqi Freedom http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/iraq-slang.htm
  7. ↑ Herbert, Bob (May 2, 2005). "From 'Gook' to 'Raghead'". The New York Times.
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