The purpose of this essay is to explore how Muslims in the Malay world fulfill the requirements of the hajj, as well as the personal Malay experience of the hajj. The significance of the Hajj in Islam can best be considered by exploring the symbolism of its rituals, their administration, and their political and personal implications for both the individual Muslim and the larger community. For every pilgrim, the hajj represents a time of heightened self-awareness, a reflection of one's values, and an enduring commitment to Allah. For these reasons, it is clear that the Hajj represents “much more than just theology” (Turner 1978: 106). For a Muslim pilgrim from the Malay world, the Hajj is also experienced in the context of the kerajaan and Malay royalty, and simultaneously “subsumed under the doctrines of Malay nationalism” (Matheson & Milner 1984: 37). It is also experienced in a context of traditional Sufi and Hindu-Buddhist beliefs that once dominated the Malay world. Furthermore, through the required rituals of ihram, tawaf and s'ay, for example, Malay Muslims are able to gain a sense of spiritual elevation and meaning during their pilgrimage. With this in mind, my essay aims to explore the specific characteristics of Islam in the Malay world through examining the rituals required within the hajj. It will address the arrival of Islam in the Malay world, as well as how historical, political, social and cultural meaning is drawn from the experience of the hajj. How is the hajj performed? Mandatory Rituals To fully understand the spirituality that is felt during the overall pilgrimage experience, it is important to first explore the ritual aspects. Rituals are complex processes, which are ultimate...... middle of paper......sagepub.com>.Kamal, A 1961, The Sacred Journey, Van Rees Press: New YorkLong, DE 1979, The Hajj Today: An Investigation of the Contemporary Pilgrimage of Mecca, State University of New York Press: Albany.Matheson, V & Milner, AC 1984, Perceptions of the Haj: Five Malay Texts, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies: Singapore.Miller, MB 2006 , 'Pilgrims' Progress: The Business of the Hajj', Past and Present, Vol. 191, n. 1, pp. 189-228, .Peters FE, 1994a, the Hajj: The Muslim Pilgrimage to Mecca and the Holy Places, Princeton University Press: Princeton, NJ.Scupin, R 1982, 'The Social Significance of the Hajj for Thai Muslims', The World Muslim, vol. 72, no. 1, pp. 25-33, .Turner, V 1978, Image and pilgrimage in Christian culture: anthropological perspectives, Columbia University Press: New York.