Haji Lane, November 2016

Hajji ( ar, الحجّي; sometimes spelled Hadji, Haji, Alhaji, Al-Hadj, Al-Haj or El-Hajj) is an honorific title which is given to a Muslim who has successfully completed the Hajj to Mecca. It is also often used to refer to an elder, since it can take years to accumulate the wealth to fund the travel (and did particularly before the advent of mass air travel), and in many Muslim societies to a respected man as an honorific title. The title is placed before a person's name; for example, Saif Gani becomes ''Hajji Saif Gani''.

Hadži is also used in Orthodox Christianity for people who go on pilgrimage to the grave of Christ in Jerusalem. It can then be added to the pilgrim's first name, e.g., Hadži-Prodan, Hadži-Đera, Hadži-Ruvim, Hadži-Melentije Stevanović

Hajji is derived from the Arabic ', which is the active participle of the verb ' ("to make the pilgrimage"). The alternative form ' 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 become a family name, for example in the Bosniak surname ''Hadžiosmanović'' ("son of Hajji Osman").

Use

In Arab countries, ' and ' (pronunciation varies according to the form of Arabic spoken) is a commonly used manner of addressing any older person respectfully, regardless of whether or not the person in question has actually performed the pilgrimage.

In Malay-speaking countries, and are titles given to Muslim males and females respectively who have performed the pilgrimage. These are abbreviated as Hj. and Hjh.

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

In Cyprus the title became so prevalent as to be permanently integrated into some Greek Christian family names, such as Hajiioannou. This was due to Cyprus being so close to the Holy Lands and Jerusalem, as Cyprus became a place where Christians and Muslims intermixed freely for many centuries.

In Iran the honorific title ''Haj'' () is sometimes used for IRGC commanders, instead of the title ''Sardar'' ("General"), such as for Qasem Soleimani.

The title has also been used in Jewish communities to honor those who made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem or other holy sites in Israel.

Racial slur

In the 21st century, American soldiers began using the term ''Haji'' as slang for Iraqis, Afghans, or Arab people in general. It is used in the way "gook" or "Charlie" was used by U.S military personnel during the Vietnam War.

See also

*Chatzi
*Islam
*Pilgrimage

References

{{Religious slurs
Islamic honorifics
Islam-related slurs
Anti–South Asian slurs
Titles of national or ethnic leadership