Hajj
The land of Makkah, in Saudi Arabia, attracts more than a million pilgrims from all around the globe each year during Dhul Hijjah (the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar) for the sacred purpose and ritual known as Hajj. There are about twenty-five verses of the Holy Qur`an which directly deal with the issue of Hajj. The Qur`an quotes the command of God to Prophet Ibrahim, “And proclaim that the people shall observe Hajj pilgrimage. They will come to you walking or riding on various exhausted (means of transportation). They will come from the farthest locations.”
The sacred act of Hajj symbolises a great sense of unity, selflessness and equality. Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam. The obligation of Hajj was revealed during the 9th year after the Prophet`s (peace be upon him) migration to Madinah. It is incumbent upon every mature Muslim, male and female, to perform Hajj once in a life time if they are able. The basic conditions for Hajj to become obligatory upon a person include: maturity, sanity, good health, safe pathway and enough money.
There is great reward in performing the pilgrimage of Hajj. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever performs Hajj for the sake of pleasing God and therein utters no word of evil, nor commits any sin, shall return from it as free from sin as the day on which his mother gave birth to him” and that, “Verily there will be no reward for a righteous Hajj, except paradise”.
Prophet Ibrahim was commanded through a dream to sacrifice his son, Ismail. God wanted to see whether Ibrahim was truthful in his complete and ultimate love for God. Both father and son, were willing to submit to God`s will. Prophet Ibrahim took Ismail to a place, now known as Mina – a valley near Makkah. The devil appeared before Ibrahim, his wife and Ismail to discourage each of them from submitting to God`s command. They each drove away the devil by pelting him with pebbles. God then sent angel Jibrail with a ram from paradise to be sacrificed instead. God was so pleased with the readiness of the Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his beloved son, that He ordered the Muslims to commemorate this day as Id al-Ad`ha (the Feast of Sacrifice).
Hence, the whole concept of Hajj and sacrificing the animal is based on the concept of tawhid (the complete and sole authority, Lordship and oneness of God) and the love and remembrance of God. Hence, when slaughtering the animal, the name of God is taken. Moreover, it is necessary for each person to recite the takbir al-tashriq (some specific couplets) after each obligatory prayer from the Fajr prayer of 9th Dhul Hijjah until the Asr prayer of the 13th. The takbir al-tashriq includes proclamation of the greatness and oneness of God, the Almighty.
The brief account of Hajj has been provided below:
8th of Dhul Hijjah – The pilgrims will proceed to Mina (about 4.8 km from Makkah) after sunrise in the state of Ihram (two simple white sheets for males). They will rest at night in Mina.
9th of Dhul Hijjah – They will then after sunrise move to Arafat (9.6 km) until sunset. This day is known as the day of forgiveness. The non-pilgrims should try to fast on this day. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ It (The fast on the day of Arafah for a non-pilgrim) compensates for the sins of the past year and the coming year.” [Muslim] After sunset, they will then go to Muzdalifah (4.8 km), stay there overnight and collect the pebbles for stoning in Mina.
10th of Dhul Hijjah – The pilgrims will then return to Mina a few minutes before sunrise. They will then pelt the big pillar (jamarah), then have an animal sacrificed in their name and then have their hair shaved/ trimmed. They are now out of the state of ihram. Thereafter (either on this day or any time up to the sunset of 12th Dhul Hijjah), they will proceed to Makkah to perform tawaf (al-ziyarah) of the Ka`bah (the House of God) and return to Mina. Tawaf is the circumambulation of the Ka`bah anti-clockwise, seven times. This day is known as the day of sacrifice (yawm al-nahr). It is on this day that Muslims will be celebrating Eid al-Ad`ha.
11th of Dhul Hijjah – The pilgrims will reside in Mina and throw pebbles at all three pillars from after midday till sunset.
12th of Dhul Hijjah – They will once again, while in Mina, pelt all three pillars as the day before. Their Hajj is now completed and they may return to Makkah the same day (before sunset).
13th of Dhul Hijjah – It is optional but virtuous to remain in Mina on this day too. However, if the pilgrims decide to stay in Mina, then they will have to stone all three pillars again (before finally returning to Makkah).
I will conclude this article with an extract from an extended encounter between a great saint, Sheikh Shibli, and his disciple who had just returned from Hajj.
Sheikh: Did you make a firm intention of Hajj?
Disciple: Yes. I made a determined intention for performing Hajj.
Sheikh: Did you also have a firm intention of abandoning all those things you did since you were born that are opposed to the spirit of Hajj?
Disciple: No. I did not.
Sheikh: In that case you had no intention of Hajj.
Sheikh: At the time of entering into ihram, did you remove your garments?
Disciple: Yes, I did.
Sheikh: At that time did you pledge to remove from you everything except the love and recognition of God?
Disciple: No, I did not.
Sheikh: In that case you did not remove your garments.
Sheikh: Did you enter the Haram (sanctuary)?
Disciple: Yes, I did.
Sheikh: Did you at that time pledge to leave aside every haram (prohibited) act forever?
Disciple: No, I did not.
Sheikh: Then you did not enter the area of the Haram at all.
Sheikh: Did you perform the tawaf al-wida (farewell tawaf)?
Disciple: Yes.
Sheikh: Did you at that time say a complete farewell to your whole self, desires and passions?
Disciple: No, I did not.
Sheikh: Then you did not perform the farewell tawaf. Go back and perform Hajj in the manner I have described to you.
May we be blessed with the pilgrimage and blessings of Hajj each year. Ameen.
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Posted in General on 12th Aug 2016 by Our Imam | 2240 Views
