Hajj a way to global peace and amity

By Khandaker Nazneen Sultana

Hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is a visit to the Ka'ba, the house of Allah .The Ka'ba was built for the purpose of worshipping Allah and it is the holiest place for Muslims and represents the direction that Muslims pray five times a day, from all around the world.

In Hajj one has to perform

* Ihram at Miqat,

*Talbiyah,

*Tawaaf (Circling of ka’ba),

* Istlam (Kissing the Hajr-e-Aswad,

* Two Rakats Nawafal  salat at Muqam-e-Ibrahim,

*Sa’ee (Running between Safa’ and Marwah,s)

* Arriving at Mina,

 *Arriving at Arafat,

 *Arriving at Muzdalifah,

*Return to Mecca after sacrifice and hair cut.

* Perform Taawaf-e-Afaza,

*Return to Mina after Tawaf-e-Afaza,

 *Return to Ka’ba and Farewell.

Hajj was made compulsory in the 9th year of Hijra. Every Muslim has to make at least one journey in their lifetime to Makkah for Hajj if they can meet the expense of Hajj. The Holy Prophet sent off 300 Muslims under the leadership of Hazrat Abubakr Siddique (RA) to Mecca so that they could perform Hajj. That was the year when it was banned for the Mushrikeen to enter Ka’ba.

Hajj is an act of worship just like Salat (five daily prayers) and Sawm (fasting in the month of Ramadan). Muslims from all over the world gather in Mecca in the last month of Muslim calendar and worship Allah. Hajj is a special worship that lasts for several days. This is an occasion that brings Muslims of all countries, colors, and races to one place – the Ka’ba. This is a unique opportunity of worshipping Allah collectively in a large gathering at one place.

The teachings of Hajj are very significant to a Muslim's daily life. Let us discuss the significance of Hajj

1. During Hajj, we learn to establish our prayers five times a day and keep us clean and pure at all times. Prayer is compulsory during the period of Hajj as well as throughout one's life.  The reward of praying near the Ka'ba is more then 100,000 times the reward of praying anywhere else in the world.

2. Sacrificing a lamb, camel or goat during Hajj teaches us to share and to give and help to the poor. It teaches us generosity, kindness, and the ability to share with other people.

3. In Mina, when we throw stones at the three pillars representing shaitaan, we learn that we should be truthful and clean and live a life free of sins. We learn to try to reject and avoid the evil whispers of shaitaan and stand against him.

4. Apart from kindness and generosity, Hajj teaches us that Allahhas blessed us greatly. The water from Zam Zam is a special gift from Allahto Muslims till the Day of Judgement. It is that anyone who drinks the water of Zam Zam will be granted a cure from all the illnesses and diseases. Some of the scholars say that ‘Zam Zam is whatever you make it to be, so for instance, if you drink Zam Zam water and plead to Allahthat He make it a source of healing from a sickness, it will certainly play that role, insha'Allah’.

5. Supplicating at Arafaat is also a blessing. All duas are answered and all wishes are made true.

6. This pilgrimage helps us learn the history of Islam and see how it has been held up over the past centuries. We should remember the work of our Beloved Prophet Muhammad (SM). We should learn the patience and the sacrifices made by our Prophet at this very time and place many centuries ago.

7. The gathering of Muslims all around the world helps us to remember that we are all Muslims and worshippers of Allah and that we are all brothers and sisters in Islam.

 We can learn about different nations and we can see that, though all Muslims in the world are not joined together on the basis of color or race, but they are joined together on the basis of belief in Allah and his messenger (SM).

8. The pilgrimage brings Muslims of all countries, colors, and races to one place -- the Ka'ba. This strengthens the spirit of unity, equality and brotherhood. These are the values on which Islam builds the human society and it will continue in this way till the Day of Judgment insha'Allah.

9.  According to Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, the prominent Muslim scholar:

“There is much wisdom behind Hajj. Among these wisdoms is the wisdom that Almighty Allah prepares man to have the perfect form of servitude to Him. There are many acts of Hajj whose significance man cannot conceive by his limited intellectual powers. However, a Muslim accepts these acts and fulfills them out of his obedience and surrender to Almighty Allah.”

10. The performance of Haj and Umrah are the best of deeds that should be done by those Muslims who have ability in physically and economically. Prophet muhammed (SM) said that,“Performance of Umrah is an compensation of the sins committed between it and the previous Umrah, and the reward of the Haj which is accepted by Allah, the Most High, is nothing but Paradise.-- (Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)

11. In anothet hadis we get that, Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (RA) narrates that Muhammad (SM) said: "Allah Ta'ala accepts the dua of one who performs Hajj and Umrah and if he seeks forgiveness. Allah Ta'ala forgives him." -- (Mishkaat).

12. Hadhrat Ibn Umar (RA) narrates that Hazrat Muhammad (SM) said: "The one who after Hajj visits me after my death (i.e. the Holy Raudah) is like one who has visited me while I was alive." -- (Mishkaat).

13. In Surah Al-Baqarah ayet no 125 Allah says,

“Remember We made the House a place of assembly for men and a place of safety; and take ye the station of Abraham as a place of prayer; and We covenanted with Abraham and Isma'il, that they should sanctify My House for those who compass it round, or use it as a retreat, or bow, or prostrate themselves (therein in prayer).”(2:125)

14. About Sa’ee (Running between Safa’ and Marwah) the glorious Allah say in the Holy Quran:

“Surely, Al-Safa and Al-Marwah are among the Signs of Allah. It is, therefore, no sin for him who is on pilgrimage to the House, or performs Umra, to go round the two. And whose does good beyond what is obligatory, surely then, Allah is Appreciating, All-Knowing.” (2:159)

15. Hajj has been made a pinnacle of worship in order that Muslims who gather to perform Hajj can praise their Allah, be thankful for His blessings, and humbly pray to Him for the removal of their difficulties. Muslims living in various parts of the world get to know each other in Hajj, lay the foundation of social culture, give advice to each other, and provide opportunity for collective struggle.

16. The late eminent Muslim scholar, Sayyid Abul A`la Maududi, said:

 “During the period of two to three months, from the time of deciding and preparing for Hajj, to the time of returning home we can judge what great effects are produced in the heart and mind of man. The process entails sacrifice of time, sacrifice of money, sacrifice of comfort, sacrifice of several worldly affairs as well as sacrifice of many carnal desires and pleasures; and all this is simply for the sake of Allah, with no selfish end. Then, together with piety and virtuousness, the incessant remembrance of Allah and the longing and love of Him pervade the mind of the pilgrim, leaving a firm impression on him which lasts for years to come.

Through the circumambulation of Ka`bah (tawaaf), the rehearsal of a Mujahid's life consisting of the rites (Manaasik) of Hajj (such as running between two points, and repeated departures and halts), which are combined with Salaah, fasting and Zakaah, you will realize that these processes constitute a training or some big task which Islam wants Muslims to execute.”

17. Shedding more light on the ethics and significance of Hajj, Ibn Qudamah Al-Maqdisi says in his book Mukhtasar Minhaj Al-Qasidin:

 “One who intends to perform Hajj should first make Tawbah (repentance to Allah), settle his debts, prepare sufficient provision for his journey and for his family until his return, give back trusts to their rightful owners, and meet his expenses by lawful means. He is recommended to accompany righteous men to help each other in their journey. If there are a group of people going out for Hajj, they should choose one of them to be their leader during their journey so as to set their affairs in order.

The pilgrim should stick to the Islamic good manners in all aspects, ask righteous people to make Du`a' (supplication to Allah) for him, and say the authentic Prophetic supplications that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, is reported to have said on his journey and making Hajj. These Prophetic supplications are dealt with in detail in the books of Fiqh, so one should refer to them for more information in this regard.

18. Allah, Most High, has honoured His House, sanctified it, and made it a visiting-place.

Prophet Hazrat Muhammed (SM) said: "Allah, Most High, boasts before the angels about the pilgrims, saying, 'Look at My servants; they came to Me, disheveled and dusty, from every deep ravine. I make you witness that I have forgiven them.'" (Reported by ibn Khayzamah)

19. It’s recommended for the pilgrim, on departing his homeland, to remember the assured departure of this transitory world to the Hereafter.

20. On putting off his normal clothes and wearing the clothes of Ihram, he should recall the shroud in which he will be wrapped for burial.

21. As the pilgrim utters the words of Talbiyah, he should bear in mind that this signifies a response to the summons of Allah, Most High, as it is stated in the Al Quran, "And proclaim the pilgrimage among men: they will come to thee on foot and (mounted) on every kind of camel, lean on account of journeys through deep and distant mountain highways." (Al-Hajj: 27)

22. On standing at `Arafah, the pilgrim should - when he beholds the thronging crowds, hears the loud voices speaking in many tongues, and sees the various groups following their Imams through the ritual observances - recall the site of Resurrection, the gathering of the communities with their Prophets and leaders, each community following its Prophet, aspiring after the intercession, all wavering with equal uncertainty between rejection and acceptance.

23. When the pilgrim's eyes behold the wall of Madinah, one should remember that this is the town which Allah, Most High, chose for His Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, that he made it the goal of his migration, that this was his home. He should further envisage the footprints of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, as he went about the city and recall how he used to go about its streets, picturing to yourself his humility and his graceful gait.

24. On visiting Allah's Messenger, the pilgrim should feel in his heart his tremendous dignity and realize that he is aware of his presence, of his visit, and that he is receiving his greeting. The pilgrim, also, should imagine the noble form the Prophet (SM).

For getting all these significance the pilgrim’s intention should be to draw close in love and yearning to the House and the Lord of the House, seeking grace through the contact and hoping for immunity from the Hell-Fire. At the same time, his intention should be earnestly to seek forgiveness and to beg for mercy, just as one who has sinned against another will cling to his clothes while imploring his pardon, demonstrating that he has no refuge or recourse except to his forgiveness.

(By Khandaker  Nazneen Sultana, writer and journalist of ‘ The Independent’. Chairman: ‘Shadow Foundation for women and Children’. e-mail: financeandb9@gmail.com)

Reference:

1. The Holy Qur’an-- English translation by Abdullah Yusuf Ali.

2. The Holy Qur’an –English translation of the meaning and Commentary

                               Revised and Edited by  -- IFTA.

3. Hadith Sharif -- Al-Bukhaaree, Muslim, Mishkaat, Maalik, at-Tirmidhee, Nasaa'ee Ibn Maajah , Musnad Imaam Ahmad,  Abu Daawood and others.

4. Quoted from the writings Ibn Qudamah Al-Maqdisi's Mukhtasar Minhaj Al-Qasidin, published by Dar Al-Manarah for Translation, Publishing and Distribution, Egypt, 2001.