The Pilgrimage – Hajj a Symbol of Submission to Allah and the Unity of Mankind
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The Daw n Special Edition Magazine of Birmingham Central Mosque Trust Ltd. Issue N o. 160 February 2004 | Dhul Hijjah/Muharram 1424/1425 AH Registered Charity No. 259545 | Company No. 961846 The Pilgrimage – Hajj A symbol of submission to Allah and the unity of mankind ‘The first house (of worship of God) appointed Hajj constitutes a form of worship with the totality for men that at Bakka (Makkah) full of blessings of a Muslim’s being, that is with his body, mind and of guidance for all kinds of beings. In it are and soul, with his time, possessions and the signs manifest: The station of Abraham – temporary sacrifice of all ordinary comforts, whoever enters it attains sanctuary Pilgrimage to conveniences and tokens of status and it is a duty men owe to God those who can afford individuality which human beings normally enjoy. the journey.’ The Holy Qur’an 3: 96-97 This is to assume for a few days the condition of a Pilgrimage to Makkah in Saudi Arabia constitutes pilgrim in God’s service and His pleasure. the fifth pillar of Islam, and last of the acts of And (remember when We prepared for worship prescribed by Islam. It is obligatory once in Abraham the site of the (sacred) house, a lifetime for those Muslims who can afford it (saying): “Do not ascribe anything as associate provided there is safety and security for travel and with Me, and sanctify My house for those who provision is left behind for dependents. circumambulate it and those who stand and those who bow and those who prostrate Hajj is one of the basic pillars of Islam which also themselves (there). had a universal appeal, both for the viewpoints of it, And proclaim the pilgrimage for men; they will semblance as well as emotional expression. It is a come to thee on foot and (mount on every kind unique and most impressive demonstration of faith of lean camel coming through deep on earth. Surely, it occupies human imagination that ravines.’22:26-27 a simple four-wall structure, placed in the centre of a barren, sun baked valley, should be the focal point The Hajj scenario symbolises a complete and for humanity. However, we worship Lord of the unconditional submission to the Will of Allah with House and not the House itself. Precisely this was the uniformity of dress and devotional exercises of the reason that the Holy Prophet chose Hajj as the pilgrims. The pilgrimage is a visible symbol of occasion for his Farewell Address and gave his human unity, representing in concrete form God’s historic charter of human brotherhood. He centrality in the life of the Muslim. The focal emphatically spelt out that all human beings were point for Muslims of all times and places to turn equal in the eye of God and that it was piety, not any toward their Lord in their worship and become one other considerations, which placed one above others. community submitting to the One God. An This proclamation brought into focus of history the endless stream of worshippers facing and circling unreality of al racial, territorial, linguistic and class around the Ka’aba unceasingly, since the time of discriminations which separate man from man and the Prophet Ibrahim gives a sense of history. The generate tension, chaos and bloodshed in the world. various rites of Hajj demonstrate the same straight way that has been the way of the prophets of God and those who followed them. At Makkah I saw the spirit of unity and true brotherhood displayed by tens of thousands of people from all over the wo rld, from blue-eyed blondes to black skinned Africans. My religious pilgrimage (Hajj) to Makkah has given me a true insight into the brotherhood of Islam, which encompasses all the races of mankind. Malcolm X ‘Idul Adha A Day of Rejoice and Sacrifice The two ‘Ids – ‘Idul Fitr understood and, in his sacrifices by and ‘Idul Adha are two innocence, was slaughtering animals great, unique religious supportive of his from which there is a festivals in Islam. To father’s task to please share of needy and poor. them there can be God. Once they had This Islamic form of nothing similar in any arrived at a location in thanksgiving is a other religion or socio- the mountains, the father wholesome combination political system. The hard-heartedly placed of spiritual devotion and first one is celebrated on his son’s head between humanitarian the first day of Shawwal some rocks and with benevolence. ‘Id day is marking the end of the great sorrow; he raised a ‘Day of Forgiveness’. fasting month of his large knife to sever When the Muslims Ramadan and the latter his son’s throat. At that assemble in the on the 10th of Dhul moment, Abraham’s son congregation, all Hijjah, next day to Hajj, was replaced with a goat enmities and ill-feelings pilgrimage. which was subsequently among them vanish and slaughtered in the Name true brotherhood ‘Idul Adha is celebrated of God. emerges. to commemorate the sacred memory of Upon realising the feat, Although ‘Id day is a Prophet Abraham’s act the Prophet asked God day of delights, of great sacrifice in the why his son was spared. pleasures and merriment way of Allah in offering God explained to the which must accompany his son Ishma’il, who Prophet that he had any human celebrations was replaced by a ram at fulfilled his loyalty to but recreation, the behest of Allah. God alone when he amusement, singing and placed his son on the eating, etc. should stay The Prophet Ibrahim plinth ready for within the moral bounds was commanded by God sacrifice. Therefore, the set by the Shari’ah. to take his son on a actual sacrifice of his journey in the mountains child was not necessary. Anas reported: and then sacrifice him. Prophet Abraham When the Prophet came This was decreed by returned home joyous to Medina, they had two God to test Abraham’s with his son alive and a days of sport and faith. halal goat for a meal. amusement. The Prophet Ibrahim told his Prophet said: ‘Allah has son that they were to go ‘Idul Adha also marks exchanged these days on a journey and then the completion of Hajj for two days better than explained why he had to (pilgrimage) to Makkah, them: the day of the do what God had as well as those who are breaking the fast and the instructed. His son at home, offer their day of sacrifice. 2 Decrees of ‘Idul Adha The prayer of ‘Idul Adha 6.The Khutbah (sermon) was prescribed in the first after ‘Id prayer is a Sunnah Fast on year after the migration. As and so is listening to it. the noble prophet always 7.It is forbidden to fast on performed this prayer so it ‘Id day whereas it is Sunnah ‘Arafa Day i.e., is a Sunnah mu’kkaddah. to fast on the day of Hajj Hajj day He is reported to have (9th Dhul Hijjah) for those (9th day of Dhul-Hijjah) ordered the men, women who did not go to perform and children to proceed to Hajj. the ‘Id prayer ground. Even 8.Although ‘Id prayer is Abu Qutadah reported the menstruating women are Sunnah, but it has far more that the Messenger of encouraged to go to the ‘Id importance than other nafl ground although they are or Sunnah prayer. If Allah said: not participating in salat but someone misses ‘Id can listen to sermons and congregation due to some “Fasting on the share in duas (supplication). excuse, he should either pray individually or if there day of ‘Arafah is 1.It is Sunnah to make ghusl are many who missed it, an expiation for (bath), to wear beautiful then they can offer it in clothes and apply best congregation. two years, the perfume, one could afford. 9. On returning home from year preceding it 2.For, ‘Idul Adha, the eating salat, it is recommended to should be delayed until one take a different route than and the year returns from the ‘Id prayer that which was taken to the following it. and then he may eat out of prayer. his sacrifice if he has 10. It is commendable to Fasting the day sacrificed an animal. congratulate one another on 3. Own way to ‘Id the day of ‘Id. of ‘Ashurah is an congregation, Takbirat 11.It is Sunnah to expiation for the should be pronounced pronounce the takbirat on loudly. ‘Id days. Allah says: “that year proceeding 4.The prophet never you may remember Allah it.” performed any nafl prayer during the well known This is related by “the before or after the ‘Id days.” The time for takbirat group”, except for al- prayer. during the ‘Id of the Bukhari and at- 5.There is no Adhan (call sacrifice is from the day of for prayer) or Iqamat for ‘Id Arafat until the time of the Tirmidhi. prayer. ‘Asr on the thirteenth of Dhul-Hijjah. TAKBIRAT-E-‘ID Alla hu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest, La il aha illa Allahu There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah Wa Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, And Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest Wa Lillahe-I-hamd and all praise are for Him. The Takbirat should be pronounced loudly while going to ‘Id place 3 The Sacrifice God the Glorified says in the Qur’an: It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches God, it is your piety that reaches Him.