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A Journey of Self Renewal

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Source:islamicity.org

What are the blessings of Hajj? One may describe them in great detail. But, in the Qur’an, where Allah instructs Ibrahim to invite people to come to Hajj, it is said:
So that they may witness things that are of benefit to them…  Al-Hajj 22:28.

Hence, the real blessings of Hajj can only be experienced by those who actually perform it. Imam Abu Hanifah, it is narrated, was unsure which act of worship was more excellent among the various ones laid down by Islam. But once he had performed Hajj, he had no hesitation in declaring that Hajj was the most excellent of all.

The Journey

We usually think of journeys as of two kinds: those made for business and those made for pleasure. In both cases, it is to fulfill your worldly desires and benefit yourselves that you leave your homes, separate from families, spend money-all is done for your own sake. No question arises of sacrifice for any higher, sublime purpose.

But the journey that is the Hajj is quite different in nature. This is not meant for any personal end. It is undertaken solely for Allah and the fulfillment of the duty prescribed by Allah. Nobody can be prepared to undertake this journey until and unless he has love of Allah in his heart, as well as fear of Him, and is convinced that Allah wants him to do what he is doing. That you are willing to bear the privations arising from separation from your family, to incur great expenses on a journey that will bring no material rewards, and to suffer any loss of business or job, all are signs of certain inner qualities: that you love and fear Allah more than anything, that you have a strong sense of duty to Him, that you are willing to respond to His summons and ready to sacrifice your material comforts in His cause.

Virtue and Piety
The closer you get to the House of Allah, the more intense becomes your desire to do good.

You will find that your love of Allah heightens as you start preparing for your pilgrimage journey with the sole intention of pleasing Allah. With your heart longing to reach your goal, you become purer in thought and deed. You repent for past sins, seek forgiveness from people whom you might have wronged, and try to render your due to others where necessary so as not to go to Allah’s court burdened with injustices that you may have done to your fellow beings. In general, the inclination to do good intensifies and abhorrence of doing evil increases.

After leaving home, the closer you get to the House of Allah, the more intense becomes your desire to do good. You become careful so that you harm nobody while you try to render whatever service or help you can to others. You avoid abuse, indecency, dishonesty, squabbles, and bickering because you are proceeding on the path of Allah. Thus your entire journey constitutes an act of worship. How, then, can you do wrong? This journey, in contrast to every other, is a continuing course through which a Muslim attains a progressive purification of the self. On this journey, then, you are pilgrims to Allah.

The Impact of Hajj

It is now easy to see that for two or three months, from the time of deciding and preparing for Hajj to the time of returning home, a tremendous impact is made on the hearts and minds of pilgrims. This process entails sacrifice of time, sacrifice of money, sacrifice of comfort, and sacrifice of many physical desires and pleasures- and all this simply for the sake of Allah, with no worldly or selfish motive.

Together with a life of sustained piety and virtuousness, the constant remembrance of Allah and the longing and love for Him in the pilgrim leave a mark on his heart which lasts for years. The pilgrim witnesses at every step the imprints left by those who sacrificed everything of theirs in submission and obedience to Allah. They fought against the whole world, suffered hardships and tortures, were condemned to banishment, but ultimately did make the word of Allah supreme and did subdue the false powers that wanted a man to submit to entities other than Allah.
Hajj constitutes preparation for the great task, which Islam wants Muslims to do.

The lesson in courage and determination, the impetus to strive in the way of Allah, which a devotee of Allah can draw from these clear signs and inspiring examples, can hardly be available from any other source. The attachment developed with the focal point of his religion by walking around the Kaaba (Tawaf), and the training received to live a mujahid’s life through the rites of Hajj (such as running from place to place and repeated departures and halts) are great blessings indeed.

Combined with the Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving (zakah), and looked at as a whole, you will see that Hajj constitutes preparation for the great task, which Islam wants Muslims to do. This is why it has been made compulsory for all who have the money and the physical fitness for the journey to the Ka`bah. This ensures that, in every age, there are Muslims who have passed through this training.

Hajj: A Collective Worship

The great blessings of spiritual and moral regeneration, which Hajj imparts to each person, are before you. But you cannot fully appreciate the blessings of Hajj unless you keep in view the fact that Muslims do not perform it individually: hundreds of thousands perform it communally during the time fixed for it. At one stroke Islam achieves not one or two but a thousand purposes.

The advantages of performing the Prayer singly are by no means small, but by making it conditional with the congregation and by laying down the rule of Imamah (leadership in the Prayer) and by gathering huge congregations for the Friday and `Eid Prayers, its benefits have been increased many times. The observance of the fasting individually is no doubt a major source of moral and spiritual training, but by prescribing that all Muslims must fast in the month of Ramadan those benefits have been greatly increased. The almsgiving, too, has many advantages even if dispensed individually, but with the establishment of a centralized Bayt al-mal (Treasury of the Islamic state) for its collection and disbursement, its usefulness is increased beyond measure.

The same is true of Hajj. If everyone were to perform it singly, the effect on individual lives would still be great. But making it a collective act enhances its effectiveness to a point, which gives it a new dimension altogether.

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Source: islamicity.org

The Status of Hajj in Islam

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The status of Hajj in Islam; Allah, the Exalted, ordained it in the ninth year after Hijrah (the Prophet’s sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) migration from Makkah to Madeenah), according to the preponderant opinion.

Allah Almighty Says (what means): {And [due] to Allah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House—for whoever is able to find thereto a way. But whoever disbelieves—then, indeed, Allah is free from need of the worlds.} [Quran 3:97]
Hajj is obligatory once in a lifetime on every sane Muslim who has reached the age of puberty and is physically and financially capable of performing it. It is one of the best deeds that draw the person closer to Allah, the Exalted. There are many authentic Ahadeeth that were narrated concerning the virtues of Hajj, and we will mention some of them.

It was narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) was asked: “What is the best deed?” He said: “To believe in Allah and His Messenger.” He was asked, “Then what?” He answered: “Performing Jihad in the path of Allah.” He was asked, “Then what?” He said: “(Performing an) acceptable Hajj.” [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
It was narrated that ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said, “I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! We find Jihad to be the best of deeds. May we (i.e. women) participate in it?’ He replied: ‘The best Jihad for you (i.e. women) is an accepted Hajj.’” [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “The ‘Umrah to the following ‘Umrah expiates the sins committed in between them, and there is no reward for an accepted Hajj except Paradise.” [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim] The accepted Hajj is the one in which one does not commit sins.

It was narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, that he heard the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) saying: “Whoever performs Hajj for the sake of Allah during which he neither has sexual relations (with his wife) nor commits sins will return (after Hajj, as sinless) as he was on the very day his mother gave birth to him.” [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
After learning about the great reward of Hajj, in addition to it being one of the pillars of Islam, no Muslim should miss out on it; rather, he should hasten to perform it as soon as he is capable of doing so. This is because one does not know when he will die, and he should take advantage of his life before his death. We seek the Help of Allah to enable us to do good.

The Pilgrims’ Chant (The Talbiyah):

“Labbayka Allahumma labbayk, labbayka la shareeka laka labbayk. Innalhamda wanni‘mata laka walmulk, laa shareeka lak.” (O Allah, here I am, at Your service. There is no partner to be associated with You. Praise, grace and sovereignty are Yours. There is no partner to be associated with You).

Allah, the Exalted, Says (what means): {And proclaim to the people the Hajj [pilgrimage]; they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every distant pass.} [Quran 22: 27]

The Scholars of Tafseer (interpretation of the Quran) said that when Ibrahim, may Allah Exalt his mention, completed building the Sacred House, Allah Almighty ordered him to call the people to Hajj. Ibrahim, may Allah Exalt his mention, said, “O Lord, my voice will not reach them?” Allah Almighty Says, “Call them, and I will make it reach them.” So Ibrahim, may Allah exalt his mention, ascended the mountain of Abu Qubays and said, “O mankind! Your Lord has established a House, so come for pilgrimage to it.” It is said that the mountains lowered themselves so that his voice would reach all the corners of the earth, and those who were still in their mothers’ wombs and their fathers’ loins would hear the call. The response came from everything that heard him, from stones, trees, and those for whom Allah has decreed to make Hajj, until the Day of Resurrection: “We answer your call, O Allah, we answer your call.”

“Come to you on foot,” means that they will walk to perform the Hajj, as Ibrahim and Ismaa‘eel, may Allah exalt their mention, performed pilgrimage walking on foot. Also, Al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali performed the Hajj twenty-five times on foot while there were camels with him. Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal may Allaah have mercy upon him performed Hajj on foot twice.

A Story and a Lesson Learned:

When Ja‘far As-Saadiq may Allaah have mercy upon him set out for Hajj and intended to recite the Talbiyah, the color of his face changed, and his body trembled. It was said to him, “What is wrong with you?” He said, “I intend to say the Talbiyah, but I fear I would hear something else (other than the response to the Talbiyah).”
‘Abdullah ibn Al-Jallaa’ said:

I was in Thul-Hulayfah and I saw a young man who wanted to assume the state of Ihram, so he said: “O Allah, I want to say ‘Labbayka Allahumma labbayk’ (O Allah, here I am at Your service), but I am afraid that You answer me by saying that my Talbiyah is not accepted.” The man kept repeating this while shedding tears, then he said, “O Allah, I respond to Your call.” He said this with a prolonged pronunciation, and he died on the spot may Allaah have mercy upon him.
When Al-Fudhayl ibn ‘Iyaadh may Allaah have mercy upon him stood at ‘Arafah while other pilgrims were invoking Allah Almighty, he was crying like a bereaved mother who lost her child and could not even supplicate Allah Almighty. When it was almost sunset, he clutched at his beard and raised his sight to the sky and said, “O Allah, how ashamed I am of my sins before You, even if You have forgiven me!”

The Story of Building the Sacred House

Ibrahim, may Allah exalt his mention, took Ismaa‘eel and his mother Hajar and went to the place of the Sacred House. When they reached Makkah, he made her sit under a tree at a place near Zam Zam where neither people nor water could be found. He left them there and left a water-skin containing some water and a bag of dates with them and went away. Ismaa‘eel’s mother followed him and asked: “Are you going to leave us in this valley where nobody lives?” She repeated the question but he ignored her, so she asked: “Did Allah order you to do so?”

He answered: “Yes.” She said, ‘Then He will not let us go to waste.’ She returned to her place and Ibrahim went away until he reached a place where they could not see him; he faced the place of the House, raised his hands, and supplicated Allah saying: {Our Lord, I have settled some of my descendants in an uncultivated valley near Your Sacred House, our Lord, that they may establish prayer. So make hearts among the people incline toward them and provide for them from the fruits that they might be grateful.} [Quran 14:37]

Hajar drank from the water-skin and suckled her child until all the water was used up and she and her son became thirsty. He was writhing with thirst, so she left him, hate to see him in that state. She ascended Mount Safa, which was the closest mountain to where she was, and looked around, hoping to see somebody, but in vain. She came down to the valley and ran in a state of exhaustion until she reached Mount Marwa. She ascended it and looked around, hoping to see somebody, but in vain. She ran to and fro (between the two mountains) seven times. Ibn ‘Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Prophet Sallallahu`Alayhi wa Sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “That is why people perform Sa‘y between them (meaning As-Safa and Al-Marwah).”

When she was near Al-Marwah, she heard a voice, so she kept silent to make sure of it. It was the angel Jibreel (Gabriel), may Allah exalt his mention, and he hit the earth with his heel or with his wing, so water gushed out. Ismaa‘eel’s mother was astonished and collected the sand around it to make a basin. She drank from the water and suckled her child, and the angel said to her: “Do not be afraid of being neglected, for this is the House of Allah that will be built by this boy and his father, and Allah never neglects His people.’ [Al-Bukhaari: Kitaab Al-Anbiyaa’]
How great is reliance on Allah, and how beautiful is submission to the Orders of Allah? Hajar was subjected to a hard plight, but her trust in Allah was not shaken, and then Allah sent the solution and the water of Zam Zam gushed out, so Hajar, her son Ismaa‘eel, and his descendants became a large Ummah (community), and the seal of the Prophets and Messengers (Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu `Alayhi Wa Sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention )) was from his descendants. This small blessed family became the core of life and the origin of prosperity in this place. Days passed and Allah ordered Ibrahim to build the Sacred House. So, Allah responded to Ibrahim’s supplication and the hearts of people became inclined to this House. The Sacred House continued to be under the protection of Allah and continued to be treated with glorification, honor, and respect throughout all times and generations.

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Source: islamweb.net

The most beloved one

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Muslims often talk about their love of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). In their ordinary speech, many refer to him as ‘our beloved one’, rather than mention him by name. Others use different titles and adjectives, always indicating how greatly they value, respect and love him. When people of other religions realize this, they often express shock or surprise. They wonder why should we feel such love for someone who died some 1,400 years ago. We all remember how the publication of the Danish cartoons insulting the Prophet stirred a worldwide reaction among Muslims. This was extremely surprising to people in the West. Yet such love is to us the mark of true faith. We do not really believe in Islam unless we love the Prophet more than anyone else.

Such love is a requirement of the Islamic faith. It must be genuine love, not a merely verbal statement. The Prophet is quoted by Anas as saying:

“None of you is a true believer unless I am dearer to him than his parents, children and all others.” (Related by Ahmad, Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Al-Nassaie and Ibn Majah). Uttered by anyone other than Prophet Muhammad, such a statement may be ill considered or misunderstood. From him, however, it must be treated as part of the education he gave his followers. He was no seeker of any position in this world. He looked for nothing that people could give. He aspired to no status other than the one given to him by God. He was God’s Messenger, and his role was to deliver His message and educate people on how to accept it and conduct their lives on its basis. The statement quoted above should be viewed in this light. What it tells us is that when something is contrary to what the Prophet says or orders, we must never hesitate between the two; we must always take what the Prophet says abandoning anything that differs with it.

We clearly see this in the following Hadith, which associates loving the Prophet with loving God. It is again a highly authentic Hadith in which Anas quotes the Prophet as saying: “There are three qualities which are certain to give anyone the sweetness of faith: to love God and His Messenger more than anyone else, to love a person for no purpose other than for God’s sake, and to hate to relapse into disbelief after God has saved him from it as much as to hate to be cast in the fire.” (Related by Al-Bukhari, Muslim, and Al-Nassaie).

In this Hadith loving the Prophet is seen as part of loving God. This is not surprising because it was through the Prophet that we learned who God is, His attributes, our position in relation to Him, what concept to formulate of Him and what God wants from us. Thus, as God’s Messenger, Muhammad (peace be upon him) has given us everything we need to know about God, delivered His message and guided us through practical example along the way that is certain to earn for us God’s acceptance and to ensure that in the life to come we will be in ultimate bliss. He has taught us every good thing we need to know in our life

When someone does us a good turn, we feel grateful. If the good turn is bound to spare us exposure to some detriment, we feel heartily touched. If it brings us some happy feeling, we are ever so excited. Muhammad (peace be upon him) did us the best turn anyone can ever have, presenting to us divine guidance at its purest and most complete. He has spared us the worst calamity that can ever befall anyone, which is incurring God’s anger and punishment. He has given us the faith that is bound to fill us with the happiest feelings mankind can experience in this life. If we realize all this, how can we fail to love him more than we love ourselves?

Abdullah ibn Hisham, a companion of the Prophet, reports: “We were with the Prophet (peace be upon him) and he held Umar ibn Al-Khattab’s hand. Umar said to him: ‘Messenger of God! I love you more than anyone and anything else, apart from myself.’ The Prophet said to him: ‘By Him who holds my soul in His hand, this will not do unless you love me more than you love yourself.’ Umar said: ‘Well, now you are indeed dearer to me than my own self.’ The Prophet said: ‘Now, Umar, you have got it right.’” (Related by Al-Bukahri).

It is important to realize that Umar’s words were genuine. He did not say words simply to please his interlocutor, who in this case was the Prophet himself. He was expressing his feelings in a direct manner. At first, Umar thought that no one can ever love anyone else better than his own self. Hence, his first statement. The Prophet explained to him the fact that every Muslim should know. Nothing could take precedence ahead of the Prophet in any Muslim’s feelings, not even one’s person or interests. These should be sacrificed when setting against what the Prophet requires.

Umar understood this perfectly. Hence, his rejoinder that the Prophet was now dearer to him than his own soul. This is not merely a word uttered. It is a question of balance. Umar was now aware that the Prophet’s orders took precedence over everything else and he accepted this. Hence, his statement that the Prophet was dearer to him than his own soul.

The love these Hadiths speak of is not a mere feeling. It must be supported by the right action. Otherwise, the Prophet would not have accepted Umar’s last statement until it was put to test.

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Source: arabnews.com

Conditions under which hajj becomes compulsory

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Conditions under which hajj becomes compulsory

 

Lawful Stated Time of Hajj:

  • The time in which Hajj is to be performed is specified during the three months of Shawwal, Dhul-Qi’da, and Dhul-Hijjah. Hence, if a Muslim meets the specified conditions under which Hajj becomes compulsory during this period of time, he should perform Hajj. If he does not perform Hajj during the first year while being to do so, he is obliged to do so the following year.
  • The person obliged to perform Hajj can make his intention for performing Hajj on any day of this specific period of time, should he want to enter Makkah, from whichever Miqat ( the five places of the appointed time), he passes through while entering Mecca.

Islam sets certain conditions under which it becomes compulsory for a Muslim to perform Hajj.

  • One must possess: Physical and mental capability and can assure his family’s safety.
  • Hajj is obligatory for the Muslim who can provide for his family while he is away on pilgrimage. He/she should have the physical capability to travel and endure the journey’s hardships. He/she should be financially stable even after his return. Furthermore, he/she has to feel secure personally, financially, as well as concerning his family. Time must also be taken into consideration. He/she must have enough time to travel to Makkah, perform the rites of Hajj, and return without undue haste.
  • Puberty: Hajj is compulsory on the adult Muslim who has reached mental and physical maturity.
  • Sanity.
  • Freedom

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I felt new strength after becoming a Muslim

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I felt new strength after becoming a Muslim

I felt new strength after becoming a Muslim

I went to the mosque for a second time and I wasn’t nervous anymore. That evening, I felt so strengthened and said to God that I commit myself to Him as a Muslim; that I want to be faithful in this path. Since then, I have felt new strength.

Sadiqah Ismat, formerly Stephanie, is from Cape Town, South Africa. Here she writes in detail about her journey to Islam, spread into several phases, which she describes as an extremely complex one. This is the concluding part of her story.

I couldn’t resist it anymore and did loads of research, reading lots of conversion stories, and I began to believe it was possible to let go and let God lead me. As my heart was already long won over, all I had to do was to convince my mind.

So, I read Internet articles and the English translation of the Holy Qur’an, I began to pray in the Muslim way. I prayed to Almighty God that He guided me. I asked Him for a breakthrough.

One day, I read an article called “The Miracle of the Qur’an” by Khalid Baig. He said the following: “Prominent scholar Dr. Hamidullah tells of an effort in Germany by the Christian scholars to gather all the Greek manuscripts of the Bible as the original Bible in Aramaic is extinct. They gathered all manuscripts in the world and after examining them reported: “Some two hundred thousand contradictory narrations have been found… of this one-eighth are of an important nature…

“When the report was published, some people established an institute for Qur’anic research in Munich with the goal of examining Qur’an the same way. By 1933, at least 43,000 photocopies of Quranic manuscripts had been collected. While some minor mistakes of calligraphy were found, not a single discrepancy in the text had been discovered!”

After reading this, I was so impressed that there was only one version of the Qur’an throughout Islamic history. The next week I popped in to buy some dress trimming as an excuse to ask about the job and share my interest in Islam. When I purchased the trimmings, I got into a conversation about Islam with a wonderful lady working there, who gave me her sister’s contact number.

Her sister knew someone who worked at a madrassah (Muslim school) and who would be willing to teach me. The lady taught me a thing which touched my heart — she taught me to say “Assalam-o-Alaikum” (peace be upon you).

I went home, weeping with joy. I phoned the sister of the lady I spoke to, and she said she would contact me soon.

It was Friday, and on the very next day, I felt confident enough to say the Shahada. I prayed that I would have the strength in the time to come. God strengthened me soon afterward.

I went to church that Sunday, and with almost everyone, I knew to be Christian and having misconceptions about Islam, I realized I won’t have much support from the members of my community once I embrace Islam.

No wonder I was afraid to tell them that I was about to become a Muslim. God strengthened me soon afterward.

I was really impatient to take the big step. I spoke to my mother first. But I didn’t tell her outright that I was actually Muslim already; I just told her that I am in the process of learning about Islam and that I kept it from her as I was scared what she would say.

She told me that I must be “careful.” I said a few things about Islam to help clear her mind about the misconceptions regarding the true religion, and that I would be the same person and would always love her. She could see I was serious about it.
My dad was annoyed too. It was hard because I always saw him as an open-minded person.

I went to the mosque for the first time, six days after my reversion, and was welcomed warmly to the family of Islam by the Imam. Praying for the first time with others in union, being led by the imam, was an incredible experience, even though I was nervous at first!

Soon, I started learning at madrassah. My sister also found out from my mom that I had embraced Islam, and was stunned, but seemed to accept it later on. But I feel happy that we are still in a good relationship, alhamdulillah.

I went to the mosque for a second time and I wasn’t nervous anymore. That evening, I felt so strengthened and said to God that I commit myself to Him as a Muslim; that I want to be faithful in this path. Since then, I have felt new strength.

I became Muslim because I felt Islam shows us the best way to live. It was truly my heart’s choice. In fact, Islam has set me free. It set me free from an inordinate attachment to images which had plagued me for 15 years and simplified my life.

I am a Muslim. Alhamdulillah.

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Source: arabnews.com

Festival of The Sacrifice

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Muslims from all over the world anticipate the annual three-day celebration of a historical event that took place thousands of years ago during the time of Prophet Abraham [pbuh]1. This occasion, known as Eid-ul-Adha or the Festival of the Sacrifice, is a representation of two significant Islamic events: the culmination of the Hajj (or pilgrimage to the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia), and the sacrifice that God (Allah) commanded to Prophet Abraham of his beloved son, Ismail.

Eid-ul-Adha is observed on the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic lunar calendar. While Muslims all around the world celebrate this day, it has particular significance for the pilgrims performing the hajj.

In order to understand the context of Eid-ul-Adha, one must describe the Hajj with which it is associated. Allah had made the Hajj mandatory upon mankind initially during the time of Prophet Abraham: “And make a proclamation of Hajj to mankind; they will come to you on foot and on lean camels from every distant quarter.” (Quran: Ch 22, v27). Over time, however, the spread of idolatry across Arabia caused the rituals of hajj to become extremely distorted. With the advent of Islam and Prophet Muhammad [pbuh], Allah had reinstated Hajj as the fifth pillar of Islam, and described the correct manner in which it was to be performed.

Allah has ordained that every able-bodied Muslim who can afford it must perform the pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime. Several main rituals constitute the framework of this experience: 1. Tawaf (circumambulating the Kabah2 seven times); 2. Sa’i (walking between the mounds of Safa and Marwah seven times); 3. supplicating to Allah at Arafat (the place where Prophet Muhammad [pbuh] gave his farewell speech, proclaiming the final seal of Islam, and where Muslims believe they will be resurrected on the Day of Judgment); and 4. stoning the pillars that symbolize Satan at Mina (the place where Satan repeatedly challenged Abraham to disobey Allah’s command to sacrifice his son).

Each of these prescribed acts is a step in the pilgrim’s arduous journey towards spiritual cleansing. When the pilgrim successfully executes these acts in the prescribed manner with the utmost sincerity and humility, all his/her prior sins are forgiven. The final ritual that pilgrims must perform, signifying the completion of these acts, is the sacrifice of a domestic animal.

In addition to denoting the completion of the hajj, Eid-ul-Adha honors the monumental sacrifice that was to be made by Prophet Abraham. Abraham was ordered by Allah to sacrifice his dearly-beloved son, Ismail, as a test of obedience. Abraham willingly submitted to Allah’s command, wherein Allah, by His Mercy, replaced Ismail at the moment of sacrifice with a lamb. Abraham’s selfless act of obedience is commemorated by the sacrifice of a domestic animal such as a lamb, sheep, cow, or goat, the meat of which is then distributed to relatives, neighbors, and the poor. In parts of the world that preclude Muslims from personally sacrificing an animal, Muslims donate money to charitable organizations, which then sacrifice the animal on their behalf and distribute the meat to the poor. In keeping with the following injunction of the Quran (22:27), “…and pronounce the name of Allah over the cattle which We have provided for them on the appointed days, then eat the meat themselves and feed the indigent and needy,” Eid-ul-Adha exemplifies the charitable instincts of Muslims in their communal effort to see that no one is left deprived of the sacrificial meat. It further embodies the values of discipline and self-denial, and submitting to the will of Allah.

Eid-ul-Adha is a joyous occasion marked with family traditions and celebrations. The festivities begin in the morning after Fajr prayer, where Muslims, dressed in their finest clothes, attend the congregational prayer followed by a sermon. Upon completion of the services, people greet each other with the blessings of Eid: “Eid Mubarak.” Afterwards, Muslims often visit the homes of relatives and friends, partaking in delicious feasts customary to their native cultures and often exchanging gifts, and many eagerly anticipate the return of those friends and relatives who have made the journey for hajj.

Christianity, Judaism, and Islam all trace their roots back to Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim in Arabic), who is thus known as the father of the three monotheistic religions. Islam relates that Abraham had two wives, Sarah and Hajar, each of whom bore a son, Isaac and Ismail, respectively. Although Hajar was initially Sarah’s maid, according to Islam, Hajar later married Prophet Abraham and bore him a son, Ismail. The lineage of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is traced to Ismail, whereas Christianity and Judaism trace their roots back to prophet Isaac, the son of Sarah. The sacrifice made by Abraham is of importance in all three monotheistic religions, although it is not commemorated by Jews and Christians in the same manner as in Islam. Christianity and Judaism, however, maintain that Isaac, rather than Ismail, was the promised son whom Allah had ordered to be sacrificed.

Whether it is Islam, Christianity, or Judaism, the sacrifice of the son of Prophet Abraham has historical significance. Muslims celebrate the event through the festivities of Eid-ul-Adha as customary to their native cultures. Eid-ul-Adha is a time of remembrance of the trials of Prophet Abraham, a time to celebrate the end of the hajj, and a time that men, women, and children of all ages greatly anticipate. Eid Mubarak!

1 pbuh stands for peace be upon him, an invocation of respect.

2 Kabah – Muslims believe that this is the first house built for the worship of God. It is in Mecca, Saudi Arabia and is the direction in which Muslims face to pray five times a day.

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Source: whyislam.org

Hajj: The Global Conference of the Ummah

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Hajj: The Global Conference of the Ummah

Hajj: The Global Conference of the Ummah

We are all familiar with global summits and conferences during which presidents and other heads of state meet. Besides, foreign ministers, ministers of defense or others meet during other conferences. In the professional context, there are conferences for physicians, others for engineers and the same for other professions. For each of these conferences, there are authorities that organize them, call for them, determine their places and organize their programs.
Hajj is a great and unique global conference for the Muslim nation, and if the nation of Islam realizes and benefits from its merits and goals, its state would be better than it is nowadays.
The invitation to this great conference came from Allaah The Almighty to His Prophet Ibraaheem, the intimate friend of Allaah may Allaah exalt his mention. Allaah The Exalted Says (what means): {And proclaim to the people the Hajj [pilgrimage]; they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every distant pass.} [Quran 22:27] It is a historic and genuine invitation that is not renewed or revoked. The permanent place of holding the conference that never changes is the Sacred House of Allaah and its holy environs that combine divine blessing, historic antiqueness and religious sanctity. The agenda with all the words and deeds contained therein is dictated by virtue of the Order of Allaah The Almighty to Muhammad the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) who said: “Learn your rituals from me (by seeing me performing them).”The people invited to this conference are Muslims, whether rulers or ruled, rich or poor, men or women, with no conditions or privileges other than Islam. The only qualification is to be a Muslim –and that is it.
As a result, this conference has been held periodically for thousands of years in the sacred sites. You can see the entire nation of Islam represented in it in various categories such as its rulers, scholars, common masses, leaders, soldiers, men, women, elderly and youth. Can a conference like this be without benefits or impact?
It is a question that should be on the mind of every Muslim and every pilgrim in order to meditate and reflect, then to benefit and work. The following are some reflections on the great conference of Hajj:

  • Every pilgrim travels long distances and crosses many borders. Some pilgrims come from the countries of disbelief or countries of oppression and suppression. All of them strive and suffer in order to reach the sacred sites and participate in the gathering. By crossing all the barriers and overcoming all the difficulties, they declare that the superiority of faith is greater, the caller towards Allaah The Almighty is worthier of being answered, the path of Islam is straighter and that the brothers of faith are nobler.
  • Its unique uniform distinguishes this conference, which is not a condition in other conferences. The pilgrim abandons his ordinary clothes and adornment and devotes himself to Allaah The Almighty. In this way, he declares that this world is not in his heart, that his value lies in the essence not the appearance. He testifies that if the caller to Allaah The Almighty calls and he hears the call to worship, the whole world with its adornments will never act as a barrier in his way; rather, he is ready to relinquish it for the Sake of Allaah The Almighty.
  • This conference reminds the nation to remove all the matters that divide it and to hold firm to the Islamic divine methodology and path. When they make Tawaaf around the honorable Ka‘bah, they declare this important principle that makes humble submissive worship to Allaah The Almighty and a continuous relationship with Allaah The Almighty the center of their lives.
  • This conference is an opportunity for setting the general policies of the nation, discussing problems, guiding and instructing through sermons in the season of Hajj , just like the comprehensive and all-inclusive Prophetic sermon in the Farewell Hajj.

Finally, Hajj is the season of practically demonstrating the unity of the Islamic nation where differences such as color, race and language dissolve. This unity is with respect to destination and intention, acts and deeds, dress and shape, and standing and movement. In addition, it unites the souls and strengthens ties along with the fulfilling a much greater purpose, which is linking the nation to its Creator, following His Sharee‘ah (Islamic law), elevating the Islamic standards and abolishing worldly criteria.
Does the Muslim nation realize the importance of these meanings and others? Do individual Muslims know these landmarks? There should be an initiative by the responsible leaders, pious scholars and all Muslims to achieve, along with fulfilling the obligation, the major benefits for the nation that is now suffering woes, defeat and division. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And [mention, O Muhammad], when We Designated for Ibraaheem (Abraham) the site of the House, [saying], “Do not associate anything with Me and purify My House for those who perform Tawaaf and those who stand [in prayer] and those who bow and prostrate. And proclaim to the people the Hajj [pilgrimage]; they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every distant pass – That they may witness benefits for themselves and mention the Name of Allaah on known days.} [Quran 22:26-28]

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Article by: www.islamweb.net