Hajj: A Celebration of Peace

Where am I?

More than 2 million people surround me.  We all have one common goal, one purpose for being here together.  I do not stand out from anyone else.  There are no signs of wealth or greatness upon me.  No Rolex watch or Nike shoes to mark me as a rich person.  I am one person alone, in a sea of humanity.  I am black or white, yellow or brown, the color of my skin is not important.  I am from Europe or Asia or South America, my homeland is any corner of this wide earth.  The people around me are young and old, male and female, rich and poor.  We represent humankind in our diversity, yet we are united.  We are unity in diversity.

I am at Hajj

Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam.  Muslims declare that there is no god worthy of worship but Allah and that Muhammad is His messenger; they pray, they fast, they pay the obligatory charity, and they go to Hajj.  Hajj is a pilgrimage to the city of Makah in Saudi Arabia.  At the mosque and in the surrounding area, Muslims perform prayers and rituals.  Hajj is an obligatory act performed once in a lifetime by all mentally, physically, and financially able Muslims.

“And Hajj (pilgrimage to Makah) to the House (Kaba) is a duty that mankind owes to God, those who can afford the expenses (for one’s conveyance, provision, and residence) ; and whoever disbelieves then God stands not in need of any of mankind, jinn and all that exists” (Quran 3:97)

This year , Hajj is in the middle of November.  Muslims from all over the world will gather to worship God.  They arrive in Saudi Arabia, by plane, bus, car, etc.  Some endure great hardship, others merely buy a first class ticket, but they come as equals.  People make this journey prepared to stand at the House of God (or Kaba) and affirm their love for God and His religion of Islam.

“And proclaim to humankind the Hajj (pilgrimage).  They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel, they will come from every deep and distant (wide) mountain highway (to perform Hajj)” (Quran 22:27)

The Hajj is several days of total devotion to the One God.  Muslims come together to celebrate His praises, ask for His forgiveness and demonstrate unity for His sake alone.

Throughout the Muslim world, Hajj has come to symbolize unity.  Although Muslims may be disunited due to many outside influences,  such as money, politics, border disputes or other worldly concerns.  Hajj is a great leveler.  At Hajj, all Muslims are equal; nothing about the rituals they perform makes one person better than another.

More than 2 million Muslims stand in one place, wearing the same simple clothing, following the same rituals and saying the same words.  They are united in their devotion to God.  The black man stands next to the white man and they call on God with one voice.  The king stands beside the pauper and they declare their submission to the will of God using the same words.

Muslims from every corner of the globe are united in their submission to the will of God.  They cry out as if with one voice, “Here I am O God, here I am at your service, and You have no partner.  Here I am.  All praise, grace, and dominion belong to You.  You have no partner”.  This supplication is said repeatedly by the pilgrims.  It is their answer to God’s call for the Muslims to perform Hajj.

These words are repeated with joy and reverence by all, regardless of status or class.  Some people are so overcome with emotion that they weep, others feel elated and happier then they have ever felt before.  Every person there feels that he is one person, alone among millions answering God’s call and God hears his supplication and sees his arrival.  The pilgrims feel amazed that they are the guest of the most Merciful God.  He or she attends this gathering by the invitation of God, not at the invitation of a government or an organization, nor at the request of a family member or friend.

Hajj is performed because God has invited believers to congregate together.  Regardless of the place of birth, nationality, ethnicity, gender, or status, all are welcome, and all are equal in the sight of God.  The Muslims gather to meet one another and demonstrate to each other, and the world that they are united.  Unity in diversity.  They are united by their worship of One God.

“O humankind!  We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another.  Verily, the most honorable of you with God is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa (piety, God-consciousness).  Verily, God is All-Knowing, All-Aware.” (Quran 39:13)

Islam is the religion of unity.  Repeatedly throughout the Quran God reminds the believers that they must remain united and seek strength through unity.  Hajj epitomizes this unity.  People from every race and color come together in submission to the will of God.  Muslims are one brotherhood and they come together with a sense of purpose and a desire for peace.

“The believers are nothing else but brothers (in Islam).  So make reconciliation between your brothers, and fear God, that you may receive mercy.” (Quran 39:10)

“And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of God (this Quran), and be not divided among yourselves, and remember God’s Favour on you, for you were enemies one to another but He joined your hearts together, so that, by His Grace, you became brethren (in Islam), and you were on the brink of a pit of Fire, and He saved you from it.  Thus God makes His Ayat (proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.,) clear to you, that you may be guided.” (Quran 3:103)

Hajj is the largest annual gathering of Muslims; it is the largest gathering of people united by the peacefulness and serenity that is Islam.    Anything that disturbs the peacefulness of Hajj is prohibited.  No matter what is happening in the material world at Hajj, peace prevails.

Muslims gather together and their diversity is a wonder to behold.  The old stand with the young, the rich stand with the poor, people of all colors and nationalities stand shoulder to shoulder in prayer and perform rituals side by side.  Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, said, “In their love, kindness, and compassion for each other, the believers are like a human body.  Muslims at Hajj are one people, they are a soothing sea of humanity, gathered together to worship One God.  Muslims turn their faces in one direction and submit to the will of God.  They are united by their love of God, and united in their diversity.

Umrah Packages  | Hajj Packages | Ramadan Umrah Packages | December Umrah Packages

Source: islamreligion.com

Services for Umrah, Haj boosted

Services for Umrah, Haj boostedarabnews

Services for Umrah, Haj boosted

JEDDAH: There has been a significant improvement in the services provided by the Kingdom for Haj and Umrah pilgrims, including a major increase in capacity in Makkah and Madinah, the Cabinet announced on Monday night at its weekly meeting.

At the gathering chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah, the Cabinet lauded the initiatives ordered by the monarch to expand the Two Holy Mosques, said Minister of Culture and Information Adel Al-Toraifi, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

The Cabinet confirmed that several parts of the massive expansion at the Grand Mosque have been completed, including the surrounding courtyards, the mataf or circumambulation area around the Kaaba, and several of the upper floors where pilgrims can perform the tawaf or circumambulation.

At the outset of the Cabinet session, King Salman thanked Allah Almighty for the advent of the holy month of Ramadan, and for bestowing blessings on the Kingdom. He wished citizens, expatriates and the Muslim world well over the coming month of fasting and hoped that achieving the objectives of this month would help unify the Muslim world. He said Islam was a religion of peace and compassion and rejected violence and extremism.

The king also praised the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for their efforts during their 16th consultative meeting, which he said would help ensure prosperity, stability and security in the region. He welcomed the formation of the Economic and Development Affairs Commission, the basic law of the Economic Judicial Commission, and the plan to hold regular meetings of defense, interior and foreign ministers to coordinate policies among the GCC countries.

Al-Toraifi said the Council of Ministers condemned the terrorist attack on the Jordanian intelligence headquarters in Albaqa’a, which resulted in the death of several people. He said the Kingdom stood with the Hashemite Kingdom in its fight against terrorism.

The Cabinet praised the marine mediums project started by the Ministry of Interior, being carried out by the Border Guard; and the project to design and produce unmanned aircraft by Prince Sultan Advanced Technology Research Institute.

The king briefed the Cabinet on the results of his meetings with the Prime Minister of Bangladesh and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy Paolo Gentiloni.

Al-Toraifi said that the Cabinet announced several decisions including approving the statute of the Arab Court of Human Rights after reviewing a report submitted by the Minister of Justice, and a Shoura Council resolution on the matter.

After reviewing the report submitted by the Ministry of Economy and Planning, the Cabinet approved the formation of the National Center for Strategic Development Studies, which is an advisory body aimed at providing input on economic development issues by carrying out studies and consultations for public and private sector bodies.

The Cabinet decided to approve the minutes of the Saudi-Jordanian Council of Coordination and the Saudi-UAE Council of Coordination; authorized the Education Ministry to sign a pact with Mauritania; and the Housing Ministry to ink an agreement with India.

We have a wide range of Spiritual Journey Packages from UK are give below:

Umrah Packages  | Hajj Packages | Ramadan Umrah Packages | December Umrah Packages

Source: arabnews.com

Sincerity in Hajj

Sincerity in Hajj

Sincerity in Hajj

How can the pilgrim be sincere towards Allaah in performing the rituals? If he wants to do business and seek to earn a living as well as doing Hajj, does that mean that he is not being sincere towards Allaah?
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
Sincerity (ikhlaas) is a necessary condition in all acts of worship, and no act of worship is valid if anything or anyone is associated with Allaah. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“So whoever hopes for the Meeting with his Lord, let him work righteousness and associate none as a partner in the worship of his Lord” [al-Kahf 18:110]
“And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allaah, and worship none but Him Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him), and perform As‑Salaah (Iqaamat‑as‑Salaah) and give Zakaah, and that is the right religion” [al-Bayyinah 98: 5]
“So worship Allaah (Alone) by doing religious deeds sincerely for Allaah’s sake only.
3. Surely, the religion (i.e. the worship and the obedience) is for Allaah only” [al-Zumar 39:2-3]
According to a saheeh hadeeth qudsi, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah, may He be blessed and exalted, says: ‘I am so self-sufficient that I am in no need of having an associate. Thus he who does an action for someone else’s sake as well as Mine will have that action renounced by Me to him whom he associated with Me.'”
What is meant by sincerity towards Allaah in worship is that nothing motivates the person to do that act of worship except love and veneration for Allaah, and the hope for His reward and pleasure. Hence Allaah says of Muhammad the Messenger of Allaah(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him):
“Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah. And those who are with him are severe against disbelievers, and merciful among themselves. You see them bowing and falling down prostrate (in prayer), seeking Bounty from Allaah and (His) Good Pleasure” [al-Fath 48:29 – interpretation of the meaning]
No act of worship, whether it is Hajj or anything else, will be accepted if a person is doing it to show off to other people, or he is doing it so that other people will see him and say, “How pious So and so is, how much he worships Allaah” and so on.
No worship will be accepted if the motivation behind it is to see places or see people, or other such things that are contrary to sincerity. Hence the pilgrims who go to the Sacred House must make their intention sincerely for the sake of Allaah and not make it their intention to see the Muslim world, or to do business, or so that it will be said that So and so goes for Hajj every year, and so on.
There is nothing wrong with a person seeking the bounty of Allaah by doing business whilst travelling to the Sacred House, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“There is no sin on you if you seek the Bounty of your Lord (during pilgrimage by trading)” [al-Baqarah 2:198]
What goes against sincerity is when a person’s only intention is to business and earn money. This is a person who seeks worldly gain by doing actions that have to do with the Hereafter. This means that the act of worship is invalid or that it is sorely lacking. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Whosoever desires (by his deeds) the reward of the Hereafter, We give him increase in his reward, and whosoever desires the reward of this world (by his deeds), We give him thereof (what is decreed for him), and he has no portion in the Hereafter” [al-Shoora 42:20]

We have a wide range of packages given below:

Umrah Packages  | Hajj Packages | Ramadan Umrah Packages | December Umrah Packages

Article by: en.islamway.net