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Hajj [choose a suitable heading]

By: Hussain Ahmad Qasmi

Hajj (pilgrimage) is an Arabic word which literally means “to set out” with the
intention of devotion or reward to a sacred place. However, Islamically, it means
visiting the House of Allah, the Ka'bah in Mecca, and also performing all those
ceremonies which have been ordered to perform there that are based on the actions
and words reported in the tradition of the holy Prophet's Hajj, such as tawaf (Turning
seven times around the Ka'bah)), Sa`i (pacing back and forth seven times by a pilgrim
between the hill of Safa and Marwah), standing at the mountain of Arafat, and
throwing pebbles at the Jamarat in Mina.

This pilgrimage occurs every year during Dhul Hijjah, the twelfth month of the
Islamic lunar calendar. The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, eleven days shorter
than the Gregorian calendar used in the Western world, the Gregorian date of the Hajj
is eleven days earlier from year to year. The Hajj is associated with the life of the
holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) but the ritual of pilgrimage to Mecca is considered
to stretch back to the time of Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) and his beloved son Prophet
Ismail (PBUH), the prominent figures in both Islam and Judaism. Those who make
the pilgrimage follow in the footsteps of Abraham (peace be upon him), the father of
the Prophets. Four thousand years ago, Abraham (peace be upon him) along with his
wife Hagar and his son Ishmael set out on a vast journey wandering through Babylon,
Syria and Arabia crossing vast hills, rivers, and deserts until arriving in the holy land
of Mecca where Abraham (peace be upon him) received revelation from Allah:

"Do not associate anything with Me as My partner, and purify My House for those
who make Tawaf (circumambulation around it), and those who perform Qiyam
(standing up in worship) and those who perform Ruku (bowing down) and Sujud
(prostration), and announce among people about (the obligation of) Hajj, so that they
should come to you on foot, and on every camel turned lean, travelling through every
distant hilly pathway, so that they witness benefits for them, and recite Allah's name
in specified days, over the provision He gave them from the cattle. "So eat, thereof
and feed the distressed, the poor." [Quran: 22:26-28]

First, Abraham and Ishmael (peace be upon them) had to raise the cubic structure, the
Ka'bah, on the foundations of the "first house made for mankind" - built originally at
the dawn of creation by Adam (peace be upon him). Then Abraham (peace be upon
him) had to proclaim the pilgrimage to mankind. Unconcerned as to who would hear
his voice in this desert land, he climbed atop of a nearby mountain and proclaimed to
humanity the divine message of the hajj. This call has passed through the distances of
space and time and still reverberates to the millions of people around the globe who
answer his call and come to make the pilgrimage.

In short, Hajj is the supreme symbol of universal brotherhood and the greatest annual
congregation and the largest annual pilgrimage in this world. It is a demonstration of
the cohesion and harmony of the Muslims, and their submission to Almighty Allah.
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Every year, in Mecca, millions of people from diverse origins stand shoulder-to-
shoulder. All artificial or human-imposed distinctions between human beings are
lifted, and people have the chance to know each other solely as brothers and sisters in
humanity for the span of a few days. This sense of equality should translate back into
everyday life; the person who has gone on the hajj should return home freed from
erroneous notions of racism, classism, and so forth. For the Muslims as a whole, the
hajj serves as an enormous convention or conference in which news is passed on and
problems are solved. Since the beginning of Islam, the hajj has been one of the major
cultural unifying factors of the Muslim peoples, since every year delegates from
every civilization meet in one place.

It is the fifth pillar of Islam, an obligation that must be carried out at least once in the
life time of each and every Muslim who can afford to do it. It lays out the goal of
each Muslim performing a pilgrimage to Mecca to worship at the Ka'bah and to
rededicate themselves to Allah at sites important in his life. The Hajj is immediately
followed by the festival of Eid al-Adha. The holy Quran makes it mention:

And pilgrimage to the House is duty unto Allah for mankind, for him who can find a
way thither. (Quran: 22: 97)

Truly, Hajj and its rites first were ordained by Allah in the time of the Prophet
Ibrahim (PBUH) and he was one who was entrusted by Almighty Allah to build the
Holy Kaba – the House of Allah – along with his beloved son Ismail (PBUH) at
Mecca. After building the Kaba, Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) would come to Mecca to
perform Hajj every year, and after his death, this practice was continued by his son.

One who intends to perform Hajj should first make Tawba (repentance to Allah),
settle his debts, prepare sufficient provision for his journey and for his family until his
return, give back trust 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 is 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.

Mecca is the center of true and pure monotheism, and the place where Prophet
Ibrahim (PBUH), The Friend of God, left as a monument for all the true believers of
the world throughout history a symbol of monotheism which is the subjugation of
one's carnal desires and complete submission before the divine command by bringing
his beloved to the altar. Here is the place where the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH)
raised the flag of monotheism against the wishes of the arrogant and bullying
elements and the wealthy of his time.

Hajj maintains the spirit of unity among Muslims, individuals and communities and
educates Muslims, and even non-Muslims, about the true meaning of equality, which
is manifested in the pilgrims' unified dress code and their observance of the rituals
irrespective of their race, language, gender, or social positions. Hajj is full of lessons
for Muslims whereby we can affect real changes in the way we practice Islam as well
as in the way we behave. Hajj teaches us to break the barriers that separate people
from one another: barriers of race, nationality, ethnicity, color, and language. Hajj
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instills in us the great values of faith, surrender, trust, and sacrifice for the sake of
Allah the Almighty and for the truth.

Islam lays emphasis on the very principle of equality between all people. It makes it
clear that people are as equal as the comb teeth. The holy Prophet Muhammad (peace
and blessings be upon him) declares:

“O people! Your Lord is One, your father is one. You are all sons of Adam and Adam
is created from dust.”

In prayer, a person may wear his own traditional costumes and thus may be
distinguished. In Hajj, it is totally different as all people put on two pieces of white
cloth that resemble a shroud. This is the highest form of equality. In Hajj, man enters
into a state of total sanctity that prevents him from violating the life or the safety of
any human being. Hajj is the sign of the universality of this Divine message. All
people come from all parts of the globe celebrating the praises of the One true God,
no colors, races, regional borders. All barriers are removed and all pilgrims are
molten in one brotherhood that gathers their hearts and strengthens their bonds and
sense of belonging to one religion. Hajj is, above all, a revolution against all usual
matters.

Hajj promotes peaceful coexistence, equality, and harmony. It increases belief in

equality and harmony among ethnic groups and Islamic sects. The Hajis - those who
have performed the Hajj - show increased belief in peace, and in equality and
harmony among adherents of different religions.

Hajj is the opportunity to review and revisit these great lessons. Each and every
corner of Hajj is the embodiment of unity and solidarity among the believers where
natural and contractual differences fade away and the significance of the true and
monotheistic unity and brotherhood is upheld. Hajj is one of the best means of Islam
for the elimination of negligence. As if the universality of this ritual imparts the
message that the Muslim Ummah in their collective identity, besides the individual
duty of every Muslim, is duty-bound to remove negligence from them. On the other
hand, the glory and grandeur of this unique congregation acquaints us with the reality
of the great Islamic Ummah, which transcends the nations, races, colors and
languages. This intertwined and harmonic congregation, these tongues all chanting a
single word, these bodies and hearts all marching towards a single Qibla and these
human beings representing tens of countries and nations all belong to a great unit and
collection, that is, the Islamic Ummah.