Editorial

Hajj is Indeed a Source of Guidance

(Compiled by: Syed Ehtesham Haider)

INTRODUCTION:

All praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. May peace and blessings be upon His servant and beloved Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) our guide and intercessor with Allah, the Exalted; and upon his purified household, his faithful companions, and those who follow his path until the Day of Judgment.

The sun of Islam brilliantly rose, and enlightened the path which guide mankind to a blissful life both here and the Hereafter. It guides the deviated, protects the weak, uplifts the downtrodden, satisfies the hungry and clothes the naked. Islam came to clarify all rights and obligations; and to free the individual, family, and the ummah 1 from fear, injustice, ignorance and hunger. According to its laws, white and black, ruler and ruled, man and woman are all equal. Islam determines a just balance which organizes every aspect of life, and all needs of the human race. It marvelously caters to any need in life, while carrying the message of guidance and reform, the flambeau of power and mercy and the banner of freedom and justice, in quest of a secure life for all humanity under its shades, till the end of life on earth.

In Islam, we find attributes that no other religion offers. Islam reconciles the creed with the legislation and morals. It responds to the corporal needs and spiritual desires, and identifies the deterrent punishment. It cultivates morals to form the balanced ummah. Then it makes justice the ruler and observer and, the conscience a guide. It promises reward for the righteous believers, and punishment for those who go astray.

One main attribute of Islam is that it raises the status of man, and asserts his high position as the viceroy of the Creator and the best of all creatures. Mankind revives the earth and the souls by construction and faith, while honoring the religiously ordained duties. Islam orders fulfilling of divine obligations, and makes it compulsory for the keeping up of prayer, fasting, and the performance of Hajj , and jihad (holy struggle for the sake of Allah)...etc.

Hajj is indeed a source of guidance and innumerable benefits and interests, and a stronghold of defense and uprightness. Allah, the Most High, ordains Hajj so that the ummah of the Seal of the prophets remains the bearer of the monotheistic banner to achieve the unity of humanity, and carries out the most desired objectives of humanity: freedom, equality, justice, security, welfare, brotherhood, stability and prosperity.

Hajj is a discharge of Allah's dues, and for mankind a tour of the body, a journey of the soul, a unification of the ummah and the dissemination of monotheism. In it there are short term benefits of this world, and the everlasting benefits of the Hereafter.

Dar AL Muslimeen Hajj & Umra Group presents to its dear readers this article which was published several times in many books and it's our collection on Hajj articles, asking Allah to amply grant us His help to accomplish this duty to the best of our abilities, so that the ummah may reap the bounties of its humble endeavors.

We ask Him to aid us in our efforts to do good works which pleases Him, to fulfill that which has been commanded of us, to glorify and give due respect to the religious duties of Islam. " And whoever respects the signs of Allah, this surely is (the out come) of die piety of hearts".

HAJJ - A DEFINITION:

Literally, Hajj refers to the intention of visiting a place. The Holy Qur'an transfers the meaning of Hajj from its lexical general meaning to a traditionally specific meaning which denotes the annual pilgrimage to the Holy Ka'aba in Mecca , one of the religious duties of Islam.

The great annual gathering called Hajj, is a collection of rites and ceremonies, offered by Muslims, who are bound to carry out religious duties, in a specific place and during a specific time set by Islam, similar to the way the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) did.

Hajj is so called because the Muslim who performs it goes to Mecca , the Sacred House, at the start of Dhul'Hijjah (the eleventh month of the Muslim calendar) and visits other sacred places like Arafat, Mina and Muzdalifah to offer his devotions.

Islam states specific dates, time and place for offering such devotions. Failing to heed them renders them unacceptable by Allah. Ihram (donning the pilgrim's robes) begins in a certain place. Tawaf (the ceremonial circumambulation of the Ka'aba) is done in a specific place. Say (walking seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwah) is done in a certain place. Wuquf (remaining in certain places during Hajj) is performed in specific places. Likewise, Rainy al-Jamarat (casting stones at the symbolic Satans) is done at specific sites and passing some nights is also a rite done in a certain place...etc.

As place has its significance and lawful position in this worship, date and time, also, have importance and impact as a prominent factor that renders this worship correct. Therefore, the most important of the devotions connected to this great duty are offered at specific times. Staying in Arafat, for example, takes place on the 9th day of Dhul'Hijjah. Passing the night at Muzdalifah is on the night of 10th (eve of Eid al-Adh hah): Yawm An-Nahr (the day in which animals are sacrificed) is the 10th day which is also the day of Eid. And spending the night at Mina is on the 11th and the 12th nights, of Dhul'Hijjah... all of them are related firmly to specific times.

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE FATHER OF THE PROPHETS IBRAHIM (A.S.):

The Prophet Ibrahim (a.s.) continued his long journey across Babylonia , Syria and Arabia . He folded up long periods of time, while crossing plains, hills, valleys, rivers and deserts to arrive eventually in the promised land of Makkah al-Mukarramah. To this place, he brought with the pioneers of faith and life; his wife Hajar and his eldest son Ishmael (a.s.).

The land of peace was the last station of the journey of Ibrahim (a.s.). Ibrahim (a.s.) examines the deserts and mountains of Mecca , as if looking for a new great event that will come into being on this particular land. Ibrahim's great heart resorts to silence to cover his secret and fate. Ibrahim (a.s.) raises his head, and stretches his hands towards the heavens. He humbly says:

"O our Lord! Surely I have settled a part of my offspring in a valley un-productive of fruit near Your Sacred House, our Lord! That they may keep up prayer; therefore, make the hearts of some people yearn towards them and provide them with fruits; happily they may be grateful" Holy Qur'an ( 14:37)

With these words Ibrahim (a.s.) bids adieu to his wife and child and returns to Palestine to his first wife Sarah. Hajar finds refuge in silence, Ishmael turns about. She clambers up and down the two hillocks of Safa and Marwah. He gets desperately thirsty. Hajar (Hagger) runs up the nearby hill in search of water. She seeks water but in vain and in her desperation climbs up another hill. He kicks the desert's sands with his small feet. On his withered lips, there is thirst and dryness. Deep in his heart there is love and faith. In his eyes is the great hope of the future which gives the good news of the rising of an Ummah that will grow in the barren valley the tree of faith and life? For some precious drops of water, the baby beats the ground with his feet, and caresses the sands with his fingers with the serenity of the prophets and the love of the saints, as if stroking the breast of the earth - the dear mother - so it may pour on his lips drops of water. The helpless mother watches in deep anguish. Behold, the earth's heart relents affectionately to her great son. It responds to his wish as he responds to the call of Allah. The ground splits a little, and suddenly a spring flows to extinguish the thirst of the earth. This is a sign foretelling the greatness of this great baby. Hajar is seized by astonishment. Is it true or a mirage? She slowly approaches the water and dips her hand into it and gives a handful to Ishmael.

Mother and son Ishmael stay near the spring of Zam Zam. Ishmael joyfully plays around it, in the land of the Divine Messages, soon to rebuild in this very land with his father, the Ka'aba, to which the hearts of the monotheists have always longed for. A place visited by its lovers.

Years pass and Ibrahim (a.s.) returns to meet Ishmael, to write a new chapter of the history of faith on the sacred land. He, with the aid of his son, embarks on the building of a house for worship. He continues the construction. He raises the foundations of the house, little by little the house, symbolic of monotheism in the heart of barren Arabia , is built. The Ka'aba is raised, where the souls circumambulate around it:

"And when We assigned to Ibrahim the place of the House, saying: Do not associate with Me anything, wad purify My House for those who circumambulate wad the standing wad the bowing wad the prostrating. And proclaim to the mankind (the duty of) pilgrimage; they shall come to you on foot and on every lean camel, coming from every remote path". Holy Qur'an ( 22:28 -27)

DISCLAIMER: THE IDEAS AND OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THESE ARTICLES ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHORS ALONE, AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THE USA HAJ MISSION OR ITS BOARD OF TRUSTEES, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS, EMPLOYEES, OR VOLUNTEERS.

IF ANYONE DISAGREES WITH ANY SPECIFIC ARTICLE, HE/SHE MAY WRITE AN ARTICLE WITH HIS/HER OPPOSING VIEW POINTS GIVING PERTINENT REFERENCES. IT IS THE BEDROCK POLICY OF "HAJ TALK" A NEWS LETTER OF USA HAJ MISSION TO ENCOURAGE OPPOSING POINTS OF VIEW. ARTICLES THAT SUPPORT THE GOALS OF USA HAJ MISSION, SUCH AS ISLAMIC RENAISSANCE, UPLIFTMENT OF THE MUSLIM UMMAH, INTERPRETATION OF THE NOBLE QUR'AN AND SUNNAH IN THE LIGHT OF MODERN KNOWLEDGE WILL BE PUBLISHED WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE EDITORIAL BOARD.