Download The Hajj - bankstowntafehsc

Significant practice in the life of adherents
Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca)
Overview
The hajj is an act of worship for Muslims. It is one of the duties of a Muslim as describes in the
Five Pillars of Islam. The hajj must be performed at least once during his or her lifetime. A
Muslim may be excused from performing the hajj due to illness, physical difficulties or financial
hardship. The Qur'an (Surah 2:196) "Perform the pilgrimage and the visit [to Mecca] for Allah".
The Council on Islamic Education states:
"The Hajj consists of several ceremonies, meant to symbolize the essential concepts of the
Islamic faith, and to commemorate the trials of prophet Abraham and his family...Prophet
Muhammad had said that a person who performs Hajj properly 'will return as a newly born baby
[free of all sins].' The pilgrimage also enables Muslims from all around the world, of different
colours, languages, races, and ethnicities, to come together in a spirit of universal brotherhood
and sisterhood to worship the One God together."
There are three basic pillars for performing Hajj:
1.To enter into state of “Ihram” and have the intention to perform the pilgrimage.
2.To stay at the field of “Arafat” on the ninth of Dul-Hajj If someone cannot go to the field of
Arafat even for a short time then his/her pilgrimage will not be complete. He/she has to perform
the pilgrimage again the following year.
3. Additional circling of the “Ka’ba” that is done after the stay at the field of “Arafat” and
performed from the tenth to the end of the month.
History
Hajj was made obligatory in the 9th year of Hijra. Muhammad sent 300 Muslims under the
leadership of Hazrat Abubakr Siddique to Mecca to perform the hajj. It was this year that it was
banned for the Mushrikeen (those who associate partners with Allah) to enter Ka’ba. It was
also made unlawful to perform Tawaaf (circling of Ka’ba) with naked body.
The following year, 10th Hijra, Mouhammad announced he himself would perform hajj that year.
He led tens of thousands of Muslims to hajj and demonstrated to Muslims how to perform all the
rites and rituals of the hajj. This hajj is known as Hajjatul Wida’ or Farewell Pilgrimage because
it was the last hajj Muhammad performed.
Preparation for the Hajj
Before leaving for hajj, a Muslim should pay any debts and seek forgiveness from fellow human
being whom he might have caused harm in the past. He/she should also make sure that he/she
observes the Salat (five daily prayers) and Sawm (fasting) as well as carrying out other religious
obligations. He/she should also donate some money to charity.
Before approaching Mecca pilgrims pause at a Miqat or Meequat (a place where everyone
dresses in robes, usually two pieces of cloth, known as ihram). There are a number of sites of
miqat for people coming from various directions. Men signify the state of ihram by bathing, and
wearing two pieces of unsewn white cloth. Women usually wear a simple white dress and a
head covering, but not a veil. The white garments are symbolic of human equality and unity
before God, since all the pilgrims are dressed similarly. It is a reminder to be humble, and to be
satisfied with a life free from the distractions of possessions and earthly worries. The pilgrim will
then repeat the Talbiyah (Talbeeyah) prayer. One English translation is:
"Here I am, O God, at Thy Command! Here I am at Thy Command! Thou art without associate;
here I am at Thy Command! Thine are praise and grace and dominion! Thou art without
associate."
During the five days of Hajj, all Muslims engaged in this worship must remain in this same
simple dress. As soon as a pilgrim puts on Ihram and declares his intention to perform Hajj,
he/she enters into the state of Ihram and his/her Hajj begins.
After reaching Mecca, one should head straight to Ka’ba that is situated in bounds of
Masjid-el-Haram and perform Tawaaf. Tawaaf is performed by going seven times around the
Ka’ba; the [cube-shaped] stone building Muslims believe was originally built by Abraham and
his son Ishmael, keeping the Ka'ba on left hand side (counter clock-wise). Seven is an important
symbolic number in the Islamic, Christian and Jewish Scriptures- e.g. the seven-day creation
story. It is said that when one has his/her first glance at Ka’ba, whatever prayers one makes is
granted. The pilgrim enters the Holy Mosque at Mecca, right foot first, and recites the prayer: "In
the name of Allah, may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. Oh Allah, forgive
me my sins and open to me the doors of Your mercy. I seek refuge in Allah the Almighty and in
His Eminent Face and in His Eternal Dominion from the accursed Satan."
It is a symbol of unity for Muslims because all prayers, wherever they are performed, are
oriented in the direction of the Ka'ba.
The pilgrim then performs the sa'i. He/she hurries seven times between two small hills near the
Ka'ba, called Safa and Marwah. This commemorates the desperate search for water and food
by Hagar, one of Abraham's wives.
The Hajj
The Hajj formally begins on the eighth day of Dhul-Hijjah (Zul-Hijjah) - the 12th month of the
Muslim lunar calendar.
On this first day of the Hajj, the pilgrims walk a few miles to Mina and camp there overnight.
The pilgrims spend the "Day of Arafah" (ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah) in Arafah, an empty plain.
They use this time for prayer and reflection. In the evening, they move to Muzdalifa. They camp
there overnight and offer various prayers. It is here that they collect stones for throwing later.
On the tenth day of Dhul-Hijjah, they return to Mina and throw seven pebbles at a pillar that
symbolizes Satan's temptation of Abraham. (The Qur'an describes how Satan tried to persuade
Abraham to not ritually murder his son Ishmael, as commanded by God). This act of throwing
stones is called Rami.
The pilgrims then sacrifice a sheep, recalling how Abraham sacrificed a sheep that God had
provided in place of his son. The meat is distributed to friends, relative and the poor. Afterwards,
they return to Mecca and perform a final tawaf and sa'i.
As a sign of sacrifice and a new beginning a male pilgrim should have his head shaved and
female pilgrims are required to cut a small part of her hair. Female pilgrims are not permitted to
have their heads shaved. The hair cutting symbolises the end of the hajj and one can remove
the Ihram and may now wear regular cloths.
It is forbidden to have a hair cut during Hajj or to wear sewn clothes. Pilgrims should offer Fidya
(redemption) if he has to wear sewn clothes or have to shave his head due to illness or lice.
Hunting is forbidden during the pilgrimage days.
A woman is not allowed to perform Hajj alone and must be accompanied by an adult Muslim
Mahram (father, husband, son or brother etc.)
Expressions of the beliefs of Islam
1) Commemorate various events recorded in the Qur'an. E.g. Hagar's search for water, Satan's
tempting of Abraham and the sacrificial lamb.
2) Observing the hajj as a Pillar of Islam. An act of worship.
3) The spiritual and historical significance of the city of Mecca and Ka'ba.
Significance for individuals and the Muslim Community
1) Australian Muslims who have undertaken the hajj speak of the powerful spiritual effect on
their lives, describing it as uplifting.
2) It is a humbling reminder of the equality of all people before God, regardless of race, wealth
and gender.
3) It provides an opportunity for fellowship and unity. Together pilgrims can listen to the
difficulties of other Muslims and try to pray for solutions.
4) More importantly the hajj is considered an opportunity for a new beginning.
Questions
1) Explain the meaning of the bold words.
2) Identify and outline the major components of a hajj (1/2 page)
3) Explain how the hajj benefits the individual and the community of Muslims (1 page)
4) Link the beliefs of Islam with the hajj. (1 page)