January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
The Hajj: One of the five pillars of faith in Islam
The Hajj is also referred to as the Pilgrimage meaning "visit to the revered place".
The pilgrimage to Makkah is the most significant manifestation of Islamic faith and unity in the world. For those Muslims able to make the journey to Makkah, the hajj is the peak of their religious life. Muslims who successfully complete the hajj are known as Hajjis(males) or Hajjahs (females).
The Hajj is an obligation for those who are financially able to perform it, as before one can perform the pilgrimage, all their outstanding debts should be paid off; and of course one should be physically fit to perform Hajj as the rituals are quite intense and could be very strenuous.
Road to Makkah
About two and half million people go to Makkah each year from every corner of the globe providing a unique opportunity for those of different nations to meet one another. Muslims from all walks of life, from every status; kings walk with paupers; wearing special clothes - simple garments which strip away distinctions of class and culture, so that all stand equal before God, all showing their loyalty to Allah, the Creator of us all.
This assembly also signifies the gathering on the Day of Judgment, when all men will be equally judged.
Peace is the dominant theme. Peace with Allah, peace with one's soul, peace with one another, peace with all living creatures. To disturb the peace of anyone or any creature in any shape or form is strictly prohibited. During Hajj not even insects are killed.
Hajj is the remembrance of the rituals performed by Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and his son Ishmael, who were the first pilgrims to the house of Allah on earth, which is known as the Ka'bah.
Muslims associate the origin of the Hajj and the founding of the Ka'bah with Prophet Ibrahim. The actual rites and prayers take place at the sacred Ka'bah in Mecca and at nearby locations. Rituals include worship at the Mosque of Ibrahim and circumambulating the Kabah, several to-and-fro walks between the hills of Safa and Marwat where Hagar had frantically ran in search of water for her son, the pilgrims stand together on the wide plain of Mount Arafat and join in prayers for God's forgiveness, stopping at the three sites where Satan tried to tempt Ibrahim against slaying his son and throwing pebbles at Satan symbolic of conquering the temptation.
Prophet Ibrahim steadfastly believed in the One True God and submission (Islam) only to God's will. Once of the more taxing trials is when Ibrahim, upon the nagging of his wife Sarah, agreed to take Hagar and their son Ismail and banish them in the desert. Ibrahim was very grieved, but to keep the peace, he left them at the site of the future city of Makkah.
Call to the faithful
During the span of time, their provisions became nearly depleted and Hagar, the mother went through the ordeal of searching for water in panic and near despair, until the Well of Zam-Zam unexpectedly erupted. Ibrahim periodically came to visit, and on one of those visits he was ordained by God to build, with the assistance of Ismail, the first mosque for the worship of God, and to call the believers on an annual season of pilgrimage (Hajj) to visit that mosque in worship. Ibrahim obediently did what God asked, however, the most burdensome test for Ibrahim was no doubt, the divine command from God to slay his own son!
However, after much contemplating, that he finally brought himself to obey the command. However, God in his mercy and because Ibrahim passed the test of obedience to God, God spared Ibrahim's son and commanded a ram be sacrificed instead. The pilgrimage therefore started with Ibrahim and Ismail and has continued unbroken ever since.
Celebrating the feast of Eid al-Adha marks the close of the Hajj. The highlight, however is the collective prayer and the Eid kutbah followed by sacrificial slaughter of a goat, sheep or cow, where the meat is donated to the poor with part going to family and friends, following upon the tradition of Ibrahim.
For Muslims who have not made Hajj, we also celebrate the Eid by the collective prayer and kutbah, together with the sacrificial offering of an animal and the exchange of gifts.
We pray for the safe return of Bermuda's Hajjis and Hajjahs. Please join us for celebrations in Bermuda at either Majids. For more information call 799-6463.[[In-content Ad]]
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