Hajj or pilgrimage takes place each year between the eighth and the 13th days of Dhu al-Hijjah, (this year between Jan 30-Feb 4, 2004) the 12th month of the Muslim lunar calendar. Its first rite is the donning of the ihram.The donning of the ihram(seamless garment donned by pilgrims) is accompanied by the primary invocation of the hajj, the talbiyah:
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.
Indeed, the booming, melodious chants of the talbiyah will soon reverberate not only in Makkah but also at other nearby sacred locations connected with the hajj. However, this early, about one fifth of the world population’s hearts beat in unison: to fulfill the fourth pillar of Islam hajj or pilgrimage (which is jihad mabrur for women-Hadith). Hajj is a glorious dream most Muslims cherish deeply in their hearts and souls; a dream that resonates every time Muslims bow their foreheads to touch their prayer carpets, each time they genuflect during salat, and supplicate their palms out to Allah swt .
Throughout the four corners of the world, Muslims share a unified vision to answer Allah’s call, and to obey His command, which is to perform hajj to Mecca, at least once in his lifetime, if financially capable. Every Muslim heart pines to step (wuquf) to Mt Arafat where the Prophet Muhammad PBUH delivered his first and last sermon at Mount of Mercy, to throw seven (symbol of infinity) stones at the white pillars of Mina, to sacrifice either goat or sheep during Eidul Adha or the Festival of Sacrifice, to kiss the black stone , and to circumambulate the Holy Ka’bah seven times.
However, only over two million pilgrims visit Kabah every Hajj month. Most of them are those who can afford to fulfill the fardh, others are those who are sponsored by politicians and the affluent Muslims, some are parents, siblings or kins who are granted the privilege to go on Hajj by their wealthy children, siblings or kith. Most of them are first-timers. Some are recurring pilgrims, who were overwhelmed, moved to tears and divinely awed by their first experience and who cherished the thought of reliving such amazing and glorious experience to be purified and be at least near to the Beloved, Almighty God, Allah swt.
Hajj brings together Muslims, regardless of status, height, color, tongues they speak, race, ethnicity or nationality, as a single Ummah each year. Muslims touch shoulders and mingle with various brethren all over the world in a spirit of love, compassion and mercy. This is symbolically achieved by the ihram they uniformly wear.
The spirit of hajj transcends beyond rituals of wuquf, tawaf and circumambulating. Hajj is purification of the soul. It is about selflessness that is achieved through Ya’qin and Taqwa. It reminds us about the material world and the Hereafter. It reaffirms our obligation to enjoin good and forbid evil. It serves as a medium for us to fully understand our jasad (physical self), that we may rejoin it successfully with our ruh (spiritual self). For those of us who by Allah’s Will cannot make it to Makkah this Dhul-Hijjah 1424, let us remain constant with our prayers and continue with our self-purification as transitory pilgrims of this contemporary world.
Ameen.
Below are some verses from the Qur’an about Hajj enjoining the rites and forbidding some malpractices.
"And remember when We showed Ibrahim the site of the [Sacred] House [saying]: Associate not anything [in worship with Me and purify My House for those who circumambulate it [i.e. perform tawaaf] and those who stand up for prayer and those who bow down and make prostration [in prayer etc.]."
[Surah Al-Hajj 22:26]
“And when We assigned for Abraham the place of the House, saying "Do not associate Anything with Me, and purify My House for those who go around it and for those who stand and bow and prostrate themselves in worship. And proclaim the Pilgrimage among humankind: They will come to you on foot and on every camel made lean By traveling deep, distant ravines.” Hajj, Qur’an
"There is to be no lewdness nor wrangles during Hajj." [Surah al-Baqarah 2:197]
Competitions among poets in the exaltations of their forefathers and their tribesmen's achievements were all stopped. Instead, Allah told them:
"And when you have completed your rites [of Hajj] then remember Allah as you remember your forefathers; nay with a more vigorous remembrance."
[Surah al-Baqarah 2:200]
Competitions in generosity were also prohibited. Of course, the feeding of the poor pilgrims was still encouraged as this was done during the time of Prophet Ibrahim but Allah commanded that the slaughtering of the animals which was done for this purpose should be done seeking the pleasure of Allah rather than fame and the praise of the people. He said:
"So mention the name of Allah over these animals when they are drawn up in lines. Then, when they are drawn on their sides [after the slaughter], eat thereof and feed the beggar who does not ask, and the beggar who asks." [Surah al-Hajj 22:36]
As for the deplorable practice of spattering blood of the sacrificed animals on the walls of the Kaba and hanging their flesh on alters, then Allah clearly informed them that:
"It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah, but it is Taqwaa (piety) from you that reaches Him."
[Surah al-Hajj 22:37]
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