Our social:

TAG: Prophet Ibrahim

The Fruits of Hajj

THERE is no doubt that Hajj has a great sublime effect on Muslims. During Hajj, more than two million Muslims stand in one place and share one aim, call upon One Lord, and follow one Prophet. It connects those millions with all prophets from Prophet Ibrahim and his son Prophet Isma’il (peace be upon them all) until Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Hajj also links people with the Hereafter with the full hope of their sins be forgiven and go back to their homes with clean slate.

Hajj creates a sense of connection with all of the prophets (peace be upon them) from our forefather Ibrahim who built the Ka’bah to our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) who respected the sanctity of Makkah. When pilgrims visit the sacred places and perform the rituals, they remember the visits of those noble prophets to this sacred place.

The whiteness of (male) pilgrims’ clothes is a sign of inward purity, cleanness of heart, and the purity of the message. This means that pilgrims should put aside all adornment and should show humility, and their clothes are a reminder of death when the deceased is shrouded in similar clothes. So it is as if pilgrims were preparing to meet Allah.

Assuming ihram at the miqat is a physical expression of worship and enslavement to Allah and of submission to His commands and laws. No pilgrim can pass it without entering ihram because it is a command from Allah and a law that He has prescribed. This confirms the unity of the Ummah.

Hajj is the symbol of tawheed (Oneness of God) and takes on meaning from the first moment the pilgrim enters ihram. Jabir ibn Abd Allah described the Hajj of the Prophet (peace be upon him): Then he started to say the words of tawheed : “Labbayka Allahumma Labbayk …. (Here I am, O Allah, here I am. Here I am, You have no partner, here I am. Verily all praise and blessings are Yours, and all sovereignty, You have no partner). (Muslim)

When all the people come together at Arafat and elsewhere, with no differentiation between them, this is a reminder of the Hereafter. All of them are equal in this place and no one is better than anyone else.

Hajj is a symbol of unity, because Hajj makes all people alike in their deeds, rituals, direction of prayer, and the places they visit, and the men are also the same in their clothing. So none are better than others, be they kings or servants, rich or poor. All are the same.

There is unity of feelings, unity of rituals; unity in purpose, unity in action, unity in words. The Prophet (peace be upon him) is reported to have said , “O mankind, there is no superiority for an Arab over a non-Arab, or for a non-Arab over an Arab, or for a white over a black, or for a black over a white. All of you are descended from Adam and Adam has been created from dust of the ground.” (Ahmad)

During the Hajj, more than two million Muslims all stand in one place, the men wearing the same type of clothes.

All the pilgrims share one aim, call upon one Lord, and follow one Prophet. What unity can be greater than this?

Hajj trains Muslims to be content with simple clothing and accommodation.

Hajj illustrates the importance of Muslims coming together and establishing harmony.
While we usually see people traveling by themselves, during Hajj we see people coming in groups. It also helps people get to know the situation of the Muslims from around the world.

The Exalted Status Of Al-Aqsa Mosque

AL-AQSA is the first Qiblah (direction of prayer) of Muslims, and the land of Al-Israa’ and Al-Mi’raj. Our hearts bleed for all the sacrilegious acts been perpetrated against Al-Aqsa. The status of Al-Aqsa is clearly explained in the Hadith that reads: “People are not to travel except to three mosques: The Sacred Mosque (in Makkah), Al-Aqsa Mosque (in Jerusalem), and my Mosque (in Madinah).” (Reported by Muslim)

The city of Jerusalem was chosen at the command of Allah by Prophet Dawud (David, peace be upon him), in the 10th century B.C. After him his son Prophet Sulayman (Solomon, peace be upon him) built a mosque in Jerusalem according to the revelation that he received from Allah. For several centuries this mosque was used for the worship of Allah by many Prophets and Messengers. It was destroyed by the Babylonians in the year 586 B.C., but it was soon rebuilt and was rededicated to the worship of Allah in 516 B.C.

It continued afterwards for several centuries until the time of Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace be upon him). After he departed this world, it was destroyed by the Romans in the year 70 C.E. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was taken there in his miraculous journey of Al-Israa’ and from there he went for Al-Mi’raj. When Muslims took the city of Jerusalem in 636 C.E. during the caliphate of Umar he ordered for the building of this mosque again and it stands until now as a Masjid for the worship of Allah as it was originally built by our Prophet Sulayman (peace be upon him).

The significance of Jerusalem is that it is the city of many Prophets of Allah as Makkah is the city of Prophets Ibrahim (Abraham), Isma’il (Ishmael) and Muhammad (peace be upon all of them). The Mosque of Al-Aqsa is one of the ancient mosques and in the Qur’an Allah called it and its land “… the neighborhood whereof We have blessed…” (17: 1)

When Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was in Makkah and also for about 17 months after his Hijrah to Madinah, he and his followers used to pray toward the direction of Al-Aqsa Mosque. This was to establish in the minds of Muslims the link between the teachings of Prophet Muhammad and other Prophets of Allah (peace be upon them all). When this principle was established in their minds then Allah ordered Muslims to turn to the Ka’bah and pray toward its direction.

Now, we are not allowed to pray to the direction of Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque, but we must respect and honor the city of Jerusalem and its blessed mosque. It is also the duty of all Muslims to guard and protect this mosque from any harm and damage, for the mosque belongs to those who believe in all the Prophets and Messengers of Allah.

Hajj A Model For Life

The blessed days of Hajj are approaching, and Muslim pilgrims are traveling to the holy sites. The memories and spirituality of Hajj are really moving. Pilgrims cannot help but have tears in their eyes while observing this magnificent gathering that is heading to the House of Allah in total submission and devotion. The pilgrims supplicate humbly, asking Allah to wipe off their sins, accept their Hajj, and grant them happiness in this world and the hereafter.

But should all of these awe-inspiring feelings be restricted to a few days of Hajj? I always think of Hajj as a journey intended to guide us on how to lead our larger journey of life. It is the model after which Muslims should pattern their lives. This connection between Hajj and life is very important; after all, both of them are journeys that need special preparation and should have special goals.

Take, for example, the first steps pilgrims take in preparation for their Hajj journey. They pay off their debts and bathe themselves. The lesson here is that our lives should be based on purity and cleanliness. How beautiful life would be if each and every one of us tried to adhere to this principle? If only everyone tried to steer clear of anything that may taint their beliefs or blemish their relations with Allah. Of course, it may happen that Muslims commit a sin or succumb to Satan’s whispers, but once such a thing occurs, they hasten to “clean” and “wash” their spirits. Just as they wear pure and clean clothes for their Hajj journeys, they are keen to meet Allah after the journey of life with a pure and clean heart.

“Labbayk, Allahumma, labbayk. Here I am, O Allah, at Your service.” This eternal call, chanted by millions of pilgrims every year, gives us further inspiration. The pilgrims respond to Allah’s call with pleasure, paying no heed to the trouble they may undergo; they come to Him declaring in words and in deeds their submission to His commands, their unconditional obedience to His orders, their love of what He loves, and paying their honor to what He honors. This is the spirit that Muslims should keep throughout their entire lives. Labbayk, Allahumma, labbayk. This is not merely a ritual phrase to be uttered in Hajj and then forgotten afterward, rather, it is a motto for every Muslim, a way of life.

After hours, even longer days, and months of travel, pilgrims reach Makkah and cool their eyes with the sight of the holy sites. Throughout their observances of Hajj, in their movements from place to place, and from rite to rite, Muslims recall great scenes of sacrifice by their great forbears, such as Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and his family, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his noble companions. These glorious scenes inspire us and motivate us to face the challenges of life with a bold heart as well as to rise up to our responsibility of working and sacrificing in defense of our religion and for the advancement of our Ummah.