In The Message which I was made to watch last night there is already a pilgrimage to many gods solely for the purpose of attracting tourists to Mecca so that the traders can sell things to them. So I am just wondering what the Islamic basis for hajj is, what is the purpose of it? It seems a little like idolatry, worshipping a building and slightly pointless and seems to me like an excuse for attracting tourists just like they used to before Islam.
So can someone please explain.
Re: The Message (Old Film)
History and Origin
The origin of Hajj goes back to times of Hazrat Ibrahim(who built Kaaba). With the passage of time and after Hazrat Ibrahim and Ismail (AS) people of Makkah started worshipping idols and put around 360 idols in kaba. Each tribe had different god and that idols attracted those tribes. There were occasions like Akkaz which were celebrated by pagan Arabs and were beneficial for trade.
The resistance to Islam by Arabs was mainly due to denouncing of these gods and their idols by the Prophet (SAW) as Arabs feared to lose trade that was flourishing due to these idols and their worshipers. But history proved that denouncement of idols didn't affect Makka's importance rather it increased manifold. **
Misconception about Muslims worshiping Kaaba**
Muslims don't worship kaaba. Kaaba is just a direction. Before Baitullah (in Makkah), Muslims used to offer prayers by directing themselves towars Masjid e Aqsa (Palestine). If a building was to be worshipped then there won't have been change in direction of qibla. The verse directing change of qibla says:
We decreed your former qiblah only in order that We might know the Prophet's true adherents and those who were to disown him. It was indeed a hard test, but not for those whom Allah guided. (Surah al-Baqarah, 2:143 )
It was about God and His Prophet's adherence and not to worship a building. Today, while we Muslim pray, we don't do sajda to kaaba.. we do sajda to rabb e kabaa (who is master of all the things in the world).
**
Reforms in Hajj by Islam**
Before Islam, Haj was name of clapping, whistling and shouting around the kaaba. Tawaaf was done nakedly... Pagan Arabs didn't enter their homes through doors, they enter by making holes in roof of their home, after performing Hajj. This all was abandoned by Islam.
Re: The Message (Old Film)
So what was the point of the building? And what was the point of the original hajj started by Abraham?
Re: The Message (Old Film)
So what was the point of the building? And what was the point of the original hajj started by Abraham?
Before I put more details.. I would like to know how much you know about Ibrahim (AS) and his family.
The building pretty much means nothing. It's just a place holder, a marker of that location. It's the location that is important.
Waiting for Beeb’s reply
Re: The Message (Old Film)
In waiting time.. you can have a look at this link:
The detailed story of how the Kaaba was built by Abraham and his son Ishmael peace be upon them
JazakAllah
Re: The Message (Old Film)
Allah had commanded Abraham AS to build Ka'aba as house of worship (not to worship him, Abraham in his earlier life was thrown into fire because he opposed Idol worshiping by his own people). As someone said, it was built at a place holder or reminder for people to worship Allah and Allah alone not the pagan gods. Quran and Sunnah are the source of guidance for Muslims and Ka'aba is called Qibla (a mere direction to worship) for all Muslims for unity and to signify the traditions of Great Abaraham AS.
Similarly King David was given control over Palestine (combining Judea and north lands) to make it Kingdom of God. He was ordered to build a Temple of God, which he and later his son King Solomon built. Again jews worshipped Allah alone. The centerpiece of their religion was Torah, not the temple. Yet the temple played a important role in their daily life, symbolically and spiritually.
Both buildings have been destroyed and rebuilt. Nobody collects the rocks or dust from it, since building is made of wordly bricks and mortar. Allah's commandment is important to know and practice, he asks to get to the root of his order. And there is lot of logic, wisdom or hikmaah behind Qibla/direction.
Re: The Message (Old Film)
I don't know a lot about abraham, I know the basics I guess. However a lot of you have explained what the kaba is but not what the purpose of hajj is? If it's just a direction then why is it so important to visit it, and circle it?
Re: The Message (Old Film)
Abraham AS is the father of nation and his life is full of obedience and sacrifices. Due to his immense love of true God and establishing religion of God on Earth, he was granted several wishes/prayers and one of them was to made his offsprings the ones who will carry his message and among those who will continue to be the voice of God in the world full of idolatry and shirk. Thus Allah made it neccessary for Bani-Isreal (his son Ishaaq AS/Isaac and grand son Yaqoob AS/Jacob) to establish Kingdom of God or Kingdom of Haven on promised land and protect its temple. Similarly his other son Ismael AS/Ishmail was ordered to be settled by Ka’aba which he built with Abaraham AS and ask the tribes in Arabian land to come to that place of worship and learn monothesism (Deen-e-Hanif or Deen e Ibrahimi) and remember the sacrifices of their father. The rituals are prescribed to remember the sacrifices and cling to the true message of one God. There is a lot of wisdom/hikmat on gathering people around house of Allah and convey/remind the message annually from a central location.
Remember, Allah is Rehman and Raheem. All the Prophets he has sent has one message and one goal/mission. Message is to worship only one God, that is Allah, and be prosper in this world and reach salvation in the here after. Time and again history of mankind is full of these stories in Bible and Quran where people used to turn away from message after few generations. This is way it is essential for the unity faithfuls and strengthen their faith, that they are called upon to visit his sign (Ka’aba in this case) and reinforce thier Imaan. Remember real happiness is live by the God’s commandment and reach salvation. Allah wants mankind to be saved from hell fire. Its a matter of belief, once Imaan enters a heart, the reasoning and wisdom behind the rituals are automatically open up for that person. If a person has any kinds of doubts, in this time and age it is our duty to read, research and make dua/prayers to be guided. Allah will help that person.
Re: The Message (Old Film)
None of that answers my question.
Re: The Message (Old Film)
May be someone else can answer. I tried my best. For an average Muslim its a faith booster to visit the places where three Prophets of Allah (Abaraham, Ishmael and Muhammed PBUThem) had gone through tests and founded religion to provide a framework of worship and submission to Allah.
The places are just brick and mortar, so for a non-Muslim the buildings and rituals mean nothing. But for a Muslim they are prescribed by Prophet PBUH, the are like imitating what Prophets used to do in those places and Allah loved those sacrifices and acts and made mandatory till Qiyammah to be followed with the original spirit of submission.
Re: The Message (Old Film)
In The Message which I was made to watch last night there is already a pilgrimage to many gods solely for the purpose of attracting tourists to Mecca so that the traders can sell things to them.
How do you know the above reason of pilgrimage before Islam? Did someone say that in the movie?
There were hundreds of important statues in Kaabah. This is why it was a holy city for pagans. So maybe Makkah became a business center and a place of pilgrimage due to its religious importance to pagan Arabs.
Re: The Message (Old Film)
I highly recommend to read the first chapter of Seerat un Nabi SAW written by Maulana Shibli Naumani and Suleman Nadvi. It is about the history of Arabian peninsula prior to Islam. And this is solely historical research based on Arab and Non-Arab sources that predates Islam. You will understand how it all began and then over the time how it evolved.
Re: The Message (Old Film)
I don't know a lot about abraham, I know the basics I guess. However a lot of you have explained what the kaba is but not what the purpose of hajj is? If it's just a direction then why is it so important to visit it, and circle it?
**
Purpose of viisting Makkah and Hajj**
Visiting a central place is spiritual on one hand as the place was inhibited by Prophets like Abraham and the last Prophet (SAW). Its the city where revelation of Quran started. On other hand its a place where distinction between different tribes and races is obliterated. One need to refer to khutba e Hajjat ul wida's starting lines:
*O’ People! Listen to my words, for I do not know whether we shall ever meet again and perform Hajj after this year. O’ Ye people! Allah says, O’ people We created you from one male and one female and made you into tribes and nations, so as to be known to one another. Verily in the sight of Allah, the most honoured amongst you is the one who is most God-fearing. There is no superiority for an Arab over a non-Arab and for a non-Arab over an Arab, nor for the white over the black nor for the black over the white except in God-consciousness. *
When prophet of God starts his last sermon with these words before a crowd for Haj, one can easily deduce that its for obliterating distinctions and unification of ummah.
**
Tawaaf - Symol of man's love for God**
"And (remember) when We showed Ibrahim the site of the (Sacred) House (the Ka'ba at Makkah), saying: Ascribe not anything (in worship) with Me, and sanctify My House for those who circumambulate it, and those who stand up (for prayer), and those who bow (submit themselves with humility and obedience to Allah), and make prostration (in prayer). And proclaim to mankind the Haj (pilgrimage). They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel, they will come from every deep and distant (wide) mountain highway (to perform Haj) (Al-Haj, 22:26-27).
There may be other significance of the act of Tawaf, but it is again believed to demonstrate the unity of the believers in the worship of the One God, as they move in harmony together around the Kaaba, while supplicating to God.
Poetically, circling someone or something associated with loved one is a show of deep love.