The spirit of Hajj

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Their are 4 fundamentals of Islam:Salah,Fasting,Zakat, and Hajj.Each one of this had spirit behind it-- an “axis” around which it revolves. Lets disscuss the spirit of Hajj.:slight_smile:

“Then they must remove their dust, and fullfill their vows and make tawaaf of the Ancient house Having said that, whoever observes reverence of the things sanctified by ALLAH, it is good for him with his Lord.” (hajj:29-30)

The main purpose of Hajj is the expression of intense love for ALLAH which is ingrained in the heart of man amd which is desirable both under Divine law and intellect.
“But those who believe are most firm in their love of ALLAH.” (Baqrah:165)
The spirit of Hajj is the expression of unstinted love for the Creator-- the way moths encircle a lamp. Secondly, it is complete surrender and obedience to the Will of ALLAH.One performs all the rituals done by Prophet Ibrahim(A.S.) the friend(khalil) of ALLAH. We have to obey without questioning why.

The spirit of Prophet Ibrahim(a.h.) has permeated the rites of Hajj. It is the remembrance of love of Prophet Ibrahim(a.h.) and the exemplary sacrifice of Prophet Ismail.(a.h.)Then Almighty ALLAH liked the way Hajra ran between the hills of Safa and Marwa, so he made it obligatory for each and every pilgrim for all times to come.
Someone may ask the question “What is the need to run now?” Hajra (a.h.) ran because Prophet Ismail (a.h.) used to be out of sight and she had to run to a place from where she could see that he was safe.Everyone has to run because this is pleasing to ALLAH. During the first three circumambulations, the pilgrims have to stride with their chest out and a particular gait in between two fixed points which is called ramal.Why is this necessary?

When Prophet Mohammad (p.b.u.h.) and his companions came to Makkah for the lesser pigimage (urah) under an agreement , the Makkans had gone to a nearby hill so that the may not see the muslims moving about freely in Makkah and circumbulate the Kabbah. The Makkans said that muslims had become so weak after imigration to Madinah that they could not walk properly. The pilgrims were then asked to circumbulate in this manner to belie the Makkans.

Prophet Ibrahim (a.h.) was taking Ismail (a.h.) to sacrifice him at the command of ALLAH.Shaytaan tried to lead him away.Prophet Ibrahim (a.h.) hit shaytaan with pebbles out of rage at his impudence.ALLAH liked it and made it a permanent ritual of pilgrimage. It has been said in a tradition that Shaytaan is never so humiliated, dejected and distressed as he is at Arafaat. He laments adn grieves that all his labor to delude muslims has been undone due to the salvation of Pilgrims ordained at Aarafaat.

The greatest evidence of obedience is found at Arafaat.The pilgrims did not offer Maghrib prayer, they go to Muzdalifah and offer Maghrib and Isha prayers together. We are asked not to offer Maghrib prayer at Arafaat, though it is highly esteemed place. We have to pray at the appointed time whereever we are.But we are asked to differ at Arafaat.We have to obey ALLAH and not to pray according to our age-old habbit.The movements from Mina to Arafaat and then Arafaat to Muzdalfah and then Muzdalfah to Mina are examples of obedience.The pillgrims have to stay where ALLAH wants them to and only for the time permitted.
Shahwalliullah writes that main purpose of Hajj is to keep the ummat linked with Prophet Ibrahim(a.h.) who is the forerunner of Islam. "the faith of your father Ibrahim.He(allah) named you as Muslims."(hajj:78)
The places to keep the ummah together are Makkah and its suburbs. The muslims who can afford it are asked to go there and see those places and do as he did.There is house of ALLAH which he built, there are Safa and Marwa, Arafaat and Muzdalifah , where he and members of his family gave evidence of their extreme love, sacrifice and obedience to ALLAH.

Wherever the followers of Islam live, they should keep up those traditions.This will preserve the trend set by Prophet Ibrahim (a.h.) and Prophet Mohammad (p.b.u.h.) and maitain the distinctive features and entity of the muslim community among the different communities and nations of world.

What the hajj signifies is nothing more and nothing less than total submission.Let us pray for those hajjis who are perfroming Hajj right now that May ALAH accept their hajj and may ALLAH give all of us a chance to perform Hajj and forgive our sins.Ameen :slight_smile:

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Re: The spirit of Hajj

Ameen, that was well written . Jazak for posting.

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It is said that fasting on the last 2 days is equal to thousands of fasts..and dua's are assuredly accepted when made on the day of Arafat from Zuhr to Asr..

Sana Safinaz Big Eid Collection 2012
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JAZAKALLAH KHEIR'UNN;

***In the name of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful Asalam aleikum wa rehamtulah wa barakatuhu The month of dhuj hijjah is upon us alhumdulilah. Our brothers and sisters are going for hajj and may they remember us all in their duas inshaAllah. May the hajj of everyone be accepted amin and may we all be blessed through the mercy of Allah subhana wa taala to perform hajj too amin. --------------------------------------------Sahih Al - Bukhari HadithVolume 2, Book 26, Number 594: Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (sallalahu alyhi wa salam) was asked, "Which is the best deed?" He said, "To believe in Allah and His Apostle." He was then asked, "Which is the next (in goodness)?" He said, "To participate in Jihad in Allah's Cause." He was then asked, "Which is the next?" He said, "To perform Hajj-Mabrur. " ------------------------------------------- Sahih Al - Bukhari HadithVolume 2, Book 26, Number 595: Narrated 'Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her): (the mother of the faithful believers) I said, "O Allah's Apostle! We consider Jihad as the best deed." The Prophet (sallalahu alyhi wa salam) said, "The best Jihad (for women) is Hajj Mabrur. " ------------------------------------- Sahih Al - Bukhari HadithVolume 2, Book 26, Number 621: Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Umar : The Talbiya of Allah's Apostle (sallalahu alyhi wa salam) was : 'Labbaika Allahumma labbaik, Labbaika la sharika Laka labbaik, Inna-l-hamda wan-ni'mata Laka walmu Lk, La sharika Laka' (I respond to Your call O Allah, I respond to Your call, and I am obedient to Your orders, You have no partner, I respond to Your call All the praises and blessings are for You, All the sovereignty is for You, And You have no partners with you. ----------------------------------------------- All praises are for Allah subhana wa taala the owner of the heavens and the earth.

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Re: The spirit of Hajj

for some reason hajj scares me.
Last year brother and his wife went there, I kept calling my nephews every day till they got back.

I hope it changes cuz eventually I have to go do it too. inshallah

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Re: The spirit of Hajj

That's a pretty detailed article Ume-

Thanks for sharing.

May Allah (SWT) give taufeeq to all of us to perform Hajj-e-Mabroor atleast once in a life time.... Aameen (although once you are there, you would want to go there again and again...)

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How true!

**I did HAJJ in 1977 when I was posted in Bahrain. *Did umpteenth UMRAH thereafter. *****My wife performed HAJJ in 2004.

I feel like performing HAJJ again...and once you do NEEYATT...ALLAH Almighty will provide an opportunity and my very strong belief is that only those perform HAJJ who are INVITED by ALLAH.

My friend stayed in Riyadh at CitiBank's "SAMBA" for almost 15 years straightway..performed numerous UMRAH but never the HAJJ as something or the other came up! which in fact was that he had not received invitation from ALLAH for performing HAJJ.

My HAJJ was never planned....it was just about ten days earlier that my wife suggested..and I acted in applying etc...and the reason she couldn't accompany me was our one year old daughter--and thereafter it was in 2004 that she received the invitation...and performed HAJJ after many UMRAH...

My belief that ALLAH ALMIGHTY invites each and every performing HAJJ is very strong..and you may agree with it AQ?

EID MUBARAK.....

Raju Uncle

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Re: The spirit of Hajj

Good work Ume Z. Thanks for sharing.