Transcript Hajj: Its history, Meaning and Significance in Islam

Hajj: Its history, Meaning and
Significance in Islam
Prepared By: Nada Roude,
Trainer/Educator and Advisor on
Islamic Studies for the Catholic
Education Office 2006
The Quran on Hajj
• “And pilgrimage to the House is incumbent
upon men for the sake of Allah, upon
everyone who is able to undertake the
jopurney to it- Chapter 3:verse 96
(The Qur’an.)
The Hajj
• Arabic
• literal meaning: To “set out for a place”
• Islamically it refers to the annual pilgrimage
Muslims are required to perform once in a
lifetime.
• The pilgrimage is made to Mecca in Saudi
Arabia.
• It is considered as the most sacred site for
Muslims.
• To perform hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam
The Hajj is a central duty
• The hajj to Mecca is a central duty in Islam.
• Its origins date back to the time of Prophet
Abraham (Ibrahim) Peace Be Upon Him.
• Carrying out this obligation fulfils one of the five
pillars of Islam required of a Muslim.
• It is a week long journey occurs 2 months and
ten days following the completion of Ramadan.
During the month of DhulHijjah.
• It culminates in a holiday known as Eid ul Adha
(Festival Of sacrifice)
Hajj and its symbolic meaning
• It consists of several ceremonies aimed at reinforcing the
main concepts that define the Islamic faith, and
commemorates the trials of Prophet Abraham and his
family.
• It is considered as a renewing and perfecting of ones
faith and true surrender to Allah the almighty.
• It is a process of spiritual self development, by
abandoning ones hearth, home, comforts and amenities
in life.
• It is a total disconnection from all worldly affairs and
pleasure and total connection with the creator.
• It teaches complete submission to the divine will through
the enactment of the rites without questioning God’s
commandment.
A time to wash away all sins
• The hajj reinforces Allah’s mercy and
compassion as it exceeds His anger by
forgiving the sins of the sinful creation by
declaring an absolute pardon for every
pilgrim upon completion of the accepted
rituals of hajj.
• Hence every pilgrim aspires to achieve
what is called a hajj mabroor (accepted)
Abraham entrusted by Allah to build
the Ka’ba- the House of Allah
• Allah the Almighty says in the Qu’ran:
– “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…).’ Surah Al-Hajj
22:26)
Prophet Abraham’s willingness to
sacrifice his son
• Prophet Abraham’s call to obey Allah by sacrificing his
son is commemorated by Muslims to the sacred city at
least once in a lifetime.
• It is considered as an act of faith and practice by
Muslims
• Between 2-3 million Muslims from every corner of the
globe.
• It is considered as a universal conference and
declaration that we are all equal in the sight of Allah- no
concept of superior of inferior except in noble conduct .
• Last year over 4,000 Muslims performed the hajj from
Australia.
Sacred sites where rites are
performed
• Arafat: A place where pilgrims must spend a day during the
pilgrimage re- enacting Abraham’s journey.
• Mecca: A sacred city in Saudi Arabia where the first House of Allah
was built by Abraham and his son.
• Mina: a place on the outskirts of Makkah where pilgrims camp as
one of the rites.
• Muzdalifa: a place where Muslims camp overnight and pray.
• Safa and Marwa : 2 hills near the Ka’bah in the sacred House where
pilgrims hurry between the two hills re enacting Hajar’s desperate
search for food and water when she was commanded by Abraham
to be left with her son Islmail, Her perseverance was rewarded by
Allah when a spring miraculously gushed forth at Ismail’s feet to
quench their thirst.
Summary
• The performance of the Hajj is requirement of every able
Muslims and constitute a major act of worship.
• It is an act of obedience and total surrender to Allah.
• It is an opportunity to gain forgiveness for the sins
accumulated in ones life.
• The Hajj also acts as a universal reminder of the
blessing of Allah on humanity of our diversity and the
brotherhood to worship the One Allah.
• The Prophet Muhammad Peace be Upon Him said that a
person who performs the Hajj properly “will return as a
newly born baby (free of all sins)’.
Useful websites
• http://www.cnn.com- Hajj the Pilgrimage
• IslamiCity.Com: short history of hajj
• Iqra Islamic Publications: The Significance
of Hajj