Re-enact the experience!

Category: Faith & Spirituality Topics: Hajj Views: 1346
1346

Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Makkah, is the most intense and demanding of all Islamic obligations. It involves hijra (migration from one's place of abode), jihad (struggle with one's nafs) and specific acts of worship that are physically and mentally demanding. An estimated two million Muslims from every part of the world are expected to converge on Makkah this year to re-enact the experience of Ibrahim, Ismail and Muhammad, upon them all be peace, all of them Allah's messengers, in one of the most moving acts of ibadah.

Hajj is supposed to be a journey in obedience, struggle, self-purification and submission. It is also a journey undertaken to meet and to greet fellow Muslims from around the world and to share their experiences of suffering, reflection and contemplation. Most Muslims, however, are unable to do this. 

Mundane (self imposed) personal problems and physical impediments (created) by the system, leave little time to benefit from the truly spiritual and divine aspects of Hajj. The true content seems to have been reduced to rituals, thus making this unique experience a mere mechanical exercise.

The conceptual problem is more difficult to overcome because this has been drilled into the minds through decades of indoctrination. There is a great emphasis on the rituals: i.e. how to perform various acts, with little or no understanding about their significance, spiritual or political. The whys of Hajj are as much, if not more important than the hows of Hajj. By ignoring them, the hujjaj do not return any wiser. 

In fact, it is that abandonment of whys that foster another bizarre culture: indulgence in shopping, to acquire the latest electronic gadgets, as well as beads and prayer-mats manufactured in Korea, China or Japan. Not to mention stocking of Madina Medjool dates grown in Southern California! This is only one aspect of the problem but a serious one. 

One of the saddest problems at Hajj is the ugly show of disparities. Different levels of services are offered to hujjaj, based on the price charged for each type of service. Now one can perform a super deluxe Hajj with all amenities. It is like a spiritual holiday in five-star hotels, with room service, round-the-clock beverages and the occasional trip to the Haram, to attend to one's spiritual needs. The only time one then rubs shoulders with the rest of the Ummah is either in the Haram or at Arafat and Muzdalifah. Muzdalifah is now the only real leveler: there are no tents, air-conditioned or otherwise; everyone spends the night in the open with dust and dirt blowing on to them. Let us hope that the court Ulema will not come up with a 'fatwa' allowing special facilities for the effete rich who prefers to have a leg up from the Ummah.

Hajj is supposed to be a very spiritual journey towards the Creator. The tourist is not a mere traveler but a Haji who is exclusively invited by the Creator. Our focused aspirations must be to re-enact the experiences of:

Prophet Ibrahim, whose selfless sacrifice has no parallel in the annals of history of humankind.
Prophet Ismail, whose example of obedience and submission is awe-inspires the humanity until eternity.
Prophet Muhammad, who firmly stood on the plains of Arafat and proclaimed the completion of his mission, i.e., establishing the Sovereignty of One Creator over every-thing and every-one.
(may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon all of the Prophets)

This then must be the objective of those who are blessed to respond to His invitation this year and those who aspire to respond next year, InshaAllah. A journey that is devoid of passions and desires to capture the true spirit of this awesome occasion would be no more but (may be) a halal-holiday!

Let us pray in the coming days and nights of these holy months;

that, we be blessed with the courage of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to break all the idols (apparent & hidden),
that, we be blessed with the fervent desire of obedience and submission of Prophet Ismail (Ishmael) to the Will of One God alone and none else,
that, we be blessed with the courage, patience and perseverance of Hajra (Hagar) and optimism to survive in the midst of nothingness,
that, we be blessed with all of the above that is epitomized in the life and character of our last and eternal leader, Prophet Muhammad ...

May our fervent prayers reach the Creator and be accepted by Him. Then and only then our arduous journeys will turn into serene joys that will last all seasons!


  Category: Faith & Spirituality
  Topics: Hajj
Views: 1346

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Older Comments:
AALIYAH NAIMAH ABDALLAH FROM USA said:
That was the best article I have ever read from one of the bulletins you have sent me, May Allah (swt) have mercy on who ever wrote this and may he grant you good life and grant you Jennah! Finally someone has come to the reality of Islam the way the Prophet (sas) and his companions (r) lived and worshipped, and acted. It is very simple and basic, but today almost everything is so up to date and modern. We have to thank Allah(swt) for blessing us with some knowledge of the Deen the way the Prophet (sas) had practiced, which is the Sunnah, and there is no other way, because many people are practicing however and whenever they want, and that is the downfall of our Ummah. But we still pray for the believing men and women, that Allah (swt) may keep us guided and on the path of righteousness and the understanding, and the tasfeer and the Sunnah, and that he forgive us all of our sins, and to reward us for our efforts on the original practices of Islam and not some modernization tactics that the deviants, and the arrogants have established in this Ummah. But everything as we all should know is that Allah(swt) hath decreed everything. I thank you for giving me the chance to resopnd to such a great great atricle, I could go on for a while in response to such knowledge of the Deen and effort, and strength that it took to write the truth about Hajj. Insha-Allah you will have more of the truth, so that it can spread among us, and remind us of it. The reminding benefits the believers! Insha-Allah.
As-Salaam Alaikom wa-rahmatullah.
2002-02-08

ASINA A OMARI FROM TANZANIA said:
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR MOSLEMS PRACTISING AND NON PRACTISING TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF HAJJ TO THE UMMAH ESPECILLY NOW WHEN THERE ARE SO MANY DIVIDING FACTORS AND SO LITTLE UNIFYING FACTORS AMONGST US.TO THIS I REQUEST OF YOU TO REPRODUCE THE PROPHETS LAST SERMON AT THE ARAFA GROUND ON THE DAY OF ARAFA ON THE LAST AND ONLY HAJJ HE PERFOMMED.
2002-02-08

MUDASHIRU .A. GBADAMOSI FROM KUWAIT said:
As salaam alaikum,
THis is a re-awakening piece for those of us making the spiritul journey this year.May ALlah bless you all in this dawah of your's both here and in the hereafter.
Ma salaam
2002-02-08

H.Y FROM MALAYSIA said:
responding to the article above, i would like to justify the senario of 'double standard' presently occur.Proudly to say, with the developments of five star accommodation in the holy land is a significant acccomplishment by Moslems in the millenium century.However, this has resulted a senario where those who acquire wealth are entitle to luxurios treatment in contrast to the average Moslems.Thus the concept of equality uphold by the teachings of Islam is simply being diluted.There is a trend in my country where a number of travel agencies organizing umrah and hajj offer to the consumers various kinds of packages ranging from the most expensive to the inexpensive according to the financial capability of the individuals.I condemn such commercialization of the ibadah of hajj and umrah and hopefully insya allah the true meaning of hajj and umrah will be revive.
2002-02-07

IMTIYAZSHAIKH FROM INDIA said:
It was really nice to hear from you MAY THE ALMIGHTY BLESS YOU AND PROVIDE YOU WITH SUFFICIENT REWARDS FOR YOUR CAUSE DONE IN THE WAY FOR THE DIVINE RELIGION IN THE LIFE HEREAFTER AMEEN.Would you please favour me with the pictures of the places being visited by the HUJJAH.THANK YOU.
2002-02-07

HALIMAH RUSHDAN FROM USA said:
As Salamu Alaikum
I totally agree with the contents of the article. I have never been to hajj and pray Allah bless me the funds to be able to make what is supposed to be the most spiritual journey of my life - In Sha Allah - Suphana'Allah. I will marry if it be his will in a few months and hope that Allah allows me to prosper so that I can afford this - can you tell me how much this would be from the USA and how me and my husband can go about registering for this blessed event. Make Dua for us and we will make dua for the Ummah to get back to the sunnah of the prophets Ibrahim, Ishmail (Alai Salam) and Muhammad (Sallah la huallahi wasalam).
Masha'Allah
Halimah
2002-02-06

HAFSA AMIR SIDDIQUI FROM PAKISTAN said:
The term used "deluxe Hajj" aroused my attention.
I have heard (but not directly read) that there is a Hedith about the time of Qurb-e-Qaiyamat (i.e near the doomsday) that people will visit Bait-Ullah for the perpose of recreation and picnic. Kindly find out about this and also let me know.
2002-02-06

PROF. F. AMARO MONTEIRO FROM PORTUGAL said:
As a Christian (Roman Catholic)I red with satisfaction and spiritual profit your text about the Pilgrimage. I congratulate you.
May God, The One,The Lord of all of us, be praised !
Salam aleikum !
2002-02-06

THE PORTAL FROM USA said:
It is said of God. The Lord lifts up and makes low; makes rich and makes poor.

If a man does not experience union with the Giver of Peace, wherever he stands or kneels, it is because of The Lord's doing. Every act of a man, created by that man, is only a sham. A re-enactment, perhaps inspired by hope; but not a blessing.

Blessed be the man who gives himself entirely over to God, for God to use as He wills. That is the man who God knows as His own; the man who recognizes where he has come from, and who actually has control over his life.
2002-02-06

JIM FROM USA said:
What's with the selective biased posts?
Are you afraid of opposing opinions?
2002-02-06

THENRY C. WILLIAMSON FROM USA said:
As a Christian in the Charleston, SC, I offer to help deplore the blackballing of Muslims and Islam via the media by our government. 'Yon Cassius has a lean and hungry look". This is what our country discourages. Our school systems must teach a healthy skepticism towards all media info, especially that with a high moral impact. Our citizens may be seen as supporting a brutal regime, and in a sense we are (mental lethargy=knee-jerk reactions to media output.) But as one who only stumbled by accident over the Iraq Sanctions casualties, I was also one of the uninformed/misinformed. I did determine to prove my country would not do such a thing, I could'nt. So it has forced me to look at all my government does with a quizzical attitude. I have also been forced to try understand Islam. What a wonderfully tolerant religion! Yet our propaganda if sufficient to make a rose look like poison ivy. I can only offer my prayers and voice in defence of "the Rose".
You don't need my defense, but I offer it in love for your diciplines.



2002-02-06

RIGGS FROM USA said:
S.xix. 61... :for His promise Must (necessarily)
come to pass. S.xix. 62. They will not there
hear any vain discourse, but only salutations
of Peace: and they will have therein their
sustenance, morning and evening.
May the peace of God rule in your hearts which
is His intention for us all, and be thankful.
2002-02-06

TONY ARSLAN FROM USA said:
May god bless all muslims. Amen
2002-02-05

ANELA.NAZ FROM UK said:
This weeks bulletin was beautiful! Please let me know if disabled peoples are obliged to do Hajj (I am blind)? Thanks again for everything you do for our beautiful Islam.
2002-02-05

:( FROM . said:

I really wanted to go want to go to Hajj and to see Ka'ba...I had dream of that two times but who cares. May Allah swt accept that beautiful journey of all Hajji...and make them pray for the rest who cannot perform.

Assalam o alaikum
2002-02-05

SALEEM BAIG MOHAMMAD FROM OMAN said:
these type of good and lively+relevent articles refresh our Eman and should make us think how far we have drifted from the essence. May Allah bless you all for your efforts.
2002-02-05

OMAR BOUDERDABEN FROM USA said:
Very good reminder about the real purpose of Hajj. However, I am disappointed to see that all the links were commercials. I wished the links are references to Ayat or ahadiths to bring the noble goals of hajj into focus.

May Allah help us during these holy months to do the right thing.

Fi Amaani Allah

Omar B.
2002-02-04

FADHIMA THIAM FROM USA said:
Thank you dearly for such true and thoughtful reflections upon the Hajj.

May Allah, the Almighty, bless all of us on these trying times....
2002-02-04

BRIAN D. LAWLOR FROM CANADA said:
Yes they go from the mundane(self imposed) to physical impediments(created) by the system but it has helped to ensure a complete knowledge of all that is good to all that is bad and look..religion is intact even if most see it as just rituals now as is the same with my Roman Cathoilic Church where it is just words without meaning. More and more indulge in the ways of the west and that is causing a rift within. If the hackers around the globe, all children, were offered a job of testing government, industry, and financial systems with their own department at Microsoft they would join. To test their ability they are to remove every form of pornography from global computer systems for starters. Let them bring their work before techs to verify their work. Until then Islam should be strictly monitored when it comes to the children. This is all being done for them but unlike western children Islam will appreciate its advances as a people keeping the good and avoiding the bad. Islam was not to be spared for it had to experience all that is good to all that is bad like all on earth. We speak of a oneness with our GOD but there is no oneness in service as you say so the rich recieve special care for the buck while children of Islam die from hunger and oppression. It is amazing how that patch over the right eye affects all peoples who are all religions. Patience Islam for you are being prepared to be brought together and to take your place and position within this global body about to be born. Every step you take Islam, every breath, every word, every action and every prayer is recognized. Continue to bring the body of Islam together and trust in the guidence that is underway by the only ONE who can weild that sword that is Islam. I am but a finger click away..talk to me [email protected]
Take care and stay safe out there..thoughts and prayers are with you and yours.
2002-02-04

AFTAB ALAM KHAN FROM INDIA said:
a very informative article.
2002-02-04