Fundamentals of Islam


‘HAJJ’



Brethren –in Islam!


It has been elaborately explained to you in the previous lectures how Salah, fasting and Zakat cast a man’s life into the Islamic mould and prepare him for Allah’s servitude.

Now the last item which remains on the list of the obligatory duties imposed by Islam is Hajj the benefits of which now I am going to described before you.

Meaning of ‘Hajj’

The meaning of Hajj (pilgrimage) in the Arabic language is to make a resolve to visit the holy place. Since people from all quarters resolve to pay a visit to Ka’aba, it has been designed as Hajj.

Origin of ‘Hajj’


The story of its origin is highly instructive. Listen to it carefully so as to fully grasp the significance of Hajj.

Then it will be easy for you to understand its benefits.


Conditions at the time of Abraham


Which Muslim, Christian or Jew is there who is not aware of the name of Abraham (peace be on him)! Two –third of the population of the world with the light of guidance.

He was born in Iraq over four thousand years ago. At the time the whole world had forgotten God. Not a single individual was left on the surface of the earth who was aware of his real Master.

None bowed his head in servitude and obedience exclusively to Him. The nation in which Abraham was born was the most advanced nation the world at that time but it was also ahead of others in heresy.

In spite of progress in:-

Arts and Science,
Industry and Agriculture,
the people could not understand this simple point that a thing which has itself been crated cannot be fit to be worshipped.

They used to worship stars and idols. Astrology, idols-worship, divination, witchcraft and use of talisman and amulets etc. were popular among them.

Just as there are Pundits and Brahmins among the Hindus, in the same way there was in those days a class of Pujaris (priests) who guarded the temples, supervised the worshipping and the rituals performed by devotees, conducted marriage and funeral ceremonies etc. and played the farce of purveying to the people news from the unseen.

The masses, in general, were so much enmeshed in these Pujaris’ snare that they considered the latter as controller of their good or bad luck, and they obeyed their behest and slavishly fulfilled their desires, because they supposed that the Pujaris had access to their deities who, due to the Pujaris intercession would be kind to them as otherwise they will be ruined.

The kings were in league with this coterie of Pujaris. For the purpose of holding the masses in their servitude, the kings helped the Pujaris and the Pujaris helped the kings .on one side, the government gave full backing to the Pujaris, and on the other side, the Pujaris injected the conception in the minds of the people that the king of the day being the owner of his country as well as his subjects is also god among other gods, that his word is law and he wields all kinds of power on the life and property of his people.

Not only this.

In fact, all the rites of servitude were performed before the king so that the idea of his godhood may dominate the minds of his subjects.



Family of Abraham.


Prophet Abraham was born at a time like this in a community of the above-mentioned characteristics, and above all he took birth in the very family which was itself a family of Pujaris.

His forefathers were pundits and Brahmins of their community.

In this home he got the same education and training as a pundit’s sons receive, and heard from childhood talks of this type. He saw the manners of Pirs and Pirzadahs among his family members and kinsmen. The gaddi of the temple was ready for him to occupy and thus become a leader of his community. The same gifts, presents and offerings were awaiting him as had enriched his family. There were lots of devotees waiting to bow their heads before him with folded hands. Further, he could likewise trap in his snare people ranging from a poor farmer to a king by claiming contact with deities and by playing the farce of divination.

In this dismal darkness, where not a single soul existed who knew and believed in Truth, he could neither get the light of Truth nor was it possible ordinarily for a man to dare discard personal and family benefits of a stupendous nature and thus invite a host of troubles simply for the pursuit of Truth.





Abraham’s exonerative declaration.

But Prophet Abraham was no an ordinary man. He was of a different stuff. On attaining discretion he began to ponder: “How can this sun, moon and stars, which are themselves rotating like slaves, and these idols of stones, which are made by man himself, and these kings, who are human beings like ourselves, be considered as gods? What is there in these powerless objects, which cannot move of their own violations , which have no power to help themselves and have no control over their own life and death, that man should bow his head before them in ‘Ibadat’ seek fulfillment of his wants from them , be afraid of their strength and be servile an obedient to them? Among all the objects visible to us in the earth and heaven, or among those which we know somehow, there is not a single one which itself is not dependent, which itself is not subject to some power and e which does not fade some time or other. When this is the condition of all these subjects, how can anyone of them become God. When none of them is my creator, nor are my life and death, or benefits and loss, in the hands of anyone of them, nor does any of them posses the key to my means of sustenance and fulfillment of my needs, then why should I accept them as Lord and bow my head before them in servitude and obedience? Only that being can be my Lord Who created all things, on Whom depends everything and in Whose hands are the life and death, benefit and loss of all”. Arguing like this Prophet Abraham reached a definite decision that he will never worship the deities which his community worshipped, and he openly declared before his people:


“I am free from all that you associate with Him”.




To be continued...inshaa..ALLAH

“I am free from all that you associate with Him”.

“I have turned my face toward Him Who created the heavens and the earth, as one by nature upright, and I am not one of the idolaters.”



Mountains of calamities

After this declaration, a mountain of calamities fell on Prophet Abraham.

His father threatened him with expulsion from the family and home.

His community warned him that none of its members would afford him refuge.

The government also became hostile to him and the case was brought up before the king.

But that lonely and forsaken person braved all opposition and stood firm like a rock for the sake of truth. He told to his father respectfully:

“The knowledge I have, has not been vouchsafed to you. As such, instead of my following you, you should follow me”.

As a reprisal to the threats of his community he broke their idols with his own hand to prove how helpless were the objects they worship.

He boldly declared in the full court of the king:

“You are not my Lord.
My Lord is He in Whose hand are your life and death as well as mine and within the bounds of
Whose law even the movements of this sun are
Circumscribed.”

At last it was decided in the royal court that this man should be burnt alive.

But that man who was as firm and resolute as a rock and who had unshakable faith in one God, got prepared to suffer this horrible punishment.
And then, when Allah with His supreme power saved him from being burnt in the fire, he abandoned his home, his relations, his community and country.

He set out with his wife and a nephew as an immigrant to wander from one land to another.
That person to whom the gaddi of Mahant was available after occupying which he could reign as the undisputed religious leader of his community, and that man who could easily acquire both wealth and honour and who could pass on to his children the privilege of enjoining the benefits of this gaddi of Mahant, preferred for himself and his children the life of a homeless and destitute person.

The reason was that he did not like to lead a luxurious life by entangling the people in the snare of false gods. Instead, he preferred to invite the people towards the true God and, as a punishment for this crime, lead an unsettled and restless life.



Migration


After leaving his home Prophet Abraham wandered in Syria, Palestine, Egypt and Arab countries.

God alone knows, what suffering he went through in this life of a wayfarer. While quitting his home he had not taken any money and goods with him nor was he wandering in search of livelihood.

In fact, his only anxiety day and night was to take the people out of the servitude of others and make them servants of only one God.
When a man of such ideas could not be tolerated by his own father and his community, how could anyone else put up with him?
Where could he be welcomed?

Everywhere was the sway of the same Mahants of temples and of kings claiming godhood, and everywhere existed those ignorant masses who were caught up in the snare of false gods.

Naturally, in the midst of such folks, how could that person live peacefully who was not only himself not ready to accept the godhood of anybody except that of god but was also in the habit of going about preaching to the people that none except Allah is their Master and Lord, and that, therefore, they should subvert the authority of all spurious masters and demi-gods and become a servant of only that one Being.

This was the reason why Prophet Abraham did not stay peacefully at one place.

For years he wandered as a nomad, sometimes in the inhabited parts of Kana’an, sometimes in Egypt and at other times in the sandy tracts of Arabia.

His whole adulthood passed off in this manner and his black hair turned gray.


Children and their training


During the last period of his life when he was short of four years in completing ninety years and had despaired of an offspring, Allah gave him children.

But this servant of Allah now did not consider that having himself wrecked his home he should at least make his children fit to earn their living and should arrange for them some source of livelihood.

‘ No’.

The only anxiety with this aged Muslim was that the missionary work, for which he had spent his whole life, must be carried on by someone after his death.

It was for this purpose that he had prayed to Allah to grant him children.

And when Allah accepted to his request, he yearned to train his children to carry out his mission.

The life of this perfect man was the life of a true and genuine Muslim.

When in early adulthood, soon after attaining discretion, he recognized God and found Him out, Allah told him:

“Aslim”

(i.e. become a Muslim, entrust yourself to Me, be solely Mine), and he, in reply, gave a pledge:

ÃÓáãÊ áÑÈ ÇáÚáãíä

“Aslamto li-Rabbil Aalameen"


“I have accepted Islam. I belong to the Lord of the worlds. I have wholly entrusted myself to Him.”


This truthful person fully abided by this pledge throughout his life. He gave up, for the sake of the Lord of the worlds, his antique ancestral religion together with its beliefs and rituals and renounced all the benefits accruing therefrom.

He braved the danger of fire, bore the brunt of migration, wandered from country to country, spent every moment of his life in obedience to the Lord of the worlds and propagating His Deen and who blessed with a child in old age he liked him also to follow this very Deen and this very type of work.



To be continued…inshaa..ALLAH


The Greatest Trials.

‘In continuation of:-

‘H A J J’

The greatest trials.


But after all these tribulations, there was one trial left without which it could not be determined that the love of this gentleman for the Lord of the worlds surpasses love of all the things around him.

It was to be tested whether or not the only child begot in the old age after being completely despaired of it , could be sacrificed by him for the sake of the Lord of the worlds; surpasses love of all the things around him.

It was to be tested whether or not the only child begot be sacrificed by him for the sake of the Lord of the worlds.

So this this also was gone through.

And when on seeing a sign he got prepared to slaughter his son with his own hands, the divine decision wa given :

“Yes,

Now you have fully vindicated your claim of being a completely true Muslim.

Now you are comptetent to be made Imam of the whole world.”

This incident has been described in the Quran thus:-

Elevation to the Imamat of the world

“And when his Lord tried Abraham with (His) commands, and he fulfilled them. He said: Lo! I have appointed thee a leader for mankind. (Abraham) said: and of my offspring (will they also be leaders)? He said: My covenant includes not wrongdoers.”

In this manner leadership entrusted to Abraham, and he became a pioneer of the universal Islamic movement.

Now in order to give an impetus to this movement be felt the need of such men who would settle down in different areas and operate from there as his deputies or representatives.

In this mission three persons proved pillars of strength to him.

One was his nephew Lot,

the second, his eldest son Isama’il

(who, on learning that the Lord of the worlds wants the sacrifice o his life, himself cheerfully placed his neck under the knife), and the third, his younger son, Isaac)


Lot sent to Transjordan

Abraham settled his nephew in Sodom, which is now called Transjordan.

In this region used to live the most morally depraved community.

Abraham’s objective was to reform these profane people and also to influence the far flung area around, because the commercial teams travelling between Iran, Iraq and Egypt used to pass through this region, and from this place religious preaching could be conducted in both directions.


Isaac settled in Palestine


The younger son, Isaac , was settled in Kana’an which is now called Palestine.

This region is situated between Syria and Egypt and, being on the coast of the sea, other countries could also be influenced from there.

From this very region the Islamic movement reached Egypt through Isaac’s son, Jacob (whose name was also Israel) and through his grandson, Joseph.

Isama’il kept in Hejaz


The elder son, Isama’il was kept in the Hejaz at Mecca, and Abraham himself stayed with him for a long time to spread the teaching of Islam in all parts of Arabia.


Construction of Ka’aba


At this place both father and son constructed that centre of Islamic movement which is renowned today as Ka’aba in the whole world.

Allah himself selected this center and suggested its site.

This building was not meant merely for the purpose of worshipping, as mosques are, but from the very first day it was made the propagation and preaching center of the universal movement of Islam, and its purpose was that believers in Allah, drawn from all places, should assemble here, perform the ‘Ibadat of Allah collectively and go back to their respective countries carrying with them the message of Islam.


This was the assembly which was named Hajj.

The full details of how this centre was constructed, with what sentiments and prayers both father and son raised its walls and how Hajj was initiated are given thus in the Quran:-

Lo! the first sanctuary erected for mankind was, that at Mecca, a blessed place, a guidance to the peoples; wherein are plain memorials (of Allah’s guidance); the place where Abraham stood up to pray; and whosoever entereth it is safe.”


“Have they not seen that We have appointed a sanctuary immune (from violence), while mankind are ravaged all around them.”


That is, there was always peace in Ka’aba, when all around were rampant plunder, murder, and devastation and conflict and warfare, so much so that even the wild Bedouin, on detecting the murderer of even their father in its precincts, did not dare to touch him.



Supplication of Abraham and Isma’il



“And when We made the House (at Mecca) a resort for mankind and a sanctuary, (saying): Take as your place of worship the place where Abraham stood (to pray).
And We imposed a duty upon Abraham and Ishmael, (saying): Purify my house for those who mediate therein and those who bow and prostrate themselves (in worship). And when Abraham prayed:

My- Lord! make this a region of security and bestow upon its people fruits, such of them as believe in Allah and the Last Day…

And when Abraham and Ishmael were raising the foundation of the House, (they prayed):

Our Lord! Accept from us (this service). Lo! Thou, are the Hearer, the Knower.
Our Lord! And make us submissive unto Thee and of our seed a nation submissive unto Thee, and show us our way of worship, and relent toward us. Lo! Thou, only Thou, are the Relenting, the Merciful.
Our Lord! And raise up in their midst a messenger from among them who shall recite unto them Thy revelations, and shall instruct them in the Scripture and in wisdom and shall make them pure. Lo! Thou, only Thou, are the Mighty, Wise!



“And when Abraham said:
My Lord! Make safe this territory and preserve me and my sons from serving idols. My Lord! Lo! They have led many of mankind astray. But whoso follows me, he verily is of me. And whoso disobeys me---- still Thou are Forgiving, Merciful.

Our Lord! Lo! I have settled some of my posterity in an uncultivable valley near unto Thy Holy House, our Lord! That they may establish proper worship; so incline some hearts of men that they may yearn toward them, and provide Thou them with fruits in order that they may be thankful.


“And (remember when We prepared for Abraham the place of the (holy) House,

Saying: Ascribe thou nothing as partner unto Me,
and purify my House for those who make the round (thereof) and those who stand and those who bow and make prostration. And proclaim unto mankind the Pilgrimage.
They will come unto thee on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every deep ravine.
That they may witness things that are of benefit to them, and mention the name of Allah on appointed days over the best of cattle that He has bestowed upon them(i.e., sacrifice animals). Then eat thereof and feed the poor unfortunate.”



Brethren –in-Islam

This is the story of the beginning of that Hajj which has been acclaimed as the fifth pillar of Islam.

You would know from it that Mecca was the headquarter of the mission of that Prophet who was appointed for the first time in the world to propagate the message of Islam.

Ka’aba was that focal point from where this preaching was conveyed to different parts of the world, and the system of Hajj was introduced for this reason that all those who affirm servitude to God and enter into submission to Him, no matter to which nation or country they belong, should get attached to one centre and assembling here circumambulate it once every year.


It would be as if outwardly they set the design of their inward feeling that their life resembles the wheel, which always revolves round its axle.


To be continued..inshaa..ALLAH







[Edited by salim on 02-07-2001 at 02:05 PM]

History of Hajj


Brethren- in –Islam!

I have explained to you in my previous lecture how Hajj originated and what was its purpose.

I have also stated that Abraham had made Mecca the centre of Islamic movement and had settled there his eldest son, Isma’il to carry this movement after him.

Custom of idol-worship among Abraham’s descendants

God knows better how long after Isma’il his descendants continued to adhere to the Deen which he had left for them to follow. However, in a few centuries these people forgot all the teachings and the ways of their elders and gradually adopted all those wrong practices, which were rampant among the other ignorant communities.

Hundreds of idols were installed in that very Ka’abah which was built as a centre of preaching and exhortation for the worship of one God, and, ironically enough, idols were made of Abraham and Isma’il themselves whose whole lives were spent in exterminating the practice of idol-worship.

The descendants of Abraham, the upright, made idol called:-

Lat,
Manat,
Hubal,
Nasr,
Yaghus,
Uzza,
Isaaf,
Naela and God knows what others, and worshipped them.

They also worshiped
Moon,
Neptune,
Venus,
Saturn and so many other stars.

They further worshipped
Jinns,
ghosts,
angels as well as the spirits of their dead ancestors.


Benightedness rose to such a high pitch that if the family idol was not available to them while emerging from their house, they worshipped on the way any glossy stone they came across and, should no stone be available, they made a round ball from clay with a sprinkle of goat –milk over it, and this lifeless mound became a god for them.


That very Mahantism and Pandithood re-entered their houses against which Abraham had fought in Iraq.

They turned Ka’abah into a sort of Hardwar or Beneras, and settled down there as its Mahant.

They transformed Hajj - into a Teerath Yatra - and started preaching idol –worship in a house which was constructed to propagate the belief of oneness of God.

Adopting all the tricks of Pujarees they began accepting gifts and offerings from Yatrees flocking from the Four Corners of Arabia.

In this way all the work done by Abraham and Isma’il was destroyed and the purpose for which they had introduced the system of Hajj was superseded by a different type of objective.


How Hajj was Mutilated



Competition of Poets

How Hajj was mutilated in that period of ignorance can be gauged from the fact that it was turned into a fair which used to beheld from year to year.

Many big tribes with their gangs used to come to Mecca and encamp there separately.

Poets and clowns of every tribe waxed eloquent in fantastically praising the bravery, renown,
dignity,
strength and generosity of their fellow-tribesmen and tried to excel others in bragging about them ultimately resulting in the satire of others.



Demonstrations of fake generosity


Then a competition in generosity use to be staged.

The chief of every tribe in order to assert his superiority, installed huge cauldrons, and, to run down others, slaughtered camels upon camels to cook the flesh therein.

The only object of this prodigality was that their name should be exalted in the whole of Arabia and that it should be publicized that this person slaughtered so many camels and that person gave food to so many people.

Singing,
Revelry,
Drinking,
Adultery and every kind of ribaldry were pompously indulged in and the thought of God scarcely occurred to anybody.



Circumambulations in the nude


There used to be circumambulation of Ka’ba:-

but how?


Women and men all went round and round stark naked and said :-

“ We shall go before God in the same condition in which our mothers gave birth to us”.

‘Ibadat was performed in the mosque of Abraham but how?

By clapping of hand,
by whistling and by blowing horns.

The name of God was proclaimed but with what gusto?

They said:-

“Here I am present, My Lord. I am present. No one is your
Partner except the one who by being yours is by Thee. You
Are his master for and the master of what he possesses.”



Concept of sacrifice


They made sacrifices in the name of God but with what indecency?

The blood of the animals was spilt on the walls of Ka’aba and the flesh thrown at its door with the idea that, (may God forgive) Allah demands flesh.



Sacrilege of sacred months

Abraham had declared four months of Hajj as sacred and had directed that no warfare should be waged in these months.

These people paid regard to this sanctity to some extent but when they wanted to fight they arrogantly turned a sacred month in one year into a violable one and compensated for it in the next year.





Some self imposed restrictions

The even those who were good intentioned in religion had contrived strange ways due to ignorance. Some people used to set out for Hajj without any provision for journey and traveled begging food from here and there.

They considered this as an act of piety.

The claimed that they were ‘mutawakkil ‘ (those having full trust in God.), and were proceeding towards the House of God and so needed no worldly material.
Doing business or working for livelihood during journeying for Hajj were generally considered unlawful.

Many other people used to give up food and water during Hajj, and regarded this abstention as a part of ‘Ibadat.

Some people, while setting out for Hajj, stopped talking.

Its name has Hajj-e-Musmit, i.e. dumb Hajj.

There were countless other customs of this type be describing which I do not want to waste our time.


Abraham’s prayer granted


This condition lasted for more or less than two and a half thousand years.

No Arab prophet was born during this long period nor did any prophet’s genuine teaching reach the people of Arabia.

Ultimately the time arrived for granting the ‘Dua’ of Abraham which he had invoked while raising the walls of Ka’aba, i.e.

“O Lord! Raise up in their midst a messenger from among them who shall recite unto them Thy revelations, and shall instruct theme the Scripture and in wisdom and shall reform their morals”.


Consequently, a perfect man rose from the progeny of Abraham whose holy name was Muhammad bin Abdullah (peace be upon him)

Just as Abraham was born in the family of Pundits and Mahants, likewise Muhammad (peace be upon him) was born in a family which had been for centuries Mahant of the Teerath of Ka’aba.

Just as Abraham struck a blow with his hands to the Mahantism of his family, likewise Muhammad (peace be upon him) struck a blow to it, and, more than that, actually exterminated it for good.

Again, just as Abraham strove to extirpate the godhood of false deities and prevalence of spurious beliefs and tried to popularize servitude to one God, actually the same work was done by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) who revived the same genuine and pure Deen which was introduced by Abraham.

When in the course of 21 years he completed all this work, he again, with God’s command, declared Ka’aba as the center of God –worshippers of the world and sounded the same call to the people to come to this centre from all sides for Hajj.


“And pilgrimage to the House is a duty unto Allah for mankind, for him who can find a way thither. As for him who disbelieveth (i.e., fails to come in spite of ability let him know that) Lo! Allah independent of (all) creatures.


Revival of Abraham’s ‘Sunnah’


In this manner, along with the renewal of Hajj, all the customs of the time of ignorance which, had become rampant during the last two and a half thousand years, were completely exterminated.


End of idol worship


All the idols in Ka’aba were smashed.

The worshipping of objects other than Allah being done there was completely stopped.

All rituals were wiped out.

All fairs and carnivals were closed down and it was ordered that Allah’s ‘Ibadat must be carried out in the prescribed manner.

“Remember Him as He hath guided you, although before ye were of those astray.”


Prohibition of indecent acts

All indecent acts were strictly banned.

“There is to be no lewdness not ribaldry nor wrangles during Hajj.”


Poet’s competition brought to an end


Competitions among poets, exaltations of fore father’s achievements, contests in satire and sycophancy were all stopped.

“And when you are completed your devotions, then remember Allah as you remember your fathers or with a more lively remembrance.”

End of ostentatious generosity

All competitions in generosity which were meant solely for ostentation and fame were terminated and in their place was revived the system of Abraham’s days to slaughter animals exclusively in the name of Allah in order that by the sacrifice made by the well-to-do people, the poor Hajis may get a chance to eat the meat.


“Eat and drink, but be not prodigal. Lo! He loveth not the prodigals.”

“So mention the name of Allah over these animals when they are drawn up in lines. Then when their flanks fall (dead), eat thereof and feed the beggar and suppliant.”


No spattering of blood and flesh of sacrificed animals


The practice of spattering the blood of the sacrificed animals on the walls of Ka’aba and throwing of their flesh there was stopped, and it was said:


“Their flesh and their blood reach not Allah, but the devotion from you reacheth Him.”


Prohibition of Circumambulation in the state of nudity


Circumambulation in the state of nudity was strictly prohibited, and it was said:-

“Say; who has forbidden the adornment of Allah(i.e. dress) which He has brought forth for His bonsdman.”

“Say; (O Prophet) Allah, verily, enjointh not lewdness.”

“O Children of Adam! Look to your adornment (i.e., dress) at every place of worship.”



Transportation of months of ‘Hajj’ prohibited


It was strictly prohibited to interchange the months of Hajj so as to turn the Haram month into Halal ones for purposes of battle.


“Postponement (of a sacred month) is only an excess of disbelief whereby those who disbelieve are misled. They allow it one year and forbid it (another) year, that they may make up the number of the months which Allah hath allowed, so that they allow that which Allah hath forbidden.”



Order to take provision


It was prohibited to start for Hajj without taking provision, and it was said:

“You must take provision for the journey because(not to take provision for a journey in the world does not mean taking provision for the Hereafter) the best provision for the Hereafter is piety.”



Permission to earn livelihood during ‘Hajj’



It was formerly considered an act of piety no to make any earning during Hajj because it was regarded unlawful in this condition to utilize sources of livelihood.

This concept was refuted.

“It is no sin for you that ye seek the bounty of your Lord (by trading).”

End of customs of ignorance

The system of dumb Hajj and hungry and thirsty Hajj was also ended. After abolishing all other customs of Jahiliya, Hajj was made a model of piety, fear of God, purity, simplicity and austerity.

The Hajjis were ordered that when they set out from their homes they must purify themselves of all worldly pollution, abandon sexual desire, suspend during that period carnal relations with their wives, and abstain from filthy language and indecent acts.


Fixation of ‘Meeqat’


On all roads leading to Ka’aba, marks were fixed from scores of miles away to indicate that before proceeding beyond these limits all pilgrims must put on the mendicant-like dress of Ihram so that the rich and the poor may become equal, distinctions of different nationalities may be eliminated and all of them may appear in the Court of Allah in a state of oneness as suppliants full of humility.


Instruction to maintain peaceful atmosphere

It was made Haram, with Ihram on, to kill any animal, not to speak of killing a human being.
The object was to create an atmosphere of peace, and to make the minds of the pilgrims spiritualized.

The four months of Hajj were made sacred so that no battle takes place during this period, peace reigns on all roads leading to Ka’aba, and no pilgrim is molested en route.
When the Hajjis reach Ka’aba in this manner, there will be no festival or carnival, fun and games, frolic and revelry.
There is remembrance of God at every step. There are prayers,
‘Ibadat,
sacrifices and Circumambulation of Ka’aba. If there is any clamour, it is this:

Only one slogan, ’Talbiyah’

“Here I am present, My Allah! I am present, I am present. There is no partner unto you, I am present. Verily all praise is due to Thee. All boons are yours. Thine is the entire sovereignty.”


The Holy Prophet (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has said about such a neat and clean, selfless and sincere Hajj:-

“Whosoever performs Hajj solely for Allah and, in the course of it, abstains from sensual and ribald acts, he returns from there as immaculate as a child just born.”


Importance of ‘Hajj’ as an obligatory act of devotion


Before I describe to you the benefits of Hajj, I should point out what kind of Fardh this Hajj is.


Allah says in the Holy Quran:



“And pilgrimage to the House is a duty unto Allah for mankind, for him who can find a way thither. As for one who disbelieves, (let him know that) Lo! Allah is Independent of (all) creatures.”


In this verse, failure to perform Hajj, in spite of possessing means to undertake it, is interpreted as kufr and its elucidation is found in two Ahadith of the Holy Prophet:


1.”Whosoever possess provisions and conveyance for a journey to the House of God and in spite of this does not perform Hajj, then his death in this condition and the death of Jew and a Christian are both similar.”


2.”Whosoever, not prevented from proceeding for Hajj by any clear preoccupation of his,or by an order of an oppressive ruler, or due to any deterrent disease, fail to perform the Hajj and dies in this condition, it is his volition either to die as a Jew or as a Christian.”



Elucidating this very Hadith, Hadrat ‘Umar said:

“I wish to impose Jizyah (tax) on those who do not perform Hajj in spite of possessing the required means. They are not Muslims. they are not Muslims.”


From the commandment of Allah and from its elucidation by the Holy Prophet and his caliph(peace be upon him), you must have judged that this Fard (obligatory act) is not such as may by fulfilled or neglected as you like, but it is one which is obligatory once in a lifetime on every such Muslim who can defray the expenses of making journey to and from Ka’aba and is not physically incapable, no matter in which part of the world he resides and whatever may be his responsibility in regard to maintaining his family and his business or service.

Those who, despite the necessary means, avoid Hajj and put it off year after year on the pretext of thousand and one preoccupation should be mindful of their Iman.

As for those who never care to think for once in their whole life that there is such an obligatory duty as Hajj, and go about travelling throughout the world, and pass by the coast of Hijaz, which is at a few hours’ distance from Mecca, in the course of their frequent trips to Europe, their beloved country, they are certainly not Muslims.

They lie if they call themselves Muslims, and that person who considers them Muslims is ignorant of the Quran. They may pose that their heartache for the Muslims. In any case, their hearts are devoid of any feeling for obedience to God and they are bereft of faith in His Commandments.



To be continued..inshaa..ALLAH


BENEFITS OF ‘HAJJ’

BENEFITS OF ‘HAJJ’


Brethren –in-Islam!

In the Holy Quran where Almighty Allah has commanded Abraham to make a general proclamation of Hajj, the first reason given for this commandment is:


“That they may come here and witness things that are of benefit to them.”

That is to say that they may undertake the journey and assemble here and witness with their own eyes that it is intended for their benefit only and its advantages can be noticed only when a man personally experience’s it by performing the task himself.


It is narrated about Imam Hanifah that until he has not performed the Hajj he was doubtful as to which ‘Ibadat’ was superior among the Ibadat of Islam.

But when on performing the Hajj he witnessed the numerous benefits latent in it, he unhesitatingly declared the Hajj is superior to all.

Now I shall relate to you briefly its benefits.


Nature of Journey for ‘Hajj’


The people of the world are usually aware of two kinds of journey.

One journey is that which is made to earn livelihood.

The second one is that which is undertaken for pleasure and sightseeing.

In both these journeys, a man is implied to go abroad by his need and desire.

He leaves home for a purpose of his own, he spends money or time for his own requirements. Therefore no question of sacrifice arises in such a journey. But position of this particular journey, which is called Hajj, is quite different from that of other journeys.

This journey is not meant to gain any personal end or any desire of Nafs.

It is intended solely for Allah, and for fulfillment of the duty prescribed by Allah.

No person can prepare himself to undertake this journey until and unless he has love of Allah in his heart as well as bear of Him, and feels strongly that the Fardh ordained by Allah is incumbent on him.

Therefore, whosoever sets out for Hajj parting from his family and relatives for a long period, allowing his business to suffer, spending money and bearing the rigours of the travel, he furnishes by his act of devotion a proof of the fact that there is in his heart fear of God and love for Him as also a sense of duty, and that he possesses the strength to leave his home, when called upon to do so, for the cause of God, and that he can face hardships and willingly sacrifice his wealth and comfort for the pleasure of God.




Inclination towards virtue and piety


When the pilgrim gets ready for the journey with this holy intention, his disposition assumes a different colour. His heart, which is aflame with exuberance of the love of God and which is pulsating with a longing to visit His House, starts harboring only virtuous thoughts.

He does penance for past sins, seeks forgiveness from people whom he might have wronged, tries to render his due to others where necessary so as not to go God’s court trammeled with the unfulfilled rights of his fellow beings, shuns vice and develops fondness for virtue.

Then, as he steps out to begin the journey, the more he proceeds toward the House of God, the more keen he becomes to do good deeds.

He is careful to see that nobody is harmed by him, while he tries to render whatever service or help he can to others.

His own nature desists from abuse,
indecency,
dishonesty,
squabbles and bickering because he is proceeding on the path of God

A man may be making journey towards the Divine Haram and yet indulging in bad habits?
How can such a shameless thing be possible by anybody?

Thus the entire journey of his constitutes a complete ‘Ibadat. Oppression and vice can find no place in contrast to all other types of journey, this is the one which continuously keeps on purifying man’s Nafs.
It is like a great reformatory course to be compulsorily gone through by every Muslim who sets out to perform Hajj.


‘Ihram ‘ and its conditions



After completing a part of the journey a special boundary is reached which cannot be crossed without donning Ihram by every Muslim bound of Mecca.

What is this Ihram?

It is a mendicant-like dress consisting of nothing more than a simple sheet of cloth for the upper and another for the lower part of the body.

It means that, irrespective of whatever position you held till now, since you have now to go to God’s court, you will have to assume an ascetic’s appearance

Be a beggar outwardly and try to be so inwardly too. Take off your colorful garments and gaudy costumes.

Put on a simple and ‘darvish’ like dress

. Do not wear socks.
Keep the head bare.
Do not use scent.
Do not dress your hair.
Abstain from every kind o adornment.

Cease the man woman relation so much so that do not even indulge in talk, sign and movement which may smack of any eagerness for and be a reminder of, this relation.

Do not hunt, and refrain from even giving a hint to the hunter about the whereabouts of the prey.

When you will adopt such a posture outwardly, it will influence your mind also. Inwardly your heart will develop an ascetic attitude

. Pride and vanity will disappear.
Humanity and peace of mind will grow.
The impurities that have smirched your soul due to indulgence in worldly pleasures will be remove and a feeling of Godliness will dominate both your internal and external selves.



‘Talbiyah’


Soon after putting on Ihram the words that the Hajj recites in a loud voice after every Salah, at the time of ascending every height and descending therefrom, and while meeting every caravan and every morning on rising from bed, are as follows:


Labbaika Allahumma labbaika, labbaika la sharika laka labbaika, innalhamda wan-ni’mta laka, la sharika laka.


“Here, I am present, My Lord! I am present, I am present. There is no partner unto Thee. I am present. Verily all praise is due to Thee. Every boon is Thine and Thine is the entire Sovereignty. No one is Thine partner.”


This, in fact, is an answer to that general proclamation which Abraham had made four thousand fine hundred years ago as commanded by Allah.

Forty-five centuries have passed since that proclaimer of Allah had announced:


“O slaves of Allah! Come to the House of Allah. Come from every corner of the earth, either on foot or by transport.”


In answer to it, evey passenger to Haram –I-spoke loudly declares till today:

“Here I am present, My Allah! I am present. No one is partner unto Thee. I am present at Thine, land is Thine. No one is Thine partner in any thing.”

In this manner, with every voice of Labbaik the Hajis’ relation becomes closer with that movement for the propagation of true and genuine God-worship which has been carried on since the time of Abraham and Isma’il.

The gap of four and a half thousand years is obliterated from in-between.
It appears as if from that side Abraham is calling on behalf of Allah and the pilgrim is replying from this side.

He continues replying and goes ahead. As he proceeds, the feeling of eagerness gets intenser and intenser.

At every ascent and descent the voice of Allah’s proclaimer rings in his ears and he goes on and on welcoming it with Labbaik.

Every caravan appears to him like message-bearer of his Lord and like a lover, on hearing the message, he cries:-


“I am present, I am present.” Every new morning brings for him, as it were, the Friend’s errand, and getting up at dawn he starts exclaiming:-

Labbaik, Allahumma Labbaik.”


In short, this recurrent cry in conjunction with the ascetic dress of Ihram, the condition of the journey and the feeling of getting nearer and nearer to Ka’aba, produce such a psychic effect that the Hajis gets lost in Divine love and his mental condition gets absolved or every thing except the Friend’s remembrance.


‘Tawaf-I-Ziarat


The Haji reaches Mecca in this style and at once proceeds towards that sacred spot where he was summoned.
He kisses the Friend’s threshold.

Then he goes round and round the focus of his belief, Iman, Deen and religion, and starts and ends every round by kissing the Black Stone.

(1). After this, he offers two Rak’as of Salutations at Maqam-I-Ibrahim

. Then moving from there he ascends the hillock of Safa and when he looks from above at Ka’aba he exclaims:


La ilaha ill-allah wa la na’budu illa iyyahu mukhlisina lahud dina wa lau kariha-alkafirun









1. some unthinking people frequently raise objection in regard to the kissing of
“Black Stone”.

They contend that this too is a kind of idol-worship, whereas it is nothing but kissing the threshold.
The Circumambulation of Ka’aba starts from where the “Black Stone” is fixed and during the seven rounds, it is either kissed or a sign is made towards it at the end of every found. There is not the slightest vestige in this of worshipping it.

The saying of Hadrat Omar as well known tha:-

‘ you are a mere stone. If the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) had not kissed you I would not have never kissed you.”


“There is no god save Allah. We do servitude to no other being. Our ‘Ibadat is exclusively for Allah however abhorrent it may be to the unbelievers.”


Sa’i (Striding) between Safa and Marwah


Then he runs between as-Safa and al Marwah

. It seems like a demonstration of his belief that with the same arduousness he would always be endeavoring to serve his Master and seek His pleasure. In the course of this Sa’i, sometimes he says:

Allah-Ummasta’milini bisunnati Nabyyika wa tawaffini ‘ala Millathihi wa aizi min midillat-ilfitini.


“O God! Take service from me in the same way as was the way of your Prophet, and cause me to die in the same path as was the path of your Prophet, and save me from those slips which deflect from the right path.”

And sometimes he says:


Rabbighfr wa –arham wa tajawaz ‘amma ta’ lamu innaka anta-la’azzulakaramu

“O Lord! Pardon me and show mercy. Overlook those faults of mine which you know of .you have the greatest power and your mercy too is the greatest.”



‘Wuquf’ (stay) at Mina, “Arafat and Muzdalifah


After this he becomes, as it were, a soldier of Allah and now he has to live a camp-like life for five or six days. He will encamp at Mina for one day and then on the second day at Arafat where the Commander’s sermon containing directions is listened to. Encampment is done in the night at Muzdalifah.


To be continued…inshaa..ALLAH


‘RAMI JIMAR’

‘R a m i J i m a a r’



At daybreak, the pilgrims return to Mina and fling stones at the pillar where the army of A’s-haab-I-fil (the army of elephants) had reached to demolish Ka’aba fifty days before the birth of the Holy Prophet.

While flinging each stone the soldier of Allah says:

Allah-o-Akbaro Raghman –lishshaitani WA hizbihi and Allahumma tasdeeqan be –kitabika wa ittib’an lisunnt-I- Nabiyyika.




The idea behind throwing these stones is :-

“O God!
Whosoever rises to destroy Your Deen and humiliate
Your Word, I will fight him like this to raise aloft Your Word”.


Then animal sacrifice is done after stoning the first pillar in order that the intention and resolve to shed blood in the way of God are demonstrated.

From there the pilgrims turn towards Ka’abah just as a soldier having performed his duty returns triumphantly to the headquarters.

After doing Tawaf and offering two Raka’ats,
Ihram is removed.

Whatever was made Haram
Is, now made Halal
And the Haji’s life resumes normality.

After returning to the normal life, the Haji goes to Mina and encamps there again, and the next day he flings stones on all the three pillars one after another.

These are called Jamrat which in fact, reminds of the destruction of that elephant army, which, in the year of the birth of the Holy Prophet, invaded Mecca just in the month of Hajj, to demolish the House of Allah, and which, by the command of Allah was destroyed by stone-raining sky birds


After once again flinging stones on these pillars on the third day, the Hajj returns to Mecca and performs seven times Circumambulation of the focal point of his Deen.

This is called Tawaf-I-Wada’ and completing it means completion of Hajj.





Blessings and effects of ‘Hajj’

From all the details you have heard you can judge that during the period of two to three months, from the time of deciding and preparing for Hajj to the time of returning home, what great effects are produced in the heart and mind of man!

The process entails sacrifice of time, sacrifice of money, sacrifice of comfort, sacrifice of several worldly relations and sacrifice of many corporeal desires and pleasures ---and all this simply for the sake of Allah, with no selfish end.

Then, together with piety and virtuousness, the incessant remembrance of God and the longing and love of Him pervading the mind of the pilgrim, all leave a firm impression on his mind which lasts for years to come.

Then, on reaching this sacred land he witnesses at every step the relics of those who sacrificed every thing theirs in servitude and obedience to Allah.

They fought against the pagan Arabs suffered tortures, became migrants, suffered unbearable hardships, but ultimately did raise aloft the Word of God and did not rest content till they subdued every such false power which wanted man to become subservient to other entities than Allah.

A lesson in courage and determination, which a devotee of god can draw from these clear signs and sacred relics, can hardly be available from any other source.

And if the attachment developed with his focal point of Deen through the circumbulation of Ka’aba as also the rehearsal of a Mujahid’s life consisting of the rites (Manasik) of Hajj (such as running about; and repeated departures and halts), are combined with Salah, fasting and Zakat. And they are all seen conjointly, you will realize that these processes constitute a training of some big task which Islam wants Muslims to execute.

For this reason, Hajj has been made compulsory for those who are solvent enough and are capable to undertake the to and fro journey of Ka’aba so that , as far as possible, Muslims in the largest possible number remain equipped in every period after having fully gone through this training.



‘Hajj’ ___ a collective ‘Ibadat’



But you will be unable to appreciate fully the benefits of Hajj unless you keep in view the fact that each and every Muslim does not perform Hajj individually but that only one single period has been fixed for Hajj for the Muslims of the whole world, and, therefore, lakhs and lakhs of Muslims jointly perform it. What I have stated before has only brought home to you the effect produced by this ‘Ibadat’ on every Hajj individually. Now I shall explain to you in my nest address how these benefits have been enhanced a hundred thousand fold by appointing one single period of Hajj for all the world. The excellence of Islam lies in this very fact that by one stroke it achieves not only two but a thousand purposes. The advantages of offering Salah singly are by no means small but by making it conditional with congregation and by enforcing the system of Imamat in Salah and by enlarging the congregations of the Friday and ‘Idain prayers, its benefits have been increased to a limitless extent. The observance of fasting separately by each person is also a very big source of reformation and training but by appointing only one month of Ramdan for all Muslims, these benefits have been increased so much that they cannot be counted. Zakat too has many advantages even if dispensed individually, but with the establishment of Baitulmal (Public exchequer of the Islamic State) its usefulness has been increased to such a great extent that you cannot estimate it till such time as an Islamic government is formed and you witness with your eyes how much goodness and plentifulness result from collecting the Zakat of all Muslims at one place and distributing it among the deserving persons in organized form. Similar is the case of Hajj. If everyone were to perform Hajj singly, even then it will bring about a big revolution in his life but by formulating the rules for all the Muslims of the world to perform it together at one time, its benefits have been increased to a limitless degree. This subject demands a detailed treatment, so I shall explain it in detail in my next discourse.







Universal Assembly of ‘HAJJ’







Universal assembly of ‘Hajj’



Fruits of ‘Hajj’

Animation in Muslim world


Brethren –in-Islam!


You know that such Muslims on whom Hajj is obligatory i.e. those who have the means and physical strength to undertake the journey to an from Ka’aba are not one or two in number.

In every inhabited region there live quite a considerable number of such persons. They are found in thousands in every city and in lakhs in every country, and many of them set out every year to perform Hajj.

Now consider how in every corner of the world where Muslims live . Islamic life becomes animated as soon as the season of Hajj arrives, how liveliness aroused and how long it maintained.

From about the moth of Ramdhan to Zilqa’dah different people from different parts of the world start off after making preparations for Hajj, while, on the other side, from the last part of Dhul Hijjah till Safar, Rabi’ul Awwal, and even to Rabi’ uththani, homeward journey continues.

During this period of six to seven months a sort of incessant religious activity goes on among the Muslim populations of the entire world.

Those who go to perform Hajj and return home are no doubt infatuated with religious fervor but those who do not go also share more or less this same ardor because of bidding farewell to intending Hajis, by passing from one inhabited area to another, and, on the return of Hajis, welcoming them back to their homes and hearing from them the accounts of their performance of Hajj.


Growth of piety and virtuousness


When every intending Haji makes up his mind to perform Hajj and when immediately with this intent the virtues of fear of God, piety, penance, Istighfar( seeking forgiveness from God) and good morals begin to cast their influence on him, and he starts taking farewell of his relatives ,
friends,
professional and other associates,
and settles all his affairs as if he is no longer the same man as before but that his mind is now pure and clean because of the newly-kindled spark of love of God, you can imagine the effect of the changed condition of the Haji on so many people around.

And if every year in each of the different parts of the world one lakh Hajis at an average get prepared for Hajj in this manner, their influence will improve the moral state of a vast number people.

Then the hearts of large number of people warmed up at places through which the Hajjis’ caravans pass, by seeing them, meeting them and by hearing from them the voice of Labbaik, Labbaik.

There will be many whose attention will be diverted towards Allah and Allah’s House, and the eagerness for Hajj will create a stir in their slumbering souls.

And when these people, filled with the thrill of Hajj, return from the centre of their Deen to their cities and towns spread over all parts of the world and met by numerous persons, then this intercourse and the accents related by the former of their Hajj experience enliven sentiments among countless circles..


Season of awakening of Islamic world



As such it will not be wrong if I say that just as the month of Ramdhan is a season of piety throughout the Islamic world, in the same way the season of Hajj is the period of liveliness and awakening of Islam in the entire world.

By this method the Sagacious and Prudent Shari’ali- maker has evolved such a matchless system that Insha-Allah the universal movement of Islam will never be effaced till Doomsday.

Whatever adverse turn world conditions may take and however bad the time may become, these will not affect Ka’aba which has been placed in the body of the Islamic world just like a hear in man’s body.

As long as the heart throbs, a man cannot die, though he may be unable to move due to illness.

Exactly in the same manner this heart of the Muslim world draws blood form its far-off veins and circulates the blood back into each and every vein.

As long as this throbbing of the heart continues and as long as this process of drawing the blood and circulating it lasts, it will be impossible to end the life of this body, however run down it may be due to diseases.


Inspiring spectacle of unity of Millat


You just close your eyes and visualize the scene that from the north and south and from east and west people belonging to countess communities and countries are flocking to one centre through a thousand and one routes.

Their features are different,
Their colors are different,
Their languages are different

But on reaching a demarcated borderline near the Centre all remove their national dresses and everybody without exception puts on a simple uniform of one single design.

After wearing this uniform of Ihram it is clearly seen that this army of the Monarch of the Word and Sovereign of Earth and Heaven, which is arriving after recruitment from thousands of communities of the world, is the army of one single King.

It bears the insignia of obedience and servitude to one Being, all are strung in one cord of loyalty and are marching toward one capital to file past their king. When these uniformed soldiers move ahead of Meeqat, the same one slogan loudly issues forth from their mouths:

Labbaik, Allahumma Labbaik, la sharika laka Labbaik

(Here I am before Thee My Lord, Here I am, Thou hast no partner, here I am)

Their spoken languages are different but the slogan of all is one.

Then as the Centre approaches near, the circle contracts and becomes narrow. Caravans from different countries continue joining each other an all offer Salah together in one and the same manner.

All are clad I similar uniforms, all are led by one Imam, all are moving simultaneously, all are using the same language,
All are rising,
Sitting,
Doing Ruku’ and Sujud at one signal of
Allah-o-Akbar
And all are reciting and listening to one Arabic Quran.

In this way the differences of nationalities, countries and races are obliterated and a universal party of God –worshippers is constituted.

When these caravans pass on loudly raising with one voice the slogan of
Labbaik ,
Labbaik, when at every ascent and descent the same slogan of
Labbaik, Labbaik, when at every ascent and descent the same slogan resounds,
When at the time of convergence of caravans these very voices are raised from both sides,
And when at the time of every Salah and at dawn these exclamations reverberate, a unique atmosphere is created the exhilarating effect of which makes a man forget his self and is absorbed in the religious lore of LABBAIK

Then, after reaching Ka’abah, the act of circumambulating one center in a uniform dress by people coming from all parts of the world, then the doing of
Sa’i by all together between as –Safa and al Marwah,
Then encampment by all at Mina,
Then the departure of all towards Arafat and listening to an Imam’s sermons there,

Then a night’s sojourn by all at Muzdalifah,

Then the return of all together towards Mina,

Then the flinging of stones in unison by all at Jamra-I-aqabah,

Then the animal sacrifice performed by all,

Then return of all together to Ka’abah and circumambulating it jointly,

And then return again to their camps in Mina all together____
All this carries within itself an effusive effect, which has absolutely no parallel in the world.


One aim, assemblage at one center


The assembling at one centre of people drawn from all the nationalities of the world, and that too with a remarkable unity of heart and purpose, identity of thought and harmony of feeling, pure sentiments, holy, objective and chaste deeds, is in reality such a great boon as has not been granted to the children of ‘Adam’ by any agency other than Islam.

The nations of the world have always been meeting each other,

But how?

In the battlefield to cut each other’s throats

Or in peace conferences to divide countries and nations,

Or in the United Nations Organization in order that one nation may spread against another nation the snare of
Deception,

Fraud,

Conspiracy and dishonesty

And try to extract their own benefit from the loss caused to others.


The meeting of common men of all nations,

With a clear heart,

With good manners and pure ideas,

Affect with affection and sincerity,

With mental and spiritual affinity,

With unity in thoughts,

Deeds and aims,

That too not only once but always at the same centre every year……

Is this boon available to mankind anywhere else except in Islam?

Has anyone else devised a better system than this for establishing peace in the world, for removing hostility among nations and for creating in the place of quarrels and bickering an atmosphere of love and brotherhood?



Greatest movement for establishment of peace



Islam does not do only this much. It accomplishes more than this.

It has made it compulsory that during the four months fixed for Hajj and ‘Umrah , every effort should be made to maintain peace on all roads leading to Ka’abah.

This is the greatest movement of a permanent nature to establish peace in the world.

And if the reins of world politics were in the hands of Islam then it will be the utmost endeavor of Muslims to see that no such disturbance takes place in the world as may cause the suspension of the system of Hajj and ‘Umrah.


Only peace –centre in the world



Islam has given to the world such an inviolable territory that it constitutes a city of peace till Doomsday in which, not to speak of man, even the hunting and shooting of an animal is strictly prohibited, where even the cutting of grass is not allowed, where not even a thorn can be cut nor can a fallen article be touched.


Islam has given to the world a city where arms are forbidden to be brought in, where it is tantamount to Ilhad (unbelief) to hoard and sell at higher price cereals and other articles of common use, and where those committing oppression are thus threatened by Allah.

Nudhiq-hu min ‘ adhabin alim

( We shall cause hem to taste a painful doom)


Centre of Equality


Islam has given a centre to the world,
which is defined as:

Sawa anil ‘ akifo fihe wal baad.

It means

That the rights of all those human beings are equal here who, after acknowledging the Sovereignty of God and the leadership of Muhammad (peace be on him), enter the brotherhood of Islam, no matter if they are;

American,
African,
Chinese or Indian.

If one has become a Muslim, his rights are identical with those of the Meccans themselves.

The position of the whole area of –Haram- is almost similar to that of a mosque in that whosoever lodges himself in any part of a mosque that portion belongs to him.

Nobody can remove him from that place nor can anybody ask for rent from him. But the occupier, who may live there for his whole life if he chooses, has no right to call t his property.

Neither can he sell it nor can he give it on rent to anybody so much so that when this person quits the place, another person has the same right to occupy it as he had done.

This is exactly the position of the whole of Haram at Mecca.

The Holy Prophet (peace be on him) said :


“Makkatu munakhun liman sabaqa”

i.e.

“Whosoever first comes to this city and settles at a place, that place is his,”

It is not legal to charge rent for these houses.

Hadhrat ‘Umar had issued an order to the people there not to fix doors on the compound around their houses so that whoever desires may come and stay in the compound.

Some jurists have gone so far as to say that neither has any body any proprietary right over houses in Mecca nor can these be transferred through inheritance.


Can a man get these boons anywhere else except in Islam?





Brethren! This is that Hajj about which it was said:

“Undertake it and see how many benefits it
Has in store for you.”


No words are adequate to recount all its advantages.

Yet you can get an idea of them from the brief sketch of its blessings that I have described before you.



To be continued…inshaa..ALLAH





Our lack of Appreciation



But after hearing all this, please listen to the voice of my afflicted heart./.......

Our lack o f appreciation



But after hearing all this, please listen to the voice of my afflicted heart.

The condition of you present-day Muslims is like that of a child born in a mine of diamonds.
When a child sees diamonds all around and plays with them as if with stones then these diamonds become as valueless for him as stones.

Your condition too is similar to that child because the boons the world is deprived of, and, as a consequence thereof it is immersed in troubles and calamities and is, therefore, in hectic search of them, as available to you without any quest simply because you are luckily born in Muslim homes.

That Kalimah-I-Tauhid
which solves all the intricate problems of a man’s life and shows him a simple and straight path, was dinned into your ears from your childhood while the prescriptions of Salah and fasting, (far more precious than alchemy, which transform a man from an animal into a human being), the best possible remedies ever discovered to make human being God fearing,
Fellow brothers unto each other
And sympathetic
And friendly among themselves,

Were inherited by you automatically from your forefathers when you were born.

That peerless method of Zakat, a purifier of heart as also rectifier of the financial system of the world, in the absence of which the people of the world are fleecing each other, has come into your possession just as the child of a gifted physician gets hold of those prescriptions without effort which other people enthusiastically hunt for .

Similar is the case of Hajj… that magnificent system which has absolutely no parallel in the world. Till today no instrument more powerful than this has been discovered to propagate a movement in four corners of the world and also to keep it alive till eternity.

But for it, there is no such universal power in the world as can attract and assemble in the name of God at one centre all the children of Adam from every far off corner of the world, and integrate numerous races and nations into one brotherhood of God-worshipping, pure-intentioned and well-wishing members.

You got this already perfected matchless system without any quest on your part, a system that has worked successfully for hundreds of years.

But you are playing with it in the same way as
The ignorant child born in a mine of diamond
Plays with diamonds and regards them as stones.

My heart burns on seeing the spectacle of your frittering away such a tremendous wealth and power due to sheer ignorance and foolishness.

From where can one get so much capacity of forbearance as to exercise self-restraint on seeing diamonds being pulverized by stone-breakers?


My dear brethren!

You must have heard this couplet of the poet:

If the *** of Jesus goes to Mecca,
It still remains an *** after return.

That is to say, an as, though belonging even to a Prophet like Jesus, cannot benefit from a visit to Mecca.
If it were to go there and come back, still it will remain an *** as before.

It maybe Salah,
Fasting or Hajj,
All these things are meant for the training of human beings.

These are not intended to tame animals.

If those people who do not understand their meaning and purport not are they concerned with their purpose, nor do they intend to avail themselves of their benefits with which these Ibadat are replete, but on the other hand, their minds are empty even of the concept of the import of these’ Ibadat, and if they only imitate the actions of their predecessors, what, result can be expected of them.


Unfortunately, the Muslims of today in general are performing these acts in this manner only.

They enact the stereotyped outward shape but that shape is completely devoid of spirit.

You notice that every year thousands of visitors go to the Centre of Islam and come back after having the privilege of performing Hajj, but neither while going there they experience the feeling which a visitor to Haram must experience, nor is any effect of Hajj found in them when they return from there, not do they leave a good impression of their manners on the Muslim and non-Muslim residence of the places they pass through during their journey.

On the contrary, they are consisting of mostly such people, who tarnish the name of Islam by exhibiting their uncleanness,
Bad manners and moral weakness.

On seeing their life, instead of Deen superiority becoming impressive in the eyes of others, Deen itself becomes insignificant in the eyes of its own adherents.

And this is the reason why the youngmen of our own nation as us to explain what benefits accrue from Hajj, while the position is that this Hajj was such a thing that, if it was performed with its real sublimity, even unbelievers on seeing its clear –cut benefits would have affirmed faith in it !

Here is a movement whose hundreds of thousands of members drawn from every part of the world foregather every year at one centre, and then go back to their countries, manifesting their pure life, pure thoughts and chaste manners whole passing through various cities and towns, and they not only propagate by word of moth the principles underlying this movement at places where they halt or which they pass through, but also demonstrate them fully in their practical life, and this process is continued not for ten or twenty years but for centuries on end ,just consider, is this a kind of thing whose benefits are required to be asked by anybody?

By God if this work were done in the correct manner then even the blind would have witnessed its benefits and even deaf would have heard its advantages.

Every year’s Hajj would have made crores of Muslim pious and would have drawn thousands of non-Muslims into the orbit of Islam and would have impressed lakhs of non-Muslims with the superiority of Islam.

But fie upon ignorance!

What a highly precious thing has been atrociously wasted due to handling by ignorant people.




Method of deriving full benefits from ‘H a j j’





In order to derive full benefits from Hajj was necessary that there should have been some such hand in the centre of Islam as would make use of his universal force, some such heart as would pump pure blood into the body of the world every year, some such brain as would through the agency of the thousands and lakhs of God-given messengers, and, if nothing, at least this much was done that a perfect example of pure Islamic life was established so that the Muslims of the world could have returned from there infused with a fresh lesson in true righteousness.


But what a pity!
There is nothing of this kind there.

Since a very long time ignorance is being reared in Arabia. From the time of Abbasids till the time of Ottomans, the kings of every period, in order to serve their political ends, tried ceaselessly for centuries to weaken the Arabs instead of developing their condition.

They brought the Arabs to the lowest level of decadence in the spheres of knowledge, morals,
Culture and in every other respect.

The result is that that land from where emanated the light of Islam spreading its rays to all corners of the world has almost reached that state of ignorance in which it was found before the advent of Islam.

Now there is neither knowledge of Islam nor Islamic life there.

People from far off places pay visits to the Holy Haram with the deepest devotion, but on reaching there when they see everywhere ignorance,
Filth,
Greed,
Indecency,
Love of this world,
Bad manners,
Disorganized condition and the decadent state of common man, and their hopes get shattered so much so that many people, after performing Hajj, instead of strengthening their faith, get it weakened.

The same old Mahantism which was re imposed in Ka’aba after Abraham and Ishmael, and which was later abolished by Muhammad (peace be on them all) has again been revived.

The custodians of Ka’aba have again established themselves as Mahants.

The House of God has become their property and Hajj, a source of business.

They consider the pilgrims as their customers.

Agents have been appointed in different countries on big salaries to canvas and bring in customers.

Every year, like the Khuddam of Ajmer, a whole army of brokers and travelling agents issues forth from Mecca for the purpose of fetching customers from all parts of the world.

People are induced to perform Hajj by reciting to them Quranic verses and quoting Ahadith.

The motive is not to remind them of the duty imposed by Allah but to prevail upon them to go to Hajj on hearing His commandments in order to open for them a source of income.

It looks as if Allah and His messenger had introduced all this business for the sustenance of these
Mahants and brokers.


Then when a mans sets out to perform this duty, he has to encounter, from the time of starting the journey till return, various laborers of religion and traders of Deen. Mua’llim, Mutawwif,
Vakil-I-Mutawwif,
Kilid bardar-I-Ka’abah,
And the Government of Hijaz itself are all co-shares in this trade.

The performance of all the rites of Hajj is conducted on payment.

Even the door of Khana-I-Ka’aba is not opened for a Muslim without charging some fee

May God save us from this.

The methods of the Pandits of Beneras and Hardwar have been adopted by the Mujawirs of our central abode of ‘Ibadat survive at a place where the work of conducting it has become a source of wage-earning and trade, where abodes of ‘Ibadat are exploited for personal gain, where Divine commandments are employed to compel people to perform a Fard in order to empty their pockets.

Where a man is obliged to make payment for every act of ‘Ibadat he performs, and where this blessing of Deen has become a sort of buyer’s and seller’s commodity?

How can you except that those who perform Hajj and those who supervise it will be able to derive the real and spiritual benefits from this ‘Ibadat when all the work is being carried on with the mentality of trading on one side and buying is done from the other side. (*)

(*)

Be it noted that this lecture was given in 1938.

After that year till now conditions have greatly improved and Saudi Arabian Government is trying to enforce further reforms.
Education is also being spread in Arabia.
High grade institutes for imparting instructions is Shar’aih have been established in Riad, Mecca, Jeddah and other cities.
An Islamic university has started work on a large scale in Medina.
An international organization of the Muslim world called the World Muslim League has been set up in Mecca which is trying its utmost to utilize the Hajj assemblage to infuse the spirit of Deen in Muslim nations.

In the light of these developments conditions have become satisfactory to a great extent.

Now it is necessary to pay attention to two matters.

Firstly,
the land of Harmain Sharfain (the Mecca and Medina) should be saved from the onslaught of western civilization.

Secondly,
The methods of working of Mua’llims should be improved.
May God help the Saudi Government in adopting correct measures in this regards!



By mentioning these facts I do not intend t blame anybody.

My purpose is to point out to you what factors have rendered almost ineffective a tremendous source of power like Hajj.

There should be no misunderstanding in anybody’s mind that this is due to any deficiency in Islam and the system it has enforced.

No.

.. In fact the deficiency lies with those who do not follow Islam correctly.

This is the earning of your own hands that those methods aimed at making you a perfect model of humanity and by following which correctly you could have become reformers and Imams of the whole world, are not yielding today any good result.

The situation has aggravated so much that the people themselves have begun doubting the efficacy of these methods.

Its example is like that of an expert physician who left the most efficacious prescriptions and after him those prescriptions fell into the hands of the quacks and the ignorant,
Thus becoming useless and causing bad name too.

A prescription may be excellent to the highest degree
But
In any case
Technical knowledge and intelligence are necessary
To make a proper use of it.

If novices handled it,
No wonder if it proved not only ineffective by even injurious,
And the ignorant people, who are themselves incompetent to judge its efficacy, will misunderstand that:-

The prescription itself is wrong.



TAMAT

-END-.


Fundamentals of Islam
By S. Abdul’ala Maududi



Islamic Publications Ltd
13E Shah Alam Market
Lahore
Pakistan.



E-Mail

Islamic@ms.net.pk