Ameer Hamzah :
Literally Hajj means performance of some religious rituals round the Holy Kaaba and the Arafat Maidan in Mecca in Saudi Arabia, as decreed by Allah vide Verses No. 3/97 and 22/27 by those of the Muslims, who are rich and physically fit, once in life. Hajj teaches mankind unity and discipline
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam. The four others are Namaj (Prayer five times a I day), roza (Fasting from dawn to dusk for a month every year), Zakat ( Poor-tax @ 2.50 payable byI the rich) and Jihad (Striving hard for justice and an exploitation-free society).
The first decree about Hajj was revealed to Hazrat Ibrahim (AS). The text of the verse is: Proclaim Iamong men about pilgrimage. They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel, coming from every ravine-22/27. Explicitly, Hajj shall not be accepted from him who does not go to Mecca by transports other than on foot and lean camel. Implicitly, words “foot and lean camel’ are referred to all kinds of transportations. In the Holy Quran, there are some verses having explicit meaning only. Again there are some verses, which denote both explicit and implicit meanings. Verse No.22.27 is one of them.
Pilgrimage to Mecca was made compulsory during the 3rd or 4th years of Hijrah i.e. in 625 or 626 AD, as we read in the verse No. 3/97. The text is: Pilgrimage to the House is incumbent upon men for the sake of Allah (upon) everyone who is able to undertake the journey to it. From this verse, it is clear that only those who are physically fit and can afford travelling expenses will go to Mecca. Not only that, the pilgrims shall leave behind suf1icient money for their family members for those days they will remain absent from homes and will make security arrangement for them as well.
The House of Kaaba is the first sanctuary for men in terms of verse No. 3/96. Being commanded by Allah, Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) and Hazrat Ismail (AS) raised the foundations and (Ibrahim prayed): Our Lord! Accept from us (this duty) Verily Thou, only Thou, al1 the Hearer, the Knower-2/125.
From this verse, we come to know there was no existence of Kaaba before Hazrat Ibrahim and Hazrat Ismail had built it notwithstanding the fact there was existence of a worshipping house from the time of Hazrat Adam (AS) since Namaj (prayer) and Fasting were enjoined on every prophet. (About Mecca) Hazrat Ibrahim also prayed, “Our Lord! Make it a secure town and provide its people with fruits, such of them as believe in Allah and the Last Day-2/126.
Allah accepted his prayer and made pilgrimage part of the Muslims’ religious rituals. It may be said in this connection that the non-Muslims too gathered at Mecca before advent of the Quran and moved round the Kaaba. Whoso held the keys of Kaaba was the most respectable man in the society and he never wanted to let it out.
As for the compulsory duties of Hajj, Imam Ghazali writes in his book AI-Murshidul Amin that the pilgrims will wear one piece of new cloth. It is called Ihram. It must not be sewed. The women, however, may use sewed cloth. They will make a circuit of Kaaba seven times, will go round As-Safa and Al-Marwa hills seven times, will stay at Arafat maidan for one night and will shave their heads at the end of Hajj.
Hajj is of three kinds–Ifrad. Keran and Tamattu. Whoso performs Hajj only is called Ifrad Hajj; whoso performs Umrah and Hajj together is called Keran, and whoso performs Umrah first, then puts off his/her cloth, stays at Mecca and again wears new cloth to perform Hajj is called Tamattu. Ihram or putting on new cloth may be done at Jerana, Tan-iim or Hudeyhiyeh.
Some duties are to be done before journey to Mecca. The pilgrims must repay debt, if any, must return the trust to the real owner, to arrange travelling expenses that he does not become dependable on others during journey and to look for a trusted companion during voyage.
On the following day of Hajj, financially solvent Muslims sacrifice six kinds of domestic animals viz. cow, buffalo, goat, sheep, dumba and camel. This is called Qurbani. The flesh and blood of the animals do not reach Allah; reaches to Him only devotion from people- (Ref: 22/37).
But to our utter surprise, we observe that some Islamic scholars of our country forgetting the teachings thereof say there is no harm if one does not distribute meat among the poor This kind of sermon destroys the very principle of Islam of establishing exploitation-free society and justice based on the Quran and the life of Prophet Muhammad (SM). Islam always preaches unity among mankind, peace and tranquility and right to live. If the rich are not sympathised with the poor, it has far reaching adverse impact.
The text of the verse about Qurbani is: He has given them of the cattle quadrupeds, then
eat of them and feed the distressed one, the needy-22/28. The meaning of the said verse is clear and there is no obscurity. Since every year millions of cattle are slaughtered, many people rear them through out the year and sell days before Qurbani and try to improve financial condition As the flow of money increases on account of buying and selling of cattle, economy becomes stronger.
Verses Nos. 37/102 to 37/107 deal with Qurbani. The most symbolical verse is 107. The text is: We ransomed him with a great sacrifice. In this connection Abdullah Yusuf Ali writes that in a literal sense, it implies that a sheep or a ram was substituted symbolically.
The figurative sense is even more important. It was indeed a great and momentous occasion when two men (Hazrat Ibrahin and Hazrat Ismail) with concerted will ranged themselves in the ranks of those to whom self-sacrifice in the service of Allah was the supreme thing in life. This was a type of the service, which Imam Hussain performed many years later in 60 A.H.
Verse No 27 of Surah Ma Idah narrates the genesis of Qurbani. Hazrat Adam (AS)’s two sons Habil and Kabil offered an offering. But it was accepted from one of them and was not accepted from the other. It is because Allah accepts from those who guard against evils..
The Prophet Muhammad (SM) paid the last visit to Mecca in February 632 A.D, to
perform Hajj for the last time in his life. There he addressing a huge gathering of over one hundred thousand people delivered a very significant sermon, which many historians attribute as Magna Carta of human rights. The text of the sermon in briefs is the following:
Ascribe not partner to Allah, Who created you. Remember that on the Day of Judgment every one of you shall be called for explanation of your every action. Your wives have equal rights as you have over them. Be kind to them because you have accepted them as your wives, from this day beating wives is hereby banned,.
Protect the trust of others; avoid sins and telling a lie. Usury is forbidden; so, take the principal amount only from the debtor and remit usury.
Be kind to the house servants and be not harsh, even if they make serious mistakes. Feed them of the foods you eat, give them of the garments you wear. Remember they are the creation of Allah Who created you. Grab not property of others nor punish anybody
before judgment is announced in the court.
Superiority based on race and blood is banned forever. He is supreme who has attained
wisdom, does good works, and encroach not upon property of others. All of you are brethren and maintain harmony that the enemy does not mislead you.
