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the Message Continues ... 11/89

 

 

Newsletter for January 2009

 

Article 1 - Article 2 - Article 3 - Article 4 - Article 5 - Article 6 - Article 7 - Article 8 - Article 9 - Article 10 - Article 11 - Article 12

 

 

THE HAJJ: A TIME OF SUBMISSION, BLESSINGS AND HOPE 
by Imam Dr. Zijad Delic 
 
Through all their religious duties, Muslims turn their faces towards Almighty Allah and ask to serve His pleasure. The daily and seasonal
disciplines of Salat (prayer), Siyam (fasting), Zakat (alms-giving) and Hajj (pilgrimage), all mold their lives into a state of total peace with
their Creator, fellow human beings, and the environment.
 
Muslims - wherever they are geographically located -- live in continuous connection with the sacred house called the Ka’bah, the symbol of their
relationship with the Creator, the homeland of the Prophet, and the first Masjid on earth. Allah has chosen this Masjid as the place where His
servants will make ‘Ibadah (worship) to Him and glorify His Name.
 
The word Hajj means to make a resolve to visit the Ka’bah in Makkah (Mecca). This was the first House of Worship appointed for humanity. As
Almighty Allah mentions in the Qur’an: "Verily, the first House (of worship) appointed for humanity was that at Makkah, full of blessings, and
a guidance for all ‘Alams (worlds)." {Ali ‘Imran 96}
 
Thus a visit to this sacred house, in the revered ancient city of Makkah, in this most sacred land, is the wish of every Muslim (brother) and
Muslimah (sister).
 
This important duty of Islam, whose origin dates back to the Prophet Ibrahim (or Abraham, pbuh), brings together Muslims of all races,
nationalities and tongues to share in one of life’s most memorable spiritual experiences. In fact, for fourteen centuries, countless millions
of Muslims from the four corners of the earth have performed the Hajj to Makkah, the birthplace of Islam.
 
In reality, Hajj is the greatest annual congress of believers anywhere on earth. Not only is it important to more than 1.2 billion Muslims around the
globe, but to the whole of humankind. Hajj marks part of the Ummah’s (Islamic world community’s) preparation for the Qurbani, or sacrifice,
which reminds us of the sacrifice that the patriarch Ibrahim was commanded to make of his son Isma’il, ‘alayhimassalam. It reminds us of the 
mercy Allah extends to those who surrender themselves in complete trust to His Will just as Ibrahim and Isma’il did. As the Qur’an records the 
words of young Isma’il: "O my father! Do what you are commanded. If Allah wills, you shall find me ... steadfast." {As Safat 102}
 
The Hajj is a vibrant proof of Unity among all Muslims around the one inalterable principle of Islam - Tawhid, the Oneness of Almighty Allah.
 
Hajj gathers millions of believers and calls upon all of them to unify their opinions, ideas and values, helping them collectively to support one
another in upholding all that is good and decent. Islam stands for unity of the human race, teaching that all peoples in their global diversity were
originally as one, deriving their existence from the sole Creator of All, and that the barriers now separating us -- race, color, class, region,
ideology, etc. -- are really no more than constructed illusions.
 
In fact, the divisive ideologies based on negative human distinctions are among the most dangerous viruses on earth. Hajj, on the other hand, 
proves that the hope of unity can be a reality, for Islam removes all differences and evaluates or rates people by their conduct. Islam seeks to 
build an intellectual, moral, ethical and just ideology throughout international society - an ideology strong enough to stand its ground against 
existing tribal, racial, linguistic and national barriers which have turned the world into a sea of tragic conflict.
 
Hajj symbolizes an opposite movement, from chaos and conflict toward unity in Almighty Allah. It is a noble tradition that upholds the hope and
potential of kindred love and solidarity among the people. In calling all believers back to the basic principles of Tawhid (which are expressed in
the words of Talbiyyah during Hajj) it is the living response of Allah’s servants; on this special occasion, all pilgrims are guests answering their
Lord’s personal invitation to visit His house in Makkah.
 
All Hujjaj (Hajj pilgrims) chant the following words: "Labbaykallahumma Labbayk, Labbayka La Sharika Laka Labbayk, Innal Hamda Wan 
Ni’mata Wal Mulka La Sharika Laka."
 
In English paraphrase, they mean: "Here I am at Your service, O my Lord. My humble submission is only to You, and I am here submitting to You 
who does not have a partner, for no one is worthy of worship except You. You are the Only One Who deserves every praise. You are the Only 
One Who has all power, so help me, O Allah, that I benefit from all the blessings that You have bestowed on humankind. This is the only way, for 
I have no other reason for existence."
 
This repeated statement is meant to re-awaken every Muslim’s consciousness that Allah is the eternal Centre of their reality and the source of 
all meaning and blessing in life. With these words, believers fervently express their belief and their commitment to the Straight Path that Allah 
has set out for them. The journey to Hajj is purely for the sake of Almighty Allah who wants us to learn from the examples of the Prophets that He 
chose to be our teachers. Allah wants us to learn that Hajj is a spiritual training ground and a unique experience of worship which changes a 
person from the inside out, washing him/her clean and restoring his/her belief and attitude.
 
The discipline of Hajj has often been the key to awaken many Muslims to a fuller and deeper understanding of the concepts of Islam and its true
Message. More than simply an annual institution or ritual, Hajj holds the potential to draw all believers, Insha’allah, into a future filled with
blessings, among which the following are central:
 
1  Purification of the soul from all traces of sin. - Hajj provides 
the greatest opportunity for believers to seek forgiveness of sins accumulated throughout life and to make Du’as for others. This can happen
when one has performed Hajj Mabrur, or done the pilgrimage in a proper way, as the Messenger of Allah mentions: "They will return from Hajj 
as newly born babies (free of all sins)."  Hadith}
 
2  Unity and understanding. - Through Hajj, the believers come to know
each other and are made more aware of the mutual affairs of their brothers and sisters from all over the world. In Hajj they feel more connection 
and kindred love for each other, irrespective of their geographical or cultural backgrounds. Thus, Hajj unites the believers of the world into one
international community.
 
3  Confirmation of commitment to Almighty Allah. - Through
demonstrating that they are ready to sacrifice all material possessions and values for the sake of their Creator, believers show their commitment
 to Allah; for unless a Muslim really loves Allah, he/she would never undertake such a long, costly and arduous journey to Makkah, leaving all 
their near and dear ones behind.
 
4  Reminding believers of complete trust in Allah. - Believers come
face to face with the deep faith and unshaken commitment of Ibrahim and his son Isma’il (peace be upon them) when they were called to make 
the ultimate sacrifice - of life itself -- in His name.
 
5  Preserving important rites. - Hajj reminds us of the rites which
were ordained for us by Allah and taught by His Last Messenger, the Prophet Muhammad (S).
 
6  Walking in the Prophet’s footsteps. - Hajj is a memorable and
cleansing means of acquainting believers with the spiritual, historical and physical environment in which the last Messenger, Muhammad (S), 
lived and served Allah and humanity.
 
7  Spiritual blessing. - This is the greatest Hajj blessing of all,
for pilgrims (Hujjaj) are encouraged to develop a greater consciousness of Allah in and to return home with a sense of uplifted spirit and
fulfillment.
 
 
Courtesy:The Canadian Islamic Congress Friday Online Magazine.
Imam Dr. Zijad Delic is CIC’s National Executive Director, Ottawa.

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