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The literal which means of phrase Hajj is “to set out” or “to make pilgrimage”. In Shariah, Hajj refers back to the annual pilgrimage of Muslims to Makkah to carry out sure spiritual rites in accordance with the teachings and strategies prescribed by Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Hajj happens over the past month of Islamic calendar, from eighth to twelfth Dhu al-Hijjah.
The origin of Hajj dates again to 2000 BC and most of the Hajj rites come immediately from the lifetime of Hazrat Ibrahim/Abraham (AS). For instance, the ceremony of Sa’i when Muslim pilgrims run/stroll between the hills of Safa and Marwa seven instances is the re-enactment of Hajra’s distressed seek for water for her toddler son, Ismail (AS), when each of them have been abandoned by Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) in a barren valley on the orders of Allah SWT. Hajra was the second spouse of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS). To quench her son’s thirst, Hajra ran forwards and backwards between Safa and Marwa to seek out water. It’s stated that the angel Jibril (Gabriel), on Allah’s order, touched all the way down to earth and created a spring of contemporary water for the newborn. This spring, known as Zamzam, nonetheless runs in Makkah.
Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) was a really righteous and pious man. Though his father, Aazar, was a well-known idol sculptor and a polytheist, Ibrahim (AS) denied his father’s faith and believed within the oneness of God. He was chosen as a prophet and devoted his entire life to Allah SWT. He was given the title of “Khalilullah” (good friend of Allah).
His son Ismail (AS), like his father, was sturdy in religion. Allah SWT examined their loyalty when He ordered Ibrahim (AS) to sacrifice his beloved younger son, Ismail (AS), within the identify of Allah. SubhanAllah, take a look at the extent of religion and perception of the daddy and son, when Ibrahim (AS) advised his son about what he dreamt, Ismail (AS) was instantly keen to comply with Allah’s orders. Nevertheless Allah SWT positioned a ram as an alternative of Ismail (AS), for the reason that notion all the best way was to evaluate the allegiance of Ibrahim (AS). Allah felicitated Ibrahim as He says within the Quran [37:104-105]:
“We called to him, ‘O Abraham, You have fulfilled the vision.’Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good.”
To commemorate this nice sacrifice and the readiness to hold out Allah’s bidding, Muslims everywhere in the world have a good time “Eid Al-Adha” on the finish of the Hajj pilgrimage.
Allah SWT ordained Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) to construct the Ka’aba -the home of Allah, alongside together with his son, Ismail (AS) as Allah mentions within the Quran:
“And [mention, O Muhammad], when We designated for Abraham the site of the House, [saying], “Don’t affiliate something with Me and purify My Home for individuals who carry out Tawaf and those that stand [in prayer] and those that bow and prostrate.” [Surah al-Hajj: 26-27]
It is around this Ka’aba that the pilgrims perform the ritual of Tawaf, which involves circling the Ka’aba seven times in counter-clockwise direction.
After performing Tawaf, Muslims go to the Station of Ibrahim (Maqam e Ibrahim) to pray two nafl prayer rakahs, and then drink water from the sacred Well of Zamzam, before proceeding to the next ritual of the Hajj, the S’ai. Station of Ibrahim is the name of the stone on which Sayyidna Ibrahim (AS) stood while building the Ka’aba. It was one of the miracles of Ibrahim (AS) that this stone became soft and his feet sank into it, forming an impression on it which can still be seen, SubhanAllah!
“Ramy al-Jamrat” (Stoning of the Satan), another obligatory ritual of Hajj, also relates to an important event in Ibrahim (AS) life. Pilgrims perform Ramy al-Jamrat by casting stones at three pillars. These three pillars are said to be located at the three locations where Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) was tempted by Satan when he was going to sacrifice his son, Ismail (AS), as demanded by Allah SWT. The pilgrims must hit each pillar at least seven times with the pebbles they have picked up in Muzdalifah. The notion behind this rite is to show defiance of the Devil/Satan.
On the ninth day of Dhu al-Hijjah, pilgrims make their way atop the hill, Mount Arafat or otherwise known as ‘Jabal Al Rahmah’, the hill of forgiveness. Pilgrims gather on the plain of Arafat and engage themselves in Zikr, prayers and Quran recitation. This is known as “Wuquf” and thought of because the spotlight of Hajj. The importance of Mount Arafat is that it’s the website the place Prophet Muhammad (SAW) delivered his well-known Farewell Sermon (Khutbah Hajjatul Wida) to the Muslims who had accompanied him for the Hajj in the direction of the tip of his life. It was on Jabal al Rahmah the place Adam and Hawa (Eve) have been reunited and forgiven by Almighty Allah and it’s on this identical plain the place all people will collect in entrance of Allah SWT on the Day of Judgment.
Each ceremony of Hajj has a historical past and a lesson related to it. Realizing the accounts behind these rituals will allow the pilgrims to carry out Hajj with a heightened stage of zeal and earnestness, insha’Allah.
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