Hajj, a different perspective

HAJJ - A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE

Let�s think through this without getting emotional.

Hajj is not made mandatory for every Muslim but for those who can afford. The idea is to imbue humility in those who may feel arrogant about their wealth, personal accomplishments or fame. Arrogance kills peace and is the root cause of all societal ills, whereas humility builds bridges and brings peace to families, communities and nations. No wonder, God loves the person with humility the most, and the least of the people he likes are arrogant ones. 

Hajj is supposed to purify one, bring humility and make one pure innocent being without prejudices, and without ill-will or jalousies and anger - a true Amin � someone to be trusted, who tells nothing but the truth, cheats no one, treats every one (every one) with dignity, and everyone feels safe around him or her.

Sadly Hajj has become an item to brag about; there are chest thumping men and women who make sure you know how many times they have performed Hajj.  Hajj is for you and not for display. Who cares how many times you performed Hajj�  Hajj is not a certificate of purity to hide under and keep doing the same things.

Mecca is being stripped off the opportunity to be humble, and offering similar opulence that one lives with, how do you become humble? If the niyya is shopping and bragging, that is fine, and nothing wrong with it. But piety does not come with Hajj anymore.

If Hajj does not transform you, why perform it? Rather why invest in it? Taking care of fellow beings is much more important than Hajj � check it out, there are more verses advising humanity to take care of neighbors than Hajj� doesn�t Quran mean it?

I am not fortunate enough to see transformed individuals yet. I am sure there are genuine Hajis, who can be identified by their character. What I have seen is from Imams to the ordinary folks hunker for social ratings.

It would be disrespectful to perform Hajj and not become the Amins of the society. If you do intend to perform Hajj, make sure you don�t make a show of it.

It is time we start thinking about these issues. After all no one including anyone of the imams will come to your rescue on the Day of Judgment, we are on our own and we better learn to be independent here as we do hereafter.

Mike Ghouse
www.WorldMuslimCongress.com

ISIS Vows to Conquer Mecca and Destroy the Kaaba in Order to Prevent Idolatry

by David Wood, Answering Muslims � June 30, 2014

Interesting. Apparently, some members of ISIS recognize that Islam is up to its neck in idolatry. Devout Muslims bow down to the Kaaba five times per day, and when they take the pilgrimage to Mecca, they try to kiss the Black Stone. These practices are sheer paganism, but they are essential to Islam. ISIS wants to make some changes. 

APA�Representatives of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) stated that they will ruin the Kaaba after capturing Saudi Arabia.  

APA reports quoting Turkish media that ISIS wants to take control of Arar city of Saudi Arabia and start operations here. 

ISIS member Abu Turab Al Mugaddasi said that they would destroy the Kaaba in Mecca: �If Allah wills, we will kill those who worship stones in Mecca and destroy the Kaaba. People go to Mecca to touch the stones, not for Allah.� (Source)

Go to Answering Muslims for more, including David Wood's video dealing with "Islam's idolatrous obsession with the Kaaba and the Black Stone."

For those who could not make it to Hajj

The Pilgrimage to Makkah, is one of the essential elements of the Islamic faith. It is obligatory on all believers provided they have the financial capability and physical ability to endure the challenges of the pilgrimage.

According to Islamic tradition the Kaaba, a simple square cube structure in Makkah, was the first house of worship established to remind humanity of the One Supreme God. The structure was reconstructed by Prophet Abraham and his son Prophet Ishmael.

And when We made the House (at Makkah) a destination for humankind 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 go around and those who meditate therein and those who bow down and prostrate themselves (in worship). Quran 2:125

The gathering of millions of faithful in Makkah during the days of annual pilgrimage, Hajj is a fulfillment of Prophet Abram's prayer.

And, lo, Abraham prayed: "O my Sustainer! Make this a land secure, and grant its people fruitful sustenance - such of them as believe in God and the Last Day." .. Quran 2:126

The Pilgrimage to Mecca is a sign of supreme significance. It was Prophet Abraham's unconditional commitment to God that led him to leave his wife Hagar and his infant son Ishmael in this desolated desert. Prophet Abraham was reward for his unwavering submission to God, by a promise from Him to make this uninviting land into a place of promise and plenty.

Muslims who visit Makkah for Hajj become part of God's promise to Prophet Abraham.

Like any other article of faith, the pilgrimage can become meaningless if it is regarded as an end in itself rather than a means for the attainment of a meaningful life.

The following story reminds us of the spirit of Hajj.

The Cobbler's Hajj

It is related that a noted Muslim scholar Abdullah bin Mubarak, had a dream while he was sleeping near the Kaaba.

Abdullah bin Mubarak saw two angels' descend from the sky, and start talking to each other.

One of the angels asked the other: "Do you know how many people have come for Hajj this year?"

The other angel replied: "Six hundred thousand have come for Hajj."

Abdullah bin Mubarak had also gone for Hajj that year.

The first angel asked: "How many people's Hajj has been accepted?"

The second replied: "I wonder if anyone's Hajj has been accepted at all."

Abdullah bin Mubarak was grieved to hear that. He thought, "So many people have come from all over the world, crossing so many obstacles like rivers, jungles, mountains, suffered so many hardships, and meeting so many expenses. Would their effort be wasted? Allah does not let anyone's effort go to waste".

 He had thought only so far when he heard the other angel speak: "There is a cobbler in Damascus. His name is Ali bin al-Mufiq. He could not come for Hajj, but Allah  has accepted his intention of Hajj. Not only will he get the reward for Hajj, but because of him, all the Hajjis will be rewarded.

When Abdullah bin Mubarak woke up, he decided he would go to Damascus and meet that cobbler whose Hajj intentions carried such a lot of weight. 

On reaching Damascus, Abdullah bin Mubarak inquired if anyone knew a cobbler named Ali bin al-Mufiq. The town people directed him to a house. When a man appeared from the house Abdullah bin Mubarak greeted him and asked his name. The man replied "Ali bin al-Mufiq".

Abdullah bin Mubarak asked: "What do you do for a living?"

Ali replied: "I am a cobbler". Then Ali asked the stranger's name that had come looking for him. 

Abdullah bin Mubarak was a very well-known scholar of Islam, when Abdullah bin Mubarak introduced him self, the cobbler was anxious to find out why such a well known scholar was seeking him out. 

When Abdullah bin Mubarak asked Ali to tell him if he had made any plans to go for Hajj. Ali replied "For thirty years I have lived in the hope of performing the Hajj. This year I had saved enough to go for Hajj, but Allah  did not will it, so I couldn't make my intention translate into action. 

Abdullah bin Mubarak was eager to find out how could this man's Hajj be accepted and blessed for all the people who went for Hajj that year when he didn't go for Hajj in the first place. While talking to the cobbler he could feel a certain purity in his heart. Islam regards greatness not in wealth or in power, but in civility, in good manners and the goodness of heart.

Abdullah bin Mubarak further asked: "why could you not go on Hajj?". In order not to disclose the reason, Ali again replied "it was Allah's will".

When Abdullah bin Mubarak persisted, Ali revealed: "Once I went to see my neighbor's house. His family was just sitting down for dinner. Although I was not hungry I thought my neighbor would invite me to sit down for dinner out of courtesy but I could see that my neighbor was grieved about something and wanted to avoid inviting me for dinner.


After some hesitation the neighbor told me: "I am sorry I cannot invite you for food. We were without food for three days and I could not bear to see the pain of hunger of my children. I went out looking for food today and found a dead donkey. In my desperation I cut out some meat from the dead animal, and brought it home so that my wife could cook this meat. It is halal (lawful or permitted) for us because of our extreme condition of hunger, but I cannot offer it to you." 

Ali continued: "On hearing this, my heart bled with tears. I got up and went home, collected the three thousand dinars I had saved for Hajj, and gave my neighbor the money. I too had to go hungry but that was to save money for Hajj, but I thought helping my neighbor during his difficult times was more important. Although I still desire to go for Hajj if Allah wills."

Abdullah bin Mubarak was greatly inspired by the cobbler's story and told the cobbler of his dream.

God is merciful and shows mercy to those who do likewise to his creatures. This act of compassion on the part of the cobbler was so pleasing to God that it not only earned him the reward of Hajj but was extended to all the people who came for Hajj.

Hajj is a journey that can ignite the soul to be reminded of the time it was created and takes it beyond the dimensions of this life to the time it will meet the creator.

The sincere performance of Hajj can transcend a person's day to day life into a spiritual awakening of the highest magnitude. A successful Hajj experience connects us to our creator and the greater compassion of humanity. 

Source