Hajj & Umrah, - *The Greatest Objective of Hajj - III

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… Continued
The Prophetwanted to implant and establish this principle. At that time the polytheists and those new to Islam were keen to closely watch and follow the acts of the Prophet. When the Prophetproceeded to Mount‘Arafah, they wanted him to stay where the tribe ofQurayshwould do as he descended from the noblest family ofQuraysh. However, he moved on and stayed in another place where a tent was pitched for him atNamirah. People ofQurayshused to proceed from‘Arafahbefore sunset; but the Prophetrefused to proceed until the sun had set. The Prophetwould state and stipulate his own guidance andSunnahin every ritual ofHajj. Hesaid:“Learn your Hajj rituals from me.”His guidance clearly opposed the way ofJaahiliyyah. For example, he speeded up his pace atWaadi Muhassirand ordered others to do so as well because it was a place where disobedience to Allaah was once committed and where collective punishment struck the disobeyers. The Prophetemphasized this in many places and situations, and even when he offered twoRak‘ahs)units of prayer( atAl-Maqaam)the Station ofIbraaheem(, he recited ChapterAl-Kaafiroonand ChapterAl-Ikhlaasin the first and the secondRak‘ahafter ChapterAl-Faatihahrespectively. He chose those two chapters in particular because the first clearly affirmsTawheedand the second affirms disassociation from the disbelievers.
Hence, our faith andTawheedmust be purely for Allaah in compliance with the guidance andSunnahof the Prophet; we must not accept or approve of anything that contradicts this. A violation ofTawheedis not necessarily committed by worshipping entities, but rather, by any inclination of the heart to other than Allaah.Tawheedis not necessarily achieved by prostrating and submitting, but, rather, with every action that we perform to draw closer to Allaah. Many are the attachments of the heart and the perceptions of the mind that are not based onTawheedand not connected with the remembrance of Allaah. The remembrance of Allaah is the motto ofHajjin every motion and every rite, not only for the individual but for all those large crowds; not spoken in secret, but rather in an explicit declaration. It is a motto that links theUmmahof Islam to Allaah. Thus, it fears none but Allaah, hopes in none but Allaah, relies on none but Allaah, returns to none but Allaah and seeks none but Allaah The Almighty. It worships Him alone, following the steps of the Messenger of Allaah.
In this light, we recognize the significance of the command to mention Allaah’s name inHajj. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}That they may witness benefits for themselves and mention the name of Allaah on known days.{]Quran 22:28[ Allaah The Almighty orders us to mention His name on known days. Indeed, the purpose of all the rituals and rites of Hajj is to mention the name of Allaah and glorify Him.
The Prophetvery evidently stressed this great meaning in theKhutbah)sermon( of theFarewell Hajjas well as all his otherKhutbahs. He said:
Everything pertaining to Jaahiliyyah is under my feet, completely abolished. Abolished also are the blood-revenges of Jaahiliyyah. The first claim of ours on blood-revenge which I abolish is that of the son of Rabee‘ah Ibn Al-Haarith. The Ribaa )usury/interest( of Jaahiliyyah is )also( abolished, and the first of our Ribaa I abolish is that of Al-‘Abbaas Ibn ‘Abdul-Muttalib, for it is all abolished. Fear Allaah concerning women! Indeed, you have taken them under Allaah’s trust, and intercourse with them has been made lawful to you by the words of Allaah.”
He ascertained in public before an audience made up of his great companions and all the pilgrims who came to performHajjwith them from every distance that every act ofJaahiliyyahthat contradicts Islamic teachings was under his feet. He settled this rule starting with his own family to confirm that faith does not recognize courtesies, and to emphasize that the way of Islam is clear and totally opposite to the deviant practices ofJaahiliyyah. Islam does not adopt rulings from here or there, and when it approves the guidance ofIbraaheemit is simply becauseIbraaheemis the father of Islam and Muslims and the leader of the upright religion. This is confirmed in the crystal clear words of the Prophet:“Allaah has removed from you haughtiness and boasting )over one another( because of ancestry that prevailed during the pre-Islamic days: )the people are divided into( pious believers and wretched disbelievers. All people belong to ‘Aadamand ‘Aadam was created from dust.”]Abu Daawood&At-Tirmithi:Hasan)Sound([
The Prophetdid not only abolish all the acts and deeds relevant to polytheism and customs, but he also abolished racism and boasting over one another because all people are equal slaves before Allaah. This great meaning was expressed by the best and noblest human when he said:“I am among you the one who worships Allaah the most and the most fearing of Him among you.”The great honor of the Prophetlies in his servitude to Allaah. By servitude to Allaah, the Prophetreached the most sublime and highest rank in the night ofAl-Israa’andAl-Mi‘raaj)The Prophet's night journey toAl-Aqsamosque and ascent to the upper heavens(. This rank was not reached by any other sent prophet or close angel.
Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from Al-Masjid Al-Haraam ]in Makkah[ to Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Seeing.{]Quran 17:1[ Allaah The Almighty referred to the Prophetin this verse as His servant and not His prophet or His Messenger because the greatest honor of the Prophetis that he was the most worshipping servant of Allaah there was. We can see him in the Hadeeth of Jaabirwhile he was beseeching and supplicating to Allaah, humbly prostrating to him, casting the pebbles while declaring the glorification of Allaah, makingTawaafaround theKa‘bah, glorifying Allaah and walking fast between MountsAs-SafaandAl-Marwah. He is the slave and Messenger of Allaah who represented the ultimateTawheedthat annuls anything else. When he was asked about the supplication of Day of‘Arafah, he answered:“The best words that I and the prophets before me said are: ‘Laa ilaaha illa Allaahu wadahu la shareeka lahu, lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu, yuhyee wa yumeet wa huwa ‘ala qulli shay’in qadeer.’ )None is truly worthy of worship but Allaah alone, who has no partner. To Him belongs the dominion, to Him belongs all praise, He gives life and causes death and He has power over everything.(”SuchTawheedthat abolishes every aspect ofJaahilliyahis a great matter and the main goal ofHajj. It is the foremost and greatest goal of the Islamic Sharee‘ah that is manifested in this ritual. It should be noted that this is a radical comprehensive change, not a superficial partial one. It starts with the first throb of the heart towards the intention of performingHajj. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}And ]due[ to Allaah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House - for whoever is able to find thereto a way.{]Quran 3:97[ In this verse the dedication of this worship solely to Allaah is clear by starting the sentence with"And ]due[ to Allaah."Hence, the intention must be for Allaah alone from the first move or thought about performingHajj. Hearts full of hoping for Allaah, worshipping Him alone and devotion to Him; tongues repeatTalbiyahandTakbeerand feet walk in the places where Allaah commands His slaves to go.
To be continued …

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