Hajj

PREFACE

BY THE AUTHOR

As a person who is knowledgeable about religion and whose field of study is the history of religions, I reached the following conclusions as a result of my study and research of the historical evolution of each faith whereby I compared what the faiths were in the past and what they are now as well as a comparison in the differences between the truth and the reality of the faiths. My conclusion is not based on personal religious feelings nor prejudices:

If we study and evaluate the effectiveness of each religion in terms of the happiness and evolution of mankind, we will discover that there is no prophecy which is as advanced, powerful, and conscious as the prophecy of Mohammad (PBUH) (i.e. Islam and it’s role in man’s social progress, self-consciousness, movement, responsibility, human ambition and struggle for justice; Islam’s realism and naturalness, creativity, adaptability with scientific and financial progress and orientation toward civilization and the community). Contemporaneously, we will discover that there is no prophecy which has deteriorated and been transformed into a completely different representation as much as the prophecy of Mohammad (PBUH)!

It seems that some power composed of all physical facilities as well as knowledgeable advisors, openly or secretly has hired a group of the most educated and intelligent philosophers of history, social scientists, sociologists, social psychologists, politicians, human scientists, theologists, orientalists, experts in Islamic studies, Quranic interpreters and people who are familiar with Islamic literature, the social relations of Muslims, the traditions of Muslims, the personalities of Muslims, the weaknesses and strengths of Muslims, the interests of Muslims, the socio-economic behavior of Muslims, the roles of special people…to completely change the Islamic doctrine through the pursuit of cautious and scientific research of Islam and Muslims!

As far as I know, from the practical and conceptual point of view, the most important pillars of the Islamic doctrine which motivate the Muslim nation and makes it’s citizens conscious, free, honorable and socially responsible are:

.

, is only applied when blaming the friends instead of when correcting the wrongdoers. And lastly, HAJJ is viewed as the ugliest and most illogical action that Muslims perform yearly.

and philosophical discussions. So, it is obvious what the enemies can do to us when the Quran is absent from the lives of Muslims and not included in the curriculum of Muslim students!

May we hope that one day the Quran will be accepted as the classic book of our Islamic school and used for our Islamic teachings! May we hope to see the day when Quranic study will be required in order to qualify for a degree in Ijtihad (!

, Jihad (… and the meaning of our lives!!!!

who is entitled to talk about the Hajj when he returns home. I can discuss my views with others; this has been a tradition too. Every year the minority who were able to participate in the Hajj will share their views with the majority who did not have this opportunity. If there was a responsible leadership who demonstrated as much interest in teaching more than a million Muslims from various parts of the world (ie. from the least developed villages and least trained natives) as they do in their meals, health, souvenirs and luxurious but ugly shows of aristocracy (which contradicts Hajj) and if they were only a bit concerned about realizing the meaning of the rites rather than being meticulously obsessed and prejudiced about performing the rites themselves-then the Hajj could have been a yearly course of practical and theoretical teachings of the Islamic doctrine given to more than a million Muslim representatives from all over the world! They could learn the purpose of the Hajj, the meaning of the prophecy, the importance of unity and the fate of the Muslim nation. With a reserve of knowledge and information they could return to their countries and their individual lives to teach their community. As a result, all his life a Hajj could remain a guide in the darkness of his society - like a glittering beam in the darkness!

Dr. Ali Shariati

¹Ijtihad: Exegesis of divine law on theological and legal matters.

²Jihad: Holy war

³Imamat: Leadership of the Islamic community

⁴Shahadat: Martyrdom

INTRODUCTION

. It is a symbolic demonstration of the philosophy of Creation of Adam. To further illustrate this, it may be stated that the performance of Hajj is a simultaneous show of many things; it is a show of creation, a show of history, a show of unity, a show of the Islamic ideology and a show of the Umma.

The following conditions prevail in this show. Allah (God) is the stage manager. The theme portrayed is the actions of the people involved. Adam, Ibrahim, Hajar, and Satan are the main characters. The scenes are Masjid-ul-Haram. Lastly, the player of the roles in this show is only one; and that is YOU!

Regardless of whether you are a man or a woman, young or old, black or white, you are the main feature of the performance. The role of Adam, Ibrahim and Hajar in the confrontation between Allah and Satan is played by you. As a result, you, individually, are the hero of the show.

Annually, Muslims from all over the world are encouraged to participate in this great show (Hajj). Everyone is considered equal. No discrimination on the basis of race, sex, or social status is made. In accordance to the teachings of Islam, ALL ARE ONE AND ONE IS ALL.

The one who restores somebody’s life, has restored the life of all and the one who kills one, has killed all.

Yet the enemies of Islam continue to deliberately wage a campaign against Islam. They attack it by denying that Islam recognizes the human being as an individual endowed with special rights and values. In terms of the concept of Hajj, it is relegated to the status of a duty which has very little significance. As Imam Ali, the son of Kaaba says:

As if Islam is a Iamb fur-coat¹ that is put on inside out.

What have I personally learned from Hajj-me being so little and Hajj being so great in meaning? How far and what could I see from this experience? The following pages are the product of my humble efforts to answer these questions. My purpose is not to inform the reader what must be done during Hajj. This can be attained by referring to the book of rituals.

Instead, I want to share with you my perceptions of the significance of Hajj. They should help you to understand why it is incumbent upon Muslims to perform this duty, or at least motivate you to think about Hajj.

Dr. AH Shariati

¹Umma: Nation. It refers to Mohammed’s community or ideal Islamic society.

²Masjid-ul-Haram: The Sacred Mosque.

³Masa: The space between the two mountains of Safa and Marwa.

⁴Arafat: The Mount of Recognition situated twelve miles from Mecca.

⁵Mashar: The area between Arafat and Mina where the pilgrims stay overnight to pray and collect pebbles (bullets) to shoot at the idols in Mina on the following day.

⁶Mina: A sacred valley near Mecca where the symbolic idols are located.

⁷Kaaba: The cube-like building in the center of the mosque in Mecca.

⁸,⁹The two mountains near Kaaba in Mecca.

¹Ihram: The pilgrim’s dress. Also, the state in which the pilgrim is in from the time he assumes the distinctive garb until he lays it aside.

²Halgh and Taqseer: Part of the ceremonies of Hajj-to cut a piece of hair or nail after Sa’y between Safa and Marwa.

¹The fur-lining of a lamb’s fur coat is used as a symbol of ugliness and the other side is used as a symbol of beauty and attraction.

²Manasik: The sacred rites and ceremonies performed at Hajj.

REJECTING AN EMPTY PHILOSOPHY

Life today (not life as it should be carried on) is an idle cyclical action-a movement with no goal! A meaningless pendular action starts with the day only to end at night and night starts only to disappear at dawn. In the meantime, man is busy watching the play of these black and white rats who chew the strings of our life until we die.

Life (as we live it) is like a theater. Man watches these aimless nights and days. Indeed, what foolish play is conducted! When you are in need, you hope and struggle to overcome your needs. Yet once you achieve this, you view your past efforts humorously. What a senseless philosophy to live by!

Living on a day to day basis, the person lacks direction. His aim is only to live. What exists is a dead spirit in a living body. However, the Hajj experience alters this unhealthy condition!

Once you decide to perform Hajj and take the necessary steps, you are on the road to the actualization of Hajj. Before going to Hajj you reside in your home calm and reposed. Upon entering the state of mind for Hajj, you arise and move away from your routine environment.

Hajj is the antithesis of aimlessness. It is the rebellion against a damned fate guided by evilforces. The fulfillment of Hajj will enable you to escape from the complex network of puzzles. This revolutionary act will reveal to you the clear horizon and free way to migration to eternity toward the Almighty Allah.

. He made you from His spirit¹

and endowed you with special qualities. You were praised by Him;² His angels even prostrated to you. This earth and everything in it was made available to man. God became your homemate, with you at all times and watching all of your actions. Are you living up to His expectations?

Prophet (PBUH)

Allah is in the hearts of the believers

Quran XXIX: 3

Thus Allah knoweth those who are sincere, and knoweth those who feign

Quran LVII: 25

And that Allah may know him who helpeth Him and His messenger, though unseen.

So blessed be Allah, the best of creators!

Quran XVII: 7

LO! We have placed