احلج Hajj The Pilgrimage to the House of Allah
َّاس ِ حجُّ ا ْلبَ ْي ِ َۚ وهللَِِّ َع َلى الن ِ س ِب ً يال استَطَا َ ع إِ َل ْي ِه َ ت َم ِن ْ
" Once a year, thousands of Muslims come together in piety and worship of Allah in Makkah Muazzama, the center of the Muslim world. It is incumbent upon every Muslim to make the Hajj pilgrimage to the Ka‘ba, the house of Allah, in the Holy city of Makkah Muazzama, at least once in his/her life time. This obligation is contingent upon the condition, “the possibility of the journey” –which is defined as the means (enough money) for the transport and provision during the journey, security during the journey, and the means to sustain dependents left at home during the period of his/her absence.
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" " " The true and full reward of the Hajj is for those who go with the pure niyyat (intention) of worship and sincere repentance of the past sins. Amirul-Mumineen said to one who was leaving for Hajj, “be immersed in the Taqwa of Allah—God Conscious piety — and guard your tongue…” Imam Sadiq said, “what sort of Hajj has one done if he/she has not been careful of 3 things: sincere piety, tolerance and tranquility, and consideration of fellow pilgrims.”
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Types of Hajj There are three types of Hajj. The Tamattu’ hajj is considered the best and is the common form nowadays. This Hajj is immediately preceded by an Umrah. Another type of hajj is the Hajj Qiraan, which is also preceded by the Umrah with the only difference being that the qurbaani (the animals for sacrifice) are taken along (now difficult for obvious reasons!). The third option is hajj Mufrad, hajj without umrah. (Umrah is known as the lesser pilgrimage which can be made at any time, unlike the Hajj - the greater pilgrimage - which can be performed only on set days once a year)
" " " " The Pilgrimage starts with the ihraam - the donning of the special simple white pilgrimage clothes, accompanied by self purification and formal declaration of intent. There are five different “miqaats�— places where one can don the ihraam, for the people coming to Makkah from different directions.
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Umrah Upon reaching Makkah the first task of the pilgrim (who intends the tamattu’ Hajj) is the performance of the Umrah. The pilgrim proceeds to the Masjid ul Haraam and does the Tawaaf (seven circumambulations) of the Ka‘ba. The kissing of the Black Stone—physically or by ishara if not possible— is imperative as it is a declaration of walaayat of Amir ul Mumineen and Imam uz Zamaan. This is followed by the sa‘ye, the 7 times perambulations walk between the two hilltops of Safa and Marwa to the South of the Ka‘ba. After the sa’ye the pilgrim goes to the Zamzam well to drink the sacred water and sprinkle it upon himself. The pilgrim then returns and removes his ihraam, but remains in an “ihraam-like” state.
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On the 8th of Zil-hijja known as yaum al-tarwiyaah (the day of filling water bags — reminiscent of the day pilgrims in Rasullallah’s SA time filled up their water skins to take to Arafah), the pilgrim re-dons the ihraam from inside the Masjid-e-haraam (i.e. prays two rakats and makes the formal declaration intent for the Hajj) and then departs for the plain of Mina.
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The next day, the 9th of Zil Hijja, is the big day, the main event: the ascent of the sacred mountain of Arafah — if possible to its peak called “the peak of Mercy” (jabalur-rahmah), for a day of repentance and prayer. The pilgrims’ outwardly appearance is reflective of the somber sentiment as they are dressed in “two pieces of cloth” like funeral clothes and “shu‘san ghubra” (dusty and with uncombed hair). Syedna al Mu’ayyad has said, “he who comes to ‘Arafah with true repentance in his heart but doubts whether his sins have been forgiven, is the greatest sinner.”
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After the sunset the pilgrims proceed from 窶連rafah to the valley of Muzdalifa, to spend the night there. Next morning, the morning of Eid ul adha, after the morning prayer they depart for the plain of Mina. On the Way to Mina they stop to pelt stones at the Jamrat al Aqaba.
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Mina is called the slaughter house –it is here that the sacrificed animals –camels, cows, sheep are slaughtered. [The Most three days of remaining in Mina are called the days of eating, dining, and co-habiting — the days of feasting and pleasure after the restrictions of hajj.
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After the sacrifice comes the final stage of the Hajj in which the pilgrims go to Makkah and perform the tawaaf al ifada, followed by the sa’ye of Safa and Marwa and then followed by a drink from Zamzam. Finally, they performed the tawaaf al Nisa. They then return to Mina and remove the Ihraam, cut their nails and cut their hair/shave their heads.
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One Last act of the hajj is the ramyul-jimar, the pelting of the stones at the 3 rocks known as jimar (singular Jamra). The Jamrat al Aqaba the largest rock should be pelted on the day of Eid on the way from Muzdalifa to Mina. On the three other days all three should be pelted with stones before noon. For three days pilgrims can leave Mina during the day but should return to spend the night there. They can depart on the 12th after the noon prayer, or else on the 13th.
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The Completion (tamamiyyat) of the Hajj is the qadambosi of the Imam or, in his seclusion, his Dai.
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Authored by Shz. Dr. Bazat Saifiyah baisaheba"
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Produced by Zahra A. Qutbuddin" Some photographs included in this presentation are by Ali Kazuyoshi Nomachi " from Mecca The Blessed Medina The Radiant: The Holiest Cities of Islam"
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(c) Fatemidawat.com