The meaning of Haj
THE Haj (pilgrimage) has just ended with millions of Muslims congregating in the holy city of Mecca. It is a mandatory religious duty that must be carried out by all adult Muslims at least once in their lifetime. But what does this annual Islamic pilgrimage mean?
The Haj: A Divine invitation
The Haj (pilgrimage) is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is an annual ritual and occurs between the 8th and 13th of Dhu al-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar. According to the Gregorian calendar, this year, Haj started on August 19, 2018. Every Muslim who is physically and financially able) is required to perform it once in their lifetime. The call to perform the Haj is regarded as a special invitation by God - to His selected worshipers.
The Haj consists of several rituals. These include being in the state of Ihram; the Tawaf (circling the Kaaba counter-clockwise for seven times); the Sa’i (the walk between the mountains of Safa and Marwah for seven times); the symbolic stoning of the Syaitan (the Devil); and the congregation at Mount of Arafah. It has a long historical significance and most if its rituals are re-enactments of several key historical events from the lives of Prophet Ibrahim, Prophet Ismail and Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon them all).
The Haj gives pilgrims the opportunity to experience – both physically and spiritually – what was felt by those who first completed these rituals. The wisdom behind this is for them to understand the purpose of the rituals and ultimately draw closer to God.
For those who have had the honour of being God’s guest to perform Haj, the journey is long, tiresome and done together with over two million other pilgrims.
A day can be filled not only with rituals and worship, but also waiting in long queues, jostling for the best spot, sleeping in tents and enduring endless traffic. Yet, it brings about an unforgettable spiritual and emotional experience that teaches pilgrims invaluable lessons in sincerity, humility, submission to God and forbearance.
The Kaaba: The Muslim compass
The Kaaba is a cube-shaped building adorned in the Kiswah – a black cloth embroidered with gold and silver Arabic calligraphy praising God. It is situated in a mosque called Masjid al-Haram (the word Haram here means ‘sanctuary’ or ‘sacred’, not ‘prohibition’) in Mecca. Muslims around the world face towards the Kaaba for their five daily prayers.
It also houses the Black Stone, which Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used to kiss, making it an Islamic tradition for Muslims to kiss the Black Stone if the opportunity avails. When Muslims go to Masjid al-Haram, they perform circumambulation (tawaf ) around the Kaaba seven times.
Historically, the Kaaba was built by Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and his son, Prophet Ismail (peace be upon him) as a house of worship thousands of years ago.
During Prophet Muhammad’s time (peace be upon him), the Kaaba was made the point of direction for Muslims to worship God. This has nothing to do with its structure or form, though. If the Kaaba were to be destroyed, Muslims would still pray in that direction.
The Kaaba does not have much architectural beauty as it is merely a cornerstone, a sign to show the right direction. As a cubic- shaped building, the Kaaba does not point to any specific direction but by facing the Kaaba Muslims submit to God’s choice of direction. The circumambulation symbolises that belief and worship are centred around the oneness of God.
As Imam al-Ghazali (a wellknown Muslim Jurist in the 11th century) put it: “If there is an earnest desire for nearness to God, a Muslim will be compelled to strive for it. A lover is passionately attached to everything that bears an association with the beloved. The Kaaba is associated with God and a Muslim should, therefore, instinctively feel drawn to it, to speak nothing of the attraction of the Recompense promised on it.”
The Ihram: Unity in diversity
During Haj, Muslims from all over the world; regardless of race, sex, social status, colour, country of origin or language, gather as one ummah (nation) to perform Haj in their bid to be closer to God. It is a symbolic movement of remembering the purpose of their creation; of submitting to God’s law, and of being grateful servants.
Pilgrims all dress in the same outfit known as the ihram. The ihram for men is made of two plain, unstitched white cloths while the ihram for women is a dress and head scarf that covers the whole body except for the hands and face.
Pilgrims repeatedly chant the following unified praise to God recognising His Oneness and answering His call: “O God, here I am! Here I am in Your Presence! You are without a partner! Here I am! All praise is for You and from You are all Blessings! To You alone belongs Power and Rule! You are without a Partner!”
There are no visible distinctions in appearance among the pilgrims. The rich and the poor, the ruler and the subject, men and women, Arabs and non-Arabs – all are dressed in similar and unified outfits representing a united and global Muslim community. All are worshipers of God.
An interesting side note: the word ihram is derived from the Arabic word haram. This is so because when Muslims are in their ihram, they are required to observe all prohibitions – from the normally permissible day-to-day acts such as wearing perfume to the more sinful deeds. Hence the reason the pilgrim’s attire is called ihram.
Haj Mabrur: The accepted Haj
Every pilgrim wishes that his or her Haj is accepted by God, (Haj Mabrur) because the reward for Haj Mabrur is Paradise. Pilgrims should return from Haj with reverence and gratitude to God as they have been honoured to be His guests. Guests return with rewards from Ar-Rahman (the Most Merciful) and Al-Ghafoor (the Most Forgiving) both names of God in the form of His blessings and forgiveness.
The Haj experience should not stop when they return and the care and concern that pilgrims had in safeguarding their Haj should continue.
Thus, upon the completion of Haj, pilgrims should ensure that they remain steadfast in a life full of remembrance and servitude of God.
Pilgrims must strive to avoid sinful deeds and be a model for those around them.
We pray that Allah protects His guests and accepts their Haj. May Allah bless them with good, forgive their and through His mercy, accept those who fall short.
“And proclaim the Pilgrimage among men: they will come to thee on foot and (mounted) on every kind of camel, lean on account of journeys through deep and distant mountain highways;
“That they may witness the benefits (provided) for them, and celebrate the name of Allah, through the Days appointed, over the cattle which He has provided for them (for sacrifice): then eat ye thereof and feed the distressed ones in want.” (Chapter Al-Haj 22: Verse 27).
And that is the essence of the Haj.