Page 6 The Islamic Bulletin Issue 4 Hajj: The Fifth Pillar of Islam Hajj demonstrates the essence of Islam which is belief in one God, alone. All the ceremonies a pilgrim performs, all the places through which he goes during Hajj remind him of a great deal of history of this belief, Tawhid. The performance of Hajj becomes obligatory (fard) upon those Muslims 1) who have the means to afford the journey and 2) are physically able to do it and 3) if the way is safe and free from dangers. Hajj is obligatory once in a lifetime. The Prophet (pbuh) said, “He who performs (Hajj) with no obscenity or evil practices will come out as a newly born baby - free from all sins.” (Bukhari & Muslim) Blessings and Effects of Hajj The pilgrim’s mind which pulsates with the desire to visit the House of God, learns to retain only virtuous thoughts. He repents for his past sins and seeks forgiveness from people whom he might have wronged. He is careful that nobody is harmed by him while he tries to render whatever service or help he can do to others. He desists from abuse, indecency, dishonesty, squabbles and bickering. Thus the entire journey constitutes Ibadah. This is the journey which continuously purifies man’s nafs (soul). Every year, in each of the different parts of the world, hundreds of thousands of Muslims get prepared for Hajj with a newly kindled spark of the love of God; their influence will improve the moral state of vast numbers of people. When these people, filled with the thrill of Hajj return from the center of their religion to their cities and villages all around the world, and meet thousands of individuals, and relate to them their Hajj experiences, it causes an awareness, an awakening and God-consciousness throughout the whole Muslim Ummah (nation). Hajj demonstrates the real and practical unity and brotherhood of mankind. Pilgrims belonging to hundreds of countries and communities, languages and colors, flock to one center through a thousand and one routes. They remove their national dress and everybody without exception puts on Ihram, nothing more than two sheets of unsown cloth and a pair of slippers. Pride and vanity are given up. Poor and rich, black and white, Arab and non-Arab, American and African, rulers and ruled, are all clad in similar dress, moving simultaneously in the same direction, raising one slogan, Talhiya. In this way, the differences of nationalities and races and colors are obliterated and a universal group of God-worshippers is constituted. The month of Hajj is the season of peace, Mecca is the place of peace; Hajj is the greatest conference of peace known in the history of mankind. Hajj is a declaration of strong rejection of all kinds of shirk (worship of any other than God). The pilgrim rejects all concepts of special holiness related to man or place or even prophets. In Islam, nothing is holy other than God, The Almighty. He alone is Quddus (holy); it is His name. He has no partner in any of His Attributes. Hajj in Outline 8th Zul- Hijjah - Enter Ihram from Miquat or from the staying place at Mecca. - Crying out of Talbiya (“Labbayk Allahumma Labbayk, Labbayk la sharika laka Labbayk, Innal hamda, wanni’ mata laka walmulk La sharika lak.” - “Here I am, O Allah, (in response to Your call), here I am. Here I am, You have no partner, here I am. Indeed all the Praise, Grace and Sovereignty belong to You. You have no partner.”) - Set out for Mina the same day and stay there at night (offering the five prayers: zuhr, asr, mahgrib, isha and fajr) 9th Zul-Hijjah - Leave Mina for Arafat before midday. - Stay at Arafat plain praying to God until sunset. This is the most important part of Hajj (pray zuhr and asr prayers together at zuhr time) - Return to Muzdalifa, pray mahgrib and isha together, sleep, offer fajr prayers and leave before sunrise. 10th Zul-Hijjah - Come back to Mina and throw seven pebbles at Jamrat ul-Aqaba (the last pillar). - Sacrifice of animals, usually cattle, camels and goats. - Go to Mecca and perform Tawaf and Sa’ee. - Return to Mina and stay 2 or 3 nights there. 11th and 12th Zul-Hijjah - Throw seven pebbles at each pillar each day. Before Leaving - Come back to Mecca and perform Tawaf. One who arrives in Mecca on the 9th of Zul-Hijjah must go straight to Arafat and perform the rest of the rites. His Hajj is completed.
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