The Hindu : Significance of Haj pilgrimage

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 13, 2003

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

Significance of Haj pilgrimage

CHENNAI FEB.13 . The Islamic world has only two festivals, the first being Eid-Ul-Fitre, celebrated at the culmination of Ramadhan fasting on the first of Shawal, tenth lunar month in Islamic calendar, the second being Eid-Ul-Adha, falling on the tenth of Zil Hijja, the last month of the calendar that refers to the great historical episode in human history, when Hazreth Ibrahim (A S) prepared himself, without flinching for a moment to sacrifice his only son Ismael, begot in his old age, the Heavenly Voice called out, in the Quaranic verse "O, Abraham, Thou hast already fulfilled the vision. Thus indeed do We reward those who do right. For, this was obviously a trial and We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice." Hence, "Bakrid, associated with Haj pilgrimage to Mecca, housing the First Sanctuary of Allah" on earth, is celebrated with the offering of an animal in sacrifice, in commemoration of Hazreth Ibrahim's offering. Islamic sacrifice denotes the sacrificer sacrificing himself, in the way of Allah, in the defence of Truth, in defence of the oppressed, the weak and infirm.

Haj literally means "repairing to Bail-Ul-Allah, the House of God, the Kaba, which was rebuilt by both father and son, the venerable Prophets, Abraham and Ismael, by Divine Command, ridding it of all traces of idolatry and restoring it to its pristine purity, but also enjoined Haj with its main features as revealed by Almighty Allah, when Hazreth Abraham (A S) prayed to Allah "Our Lord! Make of us Muslims, bowing to Thy (will) and of our progeny a people of Muslim, bowing to Thy (will) and show us our places for the celebration of (due) rites. And turn unto us (in Mercy), for, Thou art the Oft-Relenting, Most Merciful" (2.128). And also prays, "O my Lord, make me one who establishes regular prayer. And also (raise such) among my offspring. O, Our Lord, and accept Thou my prayer" (14.41).

Kaba stands in utter simplicity, an unadorned symbol of God's Omnipresence that draws the devout, deferring profane. To Prophet Muhammed's (SAW) First and Last farewell Haj during the closing mission of his life, Allah revealed to him saying "This day have I perfected for you your religion, bestowed My Favours completely on you and chosen for you Islam as religion" that lays the greatest stress upon the spiritual development of man without neglecting his secular duties.

K.S. Ahmed Pasha,

Ambur

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