Al-Hajj Wa Al-'Umrah
(A concourse of Body and Soul, Time and Place)
Mohammed S. Uddin
Part II
History of Hajj
Hajj is a legacy of IbrahimAS, his spouse Hagar, his son IsmailAS, and the last Prophet and Messenger of Allah, MohammadSAAW. Each one of them played a significant role in establishing the manasiks of this unique form of worship of Allah, that eventually led to perfection of the concept and made it a pillar of Islam.
Life of IbrahimAS:
IbrahimAS was born in Ur of Chaldees (a place in the lower reaches of Euphrates). His father was Azar, who was an idol worshipper. When he saw his father making the idols and worshipping them, he asked him "O my father, why do you worship something that cannot speak, hear or answer.":
"When he said to his father: "O my father! Why do you worship that which hears not, sees not, and cannot avail you in anything?" (Surah Maryam, 19:42)
His father disputed with him and threatened him. He also had dispute with the community, because he broke their idols, except the big idol. Finally, king Nimrud ordered him to be burnt. He was catapulted into a huge fire, but with the mercy of Allah, the burning power of the fire was taken out; and instead of burning, the fire became a place of peace, safety, and security for him. At the end, he walked out of the fire, totally unharmed:
"They said: "Burn him and help your Alihah (gods), if you will be doing." We (Allah) said:
"O fire! Be (you) coolness and safety for Ibrahim!" (Surah Al-Anbiya, 21:68-69)
He preached Tauhid, but none followed him except his nephew LutAS. He then decided to leave Ur, and migrated to Syria, then to Palestine; he was accompanied by Sarah (his cousin sister, and would be wife), and his nephew LutAS. While in Palestine, he once traveled to Egypt for inviting people to Tauhid, where he encountered a tyrant king. The king wanted to meet Sarah, then he attempted to seduce her, but he failed because of divine protection. Out of amazement and reverence, the king gave Sarah a gift: this was Hagar, the Egyptian.
Returning from Egypt, IbrahimAS settled in Canaan. Lady Sarah offered Hagar to Ibrahim for marriage, hoping for Ibrahim's progeny. Lady Hagar and IbrahimAS were soon blessed with Isma'il, the first born. Later on, Lady Sarah and Ibrahim were blessed with Isaac.
The life of IbrahimAS was full of challenges. Because of his sincerity and steadfastness, and blessings of AllahSWT, he accomplished all of them. He purified the House of Allah, built the Sacred Refuge, he submitted his will to Allah's Will, and was bestowed with the title "Hunafa'": IbrahimAS was 'Hunafa' by birth. His life history depicts his monotheistic nature:
"And indeed! We bestowed aforetime on Ibrahim, his (portion of) guidance, and We were Well- Acquainted with him (as to his belief in Oneness of Allah)." (Surah Al-Anbiya, 21:51)
He was promised the leadership of the world, and was permitted to plead for his Ummah. He was peaceful in the middle of the fire, because of his Taqwa. But all of these achievements were not enough to make him "The Friend of Allah", and be the leader of mankind till he passed the final Test, the test of his total submission, sincerity, and Love of Allah. The test had to be achieved through a Great Sacrifice, and the Command for that sacrifice came in a dream:
"Then when (the son) reached (the age of serious) work with him, he said: "O my son! I see in vision that I offer you in sacrifice: Now see what is your view!" (The son) said: "O my father! Do as you are commanded; you will find me, if Allah so wills, one practicing patience and constancy!" (Surah Al-Saffat, 37: 102)
Hagar and Isma'il in Paran:
When Isma'il was still breast-fed, Prophet IbrahimAS was commanded to take Hagar and her son to the valley of Paran (the old name of Makkah). The valley of Paran was an arid land without any water or harvest. IbrahimAS left them at the present site of Haram, between the two hills of As-Safa and Al-Marwa, with only a bag of dates and some water in a water-skin.
Helpless and bewildered, young mother with her very young child, wondered, and finally asked Ibrahim, if this was the Command of Allah! Ibrahim answered her by nodding his head, and quietly left. Hopeful and reassured, Hagar resigned and submitted to the Will of Allah, and assured herself that Allah will not forsake her and her baby, and deprive them of His Mercy.
Speechless and heavy hearted, Ibrahim kept walking quietly till he came out of her sight, and on reaching Thaniya, heartbroken, but ever obedient, he supplicated:
"O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring dwell in a valley without cultivation, by Thy Sacred House; in order, O Our Lord! That they may establish regular prayer: So, fill the hearts of some men with love towards them, and feed them with fruits, so that they may give thanks." (Surah Ibrahim, 14:37)
Very soon the bags of water and dates finished: without food and drink, both the mother and the child started to become weak, and the mother became dry of milk. Perceiving that the situation is dire, the mother, despite the threat to her own life, desperately looked for help for the sake of her baby. She started to run and climb to the top of the hills of As-Safa and Al-Marwa, to call out for help. She knew the first time that there was no one around, but she continued her efforts, never giving up the hope, however small that hope was, that there may be some one out there, who will respond to her call.
At the end of the seventh run, when she reached Al-Marwa, she heard a voice, and heard it again, and said: "O (whoever you may be)! You have made me hear you voice; have you got something to help me? And behold, she saw an angel digging the earth with his heel (or with his wing), till water gushed out from that hole. Seeing that, she ran, and started to contain the water with sand, saying the words: "Zumi, ya Mubaraka!", meaning 'Stop there, stop there, O blessed water'. Thus was the beginning of the Spring of Zam-zam. She filled the water skin and drank from it, and fed her son. That was enough for a meal!
The angel said to her: "Don't be afraid of being neglected, for this is the House of Allah which will be built by this boy and his father, and Allah never neglects His people". [Prophet's Tradition, Stories of the Prophets, Imam Ibn Kathir]
Historically, Lady Hagar lived in the valley of Bacca and shared the water with the family of Jurhum and others, who lived in the valley, but retained the right to remain in control of the well. The tradition continued through Isma'il and his descendants to the present Arabs.
Because of availability of water, travelers started to settle around the area, and a new community started to grow. She raised her son with moral values, and taught him to remain ever obedient to AllahSWT, and to his father IbrahimAS. Young Isma'il became a part pf that community, and married in the family of Jurhum.
Prophet IbrahimAS used to visit Lady Hagar and Isma'il frequently. During one such visit, he saw a dream in which he was commanded to sacrifice his beloved son Isma'il. So, he mentioned the dream to his son to see how Isma'il felt about it. Isma'ilAS told his father "O father! Do as you are commanded (to do), I will be patient about it":
"Then when (the son) reached (the age of serious) work with him, he said: "O my son! I see in vision that I offer you in sacrifice: Now see what is your view!" (The son) said: "O my father! Do as you are commanded; you will find me, if Allah so wills, one practicing patience and constancy!" (Surah Al-Saffat, 37: 102)
Bu it was unimaginably emotionally traumatic for both the father and the mother. IbrahimAS, Lady Hagar, and Isma'il discussed the dream, and finally they decided to obey the Command. When IbrahimAS was ready to slaughter his son and turn him face down, he heard the Call that he has fulfilled the dream, and saw a ram in place of Isma'il. It was indeed a Monumental Ransom, and became the tradition for his progeny and the Muslim Ummah:
Then, when they submitted themselves (to the Will of Allah), and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead, We called out to him: O Ibrahim! You have fulfilled the dream! Verily, thus do we reward the Muhsinun." (Surah Al Saffat, 37:103-105)
Thus, AllahSWT acknowledged the sincere intention of IbrahimAS, and accepted the sacrifice of the ram, emphasizing the fact that it is not the material sacrifice that reaches Allah, but it is the love for Allah that reaches Him: "It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah, but it is the Taqwa (Allah-consciousness) that reaches Him." (Surah Al-Hajj, 22:37)
Hajj and Eid-al-Adha:
Hajj and Eid-al-Adha are not supplementary: Hajj is the journey to visit Ka'bah in Makkah, and perform the rites of Hajj, while Eid-al-Adha is the day of Udhiya or sacrifice. Udhiya is an obligatory rite of Hajj.
Eid-al-Adha is the day of celebration of the legacy of Ibrahim, in commemoration of his sincere intention of sacrificing his son Isma'ilAS for the love of Allah. This is the day when Muslims around the world celebrate the day with or without having to sacrifice cattle (depending on the affordability). Udhiya is not an obligation, but it is highly recommended (Wajib per some schools), to be done on behalf of the living members of the family, or as Sadaqa (charity) for those who passed away, leaving their property behind.
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