This part of Hajj is related to the reunion of Adam, Eve and Allah. In the Koran it says that the Mount of Mercy was where Allah forgave Adam and Eve, and this is why many ask for forgiveness on this mountain.
At sunset a pilgrim goes from Arafat to Muzdalifah. Prayers shouldn’t be delayed till midnight and so if the pilgrim feels that he or she will not reach Muzdalifah until after midnight they are allowed to combine two prayers in one so that they are able to rest once they have arrived at their destination. If a pilgrim has time he or she should use the time for prayer.
Near sunrise, a pilgrim goes from Muzdalifah to Mina. At Mina he or she should do the following:
1) He throws seven consecutive pebbles at Jamrah Al-Aqaba, which is the closest monument to Mecca.
2) He or she should buy a goat to be slaughtered as a sacrifice, eats a certain proportion of it, and gives some to the poor.
3) He should shave or clip his hair but shaving is preferable. A woman should clip her hair the length of a fingertip.
With that, one is allowed to come out of Ihram. He can wear other clothing and do everything that was lawful before Ihram except engaging in marital relations.
Afterwards, when the pilgrim is ready, they should go to Mecca to perform Tawaf and Sa'yi, which is still part of Hajj. Tawaf is the part of Hajj when the pilgrims walk around the Ka’bah seven times, and Sa’yi is when a pilgrim relives the journey for water made by Hagar for Ishmael. It is Sunnah to put perfume on before going to Mecca. Sunnah means that a Muslim doesn’t have to do it but as it is what Muhammad (PBUH) would do, it is seen as a good deed.
The story of Hagar looking for water for Ishmael is used in the Hajj. Hagar ran between two hills, Safa and Marwah. In the pilgrimage, a pilgrim must relive the moment when Hagar was looking for water by walking seven times back and forth between the two hills. After the walking you reach the Zamzam well where sweet milk water gushed out from underneath Ishmael’s feet.
With the completion of Tawaf and Sa'yi, a pilgrim is allowed to do everything that was lawful before Ihram. After performing Tawaf and Sa'yi, he returns to Mina to spend the nights of the eleventh and twelfth days there.
While the pilgrim is staying in Mina, they stone the three Jamrah in order of distance from Mecca.
He stones the three Jamrah in the afternoon of both the eleventh and twelfth days. He starts with the first Jamrah, which is furthest from Mecca, then the middle one, and lastly Jamrah Al-Aqaba. Each one should be stoned with seven consecutive pebbles accompanied by Takbeer. He stops after the first and middle Jamrah to make supplications facing the Ka’bah. It is not permissible to stone before noon on these two days. It is best to walk to the Jamrah, but riding is permissible.
If he is in a hurry after stoning on the twelfth day, he leaves Mina before sunset. But if he wishes to prolong his stay, which is best, he spends the night of the thirteenth in Mina and stones that afternoon in the same manner as on the twelfth day.
How the Ka’bah Became an Important Site for Pilgrimage
Tradition has it that when God banished Adam and Eve from Paradise, Adam fell on Adam's peak in Serandib and Eve someplace else. For two hundred years, the parents of mankind fruitlessly searched the earth for each other, alone and despairing, until the angel Gabriel descended and led Adam to Eve. And it is said that it was on the Mount of Arafat, not far from Mecca, that they were reunited.
When Adam came to Mecca, Gabriel with his wing uncovered a foundation on a site exactly below the spot occupied by the divine palace in the seventh heaven known as the Baitul-Ma'mur. The angels threw blocks on it from Lebanon, the Mount of Olives, Jabal Judi and Hira until the hole was filled level with the earth. God then sent from Paradise a tent of red jacinth in which Adam lived. In what was afterwards to become the Black Stone, a white jacinth from Paradise served as a seat. God commanded Adam to build the Ka'bah and Gabriel taught him the rites of the pilgrimage.
Adam is then said to have taken to performing the circumambulation round the Ka'bah following the example of the angels. Mecca however was without inhabitants and the sanctuary without worshippers. Adam made his feelings known to God and the Almighty promised him that with time, the place would be the site of a cult to which men would make pilgrimage. In later times, the deluge is said to have washed the building away so that the stone had to be concealed by the angels in Abu Qubais, a mountain to the east of Mecca. All that remained of the Ka'bah was a red mound, which was afterwards found by Abraham.
Abraham and his wife Sarah visited Egypt and following a short stay found a girl named Hagar. Abraham and Sarah took Hagar with them and departed to Canaan where they settled down. Since Sarah was barren, she suggested to Abraham that he wed Hagar. He married her when she was seventeen years old and in the following year Ishmael was born. Even though Sarah was fond of the child, she became jealous and noticed Abraham treating Hagar affectionately. Transformed, she demanded of her husband that he take Hagar and her son into the wilderness and there abandon them. Seeking divine guidance, Abraham set out with Hagar and Ishmael and travelled southward out of Canaan until he reached the present site of Mecca.
He left the mother and child to be cared by God, convinced that they wouldn’t be hurt, as this was the ground on which the original Ka'bah had stood. Hagar became fearful for the life of her child and leaving him near the spot where the Ka'bah stands today, she searched for water. Climbing up the hill known as Safa she asked for God's help. To the north, Hagar saw a lake and climbing down from the mountain she ran towards it only to find out that it was a mirage. Wearily she climbed another low hill known as Marwah and looking back in the direction she came, she saw another lake and climbing down again she made her way to Safa only to find that it was a mirage again. In panic, the she ran from Safa and back, passing the mirage seven times. Hopelessly, Hagar looked towards the spot where she had left her son and saw there a figure standing by the child. She quickly ran towards the strange figure and then slowed, she saw the angel Gabriel. The archangel struck the earth and water flowed. This became known as the Zamzam well.
Abraham received a command again and arrived at the valley where both father and son laboured in the blazing sun to raise the Ka'bah. When it was completed, Abraham mounted the Ka’bah and called to the Earth, summoning them to the worship of the one true God.
After Abraham and Ishmael built the Ka’bah it became a place of monotheist worship. The city of Mecca flourished and once Ishmael and Abraham had passed away, their descendants took over. After many centuries, this monotheist race began to steer away from their religion and began to worship idols. They were made out of wood and stone and of various shapes and sizes and were set up for material gain. These were originally for worshipping the one true God, but gradually God as in Allah faded away.
A long time after Abraham died, the Ka’bah became a trading place as well as a religious temple. However, this religious temple wasn’t only to do with Allah, and the way it was used when Abraham was alive, but it had idols in it. Worshipping idols was against the Islamic religion, and this had to stop. Muhammad (PBUH) came to see the Ka’bah and didn’t like what he saw.
He was what Arab monotheists were called at the time. He was a Hanif, and rejected all minor gods. He believed in one god like Jews and Christians he had met in his journeys outside Arabia.
Once Muhammad (PBUH) had had his revelations, and become a loved prophet in Mecca, he was involved in many things. He was also special because he was the seal of the prophets. This is why many Muslims see the pilgrimage as special, and important in their lives. To walk where Muhammad (PBUH) walked and to touch what Muhammad (PBUH) touched is extraordinary for a pilgrim, and this is what makes it important.
Another reason for Mecca being an important site of pilgrimage is that Muhammad (PBUH) the one who made Mecca the centre of pilgrimage.
However, it wasn’t only Muhammad (PBUH) who walked their, it was all the previous prophets. This pilgrimage is like learning the history of a religion in three days. Many also believe that they are alone when they are Muslims living in an area where there aren’t many about. Hajj can show that Muslim that they are not alone, and that it doesn’t matter what colour you are, how rich you are, or how fast you can work out sums, you will all be judged by Allah. This is why it is still important today.
How Various Practices of Hajj Influence Muslims
Many practices of Hajj can influence Muslims in a positive manner. Dressing in simple clothes during Hajj gives the pilgrim a feeling of equality before Allah. This may influence the Muslim to see everyone after Hajj as equal to him or her. In many ways this can be good, however, Muslims may interpret equality differently. An employee may talk to his or her employer as a friend and this may insult the employer. The Muslim’s explanation to this would be that it is his or her religion.
The special clothing is called Ihram, and this Ihram is aimed at giving the pilgrim a simple lifestyle. This simple lifestyle would give the pilgrim an excellent picture to use as an example to live by. Instead of wasting money on a wide screen television, or a Ferrari, a Muslim taking Ihram into consideration, would give this money to the poor. However, this may also be misinterpreted. A Muslim may see taxes as a waste of money, and may use religion to give him or her the excuse not to pay taxes.
Stoning the pillars can also make the pilgrim misinterpret its meaning. It is part of Hajj because it symbolises fighting away the devil. This will help the pilgrim keep to the rules of Islam, for example not drinking alcohol. However, what would happen if the pilgrim sees the devil as something or someone else. Some pilgrims who go to Hajj may see the pillar represent America and the Western world. Fundamentalist Muslims, usually see things in this way, but most Muslims don’t. This may influence a Muslim to go and bomb America.
During Hajj, a pilgrim must make sure that he or she does his or her prayers. In the middle of travelling through the desert, the pilgrim must do his or her prayers. If a pilgrim sees driving to work, and working as the travelling part of Hajj, then they will always be able to do their prayers.
One part of Hajj that I see as impossible to misinterpret is the main concept of the pilgrimage. The pilgrimage is not an easy task to complete, and don’t forget, the pilgrims must do this in scorching weather. This hard ship could be seen as life itself. No matter what gets in your way, if you are a Muslim you can use Hajj as a guide to help you through. As you didn’t give up during Hajj, you shouldn’t in your life.
Religious Practices Such As Pilgrimage Have No Practical Value
I disagree with this statement because there are more positive points for the argument that there are against. Many people say that they are expensive, however, so is a holiday. If you believe that the pilgrimage you are doing is your religion, then you are going to enjoy it, and it will become a significant part of your life. If you would ask me, which one is more practical, then it would be the pilgrimage way in front of the holiday.
Expanding from the religious reasons, it strengthens the bonds between the believer and the faith. Some say that you can do the same at home when you pray. This point can be argued with the previous argument. If a believer of a faith truly believes that it is the right thing to do, then it will be better for the believer to go on a pilgrimage than just simply praying at home.
Another argument for the statement is that it can separate families. In some cases that is true, however, when you think about it, it can be the reverse. When my dad leaves for a couple of days for his job, it makes me see how much I miss him when he isn’t here. Altogether, the pilgrimage may bring families closer.
Pilgrimage has a practical value also because it unites people of the same belief together. The pilgrim eventually becomes more confident in what they do, because they think about all the other people who went on the pilgrimage. As they were united in pilgrimage, they will stay united throughout life, and get through things easier.
Overall a pilgrimage changes your life forever. A pilgrim will see the world that they live in, in a different way. They will be able to apply their faith into everyday life, find time to pray, and treat people lower than themselves as equals.
People who agree with the statement would be people who generally don’t have a religion. They haven’t got a strong enough belief to see the practical values in pilgrimage. People who have a religion have a strong enough belief to see the practical values in pilgrimage but there are some exceptions.
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