After the sunset of the 9th Dhul-Hijja, the Muslim should make his way to Muzdalifah where pebbles are collected. Then Maghrib prayer and Isha prayer are carried out. The Muslim should spend the night there and also perform the Fajr prayer.
After staying in Muzdalifah, on the 10th Dhul-Hijja, before sunrise, the Muslim should make his way to Mina. Then the Muslim should go to, in Mina, the Jamrate al-Aqabah, which is a pillar, this pillar must be stoned with seven pebbles which the Muslim should have collected in Muzdalifah. Then he should camp in Mina and slaughter his sacrifice, which is normally a lamb. Then he should shave his head and then take off his Ihram garments. Eid-al-Adha is the now celebrated at this time also.
Then the Muslim must travel back to Mecca for another circling of the Ka’bah, he must carry out Tawaf al-Ifada. Also Sa’I again is carried out between Safa and Marwah. After this is done the Muslim may return back to Mina for rest and recovery and enjoy the rest of the time in Mecca.
In Mina, three days are spent, known as the Tashreeq days, the 11th, 12th and 13th Dhul-Hijja in Mina. During each of the three days, the Muslim, after Zuhr prayer, should stone the three pillars/Jamarat, starting with the small pillar and ending with the al-Aqabah.
One the 12th Dhul-Hijja, the Muslim way leave Mina after stoning the Jamarat. Then the Muslim should return to Mecca and make his final farewell Tawaf, and perform two Rak’ahs. The Tawaf should be the last thing done in Mecca.
Hajj is now completely, but also many Muslim’s prefer to visit the Prophet’s (pbuh) Mosque in Medina, even though this isn’t a compulsory part of Hajj.
A Muslim may take part in Hajj for many reasons. He might do it because it is a pillar of Islam, and all pillars of Islam must be done in order to be a Muslim. He might do it because he is being obedient to the rules of Islam. In the Quran it says that you must go on Hajj, and therefore with the Muslim going on Hajj, he is following the rules of the Quran and is following the rules of Islam. God has ordered Hajj to be completed. (These following quotes are from the Quran and is evidence from it that a Muslim should perform Hajj):
Hadith - Bukhari 4.250, Narrated Ibn Abbas
"Go, and perform the Hajj with your wife."
" People of Hajj and Umra are Allah’s convoy and guests. If they ask him he answers them and if they ask his forgiveness he forgives them"
"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" (22-27).
"... Pilgrimage thereto is a duty men owe to Allah - those who can afford the journey; but if any deny faith, Allah stands not in need of any of His creatures" (3-97).
A Muslim might take part in Hajj because he knows other family members, friends, and the Muslim community who have done it, and feels that he wants to be more accepted in his Muslim area. He might do it because his family members are performing Hajj and might as well join them. A Muslim might perform Hajj to remember the history of Islam, the origin of Islam, he might want to be in the presence of God’s holy house. A Muslim might perform Hajj to receive God’s blessing, and so that all his sins would be forgiven, maybe the Muslim is a sinner and wants to start a new life. He might go on Hajj to become spiritually close to God, and to gain spiritual enlightenment. He might go to become a better Muslim and to feel that he is going along the path of being a good Muslim and person. He might take part to gain the joy and excitement which his family and friends did. He might perform Hajj in search for answers about life, and to feel that he is doing something with his life by going on a spiritual journey. A Muslim might go to purify himself both physically and mentally. A Muslim might go on Hajj to complete a test which Allah has set him in order to show his devotion and care for Allah.
(b) (i) Explain the meaning and significance of the events of Hajj for a Muslim
First of all the ihram clothes are worn, the simple white clothe, because it shows simplicity and equality among all Muslims. If all Muslims wear the ihram then everybody will look equal, it isn’t particularly expensive so generally everyone can wear it. There isn’t any distinction of wealth and everyone seems to be the same when wearing the ihram. It shows that everyone is equal under God’s eyes. Muslims go into a state of Ihram so their body can be cleansed and purified, so that their mind is ready for God.
When looking at the Ka’bah and its importance, the first important historical moment surrounding Hajj dates back to the beginning of man. It concerned Adam and Eve, the first woman and man on earth. After Adam and Eve had given into the devil’s temptation they were banished from paradise and were not allowed to return, then for years they wandered the earth without comfort and in separation. Once they realised what separation from God actually was like, they prayed for forgiveness and that they be accepted and be in the presence of God. God forgave them, and they reunited with God at Mt. Arafat. It here at Mt Arafat that Adam and Eve built the first house to worship God, known as the Ka’bah, to show there gratitude to God for forgiving them. Therefore if Muslims to go to Mt Arafat they can also have the spiritual closeness to God and have all sins forgiven. (Soon the Ka’bah, after Adam built it was torn down)
The second important historical moment surrounding the Hajj involves Abraham and his family. Abraham had dreamt that his son, Isma’il was to be sacrificed to show his loyalty and faith to God. Abraham accepted this test of faith, and both him and Isma’il willing went to Mina to carry out the sacrifice. On the way to Mina the Devil appeared and try to convince the two not to carry out the sacrifice, the devil said three things:
1 Only I would ask you to do such a wicked thing, not God, Abraham was being tricked
2. If Abraham loved his wife then if she said not to kill her only son, he shouldn’t, and he should do anything she asked.
3. Isma’il should run away, can’t he see that Abraham is obsessed about a dream, he is mad
Abraham ignored the Devil and continued with the sacrifice. Just before Isma’il was going to be killed, God stopped Abraham and rewarded his loyalty by letting his other wife, Sarah, to have a baby, this baby was known as Isaac. Due to Sarah’s jealously on her son, God told Abraham to leave Isma’il and his mother, Hajar to God’s care. Eventually all of the family was reunited, and then both Abraham and Isma’il built a square building out of stone. Abraham had to stand on a large rock, known as Maqam Ibrahim to build the higher layers of the building. This building is known as the Ka’bah and is where Muslims go to make their pilgrimage to on Hajj.
People circle around the Ka’bah, known as the Tawaf, because going in a circular motion shows that the movements is never ending and a circle never ends but just keeps on going. This reflects the never ending love given from God and ever lasting eternity of him. People circle the Ka’bah seven times because when Muhammad (pbuh) entered Mecca in a camel, he circled the Ka’bah seven times, therefore pilgrims do this to gain there spiritual connection with Muhammad (pbuh) and to re-enact what he did. Muslims circle the Ka’bah in an anticlockwise way because the earth spins in an anticlockwise way and the fact it is a conscious decision in a pre-Islamic way to do it anti-clockwise because non-Muslims/kaffirs normally do things in a clockwise direction.
Muslims perform Sa’i, which is the running between Marwah and Safa, so that they can re-enact the frantic running which Hajar did when she tried to find water for her thirsty son. Then when all hope was lost, the angel Jibril appeared and showed her a spring of water, this spring is known as the ZamZam well. Muslims perform Sa’i so that they can feel the problems and difficulties that Hajar did. Hajar’s frantic running symbolizes the soul’s desperate search for which gives true life, the search answers to the questions of life. Therefore with the Muslims running, it is as if they are searching for what gives true life, searching for answers.
Pilgrims collect water from the ZamZam well in the courtyard of the Great Mosque in Makkah, they drink this water and take it home. They do this because the ZamZam well was the well that Hajar used to quench her son’s thirst when he was nearly dead, it is believed that the angel Jibril showed Hajar this well. This symbolises the hope and truth when all may believe that is lost, it shows that God is still watching and caring. So if Muslims drink the water and go to the well it might give them the feeling that God is always watching and caring and will never leave you even if you facing the most difficult of times.
Pilgrims travel to the plain of Arafat because this was the place that Adam and Eve were reunited when they were separated by God, this was also the place that God forgave them and accepted back again. Pilgrims go here so that they also can have there sins forgiven as so did Adam and Eve, the period in which the pilgrims stand under God so that there sins can be forgiven is known as Wuquf.
Muslims travel to Muzdalifah and pick up pebbles and then travel to Mina and stone the three pillars, because the pillars represent the devil, so by stoning the pillars it represents getting rid of and banishing the devil so that it would not bother the Muslim. The throwing of the stones at the pillars symbolises and re-enacts the time when Abraham got rid of the devil that try to stop him from sacrificing his son, Abraham did this by throwing stones at the devil, so therefore Muslims similarly throw pebbles at the pillars. There are three pillars because it symbolises the three temptations and arguments which the devil used to stop Abraham from sacrificing his stone, they were:
1 Only I would ask you to do such a wicked thing, not God, Abraham was being tricked
2. If Abraham loved his wife then if she said not to kill her only son, he shouldn’t, and he should do anything she asked. Why is Hajar letting Abraham sacrifice her son, didn’t he love him.
3. Isma’il should run away, can’t he see that Abraham is obsessed about a dream, he is mad
Muslims try to kiss the black stone while circling the Ka’bah because of three reasons.
1. Angel Jibril had chosen a place for Isma’il to dig, when Isma’il was digging he discovered the stone in the earth.
2. It is believed that this stone was given to Adam from the Angel Jibril from paradise
3. The stone is believed to have been given to Noah’s descendants after the huge flood which God had created.
Muslims believe that this stone is from heaven, and by kissing it is like they are feeling something which is from heaven and getting closer to the wonderful paradise.
Muslims sacrifice an animal in Mina because as soon it is sacrificed, it is given to the poor, therefore it is like a giving to charity, and like completing one of the pillars of Islam, which is Zakah – charity. The sacrifice of animal is similar to when Abraham had sacrificed an animal when God had told him that he didn’t have to sacrifice his son. Eid-al-Adha is celebrated because it is the “Festival of Sacrifice” and it commemorates Abraham’s love for God.
The black cloth which covers the Ka’bah, known as the “Al-Kiswa”, is cut up in to small pieces at the end of each pilgrimage and each small piece is given to the pilgrims as sort of a souvenir to remember the pilgrimage.
Finally Muslims perform Tawaf one more time before they leave because it is sort of a good bye to God and end of pilgrimage.
(ii) What difficulties might there be for a Muslim performing Hajj?
There are many problems and difficulties that a Muslim will face when performing Hajj. Many Muslims try to kiss the black stone, and since it is already crowded around the Ka’bah, there is a risk of Muslims being crushed by the enthusiastic crowd and getting seriously hurt. When Muslims circle the Ka’bah, it is likely that there is a lot of pushing and again people get crushed and killed. It is reported by the Saudi Authorities that 15 people were killed last year around the Ka’bah. People are killed around the Ka’bah due to pushing and shoving every year. People have been killed by tents fire in Mina as well. If the Muslims aren’t physically fit then he is very likely to face problems when circling the Ka’bah and is very likely to be crushed. There is also crushing and pushing problems when performing Sa’i, when running between Marwah and Safa. Also crushing is a problem with the zealous and exited pilgrims when stoning the pillars, this could also lead to people being hit by stones and being hurt, there have also been incidents when Muslims have been stoned to death. It is reported that the Saudi Army had to come in and had to control this enthusiasm.
When a Muslim circles the Ka’bah and is performing any other part of Hajj, it is always very hot and very crowded, therefore there is a high risk of dehydration which is very fatal, people normally bring umbrellas to bock themselves from the burning sun. Praying in Mecca around the Ka’bah is a problem because it is very cramped and is likely also to be very hot and uncomfortable, also I would imagine that when praying elsewhere it would be very noisy and thus hard to concentrate on prayer
Climbing up Mt Arafat is a problem because it is hard trekking up the rough surface and may cause a problem for the pilgrims, and especially for their feet. There is a lot of difficulty for disabled people, especially for people who cannot walk. This will be a problem especially when circling the Ka’bah and going to Mt Arafat. There are very limited facilities to cater for disabled people and therefore most of them wouldn’t be able to carry out Hajj, therefore they must ask another person who his physically fit to perform Hajj on their behalf. People, who suffer physical fatigue, may have a sense of missed opportunity if they are not physically able to perform all the necessary duties which are required to be done in order for Hajj to be counted as a completed pilgrimage, though these people are likely to be forgiven.
There is the difficulty of carrying luggage when travelling, it is likely to become a burden and a strain on the Muslim who is travelling. Travelling at night will also be a problem, because there would be reduced visibility, and the places where a Muslim must go are very spaced out and therefore he might get lost in the foreign land. Since performing Pilgrimage is such over a wide plain, it is likely that group family members might get lost and separated. They’re a lot of pickpockets around Mecca so the pilgrims might have their valuables stolen.
There is likely to be sanitation problems and hygiene problems, since hygiene itself is an important part of prayer, this is likely to present even bigger problems. I would imagine that the sanitation facilities aren’t very respectable and the fact there is a lot of insects around could cause health problems and the spread of diseases. I would imagine that there would be sleeping problems, with the pilgrims having to sleep on the floor. I would imagine rubbish piles up and causes problems for the Saudi authorities. Getting around is also a problem, there are very disorganised coach companies and it is likely the pilgrims will not be able to get around. There is also the problem with women, women might find it awkward with not being able to wear perfumes, moisturisers and other toiletries, this maybe uncomfortable and generally an uncomfortable pilgrimage.
(iii) How might participating in Hajj affect the life of a believer??
There is positive and negative effects for the life of the believer when participating in Hajj.
The positive effects are is that there is a new direction of life, they might look at life in a different way and become a better Muslim than they were before. With them going on Hajj and have a new understanding of Islam, they might volunteer in a mosque and tell other people about there wonderful experience. In Muslim countries, pilgrims are received with festivities and people visit them for three days, asking for their prayers. Participating in Hajj may make the person become closer to God and generally feel more comfortable and religious. The person can become more sincere and caring. By going on Hajj the believer may feel that he has done a great accomplishment and that has generally a greater understanding of Islam. He may also get a deeper sense of university of Islam. If the Muslim was a sinner and had sins that he wanted to be forgiven for then he can be rest assured that sins will be forgiven and feel that he can now have a new start and a new beginning of life. It is if he has turned a whole new leaf. When the pilgrim reaches Mecca and comes closer to the Ka’bah he is likely to be overfilled with joy, the Muslim must feel many exiting emotions and feel that they experiencing something magnificent.
The negative effects are is that the person might lead to feelings of superiority by becoming a better Muslim and showing pity on others who haven’t completed pilgrimage. The Muslim is likely to cause tension with other members of the family with him being more religious, speaking and acting differently, the family may not like this new person. If the pilgrim helped with the financial side of the family, then the rest of the family might face money problems and debt when the Muslim has gone on pilgrimage. When going to Pilgrimage you might witness people who are more devoted to Islam and therefore feel less religious than them and undervalue your own worth and commitment to Islam. The physical injuries sustained in Hajj might cause permanent problems and affect his lifestyle as a whole. There is likely to be some sort of depression and sadness when leaving the Hajj and he may feel he will never have another experience like that again. Other negative aspects are loosing your luggage on the journey, this may cause problems throughout the Hajj with not having the equipment you need, and also loosing important luggage could cause problems when going home. One major problem is the fact that pilgrim might loose a family member of friend when going on Hajj due to crushing, this may seriously affect the pilgrim’s view of Islam and pilgrimage and the fact that pilgrimage has only brought him sorrow, not happiness or greater spiritual awareness.
(c) ‘A true pilgrimage is really a journey within’
A true pilgrimage is a pilgrimage a person takes to show their loyalty to God. A true pilgrimage can be both physical and spiritual. If it a physical journey then it shows effort and determination amongst the person. A true pilgrimage is an act of religious devotion, therefore it doesn’t have to be an actual physical journey. If a person doesn’t go somewhere to become closer to God, and actually doesn’t go somewhere significant in his religion then that doesn’t mean the person cant get closer to God. This maybe for the case of disabled people, if they are not physically able to perform Hajj, then that doesn’t mean they will never be able to successfully perform Hajj, they can simply ask somebody else to do it on there behalf. If a person doesn’t do a physical journey, he can simply pray at home more sincerely to become closer to God.
In a Muslim view, a true pilgrimage is somebody who has experienced Taqwa –awareness of God. Taqwa is an experience where a person suddenly feels overwhelmed with joy and happiness, you become closer to God. The person’s life has experienced a new era, and he feel that he has been ‘born again’. This great feeling cannot be explained to others but only the person himself can feel this new door being opened. For a Muslim, gaining awareness of God is like having all questions about life answered, it is like everything in your life has a purpose and everything has changed. Pilgrims do not have to go to Hajj to gain Taqwa, it can be gained by a person suddenly realising God exists, it is gained when person understands his religion and feel he knows the answer to life.
The Laylat-ul-Mi’raj, or Night Journey, was the journey that Muhammad (pbuh) did, during this journey he had an extraordinary experience, the journey was like his spirit travelling to Heaven, while his body lay by his wife’s side. This journey was a great influence on the rest of his life. This proves that a Muslim doesn’t necessarily have to perform Hajj to gain a great spiritual experience. Muhammad (pbuh) had gained this great spiritual experience on a journey, this experience has changed his life and can be viewed as a true pilgrimage. If a Muslim can experience the same effects which Muhammad (pbuh) did then, regardless of whether the journey was the Hajj or not, then it can also be counted as a true pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is done to become closer to God. Muslims do not have to go to Hajj to believe God exists. If a person must believe that God exists to be accepted into paradise after death, a person must have the awareness that God will take a Muslim into paradise after death. A true pilgrimage is a pilgrimage where a person accepts God’s loving presence and removes the wall that blocks him from thinking that God exists.
The stand, which is the standing in Mt Arafat before God is very important in Hajj, without the stand the pilgrimage isn’t valid. The stand is a great mystical experience, all the sins are forgiven and there is a feeling of being totally cleansed. Also there is a sense of gratitude and gratefulness towards God for removing and forgiving their sins. This is a true pilgrimage, to believe that God is present and is forgiving his sins. Therefore on a different opinion, a Muslim sin cannot be removed forever if he doest not come to Mt Arafat, therefore the Muslim has to come to Hajj to feel cleansed completely. This cannot be done anywhere else and therefore saying that a true pilgrimage is really journey within and that a person can obtain this cleansing feeling at home is wrong, because he cannot.
Sufism Muslims preach that a Muslim must have a have the intention, the depth of concentration, the awareness of God, the purification of the soul, the feeling of a connection with God and the effect of the prayers on morals. As along as Muslims have these qualities, then a Sufi’s pilgrimage is complete. Sufism preaches that the mystical inside experience which Sufi’s get is a true pilgrimage, rather than it being an external journey, as long as the intention is there. Sufism preaches that God’s power draws Muslims from normal life and makes them forget everything else and only concentrate on God. Sufism preaches that there is a lot of mysticism around God’s effect on Muslims. They preach that there is an active presence of God within them.
When looking at Christianity, there isn’t any real specific pilgrimage. As long as the Christian gains what he wants to gain, it can be counted as a true pilgrimage. For example many Christians go on retreats, which is sort of day full of learning about God. Some Christians may consider that a true pilgrimage is simply a quiet day in a church, they feel that this makes them closer to God.
In conclusion I would say that yes, the physical journey of the Hajj is always a true pilgrimage of Muslims. This is because you cannot experience the things that you do in Hajj at home. By going on Hajj you are following the footsteps of prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and feel what his life is like and the travels and journeys he performed, which you cannot do at home. The going on Hajj is the act of ‘ibadah’, an act of worship, submission and obedience. By going on Hajj the Muslim develops faith in Allah and he feels he can trust him, which you cannot do elsewhere. Necessary prayers cannot be accepted to the greater extent if a person does them while going to Hajj. A true pilgrimage of a Muslim must be to complete Hajj, it cannot be something else, because it is said by Allah that performing Hajj is a necessity, and if it is a necessity it must be done.
Bibliography
Videos on pilgrimage : one of them was entitled “Muslim journey of a lifetime”
Class discussion on Pilgrimage
http://www.isgh.org/khutbah/hajjKhutba.htm
http://www.guidedones.com/metapage/salat/Hajjsign10.htm
http://muttaqun.com/travel.html
http://www.essaybank.com
Books: Islam by Janet green
Islam by Ruqaiyyah Waris