Everyone who can takes part in Hajj at least once in his or her life if possible. If a Muslim cannot go on the Hajj themselves, for any particular reason (including illness, lack of money and funds, unavoidable circumstance, protection of others, expectant mothers) then it is the Niyyah shown by Muslims that counts. Niyyah is the intention, and the person who cannot go on the Hajj can pay for someone else to do the hajj for him or her, pay a small fee to some-one who has already undertaken the Hajj, or to give the Hajj money to charity. Then, the particular Muslim could join the Hajj spiritually and in prayer. Niyyah counts because Allah accepts it. Charity and looking after the poor are considered very important actions by Allah, as it continues the religion, and it also shows great care for the respect for the older generations. Niyyah is considered as important as the Hajj itself, and Niyyah is also accepted as payment because it will allow someone else to take the Hajj. This is important too, as it again gives someone else a chance to prove their religion. Therefore, Allah almighty accepts Niyyah as good enough instead of taking the Hajj.
Both men and women are expected to take part in the great hajj, and they both wear very simple clothing. They both wear very simple white clothes. “The required pilgrimage dress for men is two white cloths, one of which covers the body from the waist down, and one that is gathered around the shoulder. Women usually wear a simple white dress and headscarf, or their own native dress”. () However, they do not cover their face, as they trust the men having a pure heart. Vanity is discouraged, and Muslims approach pilgrimage in as natural a state as possible. Excessive perfumes and washing materials are not used, and hair and fingernails are left in their natural state without trimming or cutting.
The reason for wearing such simple clothing is because they all look the same. The normal garments are normally known as ihram. This symbolises equality under the eyes of Allah. They do not show any signs of wealth and social status, and they all travel tighter in the same way. It could also show devotion to Allah as they are prepared to show they are all equal. I think that it is a really good idea because it allows no comparison with others from physical appearance. The only thing that separates them is physical differences (with body shape etc…) and with attitude differences. The Muslims will appreciate this idea, as it gives no differences. Everyone will be perfectly equal, and it will give people the chance to share an experience with people they would normally never even talk to in the open world. This is a really great idea for everyone concerned because they will meet new people and they will share an experience with each other. They will be glad to wear the same clothing as one another.
ii) Describe and explain why a Muslim might take part from Hajj and what this involves
There are many reasons why a Muslim may take part in a Hajj, including reasons from the Qur’an and from Muhammad’s teachings and examples! A Muslim might take part in Hajj because it says it in the Qur'an 3:93: "The true Hajj is made between 8 and 13th Dhul-Hijjah, which is the twelfth month in the Islamic calendar and is the month of pilgrimage. If you go on pilgrimage to Makkah at any other time then this pilgrimage is known as Umrah or a lesser pilgrimage”. (). This quote is clearly saying that to be a true Muslim you must complete the true Hajj, which takes place between the 8th and the 13th. Allah expects Muslims to go on the Hajj at least once in their life if possible, so why not the Greater Hajj, which would show more commitment to Allah and Ummah (The family of Islam). The Hajj is very important for all Muslims. The difference between a greater and a lesser Hajj is the dates and the actions that the Muslim takes during his Hajj. A Greater Hajj involves all the actions needed, and it occurs between the proper dates as stated above. A Lesser Hajj is a Hajj that occurs anytime apart from the dates stated, and it is regarded as a lesser Hajj if the Muslim misses the Mount of Arafat stand before Allah. A Lesser Hajj does not count as a full Hajj, and a Muslim can do as many Lesser Hajj’s as they like, although they must do at least 1 full Hajj if possible.
Another quote is “And worship your Lord until there comes to you the certainty” (Al-Hijr 15:99) Allah is stating that the Muslims obedience and submission must be constant and continuous. Therefore they must hasten to do good deeds before they do badly and regret their negligence and failure to act. The quote expects Muslims to do good deeds, and doing the Hajj is one of the greatest things a Muslim can do in his or her lifetime. Therefore, a Muslim will be encouraged to go on this hajj to show to Allah that they are committed to him and Islam as a faith.
Another reason for the Muslims going on hajj is the significance of past Prophet’s and other important people for history that have made a similar trip. The hajj celebrates many different events from Islamic history, with stories from the Qur’an that back up the history, so a Muslim might want to go to celebrate with the Ummah these special events. “Hajj celebrates 3 particular events in Muslim history; forgiveness and reunion with Adam and Eve, Prophet Ibrahim’s sacrifice of his son Ismail, and the obedience of Prophet Muhammad”. (World Faiths: Islam, Hodder and Stoughton Page 73.) All of these stories from the Qur’an must really encourage the Muslims to take up the challenge of the Hajj. All 3 stories are important because they are all symbolised by something on the Hajj (Adam and Eve is shown by the shrine they built after God reunited and forgave them for turning to the Devil after temptations took over), and the Ibrahim story of the Qur’an is symbolised by The Mount Of Mercy running. This is called Sa’i and it literally involves running between 2 hills backwards and forwards, as did Ibrahim’s wife Hagar when she went looking for water for her son.
The main benefit of Hajj for many people is the sense of purification, repentance and spiritual renewal it provides after the day praying of Mount Arafat. After his Hajj, Malcolm X (a man who went to the Hajj with many other fellow Muslims) wrote in his autobiography: "...I have eaten from the same plate, drank from the same glass, and slept in the same bed (or on the same rug) - while praying to the same God - with fellow Muslims whose eyes were bluest of the blue, whose hair was blondest of the blonde and whose skin was whitest of the white. And in the words and in the actions and in the deeds of the white Muslims, I felt the same sincerity that I felt among black African Muslims of Nigeria, Sudan and Ghana..In the past I permitted myself to be used to make sweeping indictments of ...the entire white race...Because of the spiritual enlightenment that I was blessed to receive as a result of my recent pilgrimage to the Holy City of Mecca, I no longer subscribe to the sweeping indictments of any one race. I am now striving to live the life of a true Muslim.”.( Malcolm X autobiography) it is teachings like this that encourage Muslims to take up the Hajj. This quote clearly shows the Ummah that you experience from the Hajj, and so it is more likely that people will go on this incredibly journey with actual accounts like this. It would really encourage people to undertake this journey because they will want to experience it for themselves.
Muhammad also gave many teachings and examples for going on a Hajj. He built the first mosque after Quraish women in the desert brought him up. He grew to be a very religious man, and had strong beliefs and customs. He was a very powerful teacher, and he spread his views and religious stories wherever he went. He encouraged the pilgrimage to Mecca because that was where he built his first ‘Mosque’. Therefore, people will want to go to this Holy Place to see the Mosque, and to see where Muhammad built this very religious and important structure. The quote “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”. [Qur’an 3: 97]. This quote shows that all Muslims should, and will if they are to be loved by God, go on a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once. It also shows that they should only go on pilgrimage if they are able to. I think that this quote shows how important Hajj is because it is a duty that these Muslims have to Allah. Other quotes from the Qur’an and Muhammad include: “Whoever performs Hajj for Allah’s pleasure and does not have sexual relations with his wife, and does not do evil or sins then he will return after Hajj free from all sins as if he were born anew”. This quote explains that if you can restrain from physical pleasures and things that should not occur during a Hajj then you will benefit most from the Hajj. If you complete the Hajj for Allah himself then you are completing it for the right reasons, although if you go against the teachings and wants of Allah then you will be going against Allah himself, meaning you will be obstructing the religion itself. This is obviously unforgivable in the eyes of the Muslim, so they really try to complete the Hajj and be ‘reborn’ and have no sins. This quote clearly explains that if a Muslim does complete the Hajj then he will have been forgiven all sins from Allah, and he will be able to start afresh (a new relationship with Allah). This will be important for those who want to express their love and Ummah with Allah and the family of all Muslims. This is highly important for everyone involved in the Hajj as one of the main reasons for completing it is for the forgiveness of Allah himself. Another quote is: “Allah’s Apostle got his head shaved after performing his Hajj”. This quote would encourage Muslims to go on a Hajj because they will join the Ummah (family of Muslims because it is tradition to shave your head after completing Hajj). It will also be following Mohammed’s examples, and this is too very important for all Muslims worldwide.
There are many aims and hopes of the pilgrims that do the Hajj, with many specific examples and quotes given through the experiences of others. Pilgrims want to complete the Hajj to gain spiritual awareness of Allah and to get closer to him. They may also go on the Hajj to repent for their previous sins. For all pilgrims, the aim is always to seek the peace of Allah. It teaches all of the participants that life is a spiritual quest. Hajj also aims at levelling the distinctions that separate people of varying ranks and status by reminding them of their humble origin from dust. “After death, we all return to dust with the bare minimum of clothes. Likewise, a Haji is dressed in two white shrouds. Hajj thus trains us in humility.” ()
Among the most important wisdoms and aims of Hajj that the pilgrim must be aware of are that the realisation of Taqwa, and that there is only one God, the Almighty Allah. The affirmation of Tawheed is another important aim of the pilgrim. Hajj is based on making someone’s intention sincere for Allah and seeking with their act the pleasure of Allah and none other. The Pilgrim also aims for obedience, as there is no place in acts of worship for any rituals based on desires. (Only for their one true God). Among the most apparent of goals and wisdoms of Hajj is to show that they servant an appreciation, esteem, and love of Allah’s symbols and sanctities (for example, Heaven and it’s joining with Allah).
Decency and chastity are also hoped upon by Muslims during the Hajj . Hajj is during well-known months, so whoever has made hajj obligatory upon himself to not have sex during these periods. The suppression of anger is also very important because it is important that you do not feel anger or bad thoughts towards Allah or other Muslims. Concern for others is another very important aim of the Hajj. During Hajj, the Muslim is concerned not only about himself or herself, but also shows concerns for those they mix with during the Hajj.
Humbleness is one of the most important things a Pilgrim could hope for. This becomes evident in the unity between all pilgrims in rituals and feelings, and in the negation of traces of material differences between them, such as language, nationality, wealth, etc….
Patience is another one of the qualities present that Pilgrims try to abide by. The Pilgrim restrains him or herself from desires by leaving acts that are prohibited while in the state of ihram, and also by leaving some permissible acts while not in the state of ihram. He or she exposes himself or herself to hardship and fatigue in fulfilling the orders of Allah. This is achieved by performing the rituals. This is a motive for leaving sins, doing righteous acts, and bearing inconveniences after Hajj.
“Removal of stitched clothing and lack of adornment reminds the servant of the shroud and resurrection of servants from their graves on the Day of Resurrection barefoot and naked. Journey and fatigue remind the servant of weakness and hardship of the Day of Resurrection, to the point that some will drown in sweat to their necks” ().
The pilgrim also hopes to follow in submission, surrender, and complete obedience to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. In the actions of Hajj actions such as the abandonment of stitched clothing, the standing on Arafat, the stoning the Jamarat, and the shaving or cutting of the hair shows Ummah at it’s finest, as well as showing that Muslims are prepared to show to Allah that they love him.
The Hajj starts with Talbiyeh, which is the prayer at the arrival of Mecca, and it is a very moving experience for all concerned. This is the first part of the hajj experience, so it is very important for all those who are involved in it. Tawaf is the next part of the Hajj, and involves circling the Ka’bah 7 times anticlockwise. Many Muslims will try to reach and touch, and even kiss, this precious black stone in salute! At the end of this circling, they will go to a Station of Ibrahim and they will pray twice to further salute! Sa’I is the next thing in the Hajj calendar, and it involves the running between the 2 small hills of Safa and Marwah. There is now a passageway that links the 2 hills. This ritual is in memory of the desperate search of Ismail’s mother, Hagar, for water for her son. The well of ZamZam is an important landmark for Muslims as it is the well that appeared when she was desperate for the water and turned to Allah for help.
Mina is the next thing that the Muslims do. It occurs on the 8th day of Dhul Hijja, and it involves taking a full bath and putting on the Ihram again. They then go to the valley of Mina 10 kilometres away, where they use special walkways to get there. Wuquf occurs on the 9th day, and it is when the Pilgrims reach the plain of Arafat. This is 24Kms East of Mecca, and it is where Muslims make the stand before Allah on the Mount of Mercy. If the Muslims do not arrive to the mount in time, then the Hajj is invalid. This time of the Hajj is really important, and so utmost care is taken to arrive in time! By sunset on the same day, the pilgrims’ head back to Muzdalifah, which is situated between Arafat and Mina. The stoning of the devil also happens here (Jamras), and this is to symbolise the temptations of Ibrahim and his family. The 3 pillars are the aimed at targets.
Section B:
i) Explain the meaning and significance of events in Hajj for a Muslim
There are many meanings and significances that Muslims experience from, and during, the Hajj. These experiences have many different effects on the Muslims, and they affect them both physically and mentally. The background story for each event in Section A is also important, as it will affect the meaning of the Hajj, and it will affect the Hajj-goer. There are 3 important background information sections that Muslims look towards when understanding about Hajj. They are the background information on Adam and Eve (The paradise and heaven), Ibrahim (The test, stoning of devil), and Muhammad's Teachings (All events in Hajj). There is also background information that Muslims have on the Ka'bah, the ZamZam Well, mount Arafat, Marwah, Muzdalifah, and Mina.
The background on Adam and Eve is very important, as it creates the basis of the forgiveness of God, and the return to Paradise (heaven). It is written in the Qur'an that the story began on the Mount of Arafat (where Muslims make the stand before Allah). It is said that it was on this Mountain that Allah forgave Adam and Eve and their sins, and allowed them to return to Heaven with Him. The reason they were banished form Heaven in the 1st place was because they gave in to the Devils’ temptations, and they were removed from heaven and moved away from each other. They were both terribly unhappy and saddened by this fact. Allah knew they would eventually turn back to Him when they had leant that they needed each other and God. They eventually did turn to God and in thanks for reuniting them they built a simple, yet religious, shrine near to the Mount, which is said to be the 1st constructed religious building that was place don the face of the Earth. “For Muslims, to be on that Mountain on 9 Dhul-Hijjah, is the main part of the Hajj ritual. As for Adam and Eve, this ‘meeting’ between themselves and God, if done with spiritual awareness, brings total forgiveness of all past sins and gains promise of paradise” (Examining Religions, 1995, page 68) This quote clearly explains that Adam and Eve started the whole Mount of Arafat and the Stand Before God that is seen for all Muslims. As it explains in the quote, if the Muslim is able to get to the Mount on the specific date, they will be able to forget all sins. This is why it is such an important event for all Muslims. Muslims take this event very seriously. I think that this is why all Muslims go on their Hajj; to get forgiven and to be accepted into Heaven.
Another very important event, which has background information, is the stoning of the devil (Jamras), which has the background information from Ibrahim and the devil. This is celebrated by Hajj because it shows the triumph of God over the Devil, and the trust and obedience you should have in Allah. The story begins with a man named Ibrahim, who had vowed to Allah that he would sacrifice everything in his life to him and him alone, and would obey his every command. He lived with only his wife and only child, named Hagar and Is’mail. Allah decided to see if Ibrahim was true to his word, and decided to test him. He asked Ibrahim in a dream to sacrifice his only son, and Ibrahim woke only to realise he had to make a choice. Keeping his vow, he told his son the dream; only to get the reply saying that he must, under the command of god, keep his promise. This shows great courage and bravery, and Muslims would take note of this, and would believe they too should be as trusting.
The family headed out for Mina (because it is said to be the place of sacrifice). On the way to their destination, they were stopped many times by the devil (seen in the human form). The devil tried relentlessly to stop Ibrahim taking his son into the desert, and the arguing seemed more and more genuine…however, every time the devil persisted, Ibrahim stoned the Devil and carried on towards his destination. The Devil was stoned 3 times, explaining why there are 3 pillars when the Hajj festival takes place. When he arrived at his destined location, Ibrahim was about to sacrifice his son when Allah himself stopped him, at the last moment. Allah declared that it was only a test for his obedience. “As a reward for his obedience was that his barren wife Sarah gave birth at last to a son of her own” (Examining Religions, 1995, page 68). This was his reward. Muslims will want to follow his footsteps and go to the devils to stone them to show Allah is the one they will follow, and he is the one they will trust and believe in.
The final of the 3, which could be the just as important as the Adam and Eve itself, is the ZamZam well, which Hagar found when she was in the desert with her child Ismail. They were both lost, and were both dying of thirst. God had seemingly abandoned them, and Hagar was getting desperate. She had lost all hope and they both thought they were going to die. She ran between two hills, named Safa and Marwah (which Muslims of today to as well to symbolise her frantic search for water), and she looked and looked…but found no water. When she had lost all hope and gave up her search, the angel Jibril appeared form nowhere and showed her a pool of water that was beneath her Son’s feet. She was relieved and then realised that God was true, and he had great powers beyond her, and everyone else’s knowledge.
The Ka’bah also has a background according to the Qur’an. It is said that the Qur'an (also known as Baitullah: House Of God), was first built by Adam, the first man to walk on the Earth. He was also the first man created by God. Later, when Adam and Eve were banished form heaven, It was destroyed and abandoned. Later on, a few years later, Ibrahim and Is’mail were shown the ruins of the Cube, and they built it back to its former glory. It also has a history with Muhammad, and he destroyed every idol in the Ka’bah and made sure only God was worshipped. The Ka'bah is the most important of all buildings for Muslims because it is the centre of all of their religion. It is their most religious building, and it is kept the best possible condition. “Nowadays, only very rare visitors are allowed inside the Ka'bah to stand at the very centre and pray in all 4 directions, a unique experience”. This quote very clearly explains how special this building is, and how respected it is for Muslims.
The ZamZam well is also part of the Symbolic items that Muslims around the world worship and admire. This well is noted, and has background, because it is the well that Hagar found when the angel appeared and showed her the pool of water. That is why Muslims see this as a landmark.
Muzdalifah is an important landmark for Muslims because it is said that this is where Hagar and her family where tested by the devil on countless attempts to stop showing their trust in god. This is where they collected the stones are threw them at the devil to drive him away. Seven today, Muslims collect their stones before heading to the pillars to stone them (symbolising the stoning of the devil). Mina is also an important place for Muslims because it is where the actual stoning of the devils takes place. This is where the actual stoning and resisting of the devil took place.
There are many gains a Muslim will experience during their re-enactments. They will experience many different feelings of power and closeness to God, and they will feel very religious powered and will feel like they are part of the Muslim family. This will be very important as it is one of the main teachings and hopes of a Hajj as they will really want to feel part of the family (as they will want to experience the same feelings as everyone else does and get closer to Allah). The pilgrim would also have a profound feeling of having gone through a life-transforming spiritual experience. He or she comes away with pride in having successfully performed a ritual dedicated to God and in belonging to a huge family of people that shares the same religious beliefs. “The Muslim would also have a sense of acquiring a sense of humility, inner calm, brotherhood and strength that lasts a lifetime”.( ) This is why the Hajj is so vitally important to Muslims. Their experiences will last them a lifetime, and so they must really try to complete the Hajj and experience incredible powers they would never have felt before. There are many different feelings felt during the Hajj, all of them being really important to the Muslims. The main overpowering feelings however, are power, religious experience, and closeness to God.
There are many different symbols that Muslims have during their Pilgrimage, and they have many meanings. It begins with Jeddah, which is an overseas entry to Saudi Arabia. The Ka'bah is an important symbol for all Muslims as it is where all Muslims face when praying. It is placed in Mecca, the holy city where Muhammad was born. Muhammad also saw his first revelation here, so it is a vitally important symbol for all Muslims worldwide. The Ka'bah is a large, black and cube shaped, and has a huge embodied cloth hung over it. It was the first religious building built so it is highly relevant to Muslims. The next important symbol for Muslims is the running between the hills. The hills represent the desperate search for water from Hagar for her son. This is has symbols because it relates to the desperate search, and Muslims to this day re-enact it. The ZamZam well is also important to Muslims because they say that this is where Hagar found the water for her son. This is very symbolic for Muslims because they believe that this shows great trust in God and that God can save and help any being if they ask for guidance. The mount of mercy (situated on plains of Arafat) has many symbolic meanings. Muslims pray from dusk till dawn to ask for forgiveness of their sins and for a new start. This Mount has specific symbolism because Adam and Eve were first forgiven here. Therefore, Muslims will go here to get forgiven and to become closer to God. After this intense praying, they go to Muzdalifah and collect stones. They do this because Muhammad did and so they are showing Sunnah (example set by Muhammad). At Mina the stoning of the devil occurs and they throw stones at 7 Pillars. (To show the 7 days of the week) and each pillar represents 1 of the Devil’s temptations. The pillars can be stoned form underground or form above the ground. Finally, the Muslims may visit Madinah because it is said Muhammad built the first Mosque here. This place is really important because the religion was formed here. Therefore, the Muslim will want to visit here if they can!
ii) What Difficulties Might There Be For A Muslim Performing Hajj?
There are many difficulties a Muslim may face in the preparation for Hajj, during the Hajj, and even possibly after they have returned from their Hajj and when they are on the way home. There are also possible solutions to overcome any difficulties encountered! The difficulties include crowd control (due to mass number of Muslims seen and the migrants and visitors to the area), fires (due to accidents or arson, which is a particularly bad problem because of the tents and materials that set alight too), Protests and violent behaviour (from stoning the devil and other events, etc…), disease (from foreigners and the countries problems), and other less thought of problems that affect the Muslim directly (E.g. health, the sun, etc…).
Crowd control can be a potentially big problem, as large numbers of people form around the world join in the Hajj’s. Sometimes the surging crowds, trekking from one station of the pilgrimage to the next, cause a . Panic spreads, pilgrims jostle to avoid being trampled, and hundreds of deaths can result. This can be really hazoudous, and so many precautions are made. An example of the stampedes was seen on , , when a stampede amounted inside a pedestrian tunnel (called the Al-Ma'aisim tunnel) leading out from Mecca towards and the . This amass of people led to the deaths of 1,426 pilgrims. Another examples was seen on , , when a stampede killed at least 270 pilgrims at the ritual. “The stoning ritual is the most dangerous part of the pilgramage because the ritual can cause people to be crushed, particularly as they can enter and throw stones from a massive 2 layer flyover-style Jamarat Bridge”. ().
Fires can also be potentially large problems for the Muslims experiencing Hajj. Fires can be hazardous for many reasons because they can cause mass deaths and pain for many concerned. Fire can easily be started in the desert heat, and it can easily set more things alight such as nearby camps, and tents, which the Pilgrims may be, living in. Therefore, fires can be potential hazards and can be really dangerous if not handled with extreme care. An example of a fire occurred on December when an exploding gas cylinder caused a fire in a tent colony and resulted in the deaths of 200 pilgrims. This really highlights the dangers that the Muslims have to put up with. Fires are not very common altohugh they are still a problem for Muslims that face the pilgramge.
Disease can also be a big problem for the pilgrims. Disease can really affect the Musims because so many people form so many different countries come to the Hajj, and so there is a really big risk from diseases form other countries spreading aorund. “If an outbreak were to occur on the road to Mecca, pilgrims could exacerbate the problem when they returned home and passed their infection on to others.” (). This however, was more of a problem in the past. One such disease, which had prompted response from the Saudi government, was . It became a primary concern after an international outbreak followed the Hajj in 1987. “Due to post-Hajj outbreaks globally of certain types of meningitis in previous years, it is now a requirement to be immunised with the ACW135Y before arrival” ().
There are many responses to these problems. The Saudi government should have done more to prevent such tragedies, and they insist that any such mass gatherings are inherently dangerous and difficult to handle, and that they have taken a number of steps to prevent problems.
One of the biggest steps, which is also controversial, is a new system of registrations, passports, and travel visas to control the flow of pilgrims. This system is designed to encourage and accommodate first-time visitors to Mecca, while imposing restrictions upon those who embark upon the trip multiple times. Pilgrims who have the means and desire to perform the Hajj several times have protested what they see as discrimination, but the Hajj Commission has stated that they see no alternative if further tragedies are to be prevented. Mnay Muslims feel that this is unfair, and many protests have been caused by this decision. This has caused further problems although the Government are adimant they have made the correct decision.
Following the 2004 stampede, Saudi authorities embarked on major construction work in and around the area. Additional accessways, footbridges, and emergency exits were built, and the three cylindrical pillars were replaced with longer and taller oblong walls of concrete to enable more pilgrims simultaneous access to them without the jostling and fighting for position of recent years. The government has also announced a multi-million-dollar project to expand the bridge to five levels. This project is planned for completion in time for the Dec. 2006 – Jan. 2007 Hajj.
Other problems for any particular Muslims may inlcude the health problems, the tiredness, the exhaustation and the dehydration. These problems are all caused by the extended time spent in the desert conditions. These problems can be really important, and dangerous, if not taken seriously, so the Muslim must take care to ensure that he is safe against these threats. These threats can be avoided if basic precautions are made, meaning that the Pilgri drinks sufficient water, and is prepared and fit for the journey before they set out for this Hajj. If all is prepared for correctly, there shouldn’t be any problems encoutered during the Hajj.
iii) How Might Participating In Hajj Affect The Life of A Believer?
A Hajj may be affected by the pilgrimage whilst they are on it, after they have finished it, and also when they have returned from it. These feelings will be of triumph and achievement. One particular woman pilgrim said: “To have stood before God at Arafat is like having a baby. You have either had the experience or you have not. No one can truly explain how it feels- but those who know it, know. Perhaps those whose hearts seized can understand.” (Examining Religions: Islam, 1994, TY, page 74). This is as one woman described her stand on Mount Arafat. She is obviously very happy and astonished with this awesome experience, as she would have had the feeling of closeness to God, which must be a truly immense feeling. The feelings they experiencing must be simply overwhelming. Many Muslims must cry and cry because of the intense emotions that they feel. Many people must also feel like that they want to return home and be different people, better, and stronger people. The Stand on Arafat, the highlight of all the Hajj, shows to Muslims that they can become close to God, and that they can almost become one with him. When the Muslim returns home, he or she must feel new and refreshed, and therefore they may feel like a new human. It is also said “To be there is like living in another dimension. You will leave feeling stronger than when you arrived, and that no one, not anyone mortal, can question the personal value of going and achieving something truly great”() and this quote really shows that it must be completely different to everything you could ever expect it to be. Therefore, this experience is brilliant beyond expectation.
The Hajj would take you back to your origins of birth because of the humbleness and the plain clothes. It would take you to the extremes of your religion, and the Hajj gives you another vision towards your life and for your afterlife. At the conclusion of the Hajj, people think that it's a kind of therapy, as you are able to stand up on Mount Arafat and admit to your sins and be reborn. Another feeling the Muslim has is one of complete family and friendship, when they see the kind of equality between people. They feel hopeful for their future, as they have been fortunate enough for a new chance in life.
"I was so proud, but more than anything I was afraid." This Muslim said that he trusts his daughter to keep her interaction with men at the academy minimal. Mixing of the sexes is a source of heated debate and criticism in their society.” (). This quote explains that although there are many great feelings, there can also be feelings of fear. The fear can come in
Overall, there are many indescribable feelings that a Muslim would feel, including fear, happiness, and new lease of life, excitement, power and oneness with god. Overall, it is a mixture of many emotions, ranging form the happy to the sad (when the Muslims have to return home).
Niyyah has very specific importance in that in can count as a Hajj instead of someone actually taking the journey. If a Muslim cannot go on a hajj for any particular reason, then there are a couple of things they can do instead. The Muslim might find it hard to go n Hajj because of any different reasons, including poor health, cash and funding problems, lack of fitness or mentality, or any other circumstances such as death or family grievances. If this is the case, Niyyah (meaning Intention) can be counted instead of the Hajj. Niyyah can mean that the Muslim will join the pilgrims in spirit and mind, although they will not physically complete the Hajj themselves. To enable him or herself to join the Pilgrims spiritually, the Muslim must pay for somebody to do the Pilgrimage for them, or pay for somebody else to do the Hajj (donating them the money, thus giving them the means of completing the Hajj). The particular person could also give a certain amount of their Hajj savings to charity. The Niyyah is accepted as good enough for the Hajj because the Muslim will be doing a good deed. The money donated to charity will be accepted because it could save someone’s life, and it will enable somebody else to have a better chance at his or her life, as the purpose of the Hajj.
The aims of the hajj are all very important. They all involve the way of their life, and Muslims will go on the pilgrimage to repent for their sins and get closer to their God. The main aims of Hajj are to show that Muslims follow the Pillars and their Muhammad’s example. They will also go on the Hajj to repent for their sins, and to be ‘reborn’ and ‘refreshed’ by Allah. Another aim of the Hajj is to make contact with Allah himself. That is why Muslims find the pilgrimage a deeply moving and spiritual experience for all concerned. All of the aims of the Hajj are important because of the pillar. This pillar is what makes the pilgrim undertake this huge task, although the drive of the Muslim is the desire to repent, and to ‘meet’ God on the Mount of Arafat.
The different aspects if the Hajj helps Muslims to achieve these aims because they show the desire of the Muslim. The Pillars and the Qur’an are the main driving forces of the Muslim as they will want to follow these teachings, and will want to follow all the teachings of their religion. Also, the sheer number of Muslims doing the pilgrimage for the same reasons will inspire and too encourage the Muslims to continue their task of the Pilgrimage. The sheer vast numbers of people all have the same inspirations and task, so the task does not seem so daunting. The stand for Allah on the Mount of Arafat is the most important part for the whole pilgrimage, so getting to that point will really encourage the Pilgrim. This part is so important that none of the Muslims want to miss it. Therefore, this aspect will encourage the Muslim to achieve this aim of theirs. Also, the aim of being refreshed and reborn is also completed at this point, so this would be the main driving force of the Pilgrim.
Section C: “A true pilgrimage is really a journey within”. Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer and show that you have thought about different points of view. You must refer to Islam in your answer.
This quote explains that the pilgrimage is not actually a physical journey, but a journey that is instead mental and emotional. It means that the journey could mean more to Pilgrims than simply walking to locations and showing their faces. The quote is suggesting that the actual praying and true religious part of the Hajj is far more superior. It is expressing the view that if a Pilgrim wants to undertake the Pilgrimage then they should experience more emotional and spiritual power. If a pilgrim should complete the hajj and feels no different, then the Hajj will be invalid, or not as important. A true pilgrimage should be about emotion more than the actual physical hiking involved. A Muslim would understand this quote a lot better than a non-Muslim, because it has implications to the journey being spiritual, which is of course one of the reasons the Muslim undertakes the Hajj in the first place. It implies that the journey should affect the faith and religion of the being as well as the physical pressure it puts on the pilgrims. Therefore, this quote would explain that the best pilgrims that do the best pilgrimages would ignore the physical pain and would instead concentrate on the real part of the Hajj; the inner sanctum of your mind and soul.
I feel that this quote is correct in some ways yet wrong and unfair in others. I think that this quote is correct because a pilgrim will set out for the Hajj to get closer spiritually with Allah, and to be redeemed and to start again in life. Therefore, the Pilgrim will need to ‘contact’ Allah spiritually, which means he will have to look within himself for this contact. This quote also shows that the true pilgrimage is from within. I agree with this as if you do not have the mental stability to reach Allah and ask for forgiveness, there is really no point of even attempting the Hajj. The reason I agree with this quote is solely because of the point of Hajj; asking for forgiveness from Allah and being rid of your sins. The Hajj is literally a very physical journey, yet it is the emotion and religion that separates it from any over normal trip that a Muslim may undertake in his or her life.
However, I do also feel that the quote is slightly wrong and misleading in places. A true pilgrimage is a journey for everyone in the same situation, and it is a journey that involves physical, as well as mental stress. You could not even undertake the Hajj if you are not physically fit enough, so therefore I think that in some ways the quote is not expressing the importance of the physical side enough. If the journey was not so taxing, I would agree with the quote more, although as the journey stands as it does now, it is both a journey for the mental and physical side of a human being. A true pilgrimage, in my eyes, is both having the strength and commitment to manage the journey itself, and then having the inside will and religion to ask for forgiveness and repent for your sins. Therefore, I feel that this quote is not necessarily correct. A true Hajj would show physical strength and emotional willpower, as does the Pilgrims Hajj which is undertaken for Muslims, so I think that this quote could be better, although as it stands, is both correct and wrong in different ways.
A Muslims point of view may differ from mine for many different reasons, however. A Muslim would feel that it is a very physical journey, but it is the journey within that really matters. One Muslim says: “yes indeed, the challenge on the body is tough. Yet so too is the challenge on the inner self; the mind, the soul, the focus of Allah himself”. This quote shows that Muslims believe that the journey through the Hajj is very physical, yet even though this is true it is still important to realise that the true strain is seen on the mind and the soul. The physical side of the hajj is seen as less important than the emotional part, thus showing the Muslims willpower and determination to repent. A Muslim would obviously understand the physical side to this journey, as everyone else does, although they would too, or want too experience, this intense rush of emotion as you stand on Mount Arafat asking Allah for forgiveness and redemption from your sins. The journey to the Mount is a physical one, yet the journey on the Mount itself is one that is within, a true journey to the heart and soul. This is why the Muslim would agree with the quote. Some Muslims may not agree with the quote because of their health condition and so they may not feel
Muslim P.O.V (using spec. Quotes and discuss e.g.…. EXTENSION…SUFISM
Explain their views
Conclusion showing complexity.
SUFISM:::
The term Sufism, which has become over the ages very popularly used, and often with a wide range of meanings, originates from three Arabic letters sa, wa and fa. There have been many opinions on the reason for its origin from sa wa fa. According to some the word is derived from safa which means purity. According to another opinion it is derived from the Arabic verb safwe which means those who are selected. This meaning is quoted frequently in Sufi literature. Some think that the word is derived from the word saf which means line or row, implying those early Muslims who stood in the first row in prayer or supplication or holy war. Yet others believe that it is derived from suffa which was a low verandah made of clay and slightly elevated off the ground outside the Prophet Muhammad's mosque in Medina, where the poor and good-hearted people who followed him often sat. Some assume that the origin of the word Sufism is from suf which means wool, which implies that the people who were interested in inner knowledges cared less about about their outer appearances and often took to wearing one simple garment all the year round which was made of wool.
Whatever its origin, the term Sufism has come to mean those who are interested in inner knowledge, those who are interested in finding a way or practice towards inner awakening and enlightenment.
Resources Used:
Books:
- World Faiths: Islam, Hodder and Stoughton, TY, 1994, Pages 69-83
- Beliefs, Values and Traditions, An Lovelace and Joy White, Heinemann, 1996, Page Numbers 91, 114, 122, 123, 136
- Examining Religions, Ruqaiyyah Waris and Maqsood, Heinemann, 1995, Page Numbers 50, 66-75
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