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'Hajj'
Brethren-in-Islam !
It has been elaborately explained to you in the previous lectures how
Salah, fasting
and Zakat cast a man's life into the Islamic mould and prepare him for Allah's servitude.
Now the last item which remains on the list of the obligatory duties imposed by Islam is
Hajj the benefits of which now I am going to describe before you.
The meaning of Hajj (pilgrimage) in the Arabic language is to make a resolve to visit
the holy place. Since people from all quarters resolve to pay a visit to Ka'ba, it has
been designed as Hajj.
The story of its origin is highly instructive. Listen to it carefully so as to fully
grasp the significance of Hajj. Then it will be easy for you to understand its benefits.
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Which Muslim, Christian or Jew is there who is not aware of the name of Abraham (peace
be on him)! Two-third of the population of the world has faith in him as a leader. The
three prophets, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad (peace be on them) are his descendants. The lamp
lighted by him has illuminated the whole world with the light of guidance. He was born in
Iraq over four thousand years ago. At that time the whole world had forgotten God. Not a
single individual was left on the surface of the earth who was aware of his real Master.
None bowed his head in servitude and obedience exclusively to Him. The nation in which
Abraham was born was the most advanced nation of the world at that time but it was also
ahead of others in heresy. In the spite of progress in Arts and Science, Industry and
Agriculture, the people could not understand this simple point that a thing which has
itself been created cannot be fit to be worshipped. They used to worship stars and idols.
Astrology, idols-worship, divination, witchcraft and use of talisman and amulets etc. were
popular among them. just as there are Pandits and Brahmins among the Hindus, in the same
way there was in those days a class of Pujaris (priests) who guarded the temples,
supervised the worshipping and the rituals performed by devotees, conducted marriage and
funeral ceremonies etc., and played the farce of purveying to the people news from the
unseen. The masses, in general, were so much enmeshed in these Pujaris' snare that they
considered the latter as controller of their good or bad luck, and they obeyed their
behests and slavishly fulfilled their desires, because they supposed that the Pujaris had
access to their deities who, due to the Pujaris intercession would be kind to them as
otherwise they will be ruined. The kings were in league with this coterie of
Pujaris. For
the purpose of holding the masses in their servitude, the kings helped the Pujaris and the
Pujaris helped the kings. On one side, the government gave full backing to the
Pujaris,
and, on the other side, the Pujaris injected the conception in the minds of the people
that the king of the day being the owner of his country as well as his subjects is also a
god among other gods, that his word is law and he wields all kinds of power on the life
and property of his people. Not only this. In fact, all the rites of servitude were
performed before the king so that the idea of his godhood may dominate the minds of his
subjects.
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Prophet Abraham was born at a time like this in a community of the above-mentioned
characteristics, and above all he took birth in the very family which was itself a family
of Pujaris. his forefathers were Pandits and Brahmins of their community. In this home he
got the same education and training as a Pandit's sons receive, and heard from childhood
talks of this type. He saw the manners of Pirs and Pirzadahs among his family members and
kinsmen. The gaddi of the temple was ready for him to occupy and thus become a leader of
his community. The same gifts, presents and offerings were awaiting him as had enriched
his family. There were lots of devotees waiting to bow their heads before him with folded
hands. Further, he could likewise trap in his snare people ranging from a poor farmer to a
king by claiming contact with deities and by playing the farce of divination. In this
dismal darkness, where not a single soul existed who knew and believed in Truth, he could
neither get the light of Truth nor was it possible ordinarily for a man to dare discard
personal and family benefits of a stupendous nature and thus invite a host of troubles
simply for the pursuit of Truth.
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But Prophet Abraham was not an ordinary man. He was of a different stuff. On attaining
discretion he began to ponder: " How can this sun, moon and stars, which are
themselves rotating like slaves, and these idols of stones, which are made by man himself,
and these kings, who are human beings like ourselves, be considered as gods? What is there
in these powerless objects, which cannot move of their own volition, which have no power
to help themselves and have no control over their own life and death, that man should bow
his head before them in 'Ibadat, seek fulfilment of his wants from them, be afraid of
their strength and be servile and obedient to them? Among all the objects visible to us in
the earth and heaven, or among those which we know somehow, there is not a single one which
itself is not dependent, which itself is not subject to some power and which does not fade
some time or other. When this is the condition of all these subjects, how can anyone of
them become God. When none of them is my creator, nor are my life and death, or benefit
and loss, in the hands of anyone of them, nor does any of them possess the key to my means
of sustenance and fulfilment of my needs, then why should I accept them as Lord any bow my
head before them in servitude and obedience? Only that being can be my Lord Who created
all things, on Whom depends everything and in Whose hands are the life and death, benefit
and loss of all." Arguing like this Prophet Abraham reached a definite decision
that
he will never worship the deities which his community worshipped, and he openly declared
before his people: " I am free from all that you associate with Him."
(Al-Qur'an 6:79)
" I have turned my face toward Him Who created the heavens and the earth, as one by
nature upright, and I am not one of the idolaters." (Al-Qur'an
6:80)
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Mountain of calamities
After this declaration, a mountain of calamities fell on Prophet Abraham. His father
threatened him with expulsion from the family and home. His community warned him that none
of its members will afford him refuge. The government also became hostile to him and the
case was brought up before the King. But that lonely and forsaken person braved all
opposition and stood firm like a rock for the sake of truth. He told his father
respectfully : " The knowledge I have, has not been vouchsafed to you. As such,
instead of my following you, you should follow me". As a reprisal to the threats of
his community he broke their idols with his own hands to prove how helpless were the
objects they worship. He boldly declared in the full court of the King :" You are not
my Lord. My Lord is He in Whose Hand are your life and death as well as mine and within
the bounds of Whose law even the movements of this Sun are circumscribed." At last it
was decided in the royal court that this man should be burnt alive. But that man who was
as firm and resolute as a rock and who had unshakeable faith in one God, got prepared to
suffer this horrible punishment. And then, when Allah with His supreme power saved him
from being burnt in the fire, he abandoned his home, his relations, his community and
country. He set out with his wife and a nephew as an immigrant to wander from one land to
another. That person to whom the gaddi of Mahant was available after occupying which he
could reign as the undisputed religious leader of his community, and that man who could
easily acquire both wealth and honour and who could pass on to his children the privilege
of enjoying the benefits of this gaddi of Mahant, preferred for himself and his children
the life of a homeless and destitute person. The reason was that he did not like to lead a
luxurious life by entangling the people in the snare of false gods. instead, he preferred
to invite the people towards the true God and, as a punishment for this crime, lead an
unsettled and restless life.
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After leaving his home Prophet Abraham wandered in Syria, Palestine, Egypt and Arab
countries. God alone knows, what sufferings he went through in this life of a wayfarer.
While quitting his home he had not taken any money and goods with him nor was he wandering
in search of livelihood. In fact, his only anxiety day and night was to take the people
out of the servitude of others and make them servants of only one God. When a man of such
ideas could not be tolerated by his own father and his community, how could anyone else
put
up with him? Where could he be welcomed? Everywhere was the sway of the same Mahants of
temples and of kings claiming godhood, and everywhere existed those ignorant masses who
were caught up in the snare of false gods. naturally, in the midst of such folks, how
could that person live peacefully who was not only himself not ready to accept the godhood
of anybody except that of God but was also in the habit of going about preaching to the
people that none except Allah is their Master and Lord, and that, therefore, they should
subvert the authority of all spurious masters and demi-gods and become a servant of only
that One Being. This was the reason why Prophet Abraham did not stay peacefully at one
place. For years he wandered as a nomad, sometimes in the inhabited parts of
Kana'an,
sometimes in Egypt and at other times in the sandy tracts of Arabia. His whole adulthood
passed of in this manner and his black hair turned gray.
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During the last period of his life when he was short of four years in completing ninety
years and had despaired of an off-spring, Allah gave him children. But this servant of
Allah now did not consider that having himself wrecked his home he should at least make
his children fit to earn their living and should arrange for them some source of
livelihood. No. The only anxiety with this aged Muslim was that the missionary work, for
which he had spent his whole life, must be carried on by someone after his death. It was
for this purpose that he had prayed to Allah to grant him children. And when Allah acceded
to his request, he yearned to train his children to carry out his mission. The life of
this perfect man was the life of a true and genuine Muslim. When in early adulthood, soon
after attaining discretion, he recognized God and found Him out, Allah told him : "
Aslam "(i.e. become a Muslim, entrust yourself to Me, be solely Mine), and he, in
reply, gave a pledge : " Aslamto li-Rabbil Aalameen " " I have accepted
Islam. I belong to the Lord of the worlds. I have wholly entrusted myself to
Him." (Al-Qur'an 2:131) This truthful
person fully a bided by this pledge throughout his life. He
gave up, for the sake of the Lord of the worlds, his antique ancestral religion together
with its beliefs and rituals and renounced all the benefits accruing therefrom. He braved
the danger of fire, bore the brunt of migration, wandered from country to country, spent
every moment of his life in obedience to the Lord of the worlds and in propagating His
Deen and when blessed with a child in old age he liked him also to follow this very Deen
and this very type of work.
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But after all these tribulations, there was one trial left without which it could not
be determined that the love of this gentlemen for the Lord of the worlds surpasses love of
all the things around him. It was to be tested whether or not the only child begot in the
old age after being completely despaired of it, could be sacrificed by him for the sake of
the Lord of the worlds. So this trial also was gone through. And when on seeing a sign he
got prepared to slaughter his son with his own hands, the divine decision was given :
" Yes, now you have fully vindicated your claim of being a completely true Muslim.
Now you are competent to be made Imam of the whole world." This incident has been
described in the Qur'an thus :
" And when his Lord tried Abraham with (His) commands, and he fulfilled them. He
said: Lo ! I have appointed thee a leader for mankind. (Abraham) said :And of my offspring
(will they also be leaders)? He said : My covenant includes not wrongdoers."
(Al-Qur'an 2:124)
In this manner leadership entrusted to Abraham, and he became a pioneer of the universal
Islamic movement. Now in order to give an impetus to this movement he felt the need of
such men who would settle down in different areas and operate from there as his deputies
or representatives. In this mission three persons proved pillars of strength to him. One
was his nephew Lot, the second, his eldest son Isma'il (who, on learning that the Lord of
the worlds wants the sacrifice of his life, himself cheerfully placed his neck under the
knife), and the third, his younger son, Isaac.
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Abraham settled his nephew in Sodom which is now called
Transjordan. In this region
used to live the most morally depraved community. Abraham's objective was to reform these
profane people and also to influence the far-flung area around, because the commercial
teams travelling between Iran, Iraq and Egypt used to pass through this region, and from
this place religious preaching could be conducted in both directions.
The younger son, Isaac, was settled in Kana'an which is now called Palestine. This
region is situated between Syria and Egypt and, being on the coast of the sea, other
countries could also be influenced from there. From this very region the Islamic movement
reached Egypt through Isaac's son, Jacob (whose name was also Israel) and through his
grandson, Joseph.
The elder son, Isma'il was kept in the Hejaz at Mecca, and Abraham himself stayed with
him for a long time to spread the teaching of Islam in all parts of Arabia.
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At this place both father and son constructed that centre of Islamic movement which is
renowned today as Ka'ba in the whole world. Allah Himself selected this centre and
suggested its site. This building was not meant merely for the purpose of worshipping, as
mosques are, but from the very first day it was made the propagation and preaching centre
of the universal movement of Islam, and its purpose was that believers in Allah, drawn
from all places, should assemble here, perform the 'Ibadat of Allah collectively and go
back to their respective countries with them the message of Islam. This was the assembly
which was named Hajj. The full details of how this centre was constructed, with what
sentiments and prayers both father and son raised its walls and how Hajj was initiated are
given thus in the Qur'an: " Lo ! the first sanctuary erected for mankind was, that at
Mecca, a blessed place, a guidance to the peoples; wherein are plain memorials (of Allah's
guidance); the place where Abraham stood up to pray; and whosoever entereth it is
safe." (Al-Qur'an 2:95-97) " Have they not seen that We have appointed a sanctuary immune
(from violence), while mankind are ravaged all around them." (Al-Qur'an
29:67) That is, there
was always peace in Ka'ba, when all around were rampant plunder, murder, and devastation
and conflict and warfare, so much so that even the wild Beduin, on detecting the murderer
of even their father in its precincts, did not dare to touch him.
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" And when We made the House (at Mecca) a resort for mankind and a sanctuary,
(saying) : Take as your place of worship the place where Abraham stood (to pray). And We
imposed a duty upon Abraham and Ishmael, (saying) : Purify my house for those who meditate
therein and those who how and prostrate themselves (in worship). And when Abraham prayed:
My Lord ! make this a region of security and bestow upon its people fruits, such of them
as believe in Allah and the Last Day...... And when Abraham and Ishmael were raising the
foundation of the House, (they prayed) : Our Lord! Accept from us (this service). Lo!
Thou, only Thou, are the Hearer, the Knower. Our Lord ! And make us submissive unto Thee
and of our seed a nation submissive unto Thee, and show us our way of worship, and relent
toward us. Lo! Thou, only Thou, are the Relenting, the Merciful. Our Lord! And raise up in
their midst a messenger from among them who shall recite unto them Thy revelations, and
shall instruct them in the Scripture and in wisdom and shall make them pure. Lo! Thou,
only Thou, are the Mighty, Wise ! (Al-Qur'an
2:125-129) " And when Abraham said : My Lord !
Make safe this territory and preserve me and my sons from serving idols. My Lord ! Lo !
They have led many of mankind astray. But whoso follows me, he verily is of me. And whoso
disobeys me------still Thou are Forgiving, Merciful. Our Lord ! Lo ! I have settled some
of my posterity in an uncultivable valley near unto Thy holy House, our Lord ! that they
may establish proper worship; so incline some hearts of men that they may yearn toward
them, and provide Thou them with fruits in order that they may be thankful.
(Al-Qur'an 14:35-37) " And (remember when We prepared for Abraham the place of the (holy) House, saying:
Ascribe thou nothing as partner unto Me, and purify my House for those who make the round
(thereof) and those who stand and those who bow and make prostration. And proclaim unto
mankind the Pilgrimage. They will come unto thee on foot and on every lean camel; they
will come from every deep ravine. That they may witness things that are of benefit to
them, and mention the name of Allah on appointed days over the best of cattle that He has
bestowed upon them (i.e., sacrifice animals). Then eat thereof and feed therewith the poor
unfortunate." (Al-Qur'an 21 : 26-28) Brethren-in-Islam ! This is the story of the beginning of
that Hajj which has been acclaimed as the fifth pillar of Islam. You would know from it
that Mecca was the headquarter of the mission of that Prophet who was appointed for the
first time in the world to propagate the message of Islam. Ka'ba was that focal point from
where this preaching was conveyed to different parts of the world, and the system of Hajj
was introduced for this reason that all those who affirm servitude to God and enter into
submission to Him, no matter to which nation or country they belong, should get attached
to one centre and assembling here circumambulate it once every year. It would be as if
outwardly they set the design of their inward feeling that their life resembles the wheel
which always revolves round its axle.
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