HAJJ – Pilgrimage to the House of Allah in Mecca

admin stator Posts : 1628 Join date : 2010-09-04

Introduction

Hajj
or pilgrimage to Mecca is one of the five pillars of Islam. Hajj was
made obligatory in the 9th year of Hijra. The Holy Prophet sent off 300
Muslims under the leadership of Hazrat Abubakr Siddique (may Allah be
pleased with him) to Mecca so that they could perform Hajj. That was the
year when it was banned for the Mushrikeen (those who associate
partners with Allah) to enter Ka’ba. It was also made unlawful to
perform Tawaaf (circling of Ka’ba) with naked body.

The
following year, 10th Hijra, the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him)
announced a head of time he himself would perform Hajj that year. He led
tens of thousands of Muslims to Hajj that year and demonstrated to
Muslims how to perform all the rites and rituals of the Hajj. This Hajj
is known in history as Hajjatul Wida’ or Farewell Pilgrimage because
this proved to be the last Hajj the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him)
performed. At the end of this farewell pilgrimage, the divine revelation
that had started some 22 years ago came to an end with the following
verse of Surah Al-Maidah:

“This day have I completed
My commandments for you, and have brought to its fullness the favor that
I have bestowed upon you, and have chosen Islam as your religion”

.Hajj
is an act of worship just like Salat (five daily prayers) and Sawm
(fasting in the month of Ramadan). Muslims from all over the world
gather in Mecca in the last month of Muslim calendar and worship Allah.
Hajj is a special worship that lasts for several days. This is an
occasion that brings Muslims of all countries, colors, and races to one
place – the Ka’ba. This is a unique opportunity of worshipping Allah
collectively in a large gathering at one place