The Hajj

Gauracandra · February 23, 2002

It seems that the Hajj (the required trip to Mecca once in a lifetime for Muslims) has come to an end with nary a peep. For some reason I would have thought the press would have covered it more of late because of how often Muslims have been in the news since 9/11.

As I understand it these are the five "pillars" of Islam:

1) Worship Allah and Mohammed is His messenger

2) Prayer to be performed five times daily

3) Supporting the needy

4) Fasting during the month of Ramadan

5) Visiting Mecca during the Hajj

All of the above, except the fifth, seem reasonable for any Muslim to do. But the Hajj I would think was only available to many muslims in the last few decades (with the advances in transportation). Even 100 years ago, for someone in Indonesia to travel to Mecca would be a great difficulty, so I must think most Muslims in the past would have found it very difficult to fulfill this last requirement. Even so, I've read that about 2 million muslims went this year, which seems awfully small to me, given that there are 1 Billion muslims in the world.

Tarun · February 24, 2002

Very few Christians or Jews visit Vatican or Jerusalem.

They prefer Atlantic City, Las Vegas.

Must be the free bus ride.

Tarun · March 9, 2002

At the Hajj

-Artists: Danny & The Jihad Juniors

-the # 14 song of 1955-1959 rock era

-was # 1 for 7 weeks in 1958

-Words and Music by Arthur Singer, John L. Medora, and David White

Bah-bah-bah-bah, bah-bah-bah-bah

Bah-bah-bah-bah. bah-bah-bah-bah, at the Hajj!

Well, you can rock it you can roll it

You can stop and you can stroll it at the Hajj

When the record starts a spinnin'

You *chalypso* Halal chicken at the Hajj

Do the dance sensation that is sweepin' Arab nations at the Hajj

Ah, let's go to the Hajj

Let's go to the Hajj, (oh Akbar)

Let's go to the Hajj, (oh Ali)

Let's go to the Hajj

Come on, let's go to the Hajj

Well, you can swing it you can groove it

You can really start to move it at the Hajj

Where the jockey is the smoothest

And the music is the coolest at the Hajj

All the cats and chicks can get their kicks at the Hajj

Let's go!

Let's go to the Hajj

Let's go to the Hajj, (oh baby)

Let's go to the Hajj

Come on, let's go to the Hajj

Let's go!

Well, you can rock it you can roll it

You can stop and you can stroll it at the Hajj

When the record starts spinnin'

You *chalypso* when you chicken at the Hajj

Do the dance sensation that is sweepin' the nation at the Hajj

You can swing it you can groove it

You can really start to move it at the Hajj

Where the jockey is the smoothest

And the music is the coolest at the Hajj.

All the cats and chicks can get their kicks at the Hajj.

Let's go!

Let's go to the Hajj

Let's go to the Hajj, (oh baby)

Let's go to the Hajj

Come on, let's go to the Hajj

Bah-bah-bah-bah, bah-bah-bah-bah

Bah-bah-bah-bah. bah-bah-bah-bah, at the

Hajj!

NOTE: *chalypso* came about by doing cha-cha to a calypso tune

Transcribed by Ronald E. Hontz

ronhontz@worldnet.att.net

gHari · March 9, 2002

I think they are required to do this pilgrimage once during their lifetime.

I have read various speculative pieces about the stone actually being a Shiva Deity left over from the peoples of Mohammad's parents who worshiped Lord Siva. I think I should do a little surfing now to see what the Muslims themselves say about the significance of the Hajj stone.

Tarun, I recognize that song - it was an early Hajj Mahal hit.

gHari · March 9, 2002

Sacred Black Stone

Posted Image </center></td><td width="60%" valign=middle><center><img src=http://www.ummah.net/hajj/pics/kabbabig.jpg width=278 height=308 align=middle>

Circling Ka'ba (First Church Built by Abraham)</center></td></table></center>

The Hajj seems to be mostly about Abraham, complete with the circumambulation of the first church he built (subsequently restored by Mohammed), the throwing of seven stones at the devil, and the sacrificing of sheep.

Background

The Ka'ba is the first House built for the worship of the one GOD, ALLAH (Subhanahu wa ta'ala), the GOD of all mankind. It was erected by Ibrahim (Abraham) and his son Isma'eel (Ishmael) (alaihim assalaam, i.e., may peace be upon them). Ibrahim's (alaihis salaam, i.e., may peace be upon him) faith in the LORD is well documented in the Noble Qur'an. Ibrahim (alaihis salaam) is described as being a nation by himself, due to his great faith in ALLAH (Subhanahu wa ta'ala).

Ibrahim (alaihis salaam) was instructed to take his wife Hajar, and son Isma'eel (alaihis salaam) to Makkah. At that time, Makkah was an unpopulated, barren desert. Ibrahim (alaihis salaam) obeyed the LORD's command and took his family to Makkah. As he left them there alone, sorrow overcame him. But he knew he was obeying the LORD's command, so he supplicated asked the LORD to preserve his loved ones, to allow the desert to bloom and provide for them, and to have swarms of people come and visit them. The Hajj is part of the LORD's granting of Ibrahim's (alaihis salaam) supplication. For over 1400 years, Muslims from all over the world, visit Makkah every year, to perform the Hajj and visit the Ancient House of the LORD.

The mysterious mystical? holy stone (from a Glossary of HAJJ Terms)

Hajar ul Aswad - The sacred Black Stone built into the south-east corner of the Ka'bah at a height of approximately four feet. The stone does not belong to the geology of the region and is a part of the original construction of the Ka'bah by Prophet Ibrahim (ABRAHAM) (pbuh). The Black Stone was personally installed in the wall of the Ka'bah by the Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) himself during its reconstruction following its destruction by a flash flood. The Prophet (pbuh) also kissed it during his Last (Farewell) Hajj. Thus, touching and kissing (Istilam) of Hajar ul Aswad during Umra and Hajj is considered sunnah.

Al-Hajarul Aswad (from Another Source) The "Black Stone", a remainder of the original Ka'ba.

It is a stone from Paradise.

The ONLY reason to kiss the black-stone is that our beloved Prophet Muhammad kissed it. It has NO special powers it is NOT worshipped by Muslims.

"Istilaam" means to place both palms on the Black Stone and to kiss it three times gently without a smack.

Muslims do NOT worship the black stone.

Also at this place:

The word "Allah" is ALSO used by Arab Christians and Arab Jews for THE ONE SUPREME UNIVERSAL GOD. In addition, the word for "Allah" is "Eloh-im" in Hebrew and "Allaha" in Aramaic, the mother tongue of Jesus (pbuh).

He is The ONLY GOD WHOM ALL Judaic Prophets including Prophets Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus (pbut) and Prophet Muhammad WORSHIPPED.

This short synopsis was offered by the Encyclopoedia of the Orient:

H A J J

Pilgrimage in Islam, to Mecca, that is compulsory to Muslims of good health and with sufficient funds to make the journey to Mecca.

Hajj is the highest of all Muslim practices, even if less than 10% of all Muslims ever manage to perform it. In modern times about 2 million Muslims perform the hajj every year, and this number seems to be fairly close to the maximum. Saudi authorities have now put regulations on how many can come from each country, so that anyone who wants to perform the hajj has to apply, and many are turned down.

The hajj is important because it lets the believer come to the place that is both the centre of the world, as well as the place where the divine revelations collected in the Holy Koran started, and continued for about 12 years. But most important, the hajj is a continuation of what according to Islam is one of the oldest true and pure religious rituals (pure in the term that is performed according to God's will).

What the believer does during hajj is to recall what happened to important persons in Muslim history. The rituals performed around the Ka'ba recalls the acts of Abraham and Isma'il when they turned the Ka'ba into the sacred place of worship and peace (Koran sura 2 aya 119). The next act recalls the running of Hajar, when she ran for water for her son.

But following this, and we have now arrived at the core of hajj (the acts above are also performed in the smaller pilgrimage, umra) both the theological and historical background is more unclear. Muslim and Western researchers trace the backgrounds to Muhammad's own performance of the hajj. It is clear that Muslims commemorates Muhammad's acts, but why Muhammad did exactly what he once did, is unclear to modern researchers.

These are the ones that are not obliged to perform hajj at least once during their lifetime: Mad people, slaves, women that are without travelling company (close relative or husband), people without the necessary funds.

Most hajjiyys arrive in Mecca a few days before the hajj proper begins, while some see the opportunity of arriving in Ramadan, the month of sawm, an act which is seen as especially merited. While it is recommended that the hajjiyys should robe themselves in the ihram already at the beginning of the journey, the clear majority puts this on towards the end of the journey to Mecca.

The first that the hajjiyy does is to perform the umra, while the hajj proper starts on Dhu l-hijja. 7. But the umra is by all means understood as a part of the hajj, and many of the symbols connected to hajj are as a matter of fact happenings during the umra.

Dhu l-hijja. 7

This day is spent with praying in the Great Mosque in Mecca. This act is preparing the hajjiyys for the holy ceremonies.

Dhu l-hijja. 8

The hajjiyys now leave Mecca. Following the two caskets that are being brought every year to the hajj from Damascus and from Cairo, the hajjiyys reach the plain of Arafat, after passing through Mina and Muzdalifa. Many ascend the mountain Jabalu r-Rahma, but these days, only a small percentage has the chance of actually doing this. Up on the mountain the one small phrase, "Labbayka", is sung out over and over again.

Dhu l-hijja. 9

This is really the day which is meant to be spent out here, and the action during this day is simply called wuquuf, 'standing'. Two khutbas fill the day entirely. When the sun sets behind the Western hills, the idafa starts. The idafa is the running to Muzdalifa. The two last prayers are performed here, and the night is spent.

Dhu l-hijja. 10

This morning starts with a khutba in Muzdalifa, before the hajjiyys goes to Mina. In Mina different duties awaits the hajjiyy. 7 stones, that have been gathered in Muzdalifa the day before, are thrown by each hajjiyy at the 3 jamra, pillars that shall represent the powers of Shaytan. This place, Shaytan appeared in front of Ibrahim. When the 7 stones have been thrown off, the hajj is more or less to an end, yet there are othere ceremonies yet to be performed. The crying of "labbayka" comes to an end, around this time.

At this time a sheep or a goat is sacrificed, but while this ends the hajj, it is another fiest, called Idu l-kabir. Mnay of the hajjiyys do not kill the animal themselves, but get professional butchers to do it. Parts of the meat are these days eaten, but most is taken care of by Saudi authorities, that make sure that nothing is lost, but distributed partly to the needing.

Many have their heads shaven at this moment. The shaving is done while turning towards the qibla. When this is done, the ihram is left, and the hajjiyy is no longer a mihram, the one that had the holy purity of the ihram. It is now custom to return to Mecca, and perform the tawwaf, the circumambulation of the ka'ba. Washing and bathing is done this same day, as this was prohibited during the ihram.

Dhu l-hijja. 11-13

These last days of the extended hajj are spent in Mina, and are filled with eating, drinking and for those together with their spouse, sensual pleasure. Every day seven stones are thrown on each of the 3 jamra. While the most correct is to stay at Mina until the 13., a large number of the hajjiyys return to Mecca on the 12. A last umra has to be performed. Some days later, people set out for what has become an intrinsic part of the hajj, a visit to Madina and the tomb of Muhammad.

I noticed that Abraham's wife was called Hajar; perhaps this is why Mohammed kissed the Hajar stone three times?<font color="#dedfdf">

[This message has been edited by gHari (edited 03-09-2002).]

Gauracandra · March 11, 2002

I have also heard that, as you mentioned, the Kabba was a Shiva Linga. I’m never sure if all of this is true, or if it is just Hindu propaganda. What I have read certainly had some circumstantial evidence. Apparently (from what I’ve read) Mohammed’s uncle wrote poetry dedicated to Mahadeva (I think it was his uncle). And certainly it is historically accurate that he waged a war against idol worshippers, at one point destroying a temple housing several hundred idols, of which this Kabba was said to be one. In addition, other circumstantial evidence given includes the Crescent Moon as the symbol of Islam (which is also worn in the hair of Shiva). Allah in Sanskrit is another name for Durga. And there were a number of other items.

Tarun · March 11, 2002

Allah-nAth SwAmI became Bhaktyaloka ParamAdvaitI Mhrj.

Notice how they circumambulate the opposite way we do.

Just as Hebrew & Arabic r written & read right to left.

Vedically keep your right shoulder in toward antarAnga-zakti.

Gauracandra · March 12, 2002

Here is one poem that is said to have been written by Mohammed's uncle:

Muhammad's own uncle, Umar-Bin-E-Hassham was a staunch Hindu and fervent devotee of Lord Shiva. He was a renowned poet and wrote many verses in praise of Shiva. One of these has survived on page 235 of Sair-Ul-Okul and reads as follows:

Kafavomal fikra min ulumin Tab asayru

Kaluwan amataul Hawa was Tajakhru

We Tajakhayroba udan Kalalwade-E Liboawa

Walukayanay jatally, hay Yauma Tab asayru

Wa Abalolha ajabu armeeman MAHADEVA

Manojail ilamuddin minhum wa sayattaru

Wa Sahabi Kay-yam feema-Kamil MINDAY Yauman

Wa Yakulum no latabahan foeennak Tawjjaru

Massayaray akhalakan hasanan Kullahum

Najumum aja- at Summa gabul HINDU

which translates as:

The man who may spend his life in sin

and irreligion or waste it in lechery and wrath

If at least he relent and return to

righteousness can he be saved?

If but once he worship Mahadeva with a pure

heart, he will attain the ultimate in spirituality.

Oh Lord Shiva exchange my entire life for but

a day's sojourn in India where one attains salvation.

But one pilgrimage there secures for one all

merit and company of the truly great.