Being Muslim Class: The Pilgrimage to Makkah (Hajj) and other components of Worship

The Pilgrimage to Makkah (Hajj) 

It is a requirement in a Muslim’s life, if you are physically and economically able.

Holiest Sanctuaries:

•  Makkah (Mecca)
•  Madina (Prophet’s Mosque)
•  Mosque Aqsa in Jerusalem    

Convergence of 3 things:

1. Sacred time – The time of pilgrimage is sacred.
2. Sacred Space – Special blessings.  In Mecca deeds (whether good or bad) are multiplied 100,000 times. [InshAllah they will all be good – MashAllah! Isn’t this great!?]
3. Sacred rituals – The sacred acts

"All Muslims must work towards accomplish Hajj."

 State of Inviolability (Ihram)

• Time à Dhū al-Ḥijja — ذو الحجّة    (12^th Lunar month)

• Conscious intentions à there are different check points to make Ghusl, and everybody stand side by side as equal. 

Pilgrimage Rites

• Essence of Hajj: Declaration of believing in Allah’s oneness.

Labbaika la shareeka laka labbaik. Innal hamda wal ni’matha laka wal mulk, laa shareeka lak.

Here I am, O Allah, at Your service; here I am at Your service. Here I am at Your service. You have no partner. All praise, all favors and all power are Yours alone. You have no partner.

• Circling of the Ka'aba –  is counter-clockwise (7 circles) 

• As-Safaa and Al-Marwa – tread between these two mountains 7 times.   This symbolizes the balance between hope and fear, and the obedience to Allah.

• Mount Arafa – This is the MOST important event of the pilgrimage. It occurs on the 9^th day of the pilgrimage (Dhū al-Ḥijja 9 ).

"Fasting the Day of 'Arafah expiates the sins of the past year and the subsequent one. And fasting the Day of 'Aashooraa' expiates the sins of the past year."

• Mina – Collect pebbles and throw them to the 3 stoning Pillars.  This act symbolizes a re-declaration war to the devil

• Eid Al-Adha – Celebration! Festival of Sacrifice commemorates the willingness of Abraham (Ibrahim) to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God, before God intervened to provide him with a sheep— to sacrifice instead.

*After this, men and women trim their hair.

The Black Stone: Heavenly stone, brought by Gabriel. It is located in the Eastern corner of Kabbah. 

"It is like a ring to a king"

Once Hajj is performed, you will return home as a newborn baby. Alhamdulillah!

 Other components of Worship

Voluntary actions – The reward is immense!  There are different acts of worship and different rewards for each of them. 

Some volunteering acts are:

Prayers

• Sunnah prayers

• Taraweeh prayers – These consist of 20 rak’a after the fardh and sunnah of ‘Isha during the month of Ramadan. It is performed in congregation.

• Eid prayers – 2 rak’a in congregation

• Nite ritual prayers/ devotional prayers – These are performed after the last rak’a of ‘Isha.  They are important throughout the whole year but they are specially rewarded in Ramadan.

Voluntary fasting

• The Three White Days: 13^th, 14th, 15th of each lunar month

• Mondays and Thursdays

• First 9 days of Pilgrimage month

• Day of Ashoora

• First 10 days of Muharram (first month of the Islamic calendar)

Zadaka

Voluntary charity.  God will reward you 70 times more.

Umrah

This is the lesser pilgrimage.

Other kinds of Volunteering Acts

Supplication (Du'a)  

"Call upon me and I will surely answer."

• Face the Qibla
• Raise your hands 
• send blessings to the Prophet (SAWS)
• Praise Allah -- using some of his names. 
• Close your Du'a sending blessings to the Prophet

Seek for guidance, qualities... anything!

  

 Invocation (Dhikr)

Alhamdulillah

SubhanAllah

Allahu Akbar

La Ilaha IllAllah

Astaghfirullah

This is an action of tongue and heart.  It purifies your heart and it should be an essential component of every Muslim's life.  It is the remembrance of God. 

"There is no escape from Allah except to Allah"