The Great Philosophy and Effects of Hajj

The Great Philosophy and Effects of Hajj
In the name of Allah the most Merciful Beneficent
Hajj is the life and blood of the concept of Tauheed. Hajj is the most vivid manifestation of belief in Tauheed. Hajj is the open and defying negation of all false gods. Hajj is refutation of all false parameters of greatness made and maintained by ignorance and arrogance. Hajj is the most evident and effective lesson of equality and brotherhood to mankind. Hajj is the foundation stone of unity in one belief and faith in One God. Hajj destroys racism, murders casteism, eradicates regionalism, eliminates nationalism, and systematically annihilates polytheism from the minds of worshipers gathered in His house, under His watch to submit before His will. Hajj is the most complete worship-ABADAT and most comprehensive act of submission before the Lord of worlds. Hajj is hope for humanity wounded by materialism and robbed by polytheism. Hajj disciplines man, teaches him Tauheed, purifies his soul, makes him unite with other fellow believers with out arrogance, prepares him for death, ushers in him the feeling of humbleness, and most importantly makes him a true believer in Him. Imam Ali (AS) says: “Allah has made obligatory upon you…the pilgrimage (Hajj), for it consolidates the faith” It would be most appropriate to quote Imam Khomeini (RA)’s statement at this place describing the philosophy of rites performed during Hajj: “While repeating “LABBEYK” say “NO” to all idols and cry out “NO” to all the princes of the devils and the prince kins of the devils; and while circumambulating Allah’s sanctuary which denotes your love to Allah, disengage your hearts from the rest, and purge your soul from phobia other than Allah, and along with your love to Allah, divulge your hatred of the little and big idols and the devils and their affiliates, as the Exalted Allah and His friends have expressed hatred of them, and all the liberated people of the world do hate them. And while touching the “Black Stone”, pledge to Allah to turn into an enemy against the enemies of Allah, His Messengers, the liberated and pious men and never yield to them, no matter who and where they might be, and wipe away phobia and inferiority from your hearts, for Allah’s enemies and above them all, the arch Satan, are themselves helpless, though being superior in committing homicide and suppression and the implementation of crimes. While perambulating between Safa and Marva, try, with all sincerity and righteousness to acquire the Beloved, as, by acquiring Him, all the worldly woven webs shall be ruptured and all the doubts and mistrusts collapsed, all the carnal aspirations and desires expired, all the material bonds turn up and liberalities flourished and all the ties and attachments to the Devil and the despot will be detached. Proceed to Mash’arel-Haram and Arafat with state of cognition and gnosis, and at each station add on your confidence in Allah’s promises of realization of the dominion of the deprived, and silently and serenely meditate on divine signs, determine to save the deprived and the dispossessed, from the grips of the world’s arrogant and pray to Al-mighty Allah, at these noble stations, to open up deliverance for all. Then proceed to Mina and perceive the righteous wishes, i.e. scarifying your most beloved thing for the Absolute Beloved’s sake, and know that unless you abandon these beloved things, above which, stands your self-love -- and worldliness is subject to it – you cannot gain accession to the Absolute Beloved. It is at this state that you must repel the devil and make him retreat. Observing divine decrees, repeat the act of repelling the devil and the devil kins and make them all retreat.” Social Philosophy of Hajj Hajj is the symbol of unity and universality. Of all rites of Islam Hajj is the greatest in manifestation of unity and Tauheed. This is because the concept of unity, as expressed in criterion, essentially involves the ideas of universality. Just as God, the One, is eternal, ubiquitous, and the sustaining Creator of mankind, His last word and final religion must rightfully be universal. Hence, Islam –the universal religion – is for all times, all places, and for all peoples. Hajj clearly portrays this truth and the Kaaba its focal point, symbolizes the same. إِنَّ أَوَّلَ بَيْتٍ وُضِعَ لِلنَّاسِ لَلَّذِي بِبَكَّةَ مُبَارَكاً وَهُدًى لِلْعَالَمِينَ فِيهِ آيَاتٌ بَيِّنَاتٌ مَقَامُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمَنْ دَخَلَهُ كَانَ آمِناً وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنْ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلاً وَمَنْ كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنْ الْعَالَمِينَ “Indeed the first house to be set up for mankind is the one at Bakkah, blessed and a guidance for all nations. In it are, manifest signs [and] Abraham’s Station, and whoever enters it shall be secure. And it is the duty of mankind toward God to make pilgrimage to the House - for those who can afford the journey to it - and should anyone renege [on his obligation], God is indeed without need of the creatures. (The holy Quran 03:96-97)” The word “Bakkah” means the place of confluence and congregation of throngs and it refers to the ground upon which the Ka’bah is built. God says that in the structure there was the first house to be set up for mankind and hence is as old as man himself. It is also the last point of convergence that man will have available to rally around during his spiritual epic and sojourn on this planet. Imam J’afar al-Sadiq (AS) said: “Religion will withstand so long as the Ka’bah stands” Islam is for all places. This is graphically symbolized in the Hajj by the influx of people from all different places on the earth towards Makkah. وَإِذْ بَوَّأْنَا لإِبْرَاهِيمَ مَكَانَ الْبَيْتِ أَنْ لا تُشْرِكْ بِي شَيْئاً وَطَهِّرْ بَيْتِي لِلطَّائِفِينَ وَالْقَائِمِينَ وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُودِ وَأَذِّنْ فِي النَّاسِ بِالْحَجِّ يَأْتُوكَ رِجَالاً وَعَلَى كُلِّ ضَامِرٍ يَأْتِينَ مِنْ كُلِّ فَجٍّ عَمِيقٍ “When We settled for Abraham the site of the House [saying], Do not ascribe any partners to Me, and purify My House for those who go around it, and those who stand [in it for prayer], and those who bow and prostrate. And proclaim the hajj to people: they shall come to you on foot and on every lean camel, coming from every remote path, that they may witness advantages for them and mention the Name of Allah during stated days (The holy Quran 22:26-27)” According to scholars the word ‘advantages’ includes all virtues, both physically and spiritually, of the world and the Hereafter. The great assembly of Muslim nations in a single forum is like a sea coming into existence as a result of joining of small and big rivers. As all Muslims believe on One God and acknowledge the prophethood of Mohammad (SAWA) it gives them unanimity and unity of opinion and a single rank, all facing Kiblah and go around the center with the single aim. This unity of ideology and act gives so much power that it can remove mountains, defeat the most formidable opposition powers, foil any treacherous plot, and generate a life full of happiness, dignity and supremacy by performing heavenly injunctions and consolidating the pillars of social justice. Hajj - Foundation of unity: The problems of life can be solved by social cooperation, which is dependent on the understanding among nations. The holy Prophet (SAW) said in the farewell Hajj on the mount Arafat: “O people, surely your Lord is One, the father of all of you is one, you all come from Adam and Adam from the earth. (Surely the most honorable of you with Allah is the one among you most careful of his duty) Arab has no advantage over non-Arab except for piety.” Also during the same Hajj at the Mina holy Prophet (SAW) said: “Believers are brethren. Their blood has equal value. They are a single hand and power against others. The promise of each of them is like that of all, hence binding.” The most important thing to do is to understand the true teachings of religion, which unite men and bridge the gaps between hearts. Islam recognizes only one standard of greatness and that is piety. All are equal as all have been born by a single father and mother and have been created by a single creator the only parameter of distinction is piety. And Hajj is the most vivid manifestation and lesson of this equality. All dressed in similar kind of clothes, all bowing before One Lord, all in the search of one Beloved, all seeking one Destination, all acknowledging One Power and all denying all false gods. جَعَلَ اللَّهُ الْكَعْبَةَ الْبَيْتَ الْحَرَامَ قِيَاماً لِلنَّاسِ وَالشَّهْرَ الْحَرَامَ وَالْهَدْيَ وَالْقَلائِدَ ذَلِكَ لِتَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِي السَّمَوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الأَرْضِ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ “Allah has made the Kaaba, the sacred house, a maintenance for the people, and the sacred month and the offerings and the sacrificial animals with garlands; this is that you may know that Allah knows whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth, and that Allah is the Knower of all things. (The Holy Quran, 05:97)” The Kabba or Scared House guarantees the survival of Ummah. It is a shelter for oppressed and a source of tranquility for those who are in a state of panic. The Khiblah is the direction in which animals are slaughtered, prayers offered and dead buried. All such deeds are acceptable when they are done facing Khiblah. Besides even in the remotest place from the Kabba Muslims avoid to ease nature with their face or back towards it. Allah has granted Kabba the high respect and honour as He is aware with the fact that human society needs a center full of respect and holiness for its unity and survival. Humans need a sanctuary or a forum where all people can join hands and solve their problems, and hence Allah the Al-Knowing Wise Lord has made Kabba as our center. Therefore the Kabba is the unity point of Muslims. Kabba - A Sanctuary for Peace: Our Lord further says: وَإِذْ جَعَلْنَا الْبَيْتَ مَثَابَةً لِلنَّاسِ وَأَمْناً ... “And when We made the House a pilgrimage for men and a (place of) security. (The Holy Quran, 02:125)” Human society is full of violations, conflicts, and different kinds of disputes. These problems arise due to different factors like ego, oppression, racism, casteism, nationalism, male chaunism, feminism etc. There are so many wars and conflicts at international level. An effort was made to resolve the issues of conflict and wars by forming UNO, but as we have witnessed that UN has failed miserably, and in fact it was destined to fail as it was founded upon inequality and oppression. UN speaks the language of might is right. VETO powers have made mockery of all democratic values, though they never tire of talking democracy. Allah Our Merciful Lord appointed Kabba as our forum where we all can assemble and feel at home with surety that no harm or oppression would be done to any creature of Allah. Kabba is security place for all human beings against the fear of oppression and injustice. Allah has made Kabba so sacred, as discussed above, that even in the remotest place of the earth Muslims show respect towards it and also so secure and a place full of justice that all differences of wealth, might, race, caste etc are made nullified by making all wear same clothes of same type, making all respect all creatures of Allah, making all follow the same course, and making all suffer or enjoy equally. So kabba is a place where the poor do not feel low before any wealthy except Allah, the weak do not bow out of fear before any might except that of Allah, all are equal here. So this is the most suitable place for resolution of all decisions concerning human society. Imam Khomeini (RA) says in his message: “No personality, tribe or government enjoys the privilege of priority in it. Desert dwellers, rustic people and the homeless are considered equal in status, to the city dwellers, the statesmen or to those secluded in Kaaba. This dignified house belongs to peoples and is appropriated for peoples’ uprisings and movements and for public benefits” and also at another place “…it is necessary to heed one of the major reasons for this tremendous congregation and look into the social and political conditions of the Islamic countries, learn about the entanglements of the coreligionists and to take efforts to help eliminate their problems, as much as one’s Islamic and moral duties require him to do. Diligence in the Muslims’ affairs is an important Islamic obligation.” Kabba - The Emblem of Islam: In traditions, holy Kaaba has been regarded as the emblem of Islam, Imam Ali (AS) says: “Allah the Glorified has made it (the Sacred House) an emblem for Islam” The Hajj pilgrimage represents the essence and spirit of Islam. Allah has made the Kaaba an emblem for Islam so that those who err in recognizing the truth of this religion and its deductive programs reflect on the Hajj rites and its spiritual effects on Muslims and find, the true nature of Islam-the religion of pure sincerity, away from polytheism and what is ungodly. Hajj reflects the essence of Islam: equality, no discrimination on the basis of colour, race, caste, wealth or might, complete devotion towards Him, self-sacrifice etc. Hajj - Solution of Poverty & Social Disobedience: Imam Ali (AS) says: “Hajj and Umrah remove poverty and cleanse sins.” Hajj brings about prosperity and piousness for Muslims making them independent and strong socially and economically. Hajj makes Muslims affairs independent of others’ assistance and create a society which is unpolluted by filth of sins. On the other hand traditions declare that forsaking of Hajj will lead to punishment and lack of respite: Imam Sadiq (AS) says: “If people quit Hajj, they will be given no respite from punishment” Imam Ali (AS) says addressing to Imam Hasan (AS) and Imam Hussain (AS): “(Fear) Allah (and) keep Allah in mind in the matter of your Lord’s House; the Kabba. Do not forsake it so long as you live, because if it is abandoned, you will not be respited.” So forsaking Hajj is a cause for disasters and punishments. Spiritual Philosophy Of Hajj The external acts of Hajj symbolize the spiritual stages of the prophets and Imams. Hajj is the display of spiritual journey of the devotees and the stages of servitude. The essence of worship is journey towards Allah, and the external acts of Hajj devoid of presence of the heart, are not considered as worship. The holy Prophet (SAW) said: “The daily prayer, Hajj, circumambulation, and other rites are aimed at remembering Allah. But when there is no remembrance of Him in your heart, what value will your oral remembrance have?” The spiritual path or the spiritual enlightenment is reflected by the physical changes in the acts of the person. The effect and objective of Hajj and all forms of worship is the seeking of His pleasure and nearness. The result is increased love for Him, increased feeling of affinity with Him. Feeling love for Him is the litmus paper test of FAITH. Allah says to Holy Prophet (SAW) on the Miraaj: “Whoever tries to win My presence, I will commit him to three characteristics; I will acquaint him with an approach of gratitude that is free from ignorance, a form of (continuous) remembrance of Me that is free from oblivion, and a kind of love with which he will never prefer the love for any creature to Mine. When he loves Me, I will love him and open the eyes of his heart to My glory, making him so intimate to Me and I will confide him with supplication to Me in the hearts of nights and daylight to the degree that he will stop speaking and associating with people. I, too, will make him hear My own words and those of the angels and reveal to him the invisible facts that I hide from My creatures. I will garb him with the uniform of pudency (modesty) that all My creatures will act modestly towards him. He will walk on the earth guiltlessly, I will cause his heart to be cognizant and discerning, and he will be acquainted with all affairs of Paradise and Hell. I will reveal to him the hardships of the Day of Judgment, including the way, how I will settle accounts with the rich, poor, ignorant and scholars. I will light up his grave, ask Munkar and Nakeer - the two angels in the charge of the interrogation in graves to interrogate him, he will neither experience the agony of death nor the darkness of the grave until the Balance -of his deeds-will be deposited for him and the registry of his deeds- will be opened and the book of his deeds will be finally put into his right hand and he will read it peacefully and there will be no interpreter between Me and him. These are the characteristics of lovers of Allah.” Worship is the journey of the soul and a continued spiritual life in divine light. Since there is unity and interaction between man’s body and soul, the journey of the spirit will be naturally manifested in body, and physical acts in prayer too will influence the soul’s spiritual life. The external feature of the Hajj rites represents spiritual journey of a perfect man who has gone through different stages of servitude, detached from worldly ties and ornaments, and rescued from darkness and entered into the illuminated kingdom of Allah. Therefore, a true Hajj is evolution in soul. It is not a plaything or entertainment as some ignorant people think, for their performance is more like a game than worship. Malik ibn Anas says: One year, I accompanied Imam Sadiq (AS) in the Hajj pilgrimage. Being on the back of his horse and in the state of Ihram, the Imam (AS) was trying to utter ‘Labbayk’ but his voice struck in his throat. He therefore rode off his horse. I said: “O son of the messenger of Allah! Say ‘Labbayk’, you have to say it” He (A.S.) replied: “O son of Abi-Amir, how dare I say it? I fear that Allah will not answer me nor let me in.” The Imams’ sayings act was warning to the ignorant ones that Hajj is the journey of soul, not distance. If a man’s soul gets into the state of Ihram, reaches the House of Allah, touches the Black Stone with the hand of heart, stays on Mount Arafat with full heart, stops in al-Mash’ar al-Haram with full soul, sacrifices the sheep of carnal desires with knife of certitude and submission of (to the Lord), he has performed a true Hajj. The purpose of Hajj is purification of soul and refinement of Faith. The rites of Hajj are particularly not appealing to human mood, stay in open, bare foot walk, throwing of stones at Satan, facing sun and cold of night, and many other such rites which do not appeal so much to man, but the purpose behind all such rites is to make man humble and submit in entirety before His Lord. Imam Ali (AS) in Nahjul Balagha says: “Do you not see the Allah, the Glorified, has tried all the people among those who came before, beginning with Adam up to the last ones in this world with stones which yield neither benefit nor harm nor see nor hear. He made those stones into His sacred house, which He made a standby for the people. He placed it in the most rugged stony part of the earth and on a highland with least soil thereon, among the narrowest valleys between rough mountains, soft sandy plains, springs of scanty water, and scattered habitants, where neither camels nor horses, nor cows and sheep can prosper… If Allah the Glorified, had placed His Scared House and His great signs among plantations, streams, soft and level points, plenty of trees, and abundance of fruits, a thick population, close habitats, golden wheat, lush gardens green land, watered plains, thriving orchards, and crowded streets, the amount of recompense would have been decreased because of the lightness of the trial. If the foundation on which the House is borne and the stones with which it has been raised had been of green emerald and red rubies, and there had been brightness and effulgence, then this would have lessoned the action of doubts in the breasts, would have dismissed the effect of Satan’s activity from the hearts, and would have stopped the surging of misgivings by means of different troubles, wants them to render worship through hardships and involves them in distress, all in order to extract out vanity from their hearts, to settle down humbleness in their spirits , and to make all this an open door for His favours and an easy means for His forgiveness (for their sins).” The Hajj has deep and wonderful influence on spiritual life of Hajjis. It gives them a new life and a new direction; most of the Hajjis when return back after completing the Hajj they are full of determination. Now we must take care that once after doing determination we should not return to sins. Political Philosophy of Hajj Hajj is a grand international assembly and forum of Muslims. It has great political aspects. This is the season and right place for protest against the oppressors and arrogant of the world. This is the place where big haughty superpowers should be made to know that Muslims are no one’s servants except the Almighty Allah. In the words of Imam Khomeini (RA): “Regrettably, many Muslims, have become oblivious of the political dimension of this exalted worship, due to their own deviation, or, misunderstanding of some individuals or conspiracies by some self-seeking functionaries.” Also at another place: “The Hajj obligation which entails saying LABBEYK to Allah and departure from the ego towards the Supreme Being, by the blessed guidance of Abraham and Muhammad (SAW), in fact this is a station for negation of all idols and the tyrants of the time, and the devils and the devil breed, but which idol is graver than the archenemy, the plunderer America…” Indoctrinations and Enlightenments During Hajj: Hajj is time for indoctrinations and enlightenments of Muslims. Muslims coming from such far places must be made aware with the conspiracies and malicious designs being undertaken against Islam and Muslims by the big powers. Hajj - Focus of Strife Against Worlds’ Arrogant: At this sacred place the Tyranny must be opposed and struggle of Muslims against the arrogant super powers must be brought into focus. Imam Khomeini: “Sacrifice yourselves and your dear ones in order to enact and promote Allah’s religion and divine justice. He taught us all, that Mecca and Mina are alters of the attached devotees, and the sites for promoting monotheism and negating polytheism, as, attachment to one’s life and dear ones, is also counted polytheism.” The Disgust at the Pagans: Hajj the biggest manifestation of Tauheed must be an occasion for displaying hatred and disgust at the Pagans. Imam Khomeini: “Airing disgust at the pagans, being a pillar of monotheism and political necessity of Hajj, must be performed with as much grandeur and dignity as possible.”