IN the next four weeks, about 23,000 Malaysians will be departing for Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
They will be part of the two million or so Muslims from all over the world fortunate enough to be selected for this year’s pilgrimage or haj.
Haj is one of the five pillars of Islam. Verse 27 or Chapter 22 of the Quran is translated thus: “And proclaim the pilgrimage among men: they will come to you on foot and upon each lean camel, they will come from every deep ravine”.
Haj literally means “to set out towards a definite objective”. The objective here refers to the Ka’bah or the Sacred House in al-Haram Mosque and the fulfilment of prescribed pilgrimage rites.
Pilgrimage is an obligation for Muslims. It is incumbent upon adult Muslims in full possession of their faculties. The other prerequisite is having sufficient funds to make provision for themselves and the families.
Intending pilgrims need also be healthy and physically able to cope with the requirements of the haj rites. Anyone incapacitated by old age or incurable disease may sponsor another person to perform the pilgrimage on his behalf.
With regard to women, some scholars insist the husband accompany them. Alternatively, a close relative like a father, brother or son would qualify as their escort.
Nevertheless, opinions on this are divided. There are scholars who are not so adamant on the need for an escort, saying that a woman must perform the pilgrimage regardless of whether she has a close relative with her or not.
Haj is normally coupled with umrah or the lesser pilgrimage. While umrah is not limited to any definite time of the year, haj only involves the months of Shawwal and Zulqaedah and the first 10 days of Zulhijjah. Thus, it is not allowed to enter the state of consecration or ihram for the haj before the month of Shawwal.
Ihram implies, literally, prohibition, and entails abstention from things hitherto allowed, such as shaving, trimming the finger-nails, and excessive washing of the body, except for the ceremonial ablutions.
Sexual intercourse is not permitted. The standard prohibition against licentiousness of language, wickedness, vice, quarrels or acts of violence also applies.
Hunting is also not allowed. Neither is buying hunted animals nor accepting them as presents. Eating the meat of hunted animals is illegal too.
But in keeping with the Islamic spirit of non-monasticism, pilgrims are allowed to continue doing business or even carrying out their daily work as usual.
Thus, doctors and pharmacists on duty during the haj can very well be pilgrims, too. But a pilgrim must balance work and the opportunity to generate wealth with the worship for which he has prepared a lifetime.
The ihram garb is a simple, white, unsewn cloth other than silk that covers part of the body, leaving the right arm and shoulder bare. It consists of two pieces without seams or decorations.
One piece is wrapped around the lower half of the body, the other thrown over the neck and shoulders, leaving the right arm free. The head should remain uncovered. The ankles must be exposed hence sandals are most appropriate.
Consequently, shirts, trousers, turbans, hats and any sewn or dyed cloth are definitely out.
Women should be clad in a long garment to cover the whole body, except the face and the hands.
Although women are allowed to wear whatever garment they like, they must not put on gloves or a face veil, or use perfume, or wear dresses wholly or partially dyed with saffron.
The actual practice of haj usually starts on the eighth day of Zulhijjah when pilgrims leave Mecca for Mina, a small town located 12km away.
Pilgrims should ideally spend the night in Mina, before beginning their journey to Mount Arafat after sunrise. This was the practice of the Prophet Muhammad and it is desirable Muslims follow the tradition.
On the ninth of Zulhijjah, it is compulsory for pilgrims to be in the prescribed area of the plain of Arafat from noon to sunset. This can only happen once a year. Failure to comply with this would nullify one’s pilgrimage for that year.
After sunset, the pilgrims journey back towards Mecca, stopping to camp for the night at the town of Muzdalifah. Some pilgrims may take the opportunity to collect pebbles to prepare for the rituals of the following day.
The 10th day of Zulhijjah, which is observed here as Hari Raya Aidil Adha, is also known as the day of sacrifice. The pilgrims leave Muzdalifah to move to Mina.
At Mina, they throw the prescribed number of pebbles at three upright stones in succession. The stoning is symbolic for it refers to the stoning of Satan by the Prophets Ibrahim and Ismail.
Today, the relatively small stoning area has contributed to many tragedies due to the overwhelmingly large number of pilgrims wishing to perform the ritual early in the day, in accordance with the practice of Prophet Muhammad.
In view of this, Malaysian pilgrims are constantly reminded to delay the stoning to the afternoon, or even in the early evening. The situation in Mina would be much less hectic, as many pilgrims would have returned to Mecca by then.
The throwing of the pebbles, followed by the shaving of the head or cutting of a few strands of hair essentially mark the end of the main haj rituals. They have the option of exchanging the ihram for regular clothes.
Upon returning to Mecca, they are required to perform the circumambulation around the Ka’bah within al-Haram Mosque and the hastening between the hills of Safa and Marwa, located adjacent to the Ka’bah.
After completing these, the pilgrim assumes a complete state of ihlal, which is the opposite of ihram. He regains the rights to act in the way customarily permitted by Islam.
During the days of the Tashriq on the 11th, 12th and 13th Zulhijjah, the pilgrims return to Mina daily to continue to cast seven pebbles each at the three upright stones.
In the next few days, pilgrims may carry out the umrah or the lesser pilgrimage as many times as they wish. Finally, before leaving Mecca after the completion of the haj, pilgrims are required to perform the farewell circuit of the Ka’bah.
For those who have not visited Medina prior to the haj, it would be advantageous to take the opportunity to visit historic sites of the first Muslim administration in the world, established by Prophet Muhammad 15 centuries ago.
Haj offers an excellent lesson in unity. Despite the differing socio-economic standing, and the varying nationalities and languages, all pilgrims are dressed in one standard ihram.
The assemblage of people of all hue and colours for the single purpose of securing the blessings of Allah, is in itself an exercise in training in peace, tolerance and love.
Ideally, the congregation at haj should promote new friendships and foster the exchange of ideas. It would be wasteful, or even insane, for Muslim pilgrims to try to propagate jaundiced and opinionated views by taking along to Mecca unsolicited pamphlets and flags courtesy of certain political parties.
Instead, why not let everybody rejoice in the spirit of unity of haj that comes along only once every year?