WE are now into the twelfth month of the year 1420 of the Islamic or Hijrah calendar.
Dzulhijjah means “the month with the haj or pilgrimage embedded within it.” Pilgrimage itself is not exactly specific to the teachings of Islam by Prophet Muhammad. It is actually a very old religious act.
It was already described during Prophet Adam’s time. It became even more significant when the father and son team of Prophets Ibrahim and Ismail was ordered to rebuild the foundations of the Sacred House.
This new house was raised on the site of the most ancient place of worship on earth, that is Makkah where Adam first prayed to Allah after his reunion with Hawa on the Plains of Arafat.
The Quran describes the story of Ibrahim who was ordered by Allah to leave his wife Hajar and their first born son Ismail in the barren valley of the south western desert of the Arabian Peninsula.
Ibrahim was at the time residing in Syria, a place rich in vegetation and beautiful scenery. When he was commanded to forego such luxuries, he duly complied without hesitation. He did not reason with the Almighty.
Similarly when he was asked to abandon the helpless mother and child in the forsaken desert, he was totally resigned to the Divine will. His only solace was in the promise of his Lord.
Naturally, a young child left in such a severe environment and searing heat would soon be gripped with thirst. Looking at her restless child, Hajar was overcome with trepidation.
She began to run frantically between the two hills, now known as Safa and Marwa, in search of water, and in the hope of finding a passing caravan. She was worried but remained calm and serene.
As she hurried to and from the hills she constantly stopped and checked on the condition of her son. She trusted Allah to care for her and Ismail, but she was not about to simply sit still and let events take its own course.
Not long after, her prayers were answered when out of the young boy’s kicking into the sand, a spring burst forth. This is in fact the blessed, ever-flowing fountain of Zam Zam.
The spontaneous act of a pious, loving mother running between Safa and Marwa in search of water to quench her son’s thirst has been institutionalised as an essential part of haj, that is the sa’ee.
Ismail, had since grown up to become a fine young child and a future Prophet. He was reunited with his father.
At a time when the father and son were enjoying each other’s company to the fullest, there came another command from Allah. Ibrahim was inspired to offer his son for sacrifice.
It was the greatest test ever designed to evaluate if a man’s love for his Creator could supersede that for his own flesh and blood. When he informed Ismail of this bizarre decree, the child simply consented.
This highly moving event has been captured in verse 102 of Surah al-Saffat of the Holy Quran, translated thus:
Ibrahim said: “My dear son, I have seen in a dream that I must sacrifice you. So look, what do you think of it?” Ismail replied: “Do as you have been commanded. Allah willing, you shall find me being steadfast.”
So out they walked into the open space. All the time they had to content with the devil that tried to deceive them by playing on their emotion. “Why on earth would you want to kill your own son?”
But they ignored these dissuasions and confidently moved on with a single aim on their minds that is, to comply with the command of Allah.
Ismail was laid on the ground. Ibrahim placed the knife on his son’s throat. As he was about to cut it, Allah intervened and substituted Ismail with a ram sent down from heaven. It was the ram that was slaughtered.
This incident has been made into a religious ceremony identified with the haj. Muslims are enjoined to revive and relive the memory of the “sublime sacrifice” of Ismail by offering mutton and beef to the poor.
In addition, Ibrahim’s effort to counter the deceit of the devil has also been immortalised by Allah in haj. Pilgrims are decreed to throw pebbles at the place where Satan stood in the way of his prophet.
This ritual must be performed consecutively during the three days that follow the encampment at Arafah on the ninth day of Dzulhijjah. The purpose of this is to express a feeling of revulsion against the heinous Satan.
Again back to the story of Ibrahim and Ismail. Many years later when the young boy had attained adulthood and appointed an apostle, the two prophets of Allah were directed to build the House of God that was to be the refuge for all mankind.
When the house was ready, a proclamation of pilgrimage came down from Allah.
Soon the place began to draw people from all parts of the Arabian peninsular like a magnet. The rest is history.
According to Prophet Muhammad, the city of Makkah has been made sacred since the day Allah created the heavens and the earth, and it shall remain sacred until the day of resurrection.
Essentially the rites of haj are recollection, remembrance and reenactment of certain actions and events in the lives of the early prophets like Adam, Ibrahim, Ismail, and their loved ones like Hawa and Hajar.
What Prophet Muhammad did was to purify the rites from all forms of paganism that were incorporated into the haj during the Age of Ignorance.
Each year millions of Muslims congregate to this Holy City to perform the haj. This is because the haj is one of the major pillars of Islam. It is obligatory on those who can afford the trip, at least once in their lifetime.
The rituals of the haj are basically aimed at enhancing one’s faith in Allah the Creator. In a way, some of these would signify nothing more and nothing less than a blind faith and total submission to the Almighty.
The haj presents the most apt opportunity for Muslims to accept His commands without putting them to the censorship of their rational minds.
They circumambulate around the House of God or Ka’aba, perform the sa’ee between the hills of Safa and Marwa, encamp at Arafat, spend the night at Muzdalifah, throw pebbles at the pillars of the devil and offer the sacrifice of animals at Mina without much fuss.
They only have one hope in these that is to seek God’s pleasure. On this note, they may well be motivated also by the words of wisdom of scholars like al-Imam al-Gazali.
“When the thoughts, hopes and aspirations are concentrated on a particular point, when the hearts are seized with eagerness, the hands are stretching towards Allah and the eyes are lifting towards the heavens, when everyone is jointly and with full attention and solicitude begging the mercy of the Lord, then at that time, do not imagine that the Supreme Being will disappoint them, allow their exertions to go to waste and keep them denied of His favours.”
This coming Wednesday those Muslims who are fortunate enough to congregate in Makkah shall begin their pilgrimage. They meet in one place and gather on a single platform.
This provides them with an excellent opportunity to draw fresh strength, gain new inspiration and reaffirm their conviction to Islam.
The challenges are aplenty. The conditions in the Arabian peninsular at the moment may not be as desirable as one would hope for. However, they should not despair for after all, they are the invited guests of Allah the Almighty.