Essence of Hajj Festival
 

BY DR. SALIH Mohamed Ashraff

MUSLIMS living the world over are celebrating and rejoicing this sacred Hajj Festival day with their families, relations and friends on the 10th day of this specified month of Thul Hajj.

It represent the climax of the Hajj pilgrimage, which has been specified for six days starting from 8th day of Thul Hajj, the last (12th) lunar month in the Islamic calendar.

Hajj is a pilgrimage towards Ka' bah at Makkah, the house of Allah, to observe specified devotions and rituals. A Muslim who has the mean to perform it, must make it at least once in his life time.

Haij is a blessing from Allah and is one of the unique characteristic of Islam. It has been ordained as one of the five basic obligations of the fundamental doctrine of Islam.

It has a multipurpose orientation with many applications and implications. It is the largest annual convention of spiritual faith where Muslims meet from each and every corner of the world to know one another, study the spiritual affairs and promote their spiritual welfare.

Hajj is also the greatest regular conference and wholesome demonstration of universal peace, which is the core message of Islam, with complete promotion of equality, brotherhood, humility and co-operation through the spirit of social justice.

Through the spirit of peace, it intend to turn the hearts and minds as fountains of love, kindness, affection, compassion and tolerance and develop a mind set devoid of hatred, anger, greediness, arrogance, jealousy and conflict.

During Hajj, there is no special place for Royalty or aristocracy but spirit of humility, sacrifice and devotion take the pride of place, in addition to loyalty by all to Allah.

Hajj is an exhibition of Islam. It make the pilgrims to acquaint with the spiritual and historical environment of prophet Mohammed.

It transpires the difficulties, barriers and challenges prophet Mohammed would have undergone and confronted in his mission of spreading and propagating Islam, from a desert, in a crime ridden Jahiliys era with a state of rudimentary development of transport, communication and other basic essential facilities.

Consequently Islam flourished within a short period leading to tremendous transformation in spiritual, intellectual, social, political and economical spheres of humanity across the world. This was possible only because of prophet Mohammed's empowerment as the last prophet by Almighty Allah.

Today Islam exist as one of the youngest major religion in the world. These facts given an opportunity for the pilgrims to derive strong and warm inspirations and to strengthen the spiritual faith and commitment.

Haj is also aimed to confirm one's commitment and submission to Allah and one's readiness to foresake and sacrifice the material interest in his service.

It commemorate the divine rituals and sacrifices observed and offered by prophet Ibrahim Hajara and Ismail who are known to have been the first pilgrims to Ka'bah at Makkah, the first house of Allah on earth.

After testing Ibrahim's faith and commitment by ordering him to slaughter and sacrifice his beloved precious only child Ismail, Allah, in return, wanted to reward anything he wished. Ibrahim pled (Dua) Allah to fulfil three events which have become realities in Saudi Arabia today.

The events which he asked for were to make that country devoid of poverty, to make people from every part of the world to make pilgrimage to that country and to make that country abundant with variety of fruits.

This historical event of prophet Ibrahim remind and teach us to sacrifice our selfish materialistic attitude, and by using our wisdom and strength, develop a mind set so that we do good and shum evil to better our life here, as well as in the life here after.

It is the reminder of the great assembly on the Day of Judgement where people will stand before Allah, waiting for the final destiny and when no Royalty, aristocracy or superiority of race or stock can be claimed.

It is also a reminder of the fact that Makkah alone, in the whole existing world was honoured by Allah in being the centre of monotheism since the time of Ibrahim and that it will continue to be the centre of Islam, the religion of pure monotheism until the end of time.

Hajjis the symbol of the final stage of spiritual development through a course of spiritual enrichment, with perfection of ones faith and belief, through surrender and complete submission to Almighty Allah.

Paradise is the reward for the blessed Hajj and after an accepted Hajj, one emerges from his sin like a new born babby.

May Almighty Allah bless the humanity with universal peace and harmony, in this age of conflict, confrontation and violence.