By Samra Hayat
July 7, 2022
The Islamic month of Dhu-al-Hijjah
The Hajj is an annual pilgrimage that Muslims perform for the sake of Allah (SWT) at the Masjid al-Haram (Great Mosque of Mecca) that surrounds the Kaaba (the House of Allah) in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The Hajj takes place during the first ten sacred days of the month of Dhu-al-Hijjah.
The Hajj (a pilgrimage to Mecca) and Eid-ul-Adha rituals are followed by Abrahamic traditions and Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) sunnah.
In many chapters of the Holy Quran, Allah (SWT) emphasizes the significance of Hajj (a pilgrimage to Allah's (SWT) House for His sake).
One of the Quranic verses about Hajj is from Surah AL-BAQARAH THE COW, quoted here.
Allah SWT said:
And [mention] when We made the House a place of return for the people and [a place of] security. And take, [O believers], from the standing place of Abraham a place of prayer. And We charged Abraham and Ishmael, [saying], "Purify My House for those who perform tawaf and those who are staying [there] for worship and those who bow and prostrate [in prayer]."
Recite Quran - [2. Al-Baqarah - Verse: 125]
In-Text Citation:
Full Citation:ShareIslam. “Recite Quran - [2. Al-Baqarah - Verse: 125].” Recite Quran - Al-Baqarah [2:125], recitequran.com, https://recitequran.com/2:125. Accessed 14 Aug. 2022.
One of the Quranic verses about Hajj is from Surah Al-Imran, quoted here.
From Surah AL-Imran: Indeed, the first House (of worship) established for mankind was that at Makkah - blessed and a guidance for the worlds. (3:96) In it are clear signs (such as) the standing place of Abraham. And whoever enters it shall be safe. And (due) to Allah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House - for whoever is able to find thereto a way. But whoever disbelieves - then indeed, Allah is free from need of the worlds. (3:97)
Recite Quran - [3. Ali-Imran - Verse: 96]
In-Text Citation:
Full Citation:ShareIslam. “Recite Quran - [3. Ali-Imran - Verse: 96].” Recite Quran - Ali-Imran [3:96], recitequran.com, https://recitequran.com/en/3:96. Accessed 13 Aug. 2022.
The pilgrims must perform the Hajj (one of the five pillars of Islam) rituals by following the Abrahamic and Prophet Muhammad’s sunnah. The 9th day of Dhul Hajj is considered the day of repentance, when pilgrims leave for the Arafat after sunrise and spend the day in supplications for forgiveness until sunset. Then they will leave to spend the night at the plains of Mazdalafa after the sunset. This is also a sacred place, where the pilgrims continue their supplications and pray their two evening prayers, the Maghrib and Isha, together. Then they leave at sunrise to Jamarat for a stoning ritual. They also leave to attend the Eid al-Adha congregational prayer at the Grand Mosque of Mecca on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah.
The journey to Mecca to perform Hajj encompasses almost a week, although it will take two to three weeks (traveling time) for the people visiting from outside of Mecca. However, people must take the journey with educated Muslim scholars who can guide them about performing Hajj step by step. In addition, it is important for people to understand how to accomplish their Hajj rites.
Muslim scholars educate people to learn their Hajj rites according to the Abrahamic customs, or traditions, and Prophet Muhammad’s sunnah:
People visit the Holy House of Allah, the Kaaba, in large numbers to perform the rites of Umra and Hajj from around the world.
At a Muslim conference, Muslim scholars discussed the significance of the month of Dhul-Hajj (during which Allah's House, the Kaaba, is visited), explaining how a supplicant or a pilgrim could gain enormous blessings (especially during the first ten most sacred days of Dhul-Hajj), including the ability to achieve honorable and spiritual rewards of righteousness by performing Hajj. They specified Hajj observances in Makkah (performed in accordance with Abrahamic customs and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad, PBUH) by explaining it to Muslim communities. They addressed how a pilgrim must begin sincere invocations and Hajj rituals, such as performing Tawaf (circumambulating the Kaaba, a house of Allah) seven times; taking seven hikes between the holy mountains of Safa and al-Marwah; supplicating in Minna; including praying on the plains and mountains of Arafat on the ninth of Dhul-Hajj; thereafter, spending a night in Mazdalafa for spiritual purification; then departing to Jamarat for stoning three pillars seven times each for three successive days. Jamarat is accounted for as the place where the devil stood and tempted Prophet Abraham (PBUH). The scholars explained that following up with the jamarat ritual in Mina, the pilgrims must perform their Eid al-Adha prayers and offer sacrificial animals in the name of Allah (SWT) and distribute the meat to the poor and local communities for the sake of achieving piety and righteousness.
One of the Quranic verses from Surah AL-BAQARAH quoted here is about the Hajj rites and sacrificial animals.
https://recitequran.com/2:196
Recite Quran - [2. Al-Baqarah - Verse: 196]
Full Citation:ShareIslam. “Recite Quran - [2. Al-Baqarah - Verse: 196].” Recite Quran - Al-Baqarah [2:196], recitequran.com/2:196. Accessed 12 Aug. 2022.
Allah (SWT) says:
“And complete the hajj and ‘umrah for Allah. But if you are prevented, then [offer] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals. And do not shave your heads until the sacrificial animal has reached its place of sacrifice. And whoever among you is ill or has an ailment of the head [making shaving necessary must offer] a ransom of fasting [three days] or charity or sacrifice. And when you are secure, then whoever performs ‘umrah [during the hajj months] followed by hajj [offers] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals. And whoever cannot find [or afford such an animal] – then a fast of three days during hajj and of seven when you have returned [home]. Those are ten complete [days]. This is for those whose family is not in the area of al-Masjid al-îaram. And fear Allah and know that Allah is severe in penalty.”
Religious studies present evidence from the Holy Quran's verses that pilgrims must offer a sacrificial animal such as a sheep, cow, or camel. However, pilgrims who cannot afford any of the sacrificial animals must observe three days of fasting during the Tashriq days (after the 10th of Dhul Hajj, i.e., 11 to 13 Dhul Hijjah), including seven more days of fasting after they return to their homes.
In-Text Citation:(“The Sacrifice and Its Rulings”)
Full Citation:“The Sacrifice and Its Rulings.” The Sacrifice and Its Rulings, 1 May 2017, islamicfiqh.net/en/newmuslims/10/69/articles/90/the-sacrifice-and-its-rulings.
https://islamicfiqh.net/en/newmuslims/10/69/articles/90/the-sacrifice-and-its-rulings
Another citation to view Surah 2:196:
https://carm.org/islam/islam-by-topic-animal-sacrifice/
In-Text Citation:(Slick)
Full Citation:Slick, Matt. “https://carm.org/islam/islam-by-topic-animal-sacrifice/.” Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry, 10 June 2016, carm.org/islam/islam-by-topic-animal-sacrifice.
Then the pilgrims must perform another ritual by cutting their hair; men can shave their heads, and women cut a lock of their hair after completing the sacrificing ritual in the name of Allah the Most High. Explaining the Hajj rites, the scholar specifies that the pilgrims can return to Makkah for Tawaf al-Ifadah (to perform around the Kaaba) and later continue on the consecrated prayers to Allah SWT while staying in Mina for the rest of the sacred days of Dhul-Hajj observances. The scholar told us Allah (SWT) accepts all sincere prayers dedicated to Him, and as a result of a true believer’s sincere repentance, Allah, the Almighty, may grant him/her a gift of a paradise to dwell in forever.
One of the Quranic verses from Surah AL-BAQARAH about Hajj quoted here describes the importance of the mountains of as-Safa and al-Marwah:
Allah SWT said:
Indeed, as-Safa and al-Marwah are among the symbols of Allah. So whoever makes hajj to the House or performs ‘umrah – there is no blame upon him for walking between them. And whoever volunteers good – then indeed, Allah is appreciative and Knowing.
Recite Quran - [2. Al-Baqarah - Verse: 158]
In-Text Citation:
Full Citation:ShareIslam. “Recite Quran - [2. Al-Baqarah - Verse: 158].” Recite Quran - Al-Baqarah [2:158], recitequran.com, https://recitequran.com/2:158. Accessed 14 Aug. 2022.
https://recitequran.com/2:158
The studies show Hagar's (the affectionate mother of Prophet Ismaeel (PBUH)) consistent struggle to find a resource to save her infant son's life from thirst. This story also reminds us of her obedience to Allah SWT, when she endured hardships by not losing hope of survival and ran between the mountains of as-Safa and al-Marwa seven times nonstop. While running between the mountains of Safa and Marwa, she asked Allah (SWT), the Bestower of all livelihood and Merciful, for water to quench the thirst of her infant son, the Prophet Ismail (AS), in the drylands of Mecca.
At the same time, Allah SWT answered her prayers when Angel Gabriel appeared (after she completed her seventh run between the two mountains) and informed her of Allah SWT's decree that Allah SWT would provide them with water, as He SWT had heard her supplications and Ismael (AS)'s crying. Therefore, Allah (SWT) caused a spring to pour out, which spread at the location where Ismail 'AS' was touching his heels while crying. The water from the spring is called Zamzam.
Hagar in Islam - Wikipedia
In-Text Citation:(“Hagar in Islam - Wikipedia”)
Full Citation:“Hagar in Islam - Wikipedia.” Hagar in Islam - Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagar_in_Islam. Accessed 8 Sept. 2022.
The Muslim scholars also explained the significance of Arafat, which comes on the ninth of Dhul Hajj and is a day of ardent prayer to Allah (SWT), describing how pilgrims implore Allah's mercy for all past shortcomings (which might have interfered in the maintenance of impartiality) on that day. They described that pilgrims must hope (while invoking Allah SWT wholeheartedly in their prayers for forgiveness at Arafat) to have their prayers heard, worldly desires fulfilled, and to have received the spiritual rewards of eternal happiness, particularly of having their Hajj accepted in response to their acts of worship, immediately or later in their lives.
They also represented the idea that if pilgrims uphold justice and righteousness throughout their lives, there is a possibility that they may become more committed to Allah (SWT), which will be a positive source of getting their Hajj granted, called Hajj-e-Mabroor (or Hajj acceptance).
Jabal al-Nour, or Mount Arafat, is where pilgrims repent for their flaws and ask Allah SWT's favor of continued fidelity and devotedness to the Islamic faith.
There is a Hadith quote about Hajj-e-Mabroor:
"It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) say:
"Whoever performs Hajj for the sake of Allah and does not utter any obscene speech or do any evil deed, will go back (free of sin) as his mother bore him."
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1449; Muslim, 1350.
Meaning of Hajj Mabroor (The Accepted Hajj) – Dr. Saleh as Saleh [Audio|En]
In-Text Citation:(Rahman and posts by AbdurRahman.org)
Full Citation:Rahman, Abdur, and View all posts by AbdurRahman.org. “Meaning of Hajj Mabroor (The Accepted Hajj) – Dr. Saleh as Saleh [Audio|En].” AbdurRahman.Org Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1449; Muslim, 1350., abdurrahman.org, 25 July 2015, https://abdurrahman.org/2015/07/25/meaning-of-hajj-mabroor/.
Carrying on the conversation, scholars also explained that the Eid al-Adha celebration starts after the day of Arafat, Muzdalifah, Mina, and Rami rituals for pilgrims. The scholar said that publicizing the recollections of the Hajj (followed by Abrahamic traditions and Prophet Muhammad's PBUH sunnah) performed in Mecca is about engaging people in knowledgeable conversation and educating them. He said it has been an honor to spread awareness of the important pillar of Islam.
The attendees appreciated the shared information and got intrigued to learn more about the Hajj rites to spread the knowledge among their families and friends. Everyone admitted that the knowledge they got is inspirational, and it will lead them to perform Hajj in the future.
The Eid parties celebrated at home include a variety of delicacies ranging from desserts to fruits to grilled dishes!
In addition, catering food for Eid and Hajj celebrations at home will be a wise decision and a more convenient option, because food served on time could be possible only if catered from an authentic source for freshly cooked meals.
Tikka Guys can provide catering services for food orders on Eid!
The link provided for the food menu is https://www.tikkaguys.net/menu-1, and the catering menu is on the page https://www.tikkaguys.net/catering.
Thank you for reading,
Tikka Guys