Hajj: A Celebration of Peace

By Aisha Stacey (© 2010 IslamReligion.com)

Where am I? 
More than 2 million people surround me. We all have one common goal, one purpose for being here together. I do not stand out from anyone else. There are no signs of wealth or greatness upon me. No Rolex watch or Nike shoes to mark me as a rich person. I am one person alone, in a sea of humanity. I am black or white, yellow or brown, the colour of my skin is not important. I am from Europe or Asia or South America, my homeland is any corner of this wide earth. The people around me are young and old, male and female, rich and poor. We represent humankind in our diversity, yet we are united. We are unity in diversity.

I am at Hajj
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam. Muslims declare that there is no god but God, and that Muhammad is His messenger; they pray, they fast, they pay obligatory charity, and they go to Hajj. Hajj is a pilgrimage to the city of Makah in Saudi Arabia. At the mosque and in the surrounding area, Muslims perform prayers and rituals. Hajj is an obligatory act performed once in a lifetime by all mentally, physically, and financially able Muslims.
“And Hajj (pilgrimage to Makah) to the House (Kaba) is a duty that mankind owes to God, those who can afford the expenses (for one’s conveyance, provision and residence) ; and whoever disbelieves then God stands not in need of any of mankind, jinn and all that exists”(Quran 3:97)
This year, 2010, Hajj is in the middle of November. Muslims from all over the world will gather to worship God. They arrive in Saudi Arabia, by plane, bus, car, etc. Some endure great hardship, others merely buy a first class ticket, but they come as equals. People make this journey prepared to stand at the House of God (or Kaba) and affirm their love for God and His religion of Islam.
“And proclaim to humankind the Hajj (pilgrimage). They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel, they will come from every deep and distant (wide) mountain highway (to perform Hajj)”                                                                                                     (Quran 22:27)
Hajj commemorates Prophet Abraham, his wife Hajar and their son Ishmael, and the sacrifices and hardships they endured to establish the city of Makah and the house of God. Because of this Hajj is often described as following in the footsteps of Prophet Abraham. The Hajj is several days of total devotion to the One God. Muslims come together to celebrate His praises, ask for His forgiveness and demonstrate unity for His sake alone.

Through out the Muslim world, Hajj has come to symbolise unity. Although Muslims may be disunited due to many outside influences, such as money, politics, border disputes or other worldly concerns. Hajj is the great leveller. At Hajj, all Muslims are equal; nothing about the rituals they perform makes one person better than another. More than 2 million Muslims stand in one place, wearing the same simple clothing, following the same rituals and saying the same words. They are united in their devotion to God. The black man stands next to the white man and they call on God with one voice. The king stands beside the pauper and they declare their submission to the will of God using the same words.

Muslims from every corner of the globe are united in their submission to the will of God. They cry out as if with one voice, “Here I am O God, here I am at your service, and You have no partner. Here I am. All praise, grace, and dominion belong to you. You have no partner”. This supplication is said repeatedly by the pilgrims. It is their answer to God’s call for the Muslims to perform Hajj.

These words are repeated with joy and reverence by all, regardless of status or class. Some people are so overcome with emotion that they weep, others feel elated and happier then they have ever felt before. Every person there feels that he is one person, alone among millions answering God’s call and God hears his supplication and sees his arrival. The pilgrims feel amazed that they are the guest of the most Merciful God. He or she attends this gathering by the invitation of God, not at the invitation of a government or an organisation, nor at the request of a family member or friend.
Hajj is performed because God has invited the believers to congregate together. Regardless of place of birth, nationality, ethnicity, gender, or status, all are welcome, and all are equal in the sight of God. The Muslims gather to meet one another and demonstrate to each other, and the world that they are united. Unity in diversity. They are united by their worship of One God.
“O humankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable of you with God is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa (piety, God consciousness). Verily, God is All-Knowing, All-Aware.”                                                                                             (Quran 39:13)
Islam is the religion of unity. Repeatedly throughout the Quran God reminds the believers that they must remain united and seek strength through unity. Hajj epitomises this unity. People from every race and colour come together in submission to the will of God. Muslims are one brotherhood and they come together with a sense of purpose and a desire for peace.
“The believers are nothing else but brothers (in Islam). So make reconciliation between your brothers, and fear God, that you may receive mercy.”                                          (Quran 39:10)
“And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of God (this Quran), and be not divided among yourselves, and remember God’s Favour on you, for you were enemies one to another but He joined your hearts together, so that, by His Grace, you became brethren (in Islam), and you were on the brink of a pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus God makes His Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.,) clear to you, that you may be guided.” (Quran 3:103)
Hajj is the largest annual gathering of Muslims; it is the largest gathering of people united by the peacefulness and serenity that is Islam. Hajj is a celebration of peace. Peace with God, peace with one’s own self and peace with one another. Anything that disturbs the peacefulness of Hajj is prohibited. No matter what is happening in the material world at Hajj, peace prevails.

Muslims gather together and their diversity is a wonder to behold. The old stand with the young, the rich stand with the poor, people of all colours and nationalities stand shoulder to shoulder in prayer, and perform rituals side by side. Prophet Muhammad said, “In their love, kindness, and compassion for each other, the believers are like a human body.[1] Muslims at hajj are one people, they are a soothing sea of humanity, gathered together to worship One God. Muslims turn their faces in one direction and submit to the will of God. They are united by their love of God, and united in their diversity.

________________________________________
Footnotes:
[1] Saheeh Al-Bukhari

Image credit to :Google

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

6bUch ghd
xDwg ugg boots uk
lHhi michael kors outlet
7tLmy GHD
1fHkr burberry usa
2bTjz ugg australia
7zIuk ghd
7lMvl discount louis vuitton
9mCkt Michael Kors
3zUgj ghd straightners
6eTsm ugg boots
6lXrz nfl football jerseys
7oSpy michael kors sale
4wVjd GHD Pas Cher
3kQri cheap uggs

Anonymous said...

hLji ghd australia
qXer ugg boots uk
vXiy michael kors outlet
7lFzx ugg boots sale
6gPcs chi hair products
9rCts michael kors handbags
4cEqh nike nfl jerseys
8vLpk ghd
0vPed north face sale
6dPdx ugg baratas
4gSue ghd iv styler
2lEca michael kors bags
1dAdz nike nfl jerseys
3lNhw planchas ghd
2yWrh discount ugg boots

Anonymous said...

Excellent post. I definitely love this site. Keep it up!


my homepage deer antler velvet

Anonymous said...

Ηello i am kаvin, its mу fіrst ocсаsіon to commenting anуwhеге,
when i reaԁ this piece οf wгitіng i thought i could аlso make comment due to this brilliant рiесе of writing.


My web blоg iphone application developer

Anonymous said...

You can cеrtainly sеe уоur еnthusiasm in the artiсle
you write. Thе seсtor hopeѕ for even more paѕѕionate writers liκe you whο aren't afraid to mention how they believe. Always follow your heart.

Feel free to visit my web blog ... vistaprint coupon

Anonymous said...

Yοur ѕtyle іѕ so unique
сompared to οther folks I have reаd stuff from.

Many thanks fоr рοsting ωhen you've got the opportunity, Guess I will just book mark this page.

Visit my website organic moringa leaf

Anonymous said...

Yeѕ! Finallу somеthіng about
raspbеrry ketoneѕ ԁosage.


my ωеbsіte - raspberry ketone

Anonymous said...

Εxcellent, ωhat a ωebsite it
is! This blog proѵides valuablе data to uѕ, keep it up.


Have a look at my web-site ... coffee pure cleanse price

Anonymous said...

I really like it when folks get together and share views.
Great site, continue the good work!

Feel free to visit my webpage how to hack facebook password after log out

Anonymous said...

Hey wwould you mind sharing ѡhich blog platform you're woгking ԝith?
ӏ'm going tօ start my oԝn blog in tɦe near future but
I'm hqving ɑ hard time selecting ƅetween BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution ɑnd Drupal.
TҺe reason Ӏ ɑsk іs Ƅecause ƴour layout ѕeems
ɗifferent then moѕt blogs annd Ι'm loօking foor something completely unique.
P.S Μy apologies foг being off-topic ƅut I had to ask!



mү webpage; Proactol reviews; ,

Anonymous said...

Hi there, yeah this paragraph is truly nice and I
have learned lot of things from it concerning blogging.
thanks.

Check out my webpage ... Adobe After Effects

Anonymous said...

Incredible story there. What happened after? Take care!

my homepage; after effects animation video

Anonymous said...

I every time used to read article in news papers but now as I
am a user of net thus from now I am using net for articles,
thanks to web.

My web-site ... กระเป๋าแฟชั่น

Anonymous said...

Hello, i read your blog from time to time and i own a similar one and i was just curious if
you get a lot of spam responses? If so how do you stop it, any plugin or anything you can recommend?
I get so much lately it's driving me crazy so any assistance is very much
appreciated.

My weblog - photographer in charlotte nc

Anonymous said...

Attractive section of content. I just stumbled upon your website and in accession capital to assert that
I get in fact enjoyed account your blog posts.
Any way I will be subscribing to your augment and even I achievement you access consistently rapidly.


Here is my web site ... which is the best voip service New York City

ziaadesty said...


I really like all of your writing. I hope you don't get bored to always share your experiences with me. Don't forget to visit my website below:

https://www.merpatiku.my.id

https://www.petsofusa.com

https://www.healthzia.net

https://www.celanapria.my.id