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Courtesy of Submission.orgHajj (Pilgrimage) Like all the rituals of Islam, Abraham was the first receiver of Hajj ritual. He passed these rituals from one generation to another. Corruption found its way to these rituals over the years. We are blessed because God sent us a messenger from among us to purify and clarify for us these rituals after a long period of corruption.
[al-Ma'idah 5:19] O people of the scripture, our messenger has come to you, to explain things to you, after a period of time without messengers, lest you say, "We did not receive any preacher or warner." A preacher and warner has now come to you. GOD is Omnipotent.
[Ibrahim 14:4] We did not send any messenger except (to preach) in the tongue of his people, in order to clarify things for them. GOD then sends astray whomever He wills, and guides whomever He wills. He is the Almighty, the Most Wise.
The Rites of Hajj in the Quran 1- The commencement of Hajj
[2:189] They ask you about the phases of the moon! Say, "They provide a timing device for the people, and determine the time of Hajj." It is not righteous to beat around the bush; righteousness is attained by upholding the commandments and by being straightforward. You shall observe GOD, that you may succeed.
The 12th month of the Islamic calender is called Zul-Hijja and it is the first of the four consecutive months 12th, 1st , 2nd and 3rd during which God decreed the Hajj. The birth of the new moon of the month of Zu Al-Hijja signals the beginning of the four months of Hajj.
2- The Duration of Hajj
The duration of Hajj is given in 2:197 which reads:
" Hajj shall be observed in the specified months. Whoever sets out to observe Hajj shall refrain from sexual intercourse, misconduct, and arguments throughout Hajj. Whatever good you do, GOD is fully aware thereof. As you prepare your provisions for the journey, the best provision is righteousness. You shall observe Me, O you who possess intelligence."
Some of the Muslim scholars corrupted the law of God and reduced the time of Hajj from four months to the first ten days of the 12th month. They've justified their claims by corrupting the meaning of verses such as: "....They shall commemorate God’s name during the specified days" 22:28
"......You shall commemorate God for a number of days" 2:203They deliberately ignored the fact that Hajj itself can be completed in few days but observed during the four specified months. The example of fasting the month of Ramadan, makes it clear as God describes this fasting also as specific days although the ritual of fasting is for the whole month.
[2:184] Specific days (are designated for fasting); if one is ill or traveling, ....."
3- Abstentions (Ehraam) during Hajj
a- Hunting
Hunting is prohibited during Hajj :
"You shall not permit hunting throughout Hajj pilgrimage. GOD decrees whatever He wills. "5:1
See also 5:2 and 5:95
b- War and fighting
All warfare is prohibited in the Sacred months of Hajj except in self defence:
"They ask you about the Sacred Months and fighting therein: say, ‘Fighting therein is a sacrilege." 2:217
c- Sexual intercourse, misconduct and arguments prohibited:
"....Whoever sets out to observe Hajj shall refrain from sexual intercourse, misconduct, and arguments throughout Hajj." 2:197
d- The cutting of the hair
During Hajj, Abstaining from cutting one’s hair is a requirement as per 2:196
" You shall observe the complete rites of Hajj and `Umrah for GOD. If you are prevented, you shall send an offering, and do not resume cutting your hair until your offering has reached its destination." 2:196
4- The ‘Tawaaf’ (circling the Ka’bah)
Tawaaf is mentioned in the following verse :
[22:29] "They shall complete their obligations, fulfill their vows, and visit the ancient shrine (Tawaaf)."
5- The Safa and Marwah
[2:158] The knolls of Safa and Marwah are among the rites decreed by GOD.Anyone who observes Hajj or `Umrah commits no error by traversing the distance between them.If one volunteers more righteous works, then GOD is Appreciative, Omniscient."
6- Mount Arafat and Muzdalifah
These two rites are mentioned in 2:198:
"When you file from `Arafaat, you shall commemorate GOD at the Sacred Location (of Muzdalifah)."
7- The symbolic stoning of Satan: The stoning ceremonies symbolize rejection of Satan polytheism and are done by throwing 7 pebbles at each of three stations while glorifying God. (15:34). The messenger of the covenant confirmed the stoning as part of Hajj as much as he confirmed that the Hajj is four months and named these months for us. For Questions about stoning from our readers, please click here.
8- Mena
The visit to Mena is mentioned in the following verse:
"You shall commemorate God for a number of days (in Mena). Whoever who hastens to do this in two days commits no sin, and whoever stays longer commits no sin, as long as righteousness is maintained." 2:203
9- Animal Offerings
The animal offerings during hajj, see 22:36
[22:36] "The animal offerings are among the rites decreed by GOD for your own good.
You shall mention GOD's name on them while they are standing in line. Once they are offered for
sacrifice, you shall eat therefrom and feed the poor and the needy. This is why we subdued them
for you, that you may show your appreciation."The idolatrous rituals that violate the Quran 1- The ‘Black stone’
At one corner of the Kaaba, traditional Muslims seek the blessing of a black stone. Such practice has no support in the Quran. It was innovated by someone through the hadiths books.
2- The water of ‘Zamzam’
There is nothing in our religion that makes of Zamzam water any blessed water than any other water. Many of the Hajj visitors claim all kinds of blessings and cure by this water on no basis. We should remember to give all the qualities of cure and blessings to God Almighty, not to a cup or a can of Zamzam water.
3- The shortening of the Noon and Afternoon Salat
This custom has no quranic basis , on the contrary, God in the Quran very clearly tells us when we need to shorten the salat, i.e. during war.
[4:101] "When you travel, during war, you commit no error by shortening your Contact Prayers (Salat), if you fear that the disbelievers may attack you. Surely, the disbelievers are your ardent enemies."
4- Hajj by Deputisation !
God asserts the fact that each soul will be held accountable only to what it has done.
[ 53:39] "Every human being is responsible for his own works".
In spite of these clear assurances in the Quran, we find Muslims today doing Hajj and Umrah for their dead relatives. They do that in accordance with various alleged hadiths that claim you can do Hajj, fast Ramadan, and also give Zakat on behalf of your dead relatives! These hadiths are in direct contradiction to the Quran and cannot originate from the prophet Muhammed who followed the Quran.
5- Women not allowed to do Hajj without a Mihrim!
This practice has no Quranic basis.
6- Women (during menstruation) deprived of their Prayers, (and thus not completing Hajj rituals) !
This restriction has no basis in the Quran and deprive the women of an essential part of their religious practice.
7-Visiting the Prophet's Tomb in Medina:
Unfortunately, most of today's Muslims make it a custom to visit the Prophet Muhammed's tomb, in the masjid that carries his name in Medina. By doing that they are committing the most flagrant acts of idolatry and thus nullify their Hajj.
Hajj is meant to be for GOD ALONE. Hajj is older than the prophet Muhammed himself. Abraham and his descendants performed Hajj, they did not have a prophet's tomb to visit. The prophet Muhammed himself did his Hajj the correct way without dedicating his Hajj to anyone else besides God.The Quran consistently talks about "The Sacred Mosque," while today's Muslims talk about "The Two Sacred Mosques" ! In a glaring act of idolatry, these Muslims have set up Muhammed's tomb as another "Sacred Mosque" ! This is blasphemous violation of the Quran and ironically, even violates Hadith. It is interesting to know that traditional Muslims claim to believe in a sahih (confirmed) hadith in which the prophet Muhammed declared that God cursed the Jews and the Christians because they built places of worship around their prophet's tombs.
The price of abandoning God’s Law Because many Muslims abandoned God's laws for Hajj many problems and disaster have been happening in and around the Hajj season.
If Hajj is spread over the four months as commanded by God in the Quran all the millions of Muslims who wish to make it to Hajj would have had a fair chance to do so. The overcrowding with all its multiple problems and difficulties will be be eliminated.
Allahu Akbar