Friday Talks
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Hajj 1
Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa.
In the name of Allah most Gracious most Merciful
Thanks be to Allah the Lord of the worlds, and peace and prayers be upon the most honorable of all messengers.
Last Friday the Imam talked about the story of building the Haram Mosque (Kaaba), and about all the grace and benefits of doing Hajj (pilgrimage) to it.
All Muslims are looking forward to the approaching of the month of thel-Hajjah; the new crescent announcing the start of the month; and at that time; groups of people who are making the Hajj worship; will start arriving at the ancient mosque. They arrive with steps of obedience and in response to Allah’s command; as HE said to Abraham may peace be upon him: {and proclaim to mankind to do Hajj, they will come to you walking and on every lean ride and they will come from every deep and far}. Indeed, they will come to witness what is good for them, and to call the name of Allah. And they will be looking into the wisdom, secrets, meanings and values of Hajj and its holy rituals.
The greatest lesson to learn from the hajj worship is the singularity of Allah for whom this haram mosque was built; and it was made to be the destination for all people to head to; to perform a worship for Allah alone and for no one else.
The pure and clear belief of singularity of God is the bases for humanity to inherit earth. The Islamic nation only became powerful through believing monotheism. And it became weaker and it declined because of the lack of this belief.
Belief in Allah alone means putting all hope in Allah alone; and fear Allah alone, and asking for help from Allah alone. And only to rule by the rules of Allah. It is an absolute belief that must contain no doubt.
For that reason Allah found the haram mosque. The black stone at the mosque is a way of identifying a starting point for ritual of walking round the mosque (tawaf). The black stone its self is not a source of grace. For no stone has grace. This black stone has been found through scientific analysis that is different to all stones and rocks on earth. The messenger (PPBU) said: {the black stone will be a witness for the Hajjs (pilgrims) in the day of judgment}. Omar ebn-al-Khattab said about this stone: “I know you are but a stone that has no benefit nor does any harm. And except for that I saw the prophet of Allah (PPBU) kiss you I would never do so”. Every Muslim should know beyond doubt that as he or she walk round the mosque (doing tawaf), kiss the black stone and receive the right corner of the mosque, should know that the one who can do you good or bad is Allah alone. And any alteration in this belief is falling into the traps of having associates with Allah (traps of shirk). The very thing this haram mosque was built to eliminate. That is the reason the messenger commanded Abu-Baker to call into the people on the day of sacrifice during Hajj that after that year; no polytheists or pagans should do Hajj, and no one will go round the mosque in the nude.
The second point to know about Hajj is that Allah specifies what and how people should behave and obey Allah’s commands. HE warns from being lazy or ignoring any of the worship rituals. This emphasizes and enforces the importance and holiness of the Hajj worship.
The third point to learn becomes clearer during the Hajj worship is that it is the place and the time to help and feel for others; being compassionate to the poor and needy, and giving in charity to them. Allah says: {let them witness benefits to them, call Allah's name in specific days, for what HE bestowed upon them of the useful animals. Eat of it and feed the needy the poor.} Hajj 28. The contented one is the one who does not ask despite his hunger and need. And the proud one is the one who is poor; yet he does not ask others.
Point 4, become clear in the value of obedience and fear of Allah, and its large effect. It is the scale by which deeds and people are evaluated. Many ayas (verses) in the Koran relating to Hajj kept reemphasizing this. Allah says: {take supplies, and the best supply you can take is fear. Fear me; you who have brains}. Allah also says: {fear Allah and know that Allah has tough punishment} bakara 196. and HE says: {this who is in a hurry, it can be done in two days, there will be no sin for that, and whoever is late; there is no sin for those who fear} bakara 203, and Allah said: {of what you sacrifice, indeed, it is not its meat and blood that will reach Allah, but will reach HIM from you is the fear you have for Him}. Dear Muslims, fearing Allah is the collection of all goodness.
Dear Muslim, if you worship Allah, following his enlightenment, expecting and hoping for Allah’s reward. And avoid what Allah prohibited based on enlightenment from him, for indeed you have materialized the fear of Allah in its details in the reality of your life. It is through it that you do your obligations towards your creator, and towards your fellow Muslims.
It is becoming acquainted with others, being friendly, and cooperating with them, with no regard to colour, language, titles, race, nationalities what makes the difference in Allah’s scale. There is only one scale that evaluates the peoples grace with Allah: {the most generous of you is the one that fear Allah most.} Hujurat 13. It is with fear of Allah that humans are elevated and become graced and honored. Just as Suhabe was elevated, and Salman was honored. And, without it one can become dishonored and disrespected, just as Aba-Lahab was because of his disbelief in Allah and being pagan and one who associate others with Allah.
All praise be to Allah, and all thanks be to Allah. And may Allah reward you generously and may HE forgive all your sins.
Notes:
- The inhabitants of the city of Almadina that received and supported the messenger (PPBU) when he immigrated from Mekkah in the very early years of Islam.
Ansar (or Al-Ansar):
is a verse of the Koran. Aya (or Ayah):
mountain that represents the climax of the Hajj worship. All doing Hajj must stay at this location on the same day. Arafa (or Arafa or Arafat): is a
talking to Allah; praising him and asking him for help. Duaa: a prayer in the form of
Ferdose: is the highest level of the all the gardens of Eden or paradise. reported that the messenger said. It includes all the speeches and ceremonies he gave. It is usually narrated or told by one of his companions. There is a list of hadeeths approximately 14000 that are reported and checked to be genuine. No more hadeeths are acceptably added to this list. Hadeeth: is something
Hajj: is the worship of pilgrimage.
Hijra: the event of the immigration of the messenger from Mekkah to Madina. This event marks the start of the Islamic calendar. the Islamic calendar has 12 months based on the lunar cycle. Hijra is also used as a name for the Islamic dating system.
Iman: belief
Jihad: is striving in the line of Allah in many forms. Includes a very wide scope varying from improving oneself to fighting a defensive war in protection of Allah's word.
Khalifa: is the Muslim ruler. Head of the Islamic empire. Exact translation: "Successor". peninsula (known now as Saudi Arabia). A city where the messenger had to immigrate to. Madinah: A city in the Arabian
Mekka: is the holiest Mosque for Muslims. Some say it was first built by Adam, and some say Ibraham. It is where all Muslims face in their daily prayers.
Nafilah: a voluntary prayer other than the five obligatory prayers; performed by a believer. Ommah: is the Arabic word for a nation. It usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise specified.
PPBU: Peace and Prayers Be Upon him. Qadr (night of Qadr): The night when the first revelation of the Koran took place. Most likely it happened during in the ten nights of the month of Ramadan.. Sunna: is the way the Messenger PPBU lived, did or said. It includes the way he dressed, ate, drank, prayed, interacted with other people and fought. Basically, sunnah is the life style of the messenger PPBU. It is considered the second source of legislation in Islamic laws and it is considered an important reference to be used for concluding arguments and disputes
Tawaf: part of the pilgrimage (Hajj) ritual. It involves walking round the Kaaba Mosque in anti-clock wise direction a number of seven circles.
Wathoo (wadoo): a washing up ritual done by Muslims before each of the five daily prayers.
Faheem Bukhatwa, my email address is :
faheemfb@gmail.com