Hajj and development of mankind (2)

The 8th day of Zil-Hijja has come and it is the time of performing hajj rituals. Faces are shining, hearts are throbbing and voices are choked in throats. The moment of devotion is near, prayers are answered and God Almighty has called pilgrims to His symbolic house. Everyone is getting prepared in a rush.

In spite of geographical differences and language and race varieties the eyes and hearts of pilgrims have focused to one point. They have detached themselves from family, properties, position, and all affiliations. They have given up customs and converged in similar white garbs. However, the luminance that comes from within pilgrims creates a monolithic nation with a unique grandeur.

Hajj is recognized with a series of acts that are known as rituals. It begins with intention. Intention is the spirit and core of evaluation of any act of worship. On the day of resurrection, only those practices are rewarded that were associated with pure and sincere intentions. Pilgrims, through reinforcing self-restraint, find out that they are superior to those who have surrendered to their lusts and carnal desires.

Hajj is a comprehensive spiritual journey of perfect humans in the way of God; hence it starts with Tawaf (circumambulation of Ka’ba) and ends with Tawaf. However, the entire human existence marches toward God. Then haji (hajj pilgrim), wearing the clean garb of ihram, stands in front of Ka’ba. It is the cubic edifice which is the symbol of monotheism and all Muslims stand toward this focal point five times a day during their obligatory daily prayers. The hajis (hajj pilgrims) fix their eyes, hearts and their whole existence at the memory of the One and Only God. Indeed they manifest this Qur’anic ayah: “Say, Indeed my prayer and my worship, my life and my death are for the sake of Allah, the Lord of all the worlds.”

One of the philosophies behind the special garb (ihram) is to bring up the spirit of peaceful coexistence and cooperation with the entire creation. Ayahs of the Holy Qur'an order the individual in this garb (muhrim) to give up quarrel, grudge, jealousy, and other vices. It requires avoiding of even futile words and acts in a bid to purify the soul from any hostility and spite towards others and create a peaceful spirit that can encompass the entire world even the animals and plants and the inanimate beings. Part of ayah 95 of Surah Ma’ida says:

“O  you who have faith! Do not kill any game when you are in pilgrim sanctity.”

After wearing the special garb, the haji performs Tawaf (circumambulation) of the Ka'ba. He circumambulates around the symbolic house of monotheism in the manner that a moth rotates around a light. While observing the Tawaf, the hajj pilgrim’s heart is filled with fear and hope. Tawaf is a representation of the fact that creatures circumambulate around the absolute truth. The act of those who perform tawaf around the House of God is the interpretation of this verse of the Qur’an which reads: Whatever is in the heaven and on the earth praises God. From the smallest particles to the infinite heaven, everything is in tawaf and praise of God. Tawaf means that one must move from the orbit of his knowledge to the orbit of God's knowledge. That’s why it is narrated from the infallible Imams, such as Imam Ali, that: Whoever knows his own self will know his Lord. Famous scholar, Feiz Kashani, says: Haji (hajj pilgrim) must know that during Tawaf he has become close to the angels who engulf the Ka’ba. One should not even think that the purpose of Tawaf is to drive his body around the Ka'ba. Rather it means that his heart should be engaged in remembrance of the Lord, so that no mention can be made except of Him.

After the Tawaf, haji should perform Sa’i Safaa wa Marwah (it measn that he should walk fast seven times from the Safaa Hill to Marwah Hill and then back to Safaa seven times. In other words, the haji starts walking fast from Safaa and ends it at the foot of Marwah.  Sa’i between Safaa and Marwah reminds us of an important event in history. It is a reminiscent of Prophet Abraham's wife, Hajar’s quest for water to quench the thirst of her son Ishmael between these two hills. As a true servant of God, she didn’t lose hope and finally saw fresh water gushing under the feet of Ishmael. This water became the source of the prosperity and blessing of this land. The ritual of Sa’i makes every thinker realize that every sincere and incessant effort will end in victory and will yield fruit.

Voquf or Stay at Arafat is another ritual of Hajj. Arafat is a plain devoid of any facility or convenience. Pilgrims must stay here from the noon till the sunset of the day of Arafa while they spend their moments and hours in supplication to God Almighty. The palin of Arafat symbolizes the day of resurrection when there is no race, class, ethnicity, language or any other privilege and sign of superiority. Hajis in their white garbs repent their past sins and think for compensation.

At the sunset of the day of Arafa, the Hajis leave for Mash’ar. They go to this valley and then head toward the plain of Mina for the rituals of Eid al-Adha (Festivity of Sacrifice). Mash’ar is considered a place of consciousness. Haji enters the gates of divine mercy in Mash’ar and then he will go to Mina and hurl stones.

Hurling stones is a symbol of hatred of sin and vice. By hurling small pebbles to the columns that symbolize Satan, the haji expresses his resolve to fight Satan's deception. In such a position, through unity and solidarity with his brothers in faith, the haji hurls tiny pebbles at giant stones. Although their weapon is very small compared with then massive columns, since they carry out the ritual in unison with other brethren, the enemy is defeated. This is a great lesson that Muslims in the light of unity and solidarity can bring the Global Arrogance (Symbolized by the Great Satan or the US) to its knees let alone the lackeys and hangers-on of the US.

On the 9^th of Zil-Hijjah, pilgrims go to Mina for the Day of Eid and by sacrificing they express their gratitude to God and celebrate the festivity of servitude. Those who have come for the first time should shave their hair. On the day of Eid, everything will become halal except sexual intercourse and a wearing perfume.

Thus, if the pilgrim performs the symbolic actions of hajj with regard to the spiritual realities, he has in fact succeeded in refreshing his character. He has got rid of his past which was mixed with sins and has renewed allegiance with God. He will always strengthen his front in the struggle against Satan and the sensual tendencies. In this case, the faces of the hajis represent their inward beauty, sincerity and pure faith. This seems to be a rebirth and a clear example of this statement of the holy Prophet of Islam who said: “Whoever performs hajj and does not sin, will come out of Mecca like the day that his mother gave birth to him.”

AS/ME