Hajj is a basic pillar of Islam and of great significance. Only those who participate in this annual congregation of the world fraternity of Muslims at Makkah and imbibe the spirit of universal brotherhood can testify to the unparalleled grandeur, uniqueness, equality, and union that manifest themselves on this occasion. The sacred Mosque was the center of Abraham's عليه السلام call, every particle of which is impressed with precious gems of Islamic religious history, whose atmosphere is replete with the prayers of Prophet Abraham عليه السلام, the friend of Allahﷻ, and in the whole environment of which are scattered the great deeds of Rasulullahﷺ, was declared world's center of Islamic call and movement.
It is incumbent on every Muslim, who can afford it, to perform all the rites and requirements, to revive the sanctified example of Abraham عليه السلام, which is sacrifice, to contact the co-workers and comrades of the Islamic order of brotherhood and turn away the face from all sides to surrender to Allahﷻ in all humility.
This injunction of the duty of Hajj came in the 9th year of Hijra and the same year Rasulullahﷺ nominated Saiyidina Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه to see that Hajj was performed under his guidance and Saiyidina Aliرضي الله عنه was entrusted with the duty of reciting before the gathering the first 40 verse of Surah Tauba (Repentance) of the Qur'an and to convey the necessary declarations to the people as ordered by Allahﷻ.
The declarations were that those who were still influenced by the custom of the past and those who still assigned partners to Allahﷻ and those who had preserved their interests by entering into pacts with the Islamic state should be notified that after the period of four months, all such pacts would be annulled. During this period, they were asked to decide their line of action, either to give up the citizenship of that state, resort to war, or live within the Islamic state as Muslims.
There was no longer room for a state within the state and the Islamic state could not properly perform its functions with pockets of rebels within its jurisdiction. It was necessary to give public notice of the annulment of these pacts and the four months’ time given to the contracting party was sufficient. A further concession was given that those idolaters who wished to come to Madinah to understand Islam during this period would be given full protection while coming and going.
And for those non-Muslims who had honestly worked on the provisions of the pact concession was given that the pact with them would remain in force for the stipulated period. Those really affected were the non-Muslims who had formed a hostile front against Islam and repeatedly violated the provisions of the pact, obstructed the right path, criticized the true faith and planned to oust Rasulullahﷺ from his home, and were first to start a war.
The second declaration was that in the future the custody of the sacred Kaabah and other mosques would not be given to non-Muslims. The announcement was that henceforth no idolater would be allowed to enter the sacred precincts of the Kaabah. Saiyidina Aliرضي الله عنه also mentioned the further clarification of Rasulullahﷺ that no one should henceforth make the circumambulation of the Kaabah naked as was done by the idolaters.
The fourth announcement was the confirmation of the sanctity of four months by Allahﷻ and the door was closed for marking arbitrary changes. It was made perfectly clear that Allahﷻ had raised his Apostle to fully enforce the system of the right path in all aspects of life and this task had to be carried out despite the annoyance of the idolaters.
We now come to that momentous gathering of the Islamic movement in which Rasulullahﷺ himself participated and which was in the tenth year of Hijra and in which the force of Islamic movement was seen like the waves of the ocean. News about this Hajj was sent to all parts and large caravans of Muslims began to collect at Madinah, which was further increased on the way by the joining groups from different clans. All the consorts of Rasulullahﷺ were with him. Rasulullahﷺ wore the special ihram of the Hajj at Zulhalifah and from here the cries for the participants of Hajj began to be raised.
"We are present. O our Allah! We are present. Thou hast no partner.
We are present at Thy court. All praise is for Thee. All the blessings
are with Thee. The Kingdom is Thine. None is Thy partner."
On the way wherever a hill had to be crossed the entire gathering joined its voice with
Rasulullahﷺ’s “We are present O God!
Thou art great!"
Nearing Makkah he stopped for some time at Zi Towa, then along with the host of pilgrims, entered Makkah from its northern side, made rounds of the Kaabah, went to Safa and Marwa, and from there facing the Kaabah again raised the cry of Oneness of Allahﷻ.
On the ninth Zulhijjah, he climbed down at Wadi Namra and in the afternoon went to Uranah Valley near Arafat and riding on the she-camel named Qaswa went to the top of the hill and from there delivered his address. Those who stood close on all sides repeated every phrase and thus Rasulullahﷺ’s words reached the ears of the entire gathering. How Rasulullahﷺ must have felt satisfied to see this product of his life's work! This gathering of twenty-four thousand companions was a unique spectacle.
The spectacle created no feeling of pride in Rasulullahﷺ. On the other hand, he was humbler than ever, more fervent in offering thanks to Allah. Then this prophetic insight revealed to him that it was his last opportunity to address the community and he included in the address his last will, of which every word is important. Furthermore, this was the most appropriate occasion to give the message to humanity on behalf of the Islamic movement. Lastly, these addresses are unique specimens of his oratory and his masterly exposition. They help us in our appreciation of the greatness of this sacred personality.
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