English PDF - Ahmadiyya Gazette Canada

Hajj (Pilgrimage) and ‘Īdul Adhiyya
Dr. Karimullah Zirvi
To perform a pilgrimage of the
“Ka`aba”, which is also called
“Baitullāh”, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia,
in addition to other performances
like staying at Arafāt, Muzdalfa,
and stoning the devil is called
Hajj. Like the month of fasting, the
time appointed for the pilgrimage,
ten weeks after the Festival of the
breaking of the fast (‘Īdul fitr) is fixed
according to the lunar calendar, and
rotates throughout the year. The
pilgrimage thus falls in all seasons
of the year. God Almighty says in
the Holy Qur’ān:
And pilgrimage to the House
(House of Allāh) is a duty which
men - those who can find a way
thither - owe to Allāh. (3:98)
One finds the institution of
pilgrimage in all religions of the
world, but the sites for pilgrimage
are scattered at different places in
one or more countries. One does not
find a single central place, which
all the followers of a religion must
visit at least once in a lifetime. In
Islām, Mecca is such a place, where
Muslims from all over the world are
expected to gather and spend about
ten days entirely dedicated to the
remembrance of God. The pilgrims
come from all countries, all nations,
all races and all ages. Men, women
and children all gather once a year
for Hajj, running into millions.
The Requirements of Hajj
1. Hajj is obligatory on a
Muslim when the following
requirements are met:
i. The person is an adult.
ii.The person is healthy.
iii.Can afford travelling
expenses to Hajj and the living
expenses of the family left
behind.
iv. There is peace on the way to
Hajj.
v. A safe mode of travel is
available.
If anyone of the above
conditions cannot be met then
Hajj is not obligatory.
2. One is required to perform Hajj
at least once in his lifetime if
economic and other conditions
are favorable.
3. If a person cannot perform Hajj
due to ill health, but has deep
desire to perform Hajj, the
person can ask someone else to
perform Hajj on his behalf. This
is called Hajj-e-Badl.
4. Hajj can be performed only on
the fixed time, while Umrah
can be performed at any time
during the year.
5. There are three months of Hajj
(Shawwāl, Dhul-Qa‘dah, and Dhul
Hijjah) during which one has to
wear the Ihrām. The pilgrims do
not wear any sewn garments;
rather they dress in two loose
sheets which are called Ihrām.
Women dress themselves in
simple clothes, and are not
required to cover their faces.
6. The components of Hajj include,
circuit of Baitullāh, brisk walk
between Safā and Marwah,
Prayer at Muqam-e-Ibrahīm,
Rami-ul-jumar (Stoning of the
Satans) and stay in the field of
‘Arafāt on 9th Dhul Hijjah.
The institution of pilgrimage
can be traced back to the time
of Hadrat Ibrahīm as . The Holy
Qur’ān describes it as an ancient
institution, starting from times
immemorial when the first House
of God was built in Mecca, which
was pronounced in olden times as
Bakka. It is also called Baitul ‘Atiq, or
the most ancient house. It is stated
in the Holy Qur’ān about Ka`aba:
Surely, the first House founded
for mankind is that at Becca (The
valley of Mecca), abounding in
blessings and a guidance for all
people. In it are manifest Signs;
it is the place of Abraham; and
12 Hajj (Pilgrimage) and ‘Īdul Adhiyya