Category: Faith & Spirituality, Featured, Highlights Topics: Hajj, Life And Death, Masjid Al Haram Values: Sacrifice Channel: Hajj - Day 1 Views: 20666
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Hajj: The Antithesis of Aimlessness
A black and white image of the Kabah in Masjid Al-Haram, Makkah. Wood engraving, published in 1897 (photo: iStock by Getty Images).
Life today (not life as it should be carried on) is an idle cyclical action a movement with no goal! A meaningless pendular action starts with the day only to end at night and night starts only to disappear at dawn. In the meantime, man is busy watching the play of these black and white "mice" who chew the strings of our life until we die.
Life (as we live it) is like a theater. Man watches these aimless nights and days. Indeed, what foolish play is conducted! When you are in need, you hope and struggle to overcome your needs. Yet once you achieve this, you view your past efforts humorously. What a senseless philosophy to live by!
Living on a day to day basis, the person lacks direction. His aim is only to live. What exists is a dead spirit in a living body. However, the Hajj experience alters this unhealthy condition!
Once you decide to perform Hajj and take the necessary steps, you are on the road to the actualization of Hajj. Before going to Hajj you reside in your home calm and reposed. Upon entering the state of mind for Hajj, you arise and move away from your routine environment.
Hajj is the antithesis of aimlessness. It is the rebellion against a damned fate guided by evil forces. The fulfillment of Hajj will enable you to escape from the complex network of puzzles. This revolutionary act will reveal to you the clear horizon and free way to migration to eternity toward the Almighty Allah.
Depart from your home. and visit "Allah's house", or the "house of the people"! You, whoever you are, you are a man, Adam's son, and a representative of Allah on earth! You are a relative of Allah, Allah's trustee, His master of nature and a student of God. Allah taught you the names. He made you from His spirit and endowed you with special qualities. You were praised by Him; His angels even prostrated to you. This earth and everything in it was made available to man. God became your "companion", with you at all times and watching all of your actions. Are you living up to His expectation?
Allah is in the hearts of the believers. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
Thus Allah knoweth those who are sincere and knoweth those who are false. Quran 29:3
... And that Allah may know him who helpeth Him and His messenger, though unseen. ...Quran 57: 25
Lo! We have placed all that is in the earth as an ornament thereof that We may try them: which of them is best in conduct. Quran 18: 7
Who hath created life and death that He may try you, which of you is best in conduct; and he is the Mighty, the Forgiving. Quran 67: 2
With the passage of time and the influence of various forces of the social system which disregard human rights and duties, your character has been changed. The vicissitudes of life have affected you to the degree that you became alienated and neglectful. Originally, with Allah's spirit in your heart, you were supposed to shoulder the responsibility of being Allah's trustee on earth. You were granted time as a means for fulfilling this task but you failed because the gift was used carelessly!
By the declining day, Lo! man is in a state of loss. Quran 103: 2-3
This is what is called life! But realistically speaking what has been accomplished? What constructive contributions have you made? What have you gained? So many precious years have been lost, yet who are you?
Oh trustee and vicegerent of Allah on earth, you have turned to money, lust, greed, aggression, and dishonesty. You have regressed to the inferior status that you occupied before almighty Allah blew His spirit into you. Where is the spirit of Allah now? Oh man, rise out of this decadent situation! Divorce yourself from this gradual death.
Leave your surroundings and go to the pure land. There you may face Almighty Allah under the inspiring sky of Mashar. The estrangement which you have experienced will be overcome. At last, you will find yourself!
Excerpted from a section of the book "Hajj" by Dr. Ali Shariati. Translated by Dr. Ali A. Behzadnia
Category: Faith & Spirituality, Featured, Highlights
Topics: Hajj, Life And Death, Masjid Al Haram Values: Sacrifice Channel: Hajj - Day 1
Views: 20666
Topics: Hajj, Life And Death, Masjid Al Haram Values: Sacrifice Channel: Hajj - Day 1
Views: 20666
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Older Comments:
BABANDI A GUMEL FROM U.K said:
Forbearance is nothing but experience as one can only become forbearant who is in difficulties as the saying goes none is wise except the experienced.Going for Hajj and experience the hardship the hujjaj undergo irrespective of whoever they are would make us realise we are all equal in the sight of Allah.Seeing the hujjaj doning the simple white Ihram wether Presidents,Prime Ministers Kings,governors rich and paupers from all over the World from the richest Country to the poorest all are equal begiing Allah for His Mecry at Jabalul Rahmah on the Day of Arafah is a sign for men of understandin.This is the lesson and teachings of Hajj for the whole mankind to reflect.May Allah give us hidayah.
2012-10-25
JUNAIDI SHAMSUDDIN FROM MALAYSIA said:
Assalamu'alaikum wbt.
Just to correct, the 'we may try them' in the article, if I am not
mistaken, ought to be 'We may try them.'
"Lo! We have placed all that is in the earth as an ornament thereof
that We may try them: which of them is best in conduct." Quran 18: 7
One more thing, I would like to suggest throughout the whole world,
'How about,every time when we spell 'ALLAH', we use capital letters,
rather than 'Allah.'
Just to correct, the 'we may try them' in the article, if I am not
mistaken, ought to be 'We may try them.'
"Lo! We have placed all that is in the earth as an ornament thereof
that We may try them: which of them is best in conduct." Quran 18: 7
One more thing, I would like to suggest throughout the whole world,
'How about,every time when we spell 'ALLAH', we use capital letters,
rather than 'Allah.'
2011-10-31
MIKHAIL IBRAHIM FROM NIGERIA said:
I cannot sleep daily till I go through your sites. You have not only make Islam simpler but have implore simple method of daawah in propagating Islam. May Allah accept all your action as an act of ibadat and reward all of us with AL-Janat firdous.
2010-10-17
SAKANDER MAHMOUD FROM UK said:
Salam alaikum Dear Brothers/Sisters
Thank you for very beneficial article on Hajj, I have been fortunate, with grace of Allah, to perform Hajj in 2009.
Whilst I agree with the sentiment of the article there are a few parts that make me uncomfortable, whether this is my ignorance or an error in the article I will leave others to judge. I'd like to highlight the follow comments and my reason for discomfort:
"You are a relative of Allah"
One cannot liken man to Allah unless Allah Tala has mentioned this in the Quran or the Prophet SAW has mentioned in Sahih Hadeeth.
"He made you from His spirit"
One cannot define Allah Tala hence to say man was made from........ It is not safe and we should refrain from such language.
"God became your "homemate"
The above is not befitting the majesty of Allah Tala, man is a slave of Allah Tala.
"Allah is in the hearts of the believers"
Again one cannot define Allah Tala thus to place Allah in the creation with words as above is not safe and we should refrain....Allah Tala knows best. One can use words 'fear of Allah is in the heart of believers' or 'love of Allah is in the heart of the belivers'....etc
It is not my intention to start an argument but just point out some indiscretions in the article as I see them, although with my limited knowledge I could be wrong. It is the duty of every Muslim to keep each other on the correct path when one has Thawfeeq to do this
Thank you for very beneficial article on Hajj, I have been fortunate, with grace of Allah, to perform Hajj in 2009.
Whilst I agree with the sentiment of the article there are a few parts that make me uncomfortable, whether this is my ignorance or an error in the article I will leave others to judge. I'd like to highlight the follow comments and my reason for discomfort:
"You are a relative of Allah"
One cannot liken man to Allah unless Allah Tala has mentioned this in the Quran or the Prophet SAW has mentioned in Sahih Hadeeth.
"He made you from His spirit"
One cannot define Allah Tala hence to say man was made from........ It is not safe and we should refrain from such language.
"God became your "homemate"
The above is not befitting the majesty of Allah Tala, man is a slave of Allah Tala.
"Allah is in the hearts of the believers"
Again one cannot define Allah Tala thus to place Allah in the creation with words as above is not safe and we should refrain....Allah Tala knows best. One can use words 'fear of Allah is in the heart of believers' or 'love of Allah is in the heart of the belivers'....etc
It is not my intention to start an argument but just point out some indiscretions in the article as I see them, although with my limited knowledge I could be wrong. It is the duty of every Muslim to keep each other on the correct path when one has Thawfeeq to do this
2010-10-17
ANGIE FROM USA said:
Salaams. This maybe of interest...Brenda
2010-10-17
ANGIE FROM USA said:
Salaams. This maybe of interest...Brenda
2010-10-17
BABANDI A. GUMEL FROM U.K said:
Our brother Late Malcolm X (Rahimallahu Alaihi) got hidayah the guidance only after he performed Hajj.He met different people from different countries whites yellow and blacks speaking different languages different colours and what you have all coming to the same house of Allah doned with the same simple white Ihram calling Labbaikal Lahumma Labbaik depicting the unity of mankind which can be found only in Hajj.All humanity are equal no body is better than the other the real message of Islam which he came back to America to spread the same message of Islam.He sacrificed his life for this May Allah reward him with the highest abode in Paradise of Al-Jannah.Those who have not performed Hajj should make intention to perform the Hajj as soon as possible as no one knows when his/her life will come to an end.
2010-10-10
UZTAS SALAWU M SANNI FROM NIGERIA said:
ASSALAMUN ALEIKUM WARAHMATULLAHI TA'ALA WABARAKATUHU, PLEASE KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK YOU ARE DOING MAY ALLAHU SUBHAANAHU WATA'ALA REWARD YOU ABUNDANTLY.
PLEASE I WANT TO KNOW IF IAM FREE TO ASK QUESTIONS CONCERNING ISLAM IF I HAVE ANY.
PLEASE I WANT TO KNOW IF IAM FREE TO ASK QUESTIONS CONCERNING ISLAM IF I HAVE ANY.
2009-12-14
ABDULLAH KHALIL FROM NIGERIA said:
Hajj is an institution constituted by Almighty Allah so any nonsense talk will remai
n nonsense
n nonsense
2009-11-30
MOMODOU LETTE FROM USA said:
This is one of the best articles i read so far.We definately should know where we came from and where we going back to Allah so we can mend our souls and better our relationships with our rightful lord the greatest.Thanks very much.
2009-11-26
SALISU GARBA FROM NIGERIA said:
Hajj is indeed an institution that could only be felt by a person opportune to observe it. No amount of words can express the feelings to those that performs it with full knowledge and deep reflection. May Allah accept the Hajj of our brothers and sisters standing at Arafat now as Mabroor.
2009-11-26
