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| Sunday, 9 February 2003 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Hadji - the festival of sacrifice by Hussain Ismail A. Barry JP, Hony. Secretary General All Ceylon Moors' Association Hadji which will be celebrated by the Muslims the world over on Wednesday is the festival of sacrifice. It is termed as Eid-Ul-Azha in Arabic. Hadji is the fifth principle in Islam. The journey to Mecca to perform the fifth principle Hadji is incumbent on Muslims, who can well afford the cost. Prior to his or her pilgrimage to Mecca, he or she has some dutiful obligations to be fulfilled i.e. if he or she has any grown up girl or girls to be given in marriage, he or she has to make all arrangements financially or otherwise to release the girl or girls in marriage. Moreover, he or she has to settle all debts before partaking in the pilgrimage. A person has to provide all necessities to his or her spouse and children until his or her return. Having completed his or her obligations, he or she starts his or her journey with two sets of white clothes. One is called the "Ihram" which he or she has to wear in the performance of Hadji, while the other is used, to cover his or her body in case he or she dies, which is called the "Kafan." At the Ka'aba in Mecca, all are attired alike (the white robe) whether a king or a pauper, rich or the poor, rotate seven times uttering the same phrase "Lebbaik" Allahumma Lebbaik La Shareekalaka Lebbaik, seeking the blessing and the mercy of the one and only Allah, kissing the heavenly stone the "Hajarul Aswad," seeking Allah's mercy to immunise their sins. The run between the two rocks "Safa and Marwa" reminds us the run of Hajara, the wife of Prophet Ibrahim and the mother of Prophet Ismail, in search of water for her son Prophet Ismail to quench his thirst. Having got disappointed without getting a drop of water in the desert, returning to the place empty handed, where her son was lying, was flabbergasted to see water oozing from earth at the feet of her son like a fountain. The oozing of water was profuse, she uttered, "Zam, Zam" which means "Stop, Stop". Though the oozing of water was immediately stopped. Billions, of people who gather to perform Hadji draw water from that well, since then todate, the level of the water is constant isn't it a miracle? The divine message of Allah to Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his beloved son Prophet Ismail by slaughtering him, in order to test the faith of Prophet Ibrahim. When Prophet Ibrahim consulted his son, whether to carry out the divine order, in reply the son said "If it is the command of Allah, do not hesitate to perform". The poor father Prophet Ibrahim, placed his one and only son on the rock to carry out the order of Allah and was sharpening his knife, the son happily accepting to accede to the command of the Creator. The father Prophet Ibrahim with the knife on his right hand, raised his arm to slaughter his son, then angel Jibreel replaced a sheep instead. That is why all those who visit Mecca to perform Hadji have to slaughter an animal, it is compulsory on every participant. The throwing of stones to Satan, signifies that a person who possess the qualities of the satan, deserved to be stoned and nothing else. Hence, I have punished myself by stoning for possessing such evil satanic qualities and hereafter I shall not cultivate such bad qualities. On the final day, all gather at the Mount Arafa, where Prophet Mohammed delivered his last sermon. His sermon was, "I am leaving two things, in the midst of you all, i.e. Quran and Hadeez (the holy book and the sayings of the Prophet Muhammed), so long as you follow the Quran and Hadeez firmly, you shall never go astray. Further, Prophet Muhammed requested from all those who were present at the sermon, to deliver this message to others who did not get the opportunity to come. Having completed their obligations in the performance of Hadji in Mecca, they proceed to Medina, especially to visit the tomb of the Holy Prophet Muhammed (O.W.B.P.) and recite Fathima and obtain his blessings as well. It reminds me of a saying of the Prophet Muhammed, "Munzara Kabri Wajabath Lahu Shafa Anthee" (It is compulsory on me to plead on the day of judgement to those who visited my grave). It is a pity that many who visit Mecca, do not go with the intention of rectifying their mistake and immunising their sins, but to make money and increase their sins and secure the wrath of the Almighty Allah. Let all of us follow Islam according to the Quran and Hadeez and prove to the world as well as to the Creator, that we are an exemplary community. |
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