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| Sunday, 19 December 2004 |
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Over 6,000 Sri Lankans for Haj by S. H. A. Careem Over six thousand Muslims from Sri Lanka are expected to visit Mecca (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) to perform Haj, one of the pillars of Islam. The Department of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs, along with President's Advisor for Muslim Religious Affairs, Governor Al-Haj Seyd Alavi Mowlana will be incharge of arrangements for the pilgrimage. A special counter at the Immigration and Emigration Department will be opened to obtain their passports for the pilgrims. Ambassador of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohamed Mahmood Al-Ali has instructed his visa section to issue Haj visas without hassle. Those interested in performing Haj have been requested to contact the Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs Department to finalise their visit to Mecca. The first call to Haj Long ago, in a far away place called Ur. in Iraq, a child was born, whose name was Abraham or Ibrahim. When he grew up, he became a great prophet and preached the truth and god's message. Later he visited Syria, Palestine and Egypt. When a son was born to his wife Hagar, they decided to leave for Mecca. Ibrahim, Hagar and their son Ismail travelled for a long time till they reached a lonely, barren valley, near two small hills called Safar and Marwa. Ibrahim asked his wife to stay near one of the hills along with little Ismail and started to move away. His wife protested "Why are you leaving us alone here? Are you leaving us here to die?" But Ibrahim replied "My Lord has commanded me to do this" - Then Hagar said "If Allah has ordered you to do so, then he will not let us die." After a while, little Ismail began to cry for want of water. But there was not a single drop of water to drink. Hagar ran helplessly but there was no water, nor any human being to give her water. Zam-Zam As the baby was crying with thirst, and the mother was running from one hill to another, Allah caused a miracle - a spring sprang beneath the feet of Ismail. When Hagar saw this from a distance, she shouted Zam-Zam (stay - stay). Hagar came running and gave some water to the baby and his life was saved. This spring later became famous as Zamzam. Ismail and his mother lived in the valley and because of zamzam spring more people gradually came to settle in the valley, slowly building up a small town, which was later called Mecca. From time to time Ibrahim visited Mecca to meet his wife and son. People of the town at that time were mostly idol-worshippers. One night Ibrahim dreamt that he was sacrificing his son, Ismail. This was an order from his Lord. His son was still a child, but Ibrahim told him about the dream. The boy was ready to obey the command of God. So without hesitating he said to his father," Do what you are commanded father. Sacrifice Ibrahim took his son to sacrifice him. As he reached a place, which is now known as Mina, a valley near Makkah, Satan appeared and tied to dissuade him. Ibrahim picked up a few small stones and threw them to Satan. Little Ismail and mother too threw stones at Satan. As Ibrahim took a knife to sacrifice Ismail, Allah sent the angel Gabriel (Jibril) with a ram. "Sacrifice this ram. Don't sacrifice Ismail" said Jibril to Ibrahim. Allah was so pleased with this act, the readiness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismail, that he commanded the believers to observe this day as Id-ul-Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice. Every year Muslims sacrifice an animal in remembrance of the great act of Ibrahim. Ismail grew up and followed his father's footsteps. Ibrahim and Ismail were ordered by Allah to build the House of God. The kabbah in Mecca. Both took stones from the nearby hills and started building the Kabbah. As they laid the foundation, they prayed "Our Lord, accept this from us! You are the All-hearing, the All-seeing." They also prayed for a prophet to be born in their family who would teach wisdom to the people and purify their faith. Their prayer was answered many years later, when Prophet Mohammed (Sal) was born to their descendants. Abraham was ordered by Allah to clean the Kabah for those who come there to pray, and to "call people to Haj. Call all people to make the pilgrimage, they shall come to you on foot and on the backs of camels, they shall come from all parts". Command of Lord So Allah made it obligatory for every Muslim - male and female - to go for Haj once in their life time, provided their means and health permitted. Since then believers from every part of the world go to perform Haj to fulfil the command of their Lord and to remember the great act of Prophet Ibrahim. Pilgrims are also recommended to repeat the traditional phrase declaring that they are responding to Allah's call for them to offer the pilgrimage and complete it. They repeat these phrases as they go to Ihrami. "Allahuma Labbaik, Labbaik Laa Shareeka Laka Labbaik Innal Hamda Wahhimata Laa Shareeka Lak." ("I respond to Your call my Lord, I respond to You, there is no deity save You. All praise, grace and dominion belong to You. You have no partners.") Men should utter this aloud while women should say it silently. |
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