وَإِذْ بَوَّأْنَا لِإِبْرَاهِيمَ مَكَانَ الْبَيْتِ أَنْ لَا تُشْرِكْ بِي شَيْئًا وَطَهِّرْ بَيْتِيَ لِلطَّائِفِينَ وَالْقَائِمِينَ وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُود{26}وَأَذِّنْ فِي النَّاسِ بِالْحَجِّ يَأْتُوكَ رِجَالًا وَعَلَىٰ كُلِّ ضَامِرٍ يَأْتِينَ مِنْ كُلِّ فَجٍّ عَمِيقٍ{27}
And remember when we showed Abraham the site of the House saying … Do not associate with Me anything, and purify My house for those who circle around it and stand to pray and bow and prostrate themselves. And proclaim among the people the pilgrimage. They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel from every remote path that they may witness the benefits for them and mention the name of Allah during the appointed days over what He has given them.” (Quran 22:26-28) (1)
Eid al-Adha is one of the largest and most celebrated occasions among Muslims all over the world, and marks the end of the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca (also known as Hajj). It is a day of celebration, community and giving – to family, friends and those in need.
What is Hajj?
Not only is Hajj one of the Islamic duties of every Muslim, which must be performed at least once in their lifetime, but it is also a unique spiritual journey and cleansing for each pilgrim. They travel to God’s emblematic house, following the footsteps of the father of prophets, Prophet Abraham (2).
Hajj is the supreme symbol of universal brotherhood, and it is the greatest annual congregation in the world. Every year in Mecca, over two million Muslims from diverse origins and backgrounds stand shoulder-to-shoulder, clad in the barest of materials (two pieces of white cloth) and perform the same rituals. No one can be distinguished from the other on the basis of wealth, lineage, or power; the most powerful leaders are on the same level as the poorest of men. It is a time in which all artificial or human-imposed distinctions among mankind are lifted, and for the span of a few days, people have the opportunity to know each other solely as brothers and sisters in humanity(2).
Hajj is a period of reflection and reaffirmation of one’s spiritual and social obligations as pilgrims take that step from physical journey to spiritual, demonstrating their willingness to leave everything in their life behind, for the sake of God.
At the completion of Hajj, the day of Eid Al-Adha, each pilgrim must sacrifice an animal similar to what Prophet Abraham did in lieu of his son. For those who do not know the story, Prophet Abraham received a divine test, in which he was ordered to sacrifice his son Ishmael as a sign of devotion to God. Both Prophets were sincerely devoted to God, that they accepted the order as a means of Divine sacrifice. God was pleased to see such sincere perseverance that He prevented Prophet Abraham from sacrificing his son, and rewarded him with a ram to be slaughtered instead(3). The sacrifice at the end of Hajj is a symbol, denoting the pilgrim's willingness to adhere to God's commandments unconditionally.
To maintain the essence of unity and brotherhood, the sacrificed meat is shared amongst those in the community – one-third is kept for the pilgrim’s personal consumption, and the other two-thirds are divided equally among friends and the indigent.
What does Eid al-Adha mean for those who don’t go to Hajj?
While it would be fortunate for everyone to perform Hajj, there are circumstances that prevent some from being able to attend; however, the significance and personal spiritual journey is not lost on those at home. For them, the time of Hajj is an opportunity to reflect on one’s moral and spiritual compasses, and reset them towards the goals and real purpose of one’s existence. That is why on Eid, Muslims take the time to remind themselves of their responsibilities, to their close ones and the rest of society. The sense of equality and humanity that is present during Hajj should be reflected in one's own everyday life. As such, a person at home should practice such equality and brotherhood just as a person who has experienced the Hajj should return home freed from the erroneous notions of race and class distinction that are prevalent in some societies. In this manner, unity among society can be harmonized to aid in improving the lives of the weak and the needy –those who are not in good health, or the ones deprived of material wellbeing and personal security, within our own localities and in distant lands as well.
Happy Eid al-Adha everyone! :)
References
1. The Holy Quran, Surat al-Hajj (The Pilgrimage Chapter)
2. Al-Qaswini, SayedMoustafa. (2001). Pilgrimage to the city of Mecca (Hajj). Discovering Islam. Costa Mesa, California: The Islamic Educational Center of Orange County. (Online access: http://www.al-islam.org/discovering-islam-moustafa-al-qazwini/islamic-practices#pilgrimage-city-makkah-hajj)
3. The Holy Quran, Surat as-Saaffaat (Those drawn up in Ranks Chapter; verses 100-113)
And remember when we showed Abraham the site of the House saying … Do not associate with Me anything, and purify My house for those who circle around it and stand to pray and bow and prostrate themselves. And proclaim among the people the pilgrimage. They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel from every remote path that they may witness the benefits for them and mention the name of Allah during the appointed days over what He has given them.” (Quran 22:26-28) (1)
Eid al-Adha is one of the largest and most celebrated occasions among Muslims all over the world, and marks the end of the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca (also known as Hajj). It is a day of celebration, community and giving – to family, friends and those in need.
What is Hajj?
Not only is Hajj one of the Islamic duties of every Muslim, which must be performed at least once in their lifetime, but it is also a unique spiritual journey and cleansing for each pilgrim. They travel to God’s emblematic house, following the footsteps of the father of prophets, Prophet Abraham (2).
Hajj is the supreme symbol of universal brotherhood, and it is the greatest annual congregation in the world. Every year in Mecca, over two million Muslims from diverse origins and backgrounds stand shoulder-to-shoulder, clad in the barest of materials (two pieces of white cloth) and perform the same rituals. No one can be distinguished from the other on the basis of wealth, lineage, or power; the most powerful leaders are on the same level as the poorest of men. It is a time in which all artificial or human-imposed distinctions among mankind are lifted, and for the span of a few days, people have the opportunity to know each other solely as brothers and sisters in humanity(2).
Hajj is a period of reflection and reaffirmation of one’s spiritual and social obligations as pilgrims take that step from physical journey to spiritual, demonstrating their willingness to leave everything in their life behind, for the sake of God.
At the completion of Hajj, the day of Eid Al-Adha, each pilgrim must sacrifice an animal similar to what Prophet Abraham did in lieu of his son. For those who do not know the story, Prophet Abraham received a divine test, in which he was ordered to sacrifice his son Ishmael as a sign of devotion to God. Both Prophets were sincerely devoted to God, that they accepted the order as a means of Divine sacrifice. God was pleased to see such sincere perseverance that He prevented Prophet Abraham from sacrificing his son, and rewarded him with a ram to be slaughtered instead(3). The sacrifice at the end of Hajj is a symbol, denoting the pilgrim's willingness to adhere to God's commandments unconditionally.
To maintain the essence of unity and brotherhood, the sacrificed meat is shared amongst those in the community – one-third is kept for the pilgrim’s personal consumption, and the other two-thirds are divided equally among friends and the indigent.
What does Eid al-Adha mean for those who don’t go to Hajj?
While it would be fortunate for everyone to perform Hajj, there are circumstances that prevent some from being able to attend; however, the significance and personal spiritual journey is not lost on those at home. For them, the time of Hajj is an opportunity to reflect on one’s moral and spiritual compasses, and reset them towards the goals and real purpose of one’s existence. That is why on Eid, Muslims take the time to remind themselves of their responsibilities, to their close ones and the rest of society. The sense of equality and humanity that is present during Hajj should be reflected in one's own everyday life. As such, a person at home should practice such equality and brotherhood just as a person who has experienced the Hajj should return home freed from the erroneous notions of race and class distinction that are prevalent in some societies. In this manner, unity among society can be harmonized to aid in improving the lives of the weak and the needy –those who are not in good health, or the ones deprived of material wellbeing and personal security, within our own localities and in distant lands as well.
Happy Eid al-Adha everyone! :)
References
1. The Holy Quran, Surat al-Hajj (The Pilgrimage Chapter)
2. Al-Qaswini, SayedMoustafa. (2001). Pilgrimage to the city of Mecca (Hajj). Discovering Islam. Costa Mesa, California: The Islamic Educational Center of Orange County. (Online access: http://www.al-islam.org/discovering-islam-moustafa-al-qazwini/islamic-practices#pilgrimage-city-makkah-hajj)
3. The Holy Quran, Surat as-Saaffaat (Those drawn up in Ranks Chapter; verses 100-113)