Hajj Rites Before Prophet Muhammad S.A.

W - Hajj
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By Rin Losab - www.HajjByUs.com

Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam and Muslims are under an obligation of performing hajj once in their life (if capable both financially and physically). Hajj is the Arabic word which means to set out for a place and for Muslims that place is the grand mosque of Mecca and it also refers to annual converging at the Mosque of Mecca which is also known as (the house of GOD) to perform some prescribed Islamic religious rites. The rites of the hajj are prescribed by the last Prophet of Islam, hajj Muhammad (P.B.U.H) and whoever sets out to perform hajj must follow those prescribed commands in order to complete this religious duty.

Hajj and all of its rites are connected with the life of Muslim's Prophet Abraham and he is the one entrusted for the construction of the (house of GOD), all the rites included in Hajj are the important and highlighted events of Prophet Abraham's life and today when Muslims performs hajj, they basically perform an reenactment of those highlighted events in prophet's life. Once the construction of the

house of GOD was completed, Prophet Abraham was commanded to perform hajj every year and after his death his son continued to practice this command by Almighty GOD. However, as time passed the rites and the goals of hajj were changed by the people of Mecca. The house of GOD lost its purity completely when Arabia was at the peak of idolatry, more than 360 idols were placed inside it and the walls were fully covered by poems and paintings. Ignorance made the people of Arabia go round the house of GOD naked both men and women, arguing on a note that they should present themselves in front of GOD in the same condition they were born. The atmosphere of the sacred precincts of the house of GOD resembles a circus during the hajj period. Hand clapping, whistling and blowing horns became the part of hajj for the people of Arabia they started reciting their own made "Hymn ", 'No one is your partner except one who is permitted by you. You are his master and the master of what he possesses'.

Sacrificing in the name of GOD was done in a manner which includes the blood of sacrificed animal poured in the walls of the house of GOD and hanging the flesh from the pillars around the house of GOD, believing on a note that GOD demanded the flesh and blood of animals. The most common things among the Pilgrims were singing, drinking and other act of immorality with poetry competitions, the poetry competition was considered as one of the most highlighted event of hajj. Telling exaggerated

tales cowardice and miserliness of other tribes and praising the bravery and splendor of their own tribesman. Chief of each tribe sets up huge cauldrons in a competition to feed Pilgrims and to get well known as a generous chief. Thus, the house of GOD which was built to worship one and alone GOD was completely desecrated by the pagans, the teachings of their forefather and leader Prophet Abraham was completely abandoned, this distortions of hajj rites continued for more than two and half thousand years. But after that it was the time of answer to the supplication of Prophet Abraham. The Prophet Abraham supplicated something like this in his life, "Our Lord! Send amongst them a messenger of their own, who shall recite unto them your (verses) and instruct them in the book and the wisdom and sanctify them. Verily you are the [the All-Mighty, the All-Wise]." [Surah Al-Baqarah 2:129] The birth of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) son of "Abdullah" took place in the very city of Prophet Abraham as the answer to his supplication. Prophet Muhammad spread the message of true monotheism for twenty three years, it is the same message that Prophet Abraham and all other Prophet came with - and established the law of GOD above all the law and rules made by men. To make this word above all "GOD supreme", Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) expanded every effort and the victory of this effort culminated on the day when Muhammad smashed the idols inside the house of GOD and thus the house of GOD once again became the universal center for the worshipers of one true GOD. With getting rid of all impurities of the house of GOD, all the rites of hajj which were established and commanded by Almighty GOD were all reinstated by the Prophet Muhammad False rites which were rampant in the pre-Islamic period were all eliminated by specific injunctions in the Holy Book "Quran", were revealed in order to eliminate all the false rites. The poetry competitions among the tribes for exaltation of their tribesmen's achievements and forefathers were all banned and stopped. Instead, GOD told them Slaughtering of animal for fame and to take a part in the competition in which the winner is declared the most generous of all, this competition of generosity was strictly prohibited. With this command GOD also said this in the Holy Book "Quran". For the deplorable practice of pouring the walls of the house of GOD and hanging the flash of slaughtered animals, GOD clearly informed them that: "It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches GOD, but it is (piety) from you that reaches him." [Surah al-Hajj 22:37]

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