Eid-ul-Adha & Hajj

Hajj and Eid-ul-Adha

August 30 is the first day of Hajj (pilgrimage). About two million Muslims from all over the world have convened in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, for this annual event. Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam performed on the 9th day of the last month of the Islamic calendar called Dhul Hijjah, Muslims perform the rites of Hajj on the footsteps of Prophet Abraham and his wife Hagar both of whom hold a very high status in Islam.

The rituals of Hajj include circumambulation (Tawaaf) of the cubic structure known as the Ka’aba (House of God). It was the first house built for the worship of God. Muslims come from far away to perform Hajj every year since the last 1400 years, as was prophesied in the Qur’an:

“And proclaim unto mankind the Pilgrimage. They will come to thee on foot, and on every lean camel, coming by every distant track” (22:28).

Every Muslim should go for Hajj once in his lifetime if he can financially afford it, is physically able, and there is no imminent danger to his life. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Whoever performs Hajj and does not commit any obscenity or transgression will return (free from sins) as he was on the day his mother gave birth to him.”

Hajj is a practical example of universal brotherhood. All men wear special clothing called Ihram which consists of two pieces of unstitched white cloths. Rich or poor, old or young, there is no distinction. One of the rites during Hajj is the running between two hills called Safa and Marwa. This gesture is a reminder to the pilgrims of the time when Abraham had left his wife Hagar and his infant son Ishmael in the desert of Mecca at the command of God. When Hagar saw there was no more water left for her child, she ran between these hills seven times desperately searching for help. It is this desperation and anguish which the pilgrims experience when they perform this ritual of the Hajj.

Two days after Hajj Muslims all over the world celebrate Eid-ul-Adha, a feast of sacrifice. Muslims slaughter animals in remembrance of the sacrifice of Abraham. He dreamt that God asked him to slaughter his son Ishmael. The Qur’an says:

“And when he was old enough to work with him, he said, ‘O my dear son, I have seen in a dream that I am slaughtering thee. So consider, what thou thinkest of it!’ He replied, ‘O my father, do as thou art commanded; thou wilt find me, if God please, of those who are patient’” (37: 103).

The above verse is clear that both father and son submitted to the will of God and were prepared to act as was commanded of them. However, God saw that they passed the test and replaced the human slaughter with a ram. Message of this sacrifice for me is that it shows that God gives us many ways to thank Him. We should never stop showing our love and gratitude for God's blessings upon us.

Tehmina Mubarak.