Hajj - biggest congregation on earth.

We are starting the holy month of Dhul Hijja, the 12th month of lunar year. The annual Muslim Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah takes place from 8th to 13th of this month. Hajj is not only the fifth pillar of Islam, it is a duty Muslims owe to Allah. Holy Quran in Sura Al Imran says, " Verily, the first House of worship appointed to mankind was that at Makkah, full of blessing, and a guidance for mankind. In it are manifest signs for example the Maqaam of Ibrahim. Whosoever enters it, he attains security. And Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah to the House of Ka'bah is a duty that mankind owes to Allah, those who can afford the expenses and whoever disbelieves Hajj, then he is a disbeliever of Allah, then Allah stands not in need of any of the mankind.

Hajj will be complete by performing its obligatory rites. Beginning  on the 8th day of Dhul Hijja, pilgrims adopt Ihraam with niyat for Hajj and proceed from Makkah to Mina, On the 9th day, pilgrims go to Arafat where they spend the day in supplication until sunset, After sunset the pilgrims leave for Muzdalifah and spend the night or part of it there and depart to Mina just before sunrise, on the 10th day, the pilgrims return to Mina and throw 7 pebbles at the Jamrah, perform their sacrifice, shave or cut their hair, go to Makkah to perform Tawaaful Ifadah and Sa'ee for Hajj, and then return to Mina, from 11 to 13 ( Ayyaamul Tashreeq), the pilgrims spend the next 2 or 3 days in Mina throwing pebbles to Jamrah, they may leave for Makkah before sunset on the 12th or stay until the 13th, and pilgrims then return to Makkah and perform Twaaful Wadaa as the last rite before departing for home. With this Hajj is complete. 

Visiting the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah is highly desirable during the Hajj visit though it is not a devotional rite of Hajj.The first 10 days of Dhul Hijja are considered to be some of the best days to dedicate for prayers and good deeds. It is most desirable to fast during these days especially on the 9th or Arafat day. According to the Prophet, there are no better days in which to perform good deeds than the first 10 days of Dhul Hijja.

Hajj and its rites were first ordained by Allah in the time of Prophet Ibrahim. He was the one who was entrusted by Allah to build the Ka'bah along with his son Ismail. Allah described the Ka'bah and its building as follows.

" And remember, when We showed Ibrahim the site of the sacred House saying: Associate not anything in worship with Me and purify My House for those who bow down and make prostration".

After building the Ka'bah, Prophet Ibrahim would come to Makkah every year to perform Hajj, and after his death, this practice was continued by his son. However, gradually with the passage of time, both the form and the objective of the Hajj  rites were changed. As idolatry spread throughout Arabia, the Ka'bah lost its purity and idols were placed inside it. Its walls became covered with poems and paintings. During the Hajj period itself, the atmosphere around the sacred Ka'bah was like a circus. The prayer became devoid of remembrance of Allah and was distorted. The blood of animals sacrificed were poured into the walls of the Ka'bah and the flesh was hung from pillars around the Ka'bah.

Singing, drinking, and acts of immorality was rife amongst the pilgrims and poetry competitions was a part of the Hajj. Thus the people have totally abandoned the teachings of Prophet Ibrahim. This sad state continued for over 2500 years. After such a long period of time, then came the supplication of Prophet Ibrahim to be answered. " Our Lord, Send amongst them a Messenger of their own , who shall recite unto them Your Ayat and instruct in the Book and the Wisdom and sanctify them".The last prophet whom Allah described as a mercy to mankind  Muhammad ibn Abdullah was born here in the very city that Prophet Ibrahim has made this supplication centuries earlier.

For 23 years Prophet Muhammad PBUH spread the Message Prophet Ibrahim and other prophets came with, and established the law of Allah upon the land. He expended every effort into making the Word of Allah supreme. His victory over falsehood and ignorance culminated in the completion of the divine Mission.

On the farewell Hajj of Prophet Muhammad PBUH, he said, " On the Day of Resurrection, when you will be asked whether I have conveyed fully Allah's Message or not, what will you say" The whole congregation spoke with one voice: " We bear witness that you have conveyed to us the whole Divine Guidance in the best way possible and given us the best advice"

At this the Prophet PBUH raised his forefinger towards the sky and then pointing to the congregation said thrice:

"Oh Allah, May You also be witness! I have conveyed Your Message and Your Commands to Your people, as has been confirmed by them"

The Ka'bah became the universal centre for worshippers of the one and true God - Allah. There is the remembrance of Allah and gratitude to Him at every step and every action and every sacrifice was devoted to Allah alone. It was this kind of dedicated and sincere Hajj that was worthy of the reward of paradise as the Prophet said, " The reward for an accepted Hajj is nothing less than paradise.