Quranic Concept of Hajj by Awais Durrani

HAJJ 

QURANIC  CONCEPT ..........  (22/26-28) The international center of this Divine order 

was founded by Abraham so that the obedience would remain for Allah alone & no man-

made system should be ascribed a share in it.This was also directed that this system should

 be purged of all alien & man-made concepts & beliefs & reserved for educating 

discipline people .The responsibilities of these organised people would be to supervise & 

keep vigil over the actions of other nations ;establish an exemplary social & judicial system 

& thereafter complete submission to Divine Order..He was also directed "proclaim the 

people that they should come here to resolve their decision for final decree .This 

announcement will be so attractive that they all will come from every part of the world ,after 

travelling long distances on foot or on mounts which may become lean on account of 

fatigue from the journey.So that they could witness from their own eyes the beneficial work 

being done for them by this center. During the appointed days of this congregation they 

should slaughter the cattle We have provided ,after proclaiming on them the name of 

Allah. They should eat themselves & also feed the needy & poor who may be there. In ayah 

22/25) Kaba is the capital of this system,the exhilarating scenario has been depicted afore. 

This place is worthy of the highest respect & will finally become the fountainhead of Divine 

obedience.We have declared it open for the whole of mankind ,for those who dwell here & 

for those who come from abroad(its doors are open to all who have been denied justice & 

fairness & every one shall benefit equally from its bounties) .But if someone tries to deviate 

even a little from the right course ,by either profanity or evil doing ,he will be punished by 

this system severely.Not only do these people themselves flout this system of justice & 

equity ,they prevent others from coming towards it (how long their transgression be 

tolerated ?) The time has now come to check on their actions ,in order to protect humanity 

from their excesses & aggression (21/39) .As decided that criminals of mankind can't 

participate in this congression ,therefore mushrikeen were also prohibited from attending 

such congregations being the open opponents of this system (9/28 &9/3).When kaba came 

under the control of the Muslims then this day the announcement was made & the day was 

declared as Yaum ul Hajj al Akbar ".From now on wards these mushrikeen being the 

enemies of humanity will not be allowed to join such congregation.

2:196  Two types of meetings have been described by Quran as a continuous struggle was 

required for the establishment & consolidation of this system .Such periodic meetings are 

termed as Hajj & Umra .The venue of these meetings should be the K'aba being the capital 

& centre of this system.In case you are prevented from such meeting ,you should send 

whatever you can ,as offering to be used by those who have assembled there .To maintain 

homogeneity with this assembly you should perform rites similar to the ones performed by 

the assembly e.g.do not shave your head & beard butif you are ill or have head-ailment 

then you can fast,give a donation or an offering in lieu of shaving.In times of peace when 

Hajj or Umra is performed ,you can take your gift with you .If the gift is un-affordable then 

fast for three days during Hajj & for another seven days upon your return.This is for those 

whose family is not in Makkah. Just keep in mind that the purpose of these meetings is 

mutual consultation for the consolidation of this system .As far as rituals are concerned 

their purpose is to create homogeneity amongst members of the society.Beyond that they 

have no purpose ,not an end in itself --& whoever considers so ,should remember that the 

result would be shear destruction as the law of Allah is severe in retribution."-- (2/197)---" 

The timing of Hajj is prescribed & known to all .Whoever undertakes to perform this duty 

should be careful not to do anything demeaning or obscene e.g. use of harsh& vulgar 

language or unnecessary wrangling .Instead he should do whatever good he can (22/28) 

He should also posses enough means to meet the necessary expenses to & from Makka & 

maintaining himself during the meeting. O men of understanding ! be mindful of these 

instructions . (2/198) Keep in mind that the mutual consultations which take place during 

these meetings do not exclude discussion of business & trade as well as other economic 

activities for the benefit of the Ummah .When you return from Arafat (place of introduction) 

where you have been introduced to one another ,assemble again near Muzdalfa & reflect 

upon the various aspects of the Divine system .We are giving you these instructions in 

detail because before Islam you were ignorant of the purpose of hajj & Umra." ( 2/199) ;--" 

When the proceedings have ended ,you should return to your own lands (without feeling 

you are any different from other people) & think of ways to make your Ummah secure & self-

sufficient according to the programme settled in the aforesaid assembly .This way ,Allah will 

surely bestow His protection & Rahmat on you." (2/200) " In earlier days during your 

assemblies you used to talk about your ancestors boastfully (your talk made the common 

people inferior ,so obviously they could not participate in it ) .Now on the return from the 

assembly you should talk about Allah's guidance instead..Moreover people who consider 

the worldly gains an end in itself do get such benefits but have no share in the hereafter. " 

(2/203) " --The hajj assembly should be for a prescribed number of days .If anyone has to 

depart due to some special reasons ,he may do so after two days & if anyone wishes to 

stay longer he may do so provided what is done is in the interests of this system.And 

remember one day you shall all be gathered unto Him".

In ayah ( 2/196) The terms ARAFAT & MASHA'AR UL HARAM are worthy of pondering 

.The entire purpose of Hajj is concealed in this one ayah while the rest of the rituals are its 

manifestations.Let us understand its real concept right from the beginning . In ramadan a 

refresher military training was arranged to establish & consolidate this system coupled with 

"I'tikaf fil Masajid (2/187) " ie ,just to ponder over local issues in groups & afterwards 

various representatives from Ummah among them were chosen at the occasion of Eid ul 

Fitr (Jashn-e-Nazool-e-Quran) who will participate in this annual gathering of Ummah .They 

are the observers & representatives of this annual meeting.After initial proceedings this 

conference will now be held in Arafat where an introduction will be carried out among the 

various representatives gathered here from far flung areas.Due to this introduction it has 

been termed as Arafat.After introduction the president (khalifa or representative ) of the 

conference delivered a lecture (KHUTBA) & highlighted the salient features relating to 

various activities of the Central Government for the previous year & presented the salient 

features of the agenda for the next year.Now all these representatives gathered in Mash'ar 

ul Haram ie the place where the issues are discussed purely through logic & wisdom. .As 

these issues pertain to Divine Order therefore the attribute HARAM (worthy of respect) has 

been used.Now this meeting will last for two to three days depending on the basis of 

agenda.And a joint programme for formulating the details relating to implementation of this 

agreed agenda would be finalised & different tasks will be assigned according to agenda & 

a cooperation & assistance will be sought from the respective representatives.They will also 

serve one another with lunch,dinner etc.Lunch from Pakistan & dinner from Turkey.These 

cattles would be used for all such parties which have been brought by them or sent as gifts 

from the absentees.Then they will return to their homes.

HAJJ AND UMRAH & Related SHAA'IR UL ALLAH (The Rituals):The psychology of man 

compels him to express all that which is in his heart or mind through his tongue & 

simultaneously this expression warrants certain bodily actions to manifest this thought or 

sentiment .For example if some one is happy then its expressions appear on his face 

,similarly offering salam the,hands are automatically raised with this action.In case of giving 

respect to some one ,you bow down & this bowing becomes prostration in case of complete 

submission.The sudden synchronization of thoughts with the organs of the body is termed 

as PARALLELISM.These movements of the various organs of the body are unconscious & 

without any intention which can't be stopped at any cost.In case you restrict an orator with 

complete ban on his movements while delivering lecture ,you will observe that he can 

hardly utter a single word of his speech.Such tangible movements of the organs of the body 

are termed as "formalities,Shaa'ir or rituals .Quran has not prohibited this internal 

requirement of the heart/imaginations rather has permitted its demonstration through these rituals.The TAWAF in 

Hajj is the manifestation of this inescapable internal urge.If these rituals are abandoned 

then only philosophy or sufism will be left out .Islam is a collective system where such 

concrete formalities are kept alive so that a harmony & homogeneity can be established 

within the Ummah .On the other hand when rituals are alive without their purpose then it is 

termed as worship & not obedience.Quran has not given the details for such formalities but 

only principles & constitution has been enshrined while the manasik,shaa'ir' shariat ,minhaj 

or byelaws would be formulated in the light of this immutable constitution ie Quran.The 

procedure for such formalities will be decided through mutual consultations with changing 

times(3/156) & by announcing the death of the prophet it was a an indication that this 

system will continue even after his death (3/143) .This beautiful combination of permanence 

& change will lead this karawan to prosperity & esteem for all times to come.But 

unfortunately this process was ceased after this Jaamat & this combination died .This 

was that inertial pull which took this Ummah to the unimaginable heights & they ruled as 

super power for more than 1000 years.Now let us talk about seven Tawaf between Safa & 

Marwa (2/158) This has been made as ritual just on the Biblical story"Abraham left Hajrah 

with his son Ismaeel & she was roaming between these two hills in search of water .This is 

termed as "SAA'A between Safa & Marwa .Quran is using YATTWAFA ie roaming around 

these hills is not banned & contradicted such superstitiousness commonly popular even in 

Arabs that roaming around these hills is a great crime.Thus a Non-Quranic directive has 

been made as one of the articles of Hajj which has been clarified by Quran.Mushrikeen 

used to take Tawaf in pre islamic era & irony is that this has been made incumbent on 

every haji to violate the Quranic injunctions.These hills have been declared as SAA'IR UL 

ALLAH like cattles of Hajj (22/36) with a directive of respect (2/158).Since these hills were 

also held in great respect right from the beginning the era of Abraham .Quran revealed 

actual position of these two hills that there is no harm in roaming or walking around these 

two hills by keeping their previous status as SHAA'IR UL ALLAH .

As highlighted above  that these SAFA & MARWA were declared as SHAA'IR like the 

animals brought for Hajj which were also declared as SHAA'IR but was directed to use 

them for transportation,travelling & eating ( 22/32-33).The major purpose of these shaa'ir 

disappeared & only these symbols were made as the only purpose of Din.Quran elucidated 

after declaring these shaa'ir that the real purpose is only obedience of laws from the core of 

your heart (5/2) . Now let us come to another ritual IHRAM .Quran has not mentioned this 

ritual except a ban was promulgated on hunting when you are present in this annual 

gathering (5/1).The other incorporation of an alien ritual is "Kissing Hajr-e-Aswad ".There is 

no mention of this black stone in the Quran.Three shaitans were the pre Islamic ritual which 

has not been described in Quran.The other misconception is about "ZABHIN AZEEM"--

Sunnat-e-Ibrahimi related to qurbani which has not been ordained by Quran.Only Kaaba 

was the place where these animals were directed to be slaughtered in such quantity which 

could only meet your requirement.This sacrifice of Abraham was to depute his eldest son in 

an arid & barren land to look after this centre & to develop the Arabic language in which the 

final message was likely to be revealed . Ismaeel was saved for this great task "Zabhin 

Azeem"(37/102-108) .Quran has declared those who follow only the rituals as Zalimeen 

(9/19) " It is true that the mushrikeen used to provide food to the pilgrims & maintained this 

sacred mosque but can they be placed equal to those & who believe in Allah & life of 

hereafter & strive hard in the cause of Allah ?They can't be regarded as equal in the 

estimation of Allah.The zalimeen can in no way be considered as following the right path & 

they have been declared as the misguided