There are approximately 35 verses in the Holy Quran which dwell directly on the Haj as one of the pillars of Islam and its rites and rituals. In 1426H (2008AD) as we prepare to perform the 1420th Islamic Haj, we ought to remember that during the course of 23 years of the revelation of the Holy Quran, including these verses on the Haj, the Prophet (pbuh) of Islam had at no time availed himself of the major pilgrimage of Haj. He is recorded to have performed Umrah though.

In the 9th Hijri he deputed his foremost companion Abu Bakr to lead the Haj and ordered Ali Ibn Abi Talib to join the former to announce that the House of Allah would no longer be allowed to be defiled with the abominations of the idolaters and their kind of worship.  Ali carried out the order; he was heard at Arafat both by Muslims and Idolaters. Then it happened as prophesied: there were no Unbelievers around when the Prophet of Islam led the Haj himself the following year. The Haj would since be unlike any that had taken place for hundreds of years: the pilgrims would all be worshippers of the one God, and no idolater would desecrate the Holy House with the performance of any heathen rites. Obviously, the Prophet (pbuh) had envisioned it so and it was destined to be so. Another prophetic part of this decision was the revelation that year at Arafah (Yawm-al-Wuquf) of the last passage which completed the Quran:

This day the disbelievers despair of prevailing against your religion, so fear them not, but fear Me! This day have I perfected for you your religion and fulfilled my Favour unto you, and it had been My good pleasure to choose Islam for you as your religion.

The Farewell Haj was the holy Prophet's final public act and, therefore, it appeared to have been ordained he was to personally teach the newly organised ummat about the finer points of the Islamic rites and rituals associated with the Haj. The Prophet (pbuh) was clear about the conclusion of Allah’s message through him and he himself chose to institute and establish its practice down to the minute details.

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meeting of the morons
written by abdul gaffar, November 18, 2008

believe me! Disneyland if much more fun.

Khuda Hafiz.

...
written by Firoz, November 18, 2008

Disneyland is fun if you enjoy not getting in touch with your real self and soul!

Otherwise....Haj and Umrah are the best travels I have had in my many travels over the years!...You face the self that isn't too nice and deal with it before it is too late...something most people rather not do....and would instead choose an easier option...

Cheers

Fun
written by observers, November 18, 2008

Allah bless the Muslims, Gives Hidayat, Taufiq to those who are astray and punishes the recalcitrant like the 'Pukistani' Abd the Gaffe! Ameen!

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