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Toronto
Star,
OPINION
Monday, May 31 1993
MILLIONS OF
Muslims from all parts of the world will congregate at Mecca in
Saudi Arabia today to perform Haj. This practice has continued
for the past 1,400 years, with numbers increasing
each year.
I used to wonder
what beckons young and old, able and disabled, men, women and
children to the city of Mecca? It was only when I performed Haj
myself that I fully understood the spirit of this ritual.
Haj is one of the
requirements of Islam. It is an exercise in mental, physical and
spiritual endurance that is exclusive to Islam. Not many
religions can boast of a ritual as complete as Haj, which is a
lifestyle by itself.
There is a deep,
spiritual bond between the Almighty and the person performing
Haj. At the same time, there is a strong practical aspect in
which each Muslim interacts with thousands of people around him.
During Haj, a person has to abstain from many worldly activities
and concentrate single-mindedly on the purpose of being present
to the bidding of God.
The Prophet of
Islam said: "Whoever wakes up without any concern for his
fellow Muslims, is indeed not one of them." Islam teaches
us to live together and care for each other.
In Haj, Muslims
of diverse ethnic origins come together for one purpose - to
submit to the will of Allah. No person is distinct from the
other by caste, creed, color, race or sect. Every man wears two
pieces of unstitched cloth at Haj so there is no indication of
status or wealth. Islam preaches equality among humans, and one
sees this in effect at Haj.
Haj, therefore,
is an act of worship that renovates us, filling us with a new
Islamic spirit and vigor. It is meant to show the solidarity of
Islam, and strengthen the filial bond cemented by one faith.
The entire
process of performing Haj takes nine days. The 10th day is
celebrated as the feast of Eid-al-Adha. Haj is incumbent on
every Muslim who can afford to make the trip, i.e., be able to
travel to Mecca after dispensing with all his responsibilities.
Haj is completed
through a series of prescribed actions performed at precise
times during the first 10 days of the 12th Islamic month called
Zilhij. These actions are performed by millions of Muslims at
the same time, so they require patience, perseverance and a
strong faith.
The first part of
the exercise constitutes circumambulating the Ka'aba which is
the house built by Prophet Ibrahim, and toward which all Muslims
pray. Every person has to walk around the Ka'aba seven times. In
the outer circle, this can be about nine kilometres. I have seen
old and infirm people make this round with zest and enthusiasm.
Muslims believe
that their strength is derived by drinking water from the wells
of Zam Zam. This itself constitutes a miracle, when one ponders
on how the water has gushed forth continuously from one source
for the past 1,400 years.
My first look at
the Ka'aba is emblazoned across my heart and mind. It is an
imposing square structure, covered by a black cloth that has
Koranic verses embroidered all over it in gold. When the muezzin
(the person who beckons Muslims to prayers) calls the faithful
to prayer, there is no experience more elevating than standing
in a sea of humanity to offer one's thanks to the Lord.
Millions of
people stop what they are doing, and are attentive to the call
of prayer. All are beckoned by one call, kneeling to one God,
facing one direction, after one Imam (leader).
The Ka'aba is
located in the courtyard of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, where the
Prophet Mohammed was born. Since before the advent of Islam,
Mecca thrived on trade, and its character has not changed.
The city lights
up and bustles with activity months before and after the advent
of Haj. Meccans are still great tradesmen and come out in hordes
during the Haj, which is prime business time for them. Entire
families sit on street corners and pavements, selling everything
from water to bedding. It is an unusual sight and it takes
getting used to stepping out from the holy sanctuary of the
Grand Mosque straight into a bustling bazaar.
The second part
of Haj involves journeying to a place called Mina, which is
located about 30 minutes from Mecca. Here, where everyone camps
in tents, the purpose is exclusively to pray and meditate.
Although the
tents are equipped with floor mats, desert coolers, fans and
unlimited cold water, it remains unimaginably hot. In 43-degree
Celsius (110 Fahrenheit) heat, while the Earth radiates fire and
the sun beats down mercilessly, everything is suspended in a
film of heat and dust. Yet, we feel close to our maker because
we become acutely aware of whence we came and where our final
destination will be - "dust to dust . . ."
After prayers,
every family has to sacrifice one goat. This sacrifice takes
place all over the world as Muslims jointly celebrate Eid-al-Adha or the feast of the Haj (June 1, this year). The
sacrifice of a goat is done to commemorate the sacrifice of
Ibrahim, who was ready to give up his son's life for God. God
replaced the body of his son with a goat, and Muslims repeat
that sacrifice at the time of Haj every year. Meat from the
slaughtered animal is distributed to needy countries in a
systematic program initiated by the government of Saudi Arabia.
Performance of
Haj changes one's outlook on life. It gives us insight into our
soul and also an acute awareness of the world around us. It
teaches us the fallacy of chasing after material wealth and to
appreciate our blessings.
Copyright
© 1993 Toronto Star, All Rights Reserved.
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