Thursday, 05 November 2009

• The Holy Pilgrimage awaits

  
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  I decided to write this blog for the people who casually pass by my Xanga so that they would understand why Hajj is so important to me (and why I have so many posts about it). Mainly this is for the Non-Muslim readers so that they can be a bit informed about the fifth pillar of Islam and one that to me means a great deal. Plus CNN usually does a Hajj special so I wanted to beat them to it.
  
  I know many Muslim brothers and sisters. They come from all corners of the world and are all ages. Some are born Muslims and some revert to Islam, but there is one thing in common with all of these Muslim brothers and sisters that I have noticed and I'm included in this. That thing is that we all look forward to one momentous occasion in our lives, the Hajj. Islam is all about equality, there is no discrimination and that is seen at Hajj where everyone is equal.
  
  Now I've heard many people tell me that why in the world would you look forward to a pilgrimage thousands of miles away in the middle of the desert and where all you do is circumambulate around a black cube? To those people this may seem like a pointless ritual to say the least but to a devout Muslim, to go on the Hajj is the greatest blessing of all time, because even though we are told to go on this pilgrimage once in our lives, it's only mandatory if you can afford it and such, so many Muslims aren't able to go on this pilgrimage. We don't just "march" around a black cube, we do the pilgrimage that has been done for thousands of years by our Islamic ancestors.
  
  

  
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  Now some may ask how is that possible if Islam has only been around for about 1430 years? To us that's not true since we believe that Islam has been around since, well forever. We believe that all prophet's are equal and that Islam has been around since Prophet Adam (pbuh) first came to this world, but the Hajj consists of rituals done to remember Prophet Ibrahim's (Abraham pbuh) trials that he and his wife Hajar (Hagar) went through as well as the trials of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
  
  More information for a detailed look at what the Hajj is and why it is so important for us Muslims.
  
  Normally I don't give Wikipedia as a source for information, but in this case the Hajj information is extremely well written.
  
  Alhamdulillah (Praise to God), I am going on Hajj this year. I look forward to not only being one with the Ummah (Islamic community), but being able to ask God for forgiveness for the sins I have done in my life. I look froward to being able to do nothing but worship and to follow in the steps of the Prophets that brought forth the message of submission to God. In God's eyes we're equal and during Hajj, you see this equality for all men wear the same and all women wear the same clothing. There is no rush to buy name brand clothing, to show off fine jewels, to blatantly display your wealth period. The Hajj is a time to worship and Inshallah (God willing), I intend to do just that.
  
  Inshallah, when I come back, I will post the diary I will keep on Hajj and hopefully give everyone an idea of what Hajj is from a first person perspective.
  
  I leave for Dubai late Saturday night, Inshallah and will get there about 8 in the morning their time. From there I have a connecting flight to Jeddah.
  
  So for my non-Muslim readers, Do you have a significant occasion in your religion that is held as esteemed as the Hajj is for me? If so, what is it?
  
  And for my Muslim brothers and sister, have you been on the Hajj? If so how was it? If not, how much do you look forward to it and when do you intend to go?
  

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