International Sufi Order

786/92  

HAJJ

In the 8^th Sura of the Holy Qur’aan, al-Anfaal: Verse 34, Allah addresses the previous, present and any future ignorant custodians of the Holy Mosque in Makkah, the Noble:

 Millions of Muslims from each and every continent of the world, speaking various languages, with different cultures, of diverse nationalities, all clothed in the same pilgrims robe for men, two unstitched pieces of white pilgrims cloth, right from heads of state, presidents, ministers, down to the poorest of the poor, from the fairest white to the darkest brown and black in colour are gathering in Arabia to perform Hajj. All are bonded in one universal brotherhood of equality, love and peace - al- Islam. The call of Ibrahim (may Allah bless him with peace) as mentioned in the 22^nd Sura, al-Hajj: Verse 27 of the Holy Qur'aan:

These millions respond to the call with the answer:

This is a pledge of Tauhid  "oneness" that man makes to Allah. One's imagination is stirred to take care of one's spiritual future. To maintain one's dignity in society through adherence to moral integrity, it is this religious perspective that Allah is giving us in the institution of the Hajj.

 Life is a constant movement and a movement with no goal is meaningless, therefore the Pilgrimage symbolises a movement towards Allah. When one leaves for Hajj one leaves one's routine environment and therefore this physical movement should move the spirit to rebel against a life guided by evil forces.

The accepted Hajj charges one spiritually, cleanses the heart and infuses in us a duty to move towards Allah who is The Source of beauty, goodness, justice, love and truth. These attributes should be assimilated in the personality of the Khalifatullah fil ard[1], and armed with these beautiful qualities one should strive to enforce the law of Allah on earth.

It is unfortunate to note that today we have turned to money, sex, greed, aggression and dishonesty, as the Qur'aan says in the 103^rd  Sura, al-Asr: Verses 1-3 of the Holy Qur'aan:

With the passage of  time, man is in a state of loss! The cry of the oppressed Muslims of Chechnya, Iraq, Palestine and other places can be heard clearly and these issues are not even addressed at the largest gathering of Muslims annually. Our Hajj should not only be dry rituals but it should promote Internationalism full of benefit for the material and spiritual life. The Hajj provides the Muslim community with an opportunity for social intercourse, which can also promote trade, scholarship, knowledge, understanding and political harmony. It should also serve to realise the spiritual yearning and for revival of the values of Islam which the present afflicted and anguished Muslim world needs.

 For centuries when the Muslim world (i.e. Dar al-Islam) remained a close knit community under The Caliphate (symbolising a period of political organisation), the period of Hajj provided them with an institution for political and administrative uniformity which resulted in the spread of Islam to the four corners of the world, since problems discussed at the centre were acted upon uniformly. The problems of Muslims of various far-flung areas were discussed, became known and a spirit of sympathy and brotherhood inculcated. The benefit of Hajj made the Ulama and scholars internationally oriented thinkers. The destruction of the Caliphate of Islam on March, 3, 1924 (27 Rajab 1342), the result of a diabolical conspiracy hatched by the British and the Zionist Jews, with the Saudis and the so-called salafi Wahabbis acting as willing accomplices rendered the Muslim World powerless.   Today we are fifty plus Muslim countries and we are worth nothing. The corrupt Saudi regime and its Zionist and American allies have turned the Sacred Haramain into a trade centre for the Muslim world where non Muslim countries stock their goods. One will find fruit from Israel and kurtas from China and Singapore. The Saudi regime, which has destroyed various Islamic monuments and tombs (Mazaars) of great Muslim personalities in the name of Wahabbism, their own spiritless brand of Islam that they have exported worldwide, taking the love of The Holy Prophet (p out of the hearts of Muslims, must be stopped.

 We who claim to be lovers of the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) with what face do we go to Madinah?  Mullah Ali Qari (Rahmatullahi alaihi)  [d. 1015a.h] in his book Sharah Maslak, the most detailed book of the Hanafis on Hajj says,

All religious heads from the time of the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), except the pygmies influenced by Wahabbism, have believed that their is no difference between the life and death of the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) in this that he sees his Ummah and their condition, he knows their intentions, their wishes, the inner thoughts inside their hearts. All these assume such light that nothing is concealed[1].  

Ibn Asaakir (Rahmatullahi alaihi) Qadi Ayaadh (Rahmatullahi alaihi) and others have written that that portion of earth upon which Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) lies buried is even higher in rank than the Kaaba and the Throne of Allah. (Quoted by Maulana Zakarriya in his book Virtues of Hajj.)

 For Magfirah or Forgiveness, Allah has made the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) the medium.  In the Qur'aan Allah says in the 4^th Sura, al-Nisaa: Verse 64

The verse is clear; Allah has made it a condition for the acceptance of Forgiveness.  Here He makes the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) the medium.  This verse of the Qur'aan is for all times.  The question arises; how do I approach the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) today?  Some people say, go to Madinah.  Then forgiveness is only for the rich, who can afford to go.  If we say that this verse was only for the companions then we are denying that the Qur'aan is for all times.  The Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is a living Prophet who can be approached everywhere.  Thus, our elders have taught that we should stand with respect, greet him (send Salaam) and then make dua.

There is a Hadith in Sahih Muslim of the blind man that came to the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him and his family) that says,

The above invocation was also used after the Prophet's life­time, as is proven by the sound (Sahih) Hadith authenticated by Bayhaqi, Abu Nuaym,[3] Mundhiri,[4] Haythami, and Taba­rani.[5] They relate, on the authority of Uthman ibn Hunayf's nephew Abu Imama ibn Sahl ibn Hunayf:

Why did the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) teach him this? Because, he has that status!  The world is based on law and Allah made this law, that the proper channel to approach Him is the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  If anyone wants to go to Allah, he must come through the proper channels.

  Allah keep our children and our families on the path of Ahle Sunnah wa Jamaat let not economic, social or psychological reasons and enticement make us swerve from the truth! Save us fro the influence of the corrupt beliefs of Wahabbis/Deobandis/ Tabligh Jamaat and Najdis, for the sake of Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti and Soofie Saheb (may Allah be well pleased with them)!  May it be so!

Allah (Almighty and Glorious is He) says in the 4^th Sura, al-Nisaa: Verse 135            of the Holy Qur’aan   

Irshad Soofi.

Revised:  Thursday, January 22, 2004 

The evening of 1^st Zil Hijjah 1424