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Prophet Muhammad said: Whoever performs Hajj to this house Kabah and does not commit any obscenity and wrongdoing, he, or she, will come out as the day he, or she, was born pure and free from sins. Prophet Muhammad
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Hajj is Abrahamic
Hajj is more than just a matter of connecting with the historical legacy of Islam, but is rather a form of collective worship, and a way of establishing a connection with the monotheism and its human legacy symbolised by Abrahampbuh and the first human Adampbuh respectively. Abraham was an exemplar model for monotheism and a mentor for all believers in One God. His faith and submission to One God was equal to the faith of a whole nation as described in the Holy Quran. Hence, it is not a surprise that most of the Hajj rites are Abrahamic. Kabah signifies oneness of God, the creator of the universe and every living creature.
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Sacrificing of Animal
Pilgrims provide a qurban (sacrifice) on Eid (Festival) day by organising the slaughtering of a sheep and having its meat distributed to needy people. The meat is usually canned and donated to poor people in other countries as humanitarian aid. In many countries, this is the only time that the people get the chance to eat meat. The act symbolises a Muslims willingness to give up things that are of benefit to them or close to their hearts, in order to follow God's commands. It also symbolises a Muslims willingness to give up some of their own bounties, in order to strengthen ties of friendship and help those who are in need. The symbolism is in the attitude - a willingness to make sacrifices in our lives in order to stay on the Straight Path. The Qur'an describes Abraham as follows: Surely Abraham was an example, obedient to God, by nature upright, and he was not of the polytheists. He was grateful for Our bounties. We chose him and guided him unto a right path. We gave him good in this world, and in the next he will most surely be among the righteous." (Qur'an 16:120-121) And "We made him (Abraham) pure in this world and in the hereafter; he is most surely among the righteous. When his Lord said to him, 'Submit,' he said, 'I submit myself to the Lord of the Worlds.'" (Qur'an 2:130-131) Thus, slaughtering of sheep is significant in many ways; It ended the sacrificing of human beings which was a common practice during Prophet Abrahams time. The slaughtering of the sheep is symbolic of the sacrifices one makes in devoting ones life to God. In the Quran, Abraham is referred to as the first Muslim for this reason. A Muslim is someone who submits or surrenders to God. The sacrifice is representative of ones God-consciousness;
[But bear in mind:] never does their (sacrificed animals) flesh reach God, and neither their blood: it is only your God-consciousness that reaches Him. (Quran 22:37)
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Hajj Significant Practice in Islam only been discovered that corals on the Great Barrier Reef on the east coast of Australia, germinate at the same time in a year across a thousand miles of the reef. The wilder-beasts in Africa migrate in tens and thousands to greener pastures in the steps of Africa all at the same time. Muslims also obey to the call of God by turning up in millions at the time of pilgrimage. The central aims of worship, that is exalting, glorifying and praising God, occur individually and collectively. Muslims exalt God by showing up in mass, as though saying You are greater than my self and above the whole of humanity; here we are ready to worship you in mass. They glorify God by going around the Kabah, as though saying just as we are circling the one and only Kabah, the oldest place of worship on earth, we only obey you the Absolute One worthy of worship. They praise God through the collective supplication (dua) and remembrance of God in the plains of Mt Arafat. Another common act of worship observed in the universe is that all entities orbit around a central point. While electrons orbit the nucleus in an atom, the earth and planets orbit the sun. Solar system orbits the centre of the Milky Way and so on. Muslims join in this cosmic mode of worship and synchronise with the universe and all existence by circling the Kabah. Muslims believe that the Kabah was the first place of worship built by the first human and the first prophet, Adampbuh. It was later rebuilt on the same foundations by Abrahampbuh and his son Ishmailpbuh and declared as a shrine dedicated to monotheism. Abrahampbuh called on people to make pilgrimage to the site. Before the days of Islam, the Hebrew Bible confirmed the existence of this pilgrimage to Mecca (or Beca). Psalm 84:46 says, O Lord Almighty, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; they are ever praising You. Blessed are those whose strength is in You, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Beca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. The climax of Pilgrimage occurs at the plains of Mount Arafat, about twenty kilometres outside of Mecca. All pilgrims have to be present in this location at the same time simulating the day of resurrection. Everybody wears the same simple garment and supplicates to God with no distinction of race, status or wealth. Mt Arafat has a very significant place in the history of humanity. According to Islam, this is the place where the first man, Adampbuh and his partner Eve sincerely repented and received forgiveness for their mistake committed in Paradise. Similarly, Muslims turn up in millions at the same place and time, as Adampbuh and Eve did, to repent for their sins and ask forgiveness. The plea and petition of millions of people at the same time is a compelling spiritual force that begs forgiveness. If three million people walked to the palace of a president and asked for something, certainly he would not reject them. According to Prophet Muhammadpbuh, God will not return a sincere pilgrim asking forgiveness empty handed. His or her sins will be wiped off and attain the sinless state of a newborn. Since human rights cannot be forgiven by God, pilgrims usually see their family and friends and settle any unsettled issues and ask for forgiveness for mistakes and sins done to them. Thus, when Muslims circle the Kabah and collectively pray in the plains of Mt Arafat, they are affirming their commitment to God and to monotheism. As people from all races and nations gather at the spiritual epicenter of the world, the Kabah, they are affirming their common paternal ancestry with Adampbuh and their spiritual ancestry with Abrahampbuh.
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Hajj Significant Practice in Islam remind them the need to be physically fit and also the value of good health especially when they see older pilgrims struggling in doing the rites.
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