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When our beloved Messenger
('s) received the last revelation during
his last hajj, he gave his last sermon. One of the important points in his
('s) last sermon is Muslim brotherhood and equality among Muslims.
So, Hajj is not only a ritual obligation, but it also a time to
remember our beloved Messenger's ('s) last sermon before he left us
for a long time until the Judgement Day.
There is no place on earth that we can meet with Muslims from
diverse origins at once except in Makkah (and it's surroundings) during Hajj time. The
Pilgrims come together with the same intention, same activities and even
the same dress (the
ihram dress).
However, did we follow what our Messenger
('s) told us hundreds of
years ago? Something that he ('s) felt
was very important was said before
he died.
Did we follow his
('s) message that all Muslims are brothers and all
Muslims are equal?
Some of us did, but some didn't.
Hajj is a Test
Hajj is a test indeed.
During Hajj, you don't experience
normal life. You will be tired physically, and for some of us, also mentally. We
have to perform "thawaf" (walk in a circle seven times around the Ka'abah) at least three
times, when
you arrive for the first time in Makkah. In Hajj itself, and before you
leave Makkah for
your home journey, you have to perform Jumrah, which is throwing stones to three poles representing
satans in Mina, which recreates what Prophet Ibrahim ('a) (Abraham) did in his time. You have to
perform sa'i at least once (during Hajj), run and walk between Safa and Marwah hills back and forth seven
times. Both hills are separated by about 1 mile in distance which
again recreates
what Prophet Ibrahim's ('a) wife, Hajar, did when she tried to find water.
.
Mina and Arafah
Outside those rituals, you have to live a life together with
Muslims from all over the world for at least two weeks or even months (depending on your Hajj
program). For several days, you have to camp with those people in Mina and Arafah.
For some people, it can be a time of never ending complaints because
there may be something which does not match your taste or
standards upon meeting total strangers. Also, there are a lot of activities and
movement during Hajj time; millions of people perform certain activities almost at the same
time, millions of people move from place to place almost at the same time. So, you
are tired, quite dusty, possibly meet people who don't really match your taste, traffic
jams which can go for hours, shared facilities (toilets, beds, rooms, water,
etc, especially in Mina and Arafat), all under the burning hot sun and arid
climate, whilst wearing only Ihram clothing. A perfect time to test your
temper.
A wise man said, if you want a snapshot of the Muslim world, look at
them during Hajj. You can get everything, it's quite accurate sampling I think.
The largest number of pilgrims represents the largest
Muslim populations in the world.
How
the Muslims behave from a country usually represents Muslim behaviour and quality
of religion from that country.
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