‘Umrah’: A Pilgrimage to Makkah

 

The city of the Kaaba, variously called in the past as Bakkah, Umm Al-Qura, and Al-Balad Al-Amin, and its mountains witnessed the first revelation received by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa), and the birth of Islam. Hence, for the devout Muslim, Makkah is the purest spot on earth, and the holiest destination in the world.

‘Allah has made the Ka'aba, the Sacred House, as a means of support and uplift for mankind and (has sanctified) the sacred months and the sacrificial animals and the garlands (by which they are identified). That is so that you may know that Allah knows what is in the heavens and what is in the earth, and that Allah knows all things well.’ (5:98)

‘We made the House a resort and a sanctuary for people, saying, ‘Take the spot where Abraham stood as your place of prayer.’ (2:125)

‘Let them worship the Lord of this House: who provides them with food to ward off hunger, safety to ward off fear.’ (106: 4-5)

‘Therein are clear signs, the station of Abraham; and whoever enters it is in security. It is the duty of people towards God to make the pilgrimage to the House, all who are able to make their way there. As for the one who disbelieves, God is Independent of all the worlds.’ (3:97)

Makkah & Madina: 'Hajj' & 'Ziarat'

 Hajj: the Sacrifice of Abraham (as)

Whenever Hajj is evoked, the Sacrifice of Abraham (as) is also evoked. It is reported that the Holy Prophet (pbuh) said: “When anyone of you intends to sacrifice the animal and enter in the month of Dhul-Hijjah (since the first of Dhul-Hijjah), he should not get his hair cut or nails pared till he has offered his sacrifice.” (Muslim).

So it is recommended for all those taking part in the animals (the Qurbani) not to cut their hair from the 1^st of Dhul-Hijjah. Note that the days and nights of Dhul-Hijjah are sacred and therefore fast (maximise this time in fasting) and do good works. Do not have suspicions, and do not make palavers, do not argue because all this is the work of Satan. Allah and His angels do not stay among those categories of people. Respect the elders, have love and obedience for them, supplicate Allah (Duahs) and remember Him (Zikrullah), read the Qur’an, try to transform yourselves, move away from evil deeds, replace all bad deeds with good deeds, so that you can have the love of Allah and that Allah (swt) be pleased with you.

It is Allah Who is the Almighty, the Creator of all things. He does not need our prayers and our actions as He clearly tells us in the Holy Qur’an:

“The first House (of worship) appointed for men was that at Bakkah (i.e. Makkah): Full of blessing and of guidance for all the worlds (for all people): In it are clear signs (such as) the standing place of Abraham. And whoever enters it shall be safe. Pilgrimage thereto is a duty men owe to Allah - for whoever is able to find thereto a way. And whoever disbelieves, then surely Allah is not in need of (any of His) creation.” (Al-Imran 3: 97-98).

In many other verses this concept is clearly exposed to humanity that Allah (swt) has no need of creatures and their prayers. This is also repeated in a Hadith Qudsi (Sacred Hadith) where Allah says:

“O My servants, you will not attain harming Me so as to harm Me, and you will not attain benefiting Me so as to benefit Me. O my servants, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you to become as pious as the most pious heart of any one man of you, that would not increase My kingdom in anything. O My servants, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you to be as wicked as the most wicked heart of any one man of you, that would not decrease My kingdom in anything. O My servants, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you to rise up in one place and make a request of Me, and were I to give everyone what he requested, that would not decrease what I have, any more than a needle decreases the sea if put into it.” (Muslim, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah).