Ritual Dimension: MALCOLM X'S HAJJ - Case Study Example

Ritual dimension: Malcolm X’s HAJJ Carmody Book  What is the hajj? Hajj is a religious journey to Mecca that orthodox muslims make, as a religious tratision. Unless one is not able to, the journey should occur in a person’s lifetime (145). What is ihram? How does one prepare for it?Ihmar is a holy condition that a muslim pilgrim must attain before performing a pilgrimage, whether minor or major. One prepares for the state by performing rituals for attonment and by putting on specific cloths for the occasions (150, 151).

What are some of the differences Malcolm X notes between the Nation of Islam and the more orthodox Islam he encounters on his trip? Give specific examples from the text to support your answer.Knowledge of rituals is one of the differences that Malcolm X notes between the nation of Iislam and the more orthodox islam. The more orthodox islam, unlike one from the Nation of Islam, knows the prayer ritual. Muslims from the Nation of Islam also struggle with the prayer posture, unlike their peer from the more orthodox islam.

Another difference is the value of a rag that the orthodox use for different purposes such as for prayers, for eating, and for dispute resolution. Such usage do not exist in the Nation of Islam hence the rag is not valued as much. The Nation of Islam does not observe such applications. The orthodox also play in Arabic, unlike those from the Nation of Iislam. Eating habit was also different as the orthodox ate together from one bowl but people in the Nation of Islam eat from separate plates (151- 154).

What is Malcolm Xs experience in Mecca? How does it change his understanding of race? Give specific examples to support your answer. How does it change his understanding of Islam? Give examples to support your answer.Malcolm’s experience in Mecca is a spirit of unity that transcends across races. The Mutawaf took good care of him and he saw people praying in unison. He notes the unity as his greatest lesson and evidence of “the power of One God” (160). This changes his understanding of race to the effects that race should not establish a barrier between people, whether in religious or social scopes.

He notes that the “color blindness of the muslim world’s religious society and the color-blindness of the muslim world’s human society” changed his previous perspective (160). The visit also enlightens him that Islam is about unity, portraying God’s image of oneness. He explains that in understanding the true religion, he understood the racism problem in America (60). How does X describe the actual pilgrimage? What rituals are performed? What is the sequence of events?X describes the pilgrimage as an organized practice with systematic order of rituals.

Prayer and chanting, while pilgrims move around the Kaba seven times, was the first ritual and prayers at the seventh round, while prostratating, followed. Drinking of water from Zem Zem well then running between Safa and Marwa hills followed. A visit to the Great Mosque and circumambulatinion of the Ka’ba followed. A mass visit to Mount Arafat, while “crying in unison” was an event in the following day and prayer and chanting followed from noon till evening (160). Lifting hands in “prayer and thanksgiving” marked the end of the pilgrimage (160).

God’s Judgment on White AmericaWhat is the answer to the race problem, according to Malcolm X?Malcolm’s answer to the race problem is the change in social context in which the ex slaves are isolated from their ex master and in which the ex slaves lives in “peace and security” among the same people (286).Compare and contrast Malcolm Xs message in this selection with Jerry Falwells sermon after 9-11 that we read earlier in the semester.