Are Umrah and Hajj the Same Things - Essay Example

HAJJ HAJJ Introduction The Islam religion has five has five main pillars that need to be upheld by all people who profess the Muslim faith. The Sunni Muslims contemplate these pillars to be obligatory for all the Muslims1. The Quran presents these pillars as the arrangement for the worship of Allah as well as an indication of commitment to the Muslim faith. These five pillars are the salat, creed, sawm, zakat and hajj. Both the minority and the majority Muslims, that is the Shi’i and Sunni respectively, have a common understanding on the material performance of these acts of their Muslim faith. It is however notable that they do not refer to these acts using the same names. The creed is also referred to as the shahada. It is normally recited in the Arabic language and its main purpose is to acknowledge monotheism and to acquiescent Muhammad as the only messenger of God. Salat, also known as the daily prayers, are a set of five Muslim prayers that the Muslims are required to say to Alah. The five prayers are supposed to be said five times a day2. The sawm is the fasting that the Muslims partake during the period of Ramadhan. Zakat, also known as almsgiving, is the charitable practice of the Muslims of assisting the need people in the society by giving them part of their wealth that they have accumulated over the years. Lastly, it is the hajj which is considered to be the pilgrimage to Mecca. This paper shall focus itself on the fifth pillar, hajj, which is the pilgrimage to Mecca. The Muslim faith recognizes that there are two pilgrimages to Mecca. These are the Umrah and Hajj. Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam and can only be carried out during the last month of the Islamic called which is known as Dhu Al-Hijja. Umrah on the other hand is a beneficial visit that can be carried out at any time during the year. It is believed that the Muslims get a spiritual revitalization after they carry out the Hajj and it is motivated by heavenly insanity for love. Umrah is not compulsory for the Muslims but it is intensely commended3. Rules to be observed during Pilgrimage The Muslim faith has laid down proper guidelines on how one should go on pilgrimage as well as the rules that one should complete in order to be authenticated to go for the same. A person who professes the Muslim faith is obligated to go to pilgrimage once they are capable to do so4. For Hajj, the Muslim should have more than sufficient time at his or her disposal to travel to the holy places and reside there in order to carry out the compulsory rites required of him or her. He or she should also have the physical strength and health to travel to the consecrated dwellings and reside there to carry out the rituals beholden of him or her. The path through which one has to pass for accomplishing the sacraments has to be exposed and protected. The path should not place the life or possessions or rectitude of the traveler in unwarranted endangerment. The person should also be financially stable to be able to afford transportation fare, food, drinks and clothing for the expedition. Lastly, the journey to hajj should not make the person to use all their fortune and put his dependent relatives in need as well as making himself deprived and underprivileged economically5. In the case of Umrah, the rules to be observed are different from those which are observed during hajj. The ihram is required to put on the dress of the pilgrim from the dress of the migat. The person is equally required to do a tawaf seven times around the Ka’ba as well as the salat of the tawaf. Sa’i is the other activity that should be undertaken. This involves brisk walking for a maximum of seven times between the hills of Marwa and Safa.lastly, for the Muslim to be allow to go to the pilgrimage of Umrah, he or she should cut off a part of their hair or their nails. All these rules have to be done if one intends to be authenticated to undertake either the Hajj or the Umrah6. Stages of Umrah The stages of umrah are divided depending on the stage of the journey of the person that is taking part in the umrah. The first stage is the activities to be carried out before setting off from the house to start the journey7. The Muslim person should ensure that they wash their entire body. If there is a salat that is due to be performed before the start of the journey, the person should ensure that the said salat is prayed in its entirety before starting the journey. Two rakaats that are concerned with the travelling process should be read before setting off for the journey. Lastly, the Muslim person should say Bismillahi8. The second stage for the umrah is before entering the car or vehicle so as to begin the journey. The Muslim person is under an obligation to read the Du’aa in its totality. Thirdly, it is the stage during the break of the journey. This stage is not compulsory but if undertaken, the Muslim person is supposed to say Allahu Akbar9. If during the course of the journey the time for next salah comes up, then he or she may do the dhur and the asr together. He or she may also do the maghrib and ishaa together. The Holy Quran allows the Muslim to perform this acts and prayers together. Thy are legally allowed by both the Sharia law and Allah. This is because the person is deemed to be in a concession and therefore they are allowed to shorten their prayers and even to go further and to say them together. The person may also choose to read the Sunnah or the nawafil if they like. There are no limitations on whether the person should or should not read this sunnah or nawafil. The sunnah or nawafil is as follows: Authoo bi‐kalimaa tillaah‐hitammaa ti‐min sharri maa khalaq. The last stage is at the end of the journey. This is where the Muslim will be required to perform the rituals which are actually the determinant factors of the umrah. These rituals are four in number and they ought to be carried out all of them. The first ritual is the entering the state of Ihram. This is very important for any Muslim person who intends to effectively perform the Umrah. The second ritual is the performance of the tawaf of ka?bah. The third ritual is the performance of the sa?yee between the hills of Marwak as well as the hills of safa. The last ritual is the shaving of one’s hair or the clipping of the nails. If all these stages are effectively carried out, then all the stages of Umrah would have been carried out10. Stages of Hajj There are three ways of Accomplishing Hajj: Hajj al-Tamattu’; Hajj al-Ifrad and Hajj al-Qiran. The phases of Hajj al-Tamattu’ and the ceremonials that must be accomplished are defined in the following11: Ihram Ihram is characteristic clothing of the male traveler put on during the period of Hajj or Umrah. It comprises of two fragments of white un-sewn and unadorned fabric. One of the fragments is enfolded round the abdomen to shield his physique from just beyond his bellybutton to his ankles, and the other is swathed round his shoulders to shield the higher body. The traveler ought to wear a pair of sewed or disentangled sandals or shoes which do not conceal the ankles. The head should not be enclosed, and no other outfit should be used. For females, their conventional and modest garments of everyday wear which accomplish the Islamic settings of public dress, notwithstanding the color, establish their Ihram. Their hands and face should be exposed in Ihram but heads should be shielded12. Things to be evaded in the state of Ihram A Muhrim (somebody who is in ceremonial of Ihram) must evade the ensuing acts: Cutting hair, shearing any parts of the body, cutting nails, planting perfumes or colognes, massacre or shooting animals, sexual association, creating marriage proposals or contracts. He should be engrossed exclusively on the Hajj. Arriving at the Masjid Al-Haram The traveler should arrive at the Holy Asylum (al Masjid al Haram), supposedly right foot first by the Bab as-Salam gate, relating the Talbiyah: He ought to then pronounce the following: “In the name of Allah, may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. O Allah, forgive me my sins and open to me the doors of Your mercy. I seek refuge in Allah the Almighty and in His Eminent Face and in His Eternal Dominion over the accursed Satan13.” After these stages, the traveler travels onward to formulate for the circumambulation of the Kaaba (Tawaf). To concoct for the Tawaf, he must guarantee washings have been executed. He must pass the upper clothing of the Ihram (the rida’) under the right arm and over the left shoulder, consequently parting the right shoulder unadorned. This process is called iddtibaa’. When he extents the Black Stone (al-Hajar al-Aswad), he has reached at the preliminary point for the circumambulation (Tawaf), and he may terminate performing the Talbiyah. Niyyah (Intention) The traveler then stands fronting the Kaaba, with the Black Stone to his right and does the Niyyah14. Executing the Wanted Tawaf and Sa’y Tawaf is the religious performance of circumnutating the Ka’bah while performing devotions and petitions. One comprehensive journey around the Ka’bah institutes a shawt and seven ashwat whole one Tawaf.. During Tawaf, the traveler cannot enter esoteric the Kaaba nor halt anyplace around it15. Undertaking Sa’i between Safa and Marwah After articulating Niyyah for Sa’I, the traveler does the performance of running between the hills of Safa and Marwah16. Ihram for Hajj al-Tamattu’ If one accomplishes Hajj al-Tamattu’, he concludes the Umrah and ends the Ihram. The traveler then re-enters the state of Ihram for Hajj from his position in Makkah. 8th of Dhu’l-Hijjah On 8th of Dhu’l-Hijjah, the traveler cleanses himself; sets on the white clothing of Ihram; and after dress yourself in Ihram and orally announcing the objective to accomplish Hajj, narrates the Talbiyah. The similar injunctions of Ihram are appropriate once more17. Going to Mina from Makkah The traveler drives to Mina on 8th of Dhu’l-Hijjah. He resides in Mina for one day from after dawning prayer (Fajr) on 8th of Dhu’l-Hijjah uttill after dawning prayer (Fajr) on 9th Dhu’l-Hijjah. He accomplishes five devotions, opening with the noon (Zuhr) prayer and culminating with dawning (Fajr) prayer on the day of Arafat. The traveler also gathers certain of the seventy lesser pebbles that are needed later for the “stoning” ritual (ramy). 9th of Dhu’l-Hijjah (Going to Arafat from Mina) This is the Day of Arafat. The traveler halts in Arafat from after dawn pending sunset on 9th Dhu’l-Hijjah. After execution of the dawn (Fajr) prayer at Mina, the traveler heads for Arafat on the dawn of the 9th of Dhu’l-Hijjah. In Arafat, as much time as conceivable is dedicated to prayers, remorse for sins, and in looking for the clemency of Allah. From noon forwards, Wuquf should be executed at Arafat. This is the greatest consecrated of times when the traveler stances unaccompanied with Allah. Fronting the Qibla, in the Makkah City, hands ought to be elevated and prayers presented to Allah with completely one’s heart, for the clemency of sins. When the sun goes down, the traveler should go out of Arafat to Muzdalifah. Going to Muzdalifah from Arafat This is on the 9th – 10th Dhu’l-Hijjah. The traveler resides in Muzdalifah from after sundown on 9th of Dhu’l-Hijjah till after the beginning prayer (Fajr) on 10th Dhu’l-Hijjah. The residence in Muzdalifah is to be done under the exposed sky. The sundown prayer (Maghrib) is presented tailed by an overnight residence. While at Muzdalifah, the shingles desirable for the “stoning” ceremony (ramy) ought to be collected. Some shingles may have been unruffled in Mina but one ought to guarantee having sufficient by selecting as many as compulsory from the foot of the hills at Muzdalifah. A maximum of 70 pebbles are needed. At dawning, after proposing Fajr (the dawning prayer), before the sun has levitated, the traveler sets off for Mina18. 10th Dhu’l-Hijjah (Proceeding to Mina from Muzdalifah) The succeeding stage is continuing to Mina for the stoning (ramy) of Jamarat ul Kubra; the stoning is done following pre-determined programs. The stoning is tailed by the loss and the shaving/cutting of hair (Halq/Taqseer)19. After the stoning of the evil spirit, a loss of an animal such as a lamb is prerequisite. The traveler then leaves the state of Ihram, by shaving his head and if a lady by cutting her hair. The embargoes executed by Ihram are now aloof, apart from sexual relations. The next phase is continuing to the al Masjid al Haram in Makkah to execute Al-Ifadha20. 10th Dhu’l-Hijjah (Al-Ifadha in the Makkah City) The traveler goes back to the Makkah City to complete Al-Ifadha on 10th Dhu’l-Hijjah21. Al-Ifadha as an essential element of Hajj The traveler circumambulates the Kaaba a number of 7 times and later proposes prayers (rakaat) behindhand Maqam Ibrahim; does Sa’y between Safa and Marwah and takes water Zamzam well. The Hajj Tawaf (Al-Ifadha) having been accomplished, the state of Ihram is totally over and all limitations are lifted comprising those connecting to sexual relations22. 11th – 13th of Dhu’l-Hijjah (Returning to Mina from Makkah) The traveler resides in Mina for up to a maximum of three days for the stoning of the three pillars signifying Satan (ramy of the three Jamarat)23. Farewell Tawaf in the Makkah City This, the sendoff Tawaf (Circumambulation), symbols the conclusion of one’s Hajj. Departing for home The Hajj is now accomplished and the traveler leaves the Makkah City punctually for his next purpose. Comparison of Umrah and Hajj The stages of Umrah and Hajj are slightly different from one another24. This is because Hajj is more comprehensive as compared to Umrah. Hajj is also restricted and obligatory as compared to Umrah which is optional with fewer restrictions25. Umrah and Hajj is not the same thing though they share a common purpose. Umrah is considered more of a tourist thing than Hajj. This is because it does not have strict guidelines that underlie its performance. A pilgrimage will know that he or she has been authenticated to undertake either the Umrah or Hajj if they meet all the requirements that have been set down26. References Clinton, Jerome W., and David Edwin Long. The Hajj Today: A Survey Of The Contemporary Makkah Pilgrimage. Studia Islamica, no. 60 (1984): 185. Ganeri, Anita, and Tracy Fennell. Hajj Stories. North Mankato, MN: Cherrytree Books, 2007. Long, David Edwin. The Hajj Today, 1979. Monferrer-Sala, Juan Pedro. The Pillars Of Islam & Iman = Arka?N Al-Isla?M Wa-Al-I?Ma?N :. what every Muslim must know about his religion 22, no. 2 (1996): 147-160. Muh, n, and Fahd ibn Na n. Fatawa Arkanul-Islam = Islamic Verdicts On The Pillars Of Islam.Darussalam 82, no. 2 (2003). Venetia, Porter. Hajj: Journey To The Heart Of Islam. Choice Reviews Online 50, no. 01 (2012): 50-0228-50-0228. X, Malcolm, Herb Boyd, Ilyasah Shabazz, Haki R Madhubuti, and James H Cone. The Diary Of Malcolm X, El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, 1964, n.d. Read More