A person asked me this question:
Could you please inform us How you arrived at the Conclusion that, Hajj is an annual Event? Are you aware of 2:197 " For Hajj is Months well known........................"
If you have any conviction in your belief that Hajj is a Yearly event, Please provide some relevant Quran Verse or Verses to back it up .
So it is time to explain why we on Our Beacon believe Hajj is not a Pilgrimage. A ritual that is meant for personal salvation only, and not a global goal. The Quran itself clearly says it is meant for all of mankind. It's goal is unity of the people:
First of all I suggest you should read this small article of mine:
Unity of people is the true purpose of the Quran
You can see that the Quran must be approached from a Deen point of view, and not from a religious point of view. It is not about God, but about us. Rituals as shaving your head and ritual baths are done to 'please' God, as if He needs the acknolwedgement and is pleased by trivial things as shoes that cover the middle bone.
He created the Universe, with all of its stars and galaxys, so we can peform these trivial things?
in verse 3:191 it says: "...Our Lord! You have not created all this without Purpose. High Above You are from creating anything in vain!..."
No, the Quran is here to give us stature in life!
21:10 O Mankind! Now We have revealed unto you a Book that is all about you and it will give you eminence. Will you not, then, use your sense? (21:24, 23:70, 43:43-44).
This verse clearly shows the Quran is for us, this is why Parwez says in his exposition of this verse "Allah has no personal motives in it" as Allah is above need.
All Laws in the Quran, all given concepts as Hajj and Saum and Salat are all meant to UNITE Mankind, not to worship Allah.
We can approach Hajj as a ritual gathering where everyone will only focus on Allah, on acknowledging Allah's Supramecy. We can all focus on Fasting to be meant for Allah. We can focus on Salat as only meaning Prayer. These concepts all come through approaching the Quran from a religious point of view.
But as I have told, these are all man-made ideas on what Allah demands. Allah says in the Quran that WE are the focus.
20:94 Aaron said, "O Son of my mother! Don't get mad at me, nor treat me harshly. I feared that you would say, “You have let the Children of Israel divide into parties and sects." (Moses accepted this explanation since sectarianism is no less a crime than idol worship in any form. Seizing the beard and head pertains to harsh interrogation 7:150).
When we approach the Quran from a Deen point of view, it all becomes different. The Quranic purpose is to give Mankind the Perfect Divine System to unite them and give us eminence. So an idea on Hajj being only to focus on Allah is NON-Quranic.
The same holds for the word Salat. Salat means To Follow Closely, Attachment, Contact, Prayer and many more meanings. If we approach the Quranic Goal to be acknowledging Allah, to be a religious Book focussed on acknowledging Allah, then it is logical Salat means Prayer. But since it is clear WE are the focus of the Quran, then the meaning becomes totaly different.
The meaning of Salat is explained in:
24:41 Do you not realize that Allah, He it is Whom all beings in the heavens and the earth glorify, and the birds, with their wings outspread, as they fly in columns. All of them know their SALAT and TASBEEH (mission and strife). Allah is Aware of what they do to fulfill His Plan.
Tasbeeh means To Strive Hard, To go on a Quest/Mission, To Take Long Strides. Salat means To Follow Closely.
So in order of the verse, all beings knows what to follow closely to strive hard on their quest, they know their Salat and Tasbeeh.
What do animals follow? Their instinct which tells them how to work the Laws of Nature in the best way so to become the strongest and multiply.
We as humans don't have an instinct on a dominant level. So to follow the Laws of Nature, we must observe them closely. But there are also many Laws we can't observe through Scientific Research. These Laws are explained to us through Revelation. Revelations are Instincts for Mankind to follow voluntarely.
So Salat means to Follow the Divine Laws of Nature and Revelation so we can know how to strive hard on our Quest and Mission.
This is the difference and importance of approach. Believe in One God is a confirmation of Reality and the first step into uniting Mankind and the Muslims. But it is the same approach to the Quran which will truly unite us. It is clear the Quran is focussed on us, not on Allah. He has given us the Quran so we can become the best people on Earth. To make Paradise on earth that will be continued in the Next Life. We must all approach the Quran from this point, and then the true meanings of words become clear.
The Quran is also complete when it comes to the issues in matter of Deen, Allah has left out the rituals, but Allah does not forget, nor is the Quran incomplete or insufficient.
6:115 Perfected is the Word of your Lord in Truth and Justice. None can change His Words and His Laws. This announcement comes to you from the Profound Hearer, the Knower.
The majority belief is not the criterion, the Quran is.
6:116 (People will confront you with what the majority is doing.) Now if you pay heed to, or get intimidated by majority of those who live on earth, they will lead you astray from Allah’s Way. Most of the people follow nothing but conjecture and they only live by guesswork.
25:1 Most Blessed is He Who has revealed to His servant, the Criterion of the right and the wrong so that to the entire world it might be a warning.
Allah warns us not to be like the people of Moses.
2:108 Would you demand of your Messenger what was demanded of Moses in the past? But whoever chooses the darkness of Ignorance instead of the Light of Faith, has already strayed from the Right Way.
[2]
They kept asking frivolous details about how the heifer should look. If Allah cared about those details, He would have mentioned it, Allah does not play games with people. If you study the story of the heifer in Surah 2, you can see they keep asking more details, and because of this, they get such a difficult task to find such a heifer, adn they all did this to themselves as Allah never asked for that.
1.The Quran and all its goals are meant for us to unite mankind on Earth. so we can create Paradise here, which will be continued in the Next Life. The Quran only explains Allah, not how we should acknowledge Him through rituals. [14]
2.The Quran is complete and detailed. [2:2, 6:38/112-116/126, 12]
Hajj, the root means 'to argue'. This is also the way it has been used in the Quran.
ح جج
= Haa-Jiim-Jiim = to intend to a certain target, aim at, repair, undertake, repaired/betook himself to or towards a person / place / object of veneration/respect/honour, went/visit frequently/repeatedly, pilgrimage.
Overcome another by/in argument/evidences/proofs/testimonies, plead, contend/argue/dispute.
Refrain/abstain.
See under the letter ح = Ha at the Rootlist:
Rootlist
Some examples of Tasreef on the word Hajja:
[N2I translations are used here only to show that the original root meaning is known and accepted by traditional interpretations]
[2]
Wa-itha laqoo allatheena amanooqaloo amanna wa-itha khalabaAAduhum ila baAAdin qaloo atuhaddithoonahumbima fataha Allahu AAalaykum liyuhajjookumbihi AAinda rabbikum afala taAAqiloona واذا لقوا الذين امنوا قالوا امنا واذا خلا بعضهم الي بعض قالوا اتحدثونهم بما فتح الله عليكم ليحاجوكم به عند ربكم افلا تعقلون
[YA]: Behold! when they meet the men of Faith, they say: "We believe": But when they meet each other in private, they say: "Shall you tell them what Allah hath revealed to you, that they may engage you in argument about it before your Lord?"- Do ye not understand (their aim)?
[RK]:And when they meet the believers, they say, "We believe," but when they get together with each other, they say, "Do not inform (the believers) of the information given to you by GOD, lest you provide them with support for their argument concerning your Lord. Do you not understand?"
[2]
Qul atuhajjoonana fee Allahiwahuwa rabbuna warabbukum walana aAAmalunawalakum aAAmalukum wanahnu lahu mukhlisoona قل اتحاجوننا في الله وهو ربنا وربكم ولنا اعمالنا ولكم اعمالكم ونحن له مخلصون
[YA]: Say: Will ye dispute with us about Allah, seeing that He is our Lord and your Lord; that we are responsible for our doings and ye for yours; and that We are sincere (in our faith) in Him?
[RK]:Say, "Do you argue with us about GOD, when He is our Lord and your Lord? We are responsible for our deeds, and you are responsible for your deeds. To Him alone we are devoted."
[2]
Alam tara ila allathee hajjaibraheema fee rabbihi an atahu Allahualmulka ith qala ibraheemu rabbiya allatheeyuhyee wayumeetu qala ana ohyeewaomeetu qala ibraheemu fa-inna Allahaya/tee bialshshamsi mina almashriqi fa/ti biha minaalmaghribi fabuhita allathee kafara waAllahula yahdee alqawma alththalimeena الم تر الي الذي حاج ابراهيم في ربه ان اتاه الله الملك اذ قال ابراهيم ربي الذي يحيي ويميت قال انا احيي واميت قال ابراهيم فان الله ياتي بالشمس من المشرق فات بها من المغرب فبهت الذي كفر والله لايهدي القوم الظالمين
[YA]: Hast thou not Turned thy vision to one who disputed with Abraham About his Lord, because Allah had granted him power? Abraham said: "My Lord is He Who Giveth life and death." He said: "I give life and death". Said Abraham: "But it is Allah that causeth the sun to rise from the east: Do thou then cause him to rise from the West." Thus was he confounded who (in arrogance) rejected faith. Nor doth Allah Give guidance to a people unjust.
[RK]:Have you noted the one who argued with Abraham about his Lord, though GOD had given him kingship? Abraham said, "My Lord grants life and death." He said, "I grant life and death." Abraham said, "GOD brings the sun from the east, can you bring it from the west?" The disbeliever was stumped. GOD does not guide the wicked.
[3]
Fa-in hajjooka faqul aslamtu wajhiyalillahi wamani ittabaAAani waqul lillatheena ootooalkitaba waal-ommiyyeena aaslamtum fa-inaslamoo faqadi ihtadaw wa-in tawallaw fa-innama AAalaykaalbalaghu waAllahu baseerun bialAAibadi فان حاجوك فقل اسلمت وجهي لله ومن اتبعن وقل للذين اوتوا الكتاب والاميين ءاسلمتم فان اسلموا فقد اهتدوا وان تولوا فانما عليك البلاغ والله بصير بالعباد
[YA]: So if they dispute with thee, say: "I have submitted My whole self to Allah and so have those who follow me." And say to the People of the Book and to those who are unlearned: "Do ye (also) submit yourselves?" If they do, they are in right guidance, but if they turn back, Thy duty is to convey the Message; and in Allah's sight are (all) His servants.
[RK]:If they argue with you, then say, "I have simply submitted myself to GOD; I and those who follow me." You shall proclaim to those who received the scripture, as well as those who did not, "Would you submit?" If they submit, then they have been guided, but if they turn away, your sole mission is to deliver this message. GOD is Seer of all people.
[3]
Ya ahla alkitabi lima tuhajjoonafee ibraheema wama onzilati alttawratuwaal-injeelu illa min baAAdihi afalataAAqiloona يااهل الكتاب لم تحاجون في ابراهيم وماانزلت التوراة والانجيل الا من بعده افلا تعقلون
[YA]: Ye People of the Book! Why dispute ye about Abraham, when the Law and the Gospel Were not revealed Till after him? Have ye no understanding?
[RK]:O followers of the scripture, why do you argue about Abraham, when the Torah and the Gospel were not revealed until after him? Do you not understand?
16 [3]
Line:359 Ha antum haola-i hajajtumfeema lakum bihi AAilmun falima tuhajjoona feemalaysa lakum bihi AAilmun waAllahu yaAAlamu waantumla taAAlamoona هاانتم هؤلاء حاججتم فيما لكم به علم فلم تحاجون فيما ليس لكم به علم والله يعلم وانتم لاتعلمون
[YA]: Ah! Ye are those who fell to disputing (Even) in matters of which ye had some knowledge! but why dispute ye in matters of which ye have no knowledge? It is Allah Who knows, and ye who know not!
[RK]:You have argued about things you knew; why do you argue about things you do not know? GOD knows, while you do not know.
You will see that ALL uses of Hajja has to do with argue/dispute/argument. So my conclusion is that the word Hajj itself must also be approached as such, and not as Pilgrimage.
It also means 'to cure a wound on the head' as seen in Lane's Lexicon:
.~, (TA,) He probed
a fracture of the head, (],) or a wound,
,
signifies he probed a fracture of his head for thke
purpose of curing it:
It also means a year:
_, in four place. - Also A
year: (S, Msb, V:) pl. r .. (S,A, MNb.)
You say, i o ,. .i-l [I stayed at his abode
a year], andl .L..b i. [three complete
years]
[Lane's Lexicon, Volume 2, page 149-151]
This can also been seen in the verse:
28:27 He (the father) said, "Behold, I am willing to let you marry one of these two daughters of mine on the understanding that you will remain eight years in my service. Then if you make it ten,.....
So we have the Quranic use of Hajja as 'to argue/dispute/argument/debate' and as a 'year'. So Hajj can be thus interpretated as a Yearly Debate. This is held in the known months, which are also given in the Quran.
2:194 You may fight during the Months of Peace and Security if you are attacked, for, a violation of sanctity will activate the Law of Just Retribution. So, the one who attacks you should expect retaliation in like manner. Be mindful of Allah, and know that Allah is with those who walk aright.
[Temporary cessation of hostilities provides a cooling off period and it can avert war. There should be at least four months upon which mankind should agree as peacetime. History and Tafsirs report the four Months of Peacetime as the first, the seventh, the eleventh and the twelfth month of the Lunar Calendar. However, the Qur’an being the Ultimate Authority specifies them differently. The four Months of Security are consecutive, beginning with Zil-Hajjah, the 12th Lunar Month. 9]
9:5 When the four Sacred Months are over and if the idolaters are still aggressing, (neither becoming law-abiding citizens of the State, nor emigrating), subdue them whichever tribe they may belong to, take them captive, and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush. But if they repent from aggression, and help in the consolidation of the Divine System and in setting up the Just Economic Order of Zakat, then leave their way free. Verily, Allah is Forgiving Merciful (so shall you be).
9:36 Allah has ordained twelve months in one year. This has been Allah’s Ordinance since the day He created the heavens and the earth. Four of these Months are Sacred, forbidden for all warfare. (Mankind, through international treaties, must agree to shun all kind of warfare during these four months. This will give them a cooling off period that sense may prevail over emotions). This is the Firm Religion, the right way. So, do not wrong yourselves by fighting during the Sacred Months. However, you may fight the idolaters in any or all these months if they fight against you in any or all of them (2:194). And know that Allah is with those who restrain themselves. (Four Sacred Months: 2:194, 9:1-5).
[100 Solar years = 103 Lunar years. The earth completing its orbit around the sun in one Solar year]
To know the 4 months is a long discussion, which will be explained later.
3:97 Therein are clear Messages (to achieve that coveted goal and recall) how Abraham once took his stand (against all divisions of humanity and was granted the leadership of all mankind 2:124-125). Those who enter the System symbolized thereby shall find inner peace and external security. Hence, joining the Hajj Convention at this Meeting Point for the Cause of Allah alone is DUE ON ALL MANKIND who have the circumstantial means to undertake the visit. One who denies (this Wisdom, should know that) verily, Allah, the Rich is Self-Sufficient, want-free of any peoples.
But it is clear that we have 4 months of Peace. The subject is that the idolaters must stop the aggression. All of Mankind is asked to perform the Hajj, not just the Muslims. The meaning of Hajja is used in the Quran as Year and as 'to argue/dispute/argument/debate'. The word also means 'to go for an aim/to partake on a noble cause'. Also it refers to 'probing and curing wounds on heads'.
All of these together shows me that Hajj means a Yearly Global Debate that is meant to stop wars on Earth, by probing the issue and through discussion curing it.
I have used the Quran to explain it, and not loosing view on the global goal of the Quran. The Quran is meant to make a collective unity of Mankind based on the Divine Laws of Nature and Revelation. This is not done through personal salvation rituals as Pilgrimage.
This show that the traditional rituals that are attributed to Hajj, are false not only because they are non-Quranic, but also because they go against the main purpose of the Quran and the meaning of Hajj.
Hajj is the annual Convention in a specified time while Umrah is a visit to the Masjid of Makkah any time during the year. Both have a sublime objective as the Qur’an explains, although Muslims have reduced them into mere rituals similar to the Days of Ignorance. There is no mention of kissing the black-stone in Ka’bah, any "holiness" about the ZAM ZAM water, or that of throwing rocks at the three pillars signifying Satan. See footnote to Surah 105. The Noble Objective of the Pilgrimage is to arrange regular and intermittent international conferences in Makkah. Delegates from all over the world would get together there and devise ways to make the world a better place to live.
What is Haj as per Quraa'n
2:196 (Peace cannot defend itself. Mankind has to guard it.) Therefore, observe the Hajj or Umrah Convention for Allah. If you are stranded, send in gifts that the congregation would utilize. Do not consider that by doing so you have relieved yourself of duty. Be with them at heart until the gifts have reached their destination. If someone is sick or has other compelling burdens denying him sending any contribution, then Abstinence for a few days at convenience, or an act of charity or fulfilling someone’s need shall be in order. If a person is present at the Convention but cannot afford to contribute, he should exercise Abstinence for a total number of ten days, three days there and seven days after coming home. This is for him whose folk do not live in the vicinity of the Convention. Be mindful of Allah, remembering the noble objective. And know that Allah's Law of Requital is strict in pursuing and grasping.
2:197 The Convention shall take place in the months appointed for it and made well known to all. Whoever participates in the Convention shall refrain from sexual intimacy, slipping out of discipline and argumentation throughout Hajj. And whatever you accomplish for the good of mankind, Allah will acknowledge it. So make ample provision, yet the best provision is your good conduct. Be mindful of Me, O You of understanding!
[Sexual intimacy, breach of discipline and argumentation would hamper mutual consultation in a focused, amicable environment. Ample provision is meant to avoid asking for help, but rather being able to help others. The Central Authority, any time in the Divinely ordained four Months of Peacetime should decide upon and announce the exact dates of Hajj. (2]
2:198 (The Convention is not an assembly of monks.) There is no blame on you if you seek the bounty of your Lord by trading. Returning in groups from where you got introduced to one another (Arafat) let your experience be a conscious and ever-lasting monument to peace in your lives. Take Allah’s Messages to heart, and remember Him in the way He has directed you. And, verily, before this you were wandering to and fro.
2:199 (When the Convention is over), let the congregation return to their hometowns without much delay. (Implement what you have learned and decided upon and) seek from Allah security and protection for mankind through this Program. Behold, Allah is the Provider of protection, Absolver of Imperfections, Eternally Merciful.
2:200 When you have completed your duties, then, remain conscious of Allah with a stronger commitment than you used to display for your ancestors and their ways. (Their pilgrimage used to be momentary fun of ritualism.) Among the people is he who says, “Our Lord! Give unto us in this world.” But he, who looks only for instant gains disregarding the long term, has no portion in the Hereafter.
2:201 And of them is he who says, “Our Lord! Give unto us in this world that which is good, and in the Hereafter that which is good, and guard us from the doom of Fire.” [He forsakes not the Hereafter for this world, and forsakes not this life for the Hereafter. 28]
2:202 It is they for whom is a decent portion: what they have themselves earned. And Allah is Swift in reckoning. (Actions get their imprints stamped upon the human 'Self' in this very life.)
2:203 Remember Allah in the counted number of days (of the Convention.) Then if someone’s departure were hastened by a couple of days, there would be nothing detrimental. And if someone’s departure were delayed by a couple of days, there would be no detriment either. This is for him who lives upright. Be mindful of Allah, and know that all of you together are stepping toward the ultimate destination with Allah.
2:204 (About delegating political authority, remember that) there is among mankind he whose chatter on worldly affairs dazzles you, and he keeps swearing by Allah about what is in his heart. And he is exceedingly skillful in contending for his viewpoint. (2:8-12)
2:205 But as soon as he attains political power he goes all out spreading corruption in the earth. His authority results in destruction of the produce of land and labor and the damage he does affects generations - whereas Allah loves not corruption.
2:206 When it is said to him, “Be mindful of Allah”, his false pride plunges him further down in inhumanity. Well, sufficient will be Hell for him – what a cradle of despondence! (Such officials will be removed from office.)
2:207 And of mankind is he who dedicates himself to achieve the goals ordained by Allah. And Allah is Compassionate to His servants (showing them both, the way to success and the way to failure. 3:4, 39:23, 91:8)
2:208 O’ You who have chosen to be graced with belief! Enter whole-heartedly the Prescribed Way of Life that guarantees peace and security. And follow not the trails of the Satan. Verily, he is your open enemy that lays bare your flaws.
[Satan, the selfish desire, alienates man from the Creator and divides humanity. ‘Mubin’ = Open = That makes clear = That lays bare.]
2:209 And if you backslide after all evidence of the Truth has come to you, then know that Allah is Almighty, Wise. (The Divine Laws will overcome you.)
All the research that has been done on Mecca and its History has not brought any convincing conclusion to be accepted. This is why the Global Debate Conference should be held at Mecca, where the Kaaba only serves as a Meeting point for Mankind. Mecca and the Kaaba have no religious value, and the present rituals of Hajj are man-made and non-Quranic. They go back to ancient Pagantry, where the people worshipped the Sun and Moon. Thus any commentary on the present or past idolatry in Mecca is no proof for it to be rejected, as the places have gained a new purpose that has no religous value, only a political one, which was also the original intent.
Sources:
-QXP2 by Dr.Shabbir Ahmad
-Quran translations of Yusuf Ali and Dr.Rashad Khalifa
-Lane's Lexicon Ar-En dictionary
-Dictionary of the Holy Quran by AM Omar