islamic_circles
16-01-04, 09:19 AM
THE HAJJ: A TIME OF UNITY? by Dr Hassan Mujtaba
Date: Sunday 25th January 2004
Time: 11 am - 1 pm
"Labbayk Allaahumma Labbayk" - I am here (to obey), O Allah, I am here
"Labbayka Laa Shareeka Laka Labbayk" - I am here (to obey), you have
no partner, I am here.
"Innal Hamda wan Ni'mata, Laka wal Mulk" - Truly all praise, and all
favour belongs to you, as is the ownership (of all things).
"Laa Shareeka Lak" - You have no partner.
As the month of Dhul Hijjah rapidly approaches, millions of believers
will embark upon the noble duty of Hajj in response to the glorious
ayah of the Qur'an:
"And proclaim to mankind Hajj; they will come to you on foot and
(mounted) on every kind of camel, lean (due to) journeys through
deep and distant (wide) mountain highways" [Al-Hajj: 27].
Indeed the noble act of Hajj is of a unique category of actions that
are more virtuous than others, up to the point of being a pillar
(rukn) of the deen as the Prophet (saw) was asked, "What is the best
deed?" He (saw) replied, "To believe in Allah and His Messenger." The
questioner then asked, "What is the next (in goodness)?" He (saw)
replied, "To participate in Jihad in Allah's Cause." The questioner
asked further, "What is the next?" He (saw) replied, "To perform Hajj
Mabrûr" [Bukhari].
Such is the prominence of Hajj that even societies that are built
on views that are at odds with Islam have been forced to appreciate
its magnificence and splendour. In English, to describe a venue as
the largest of its kind, one quite commonly describes it as being
'The Mecca of its kind', Mecca being the centre point of Hajj.
"Never have I witnessed such sincere hospitality and overwhelming
spirit of true brotherhood as is practiced by people of all colors
and races here in this ancient Holy Land, the home of Abraham,
Muhammad and all the other Prophets of the Holy Scriptures. For the
past week, I have been utterly speechless and spellbound by the
graciousness I see displayed all around me by people of all colors."
"They asked me what about the Hajj had impressed me the most ...
I said, "The brotherhood! The people of all races, colors, from
all over the world coming together as one! It has proved to me
the power of the One God ... we all ate as one, and slept as one.
Everything about the pilgrimmage atmosphere accented the oneness
of man under One God."
"I said to my Harlem Street audiences that only when mankind would
submit to the One God who created all - only then would mankind
even approach the "peace" of which so much talk could be heard ...
but toward which so little action was seen."
[Al-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcolm X), 1925-1965]
Islamic unity is one of the outstanding features of hajj. An event
which occurs annually is a small snapshot of what Islam envisaged,
where nationality, race, degrees of wealth or poverty count for very
little, whilst draped in the Ihram, the Hajis are a true manifestation
of brotherhood. This unity is based on Islam by holding firm to the
rope of Allah. This unity has been declared by Allah in His Noble book,
the Qur’an, and it has been implemented and practiced by the Prophet
Muhammad (saw), his companions, and their followers.
The Hajj has come to signify a measure for the Muslims, a measure of
the stark contrast between the current reality we live in, and the
one which Allah (swt) obliges.
Place: Froud Centre, Romford Road, Manor Park, London, E12 5JF
(on the corner with Toronto Avenue)
Transport:
Buses: 25, 147, 86
Nearest Tube: East Ham (District Line)
Nearest Rail: Manor Park (From Liverpool St)
www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?grid2map?x=542750&y=185750&zoom=1&isp=187&ism=500&arrow=y?55,39
DIRECTIONS: Come out of Manor Park Station on to Station Road and cross over. Turn right and walk to the main traffic lights. Turn left at the junction onto Romford Road. The Froud Centre is located 300 metres up the road on the left hand side. Toronto Avenue is the 5th road on the left.
ALL WELCOME
Refreshments available
All talks will be in English. Programme suitable for all family.
Also bazaar, - Islamic bookstalls, gift stalls, frame stalls, food stalls,
information stalls.
For more details contact:
E-mail: islamic_circles@hotmail.com
Tel: 07092 032 136
Date: Sunday 25th January 2004
Time: 11 am - 1 pm
"Labbayk Allaahumma Labbayk" - I am here (to obey), O Allah, I am here
"Labbayka Laa Shareeka Laka Labbayk" - I am here (to obey), you have
no partner, I am here.
"Innal Hamda wan Ni'mata, Laka wal Mulk" - Truly all praise, and all
favour belongs to you, as is the ownership (of all things).
"Laa Shareeka Lak" - You have no partner.
As the month of Dhul Hijjah rapidly approaches, millions of believers
will embark upon the noble duty of Hajj in response to the glorious
ayah of the Qur'an:
"And proclaim to mankind Hajj; they will come to you on foot and
(mounted) on every kind of camel, lean (due to) journeys through
deep and distant (wide) mountain highways" [Al-Hajj: 27].
Indeed the noble act of Hajj is of a unique category of actions that
are more virtuous than others, up to the point of being a pillar
(rukn) of the deen as the Prophet (saw) was asked, "What is the best
deed?" He (saw) replied, "To believe in Allah and His Messenger." The
questioner then asked, "What is the next (in goodness)?" He (saw)
replied, "To participate in Jihad in Allah's Cause." The questioner
asked further, "What is the next?" He (saw) replied, "To perform Hajj
Mabrûr" [Bukhari].
Such is the prominence of Hajj that even societies that are built
on views that are at odds with Islam have been forced to appreciate
its magnificence and splendour. In English, to describe a venue as
the largest of its kind, one quite commonly describes it as being
'The Mecca of its kind', Mecca being the centre point of Hajj.
"Never have I witnessed such sincere hospitality and overwhelming
spirit of true brotherhood as is practiced by people of all colors
and races here in this ancient Holy Land, the home of Abraham,
Muhammad and all the other Prophets of the Holy Scriptures. For the
past week, I have been utterly speechless and spellbound by the
graciousness I see displayed all around me by people of all colors."
"They asked me what about the Hajj had impressed me the most ...
I said, "The brotherhood! The people of all races, colors, from
all over the world coming together as one! It has proved to me
the power of the One God ... we all ate as one, and slept as one.
Everything about the pilgrimmage atmosphere accented the oneness
of man under One God."
"I said to my Harlem Street audiences that only when mankind would
submit to the One God who created all - only then would mankind
even approach the "peace" of which so much talk could be heard ...
but toward which so little action was seen."
[Al-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcolm X), 1925-1965]
Islamic unity is one of the outstanding features of hajj. An event
which occurs annually is a small snapshot of what Islam envisaged,
where nationality, race, degrees of wealth or poverty count for very
little, whilst draped in the Ihram, the Hajis are a true manifestation
of brotherhood. This unity is based on Islam by holding firm to the
rope of Allah. This unity has been declared by Allah in His Noble book,
the Qur’an, and it has been implemented and practiced by the Prophet
Muhammad (saw), his companions, and their followers.
The Hajj has come to signify a measure for the Muslims, a measure of
the stark contrast between the current reality we live in, and the
one which Allah (swt) obliges.
Place: Froud Centre, Romford Road, Manor Park, London, E12 5JF
(on the corner with Toronto Avenue)
Transport:
Buses: 25, 147, 86
Nearest Tube: East Ham (District Line)
Nearest Rail: Manor Park (From Liverpool St)
www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?grid2map?x=542750&y=185750&zoom=1&isp=187&ism=500&arrow=y?55,39
DIRECTIONS: Come out of Manor Park Station on to Station Road and cross over. Turn right and walk to the main traffic lights. Turn left at the junction onto Romford Road. The Froud Centre is located 300 metres up the road on the left hand side. Toronto Avenue is the 5th road on the left.
ALL WELCOME
Refreshments available
All talks will be in English. Programme suitable for all family.
Also bazaar, - Islamic bookstalls, gift stalls, frame stalls, food stalls,
information stalls.
For more details contact:
E-mail: islamic_circles@hotmail.com
Tel: 07092 032 136