The best days of the whole year are these days we are living in. They started 8 days ago according to the Islamic calender that uses the moon to account for monthes.
Verily, the number of months with God is twelve months, so was it ordained by God on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are Sacred. That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein . (36) [Quran:Ch.9]
They ask thee concerning the New Moons. Say: they are but signs to mark fixed periods of time in (the affairs of) people, and for pilgrimage . (189) [Quran:Ch.2]
The sun is to account for other things such as prayer time, the four seasons and other things, but the monthes are accounted for by noticing the moon.
The pilgrimage is the 5th pillar of Islam and is obligatory duty for each muslim who have the ability to perform it, once in the lifetime.
Certainly, the first House (of worship) appointed for men was that at Bakka: full of blessing and of guidance for all kinds of beings: (96)
In it are signs manifest; (for example), the Station of Abraham; whoever enters it attains security; pilgrimage thereto is a duty men owe to God? those who can afford the journey; but if any deny faith; God stands Rich, not in need of any of the worlds. (97) [Quran:Ch.3]
May God write for us a chance to perform pilgrimage and feel the happiness of visiting His House and worshipping Him.
................................................................................................................................................................................................................
The basic actions of Hajj/Pilgrimage is as follows:
1. When people reach the Holy City Makkah/Bakkah, they go to the house of God and circumambulate it 7 times.
2. After that they go behind the station of Abraham and pray to God therein one prayer with 2 Rakaahs.
3. They walk around Safa and Marwa 7 times. (These are 2 small mountains where Hagar the mother of Ismael was walking around searching for Gods bounty to save her baby from death. Abraham left them alone in the desert and trusted God to save them).
O our Lord! Verily, I have settled some of my seed (posterity) in a valley without corn, near Your Sacred House. O our Lord! That they may establish proper worship, so make the heart of men yearn towards them, and provide them with fruits in order that they may give thanks. (37) [Quran: Ch.14]
4. On the 9th day of this mounth, pilgrims go to Arafah/Arafat and stay therein till sunset. That is the most blessed day in Hajj. All people cry seeking Gods forgiveness admitting that they are sinners deserving Hell, but You God is the most Merciful and Your Mercy is ever needed and it is the base of all life, so reject us not O God! O most Merciful of merciful ones.
5. After sunset, people go to Muzdalifah and stay there till the morning.
6. Before sunrise of the 10th day, people go to Mina/Muna and throw 7 Hasaah (small stones) at the biggest Jamrah (Embers, place of bonding, etc. Satan is created from fire and is bonded there (at least symbolically) those days to be stoned). Each time the pilgrim throw a stone, he says: BismAllaah, Allaahu Akbar = In the name of God; God is greater.
They also sacrifice their expensive animals for God if their Hajj is not Ifrad type (Ifrad type does not require any sacrifice).
Maybe the main idea behind sacrifice is to keep your heart pure for God, and do whatever thing , no matter how hard it is, just to please your Lord.
Prophet Abraham, peace be upon him and his family, succeeded in that and was the most faithful lover of God.
And he said (after God saved him from the fire into which the pagans threw him): Verily, I am going to my Lord. He will guide me! (99)
My Lord! Grant me (offspring) from the righteous. (100)
So We gave him the glad tidings of a forbearing boy. (101)
And, when he (his son Ismael) was old enough to walk with him, he said: O my son! I have seen in a dream that I am slaughtering you (offer you in sacrifice to God), so look what you think! He said: O my father! Do that which you are commanded, if God will, you shall find me of the patient. (102)
Then, when they had both submitted themselves (to the Will of God), and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead; (103)
And We called out to him: O Abraham! (104)
You have fulfilled the dream! Verily! thus do We reward the good-doers. (105)
Verily, that indeed was a manifest trial. (106)
And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice; (107)
And We left for him (a goodly remembrance) among the later generations. (108)
Peace be upon Abraham. (109)
Thus indeed do We reward the good-doers. (110)
Verily, he was one of Our believing slaves. (111)
And We gave him the glad tidings of Isaac a Prophet from the righteous. (112)
We blessed him and Isaac, and of their progeny are (some) that do right, and some that plainly wrong themselves. (113) [Quran:Ch.37]
7. After that, people go to the house of God and circumambulate it 7 times, then pray behind Abrahams Station.
8. Then people go back to Mina/Muna and stay there for the rest of the 10th day till the 12th day (13th is optional). In the 11th, 12th, and 13th, pilgrims stone the devil at the three positions prophet Abraham stoned him when he appeared to him as an advisor to let him disobey God.
9. Finally, pilgrims go to the house of God and circumambulate it 7 times and pray to God behind the station of Abraham before they leave the holy city Makkah/Bakkah.
Prophet Mohammad, peace be upon him, said: The well done Hajj has no reward other than Paradise
Congratulations!
Verily, the number of months with God is twelve months, so was it ordained by God on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are Sacred. That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein . (36) [Quran:Ch.9]
They ask thee concerning the New Moons. Say: they are but signs to mark fixed periods of time in (the affairs of) people, and for pilgrimage . (189) [Quran:Ch.2]
The sun is to account for other things such as prayer time, the four seasons and other things, but the monthes are accounted for by noticing the moon.
The pilgrimage is the 5th pillar of Islam and is obligatory duty for each muslim who have the ability to perform it, once in the lifetime.
Certainly, the first House (of worship) appointed for men was that at Bakka: full of blessing and of guidance for all kinds of beings: (96)
In it are signs manifest; (for example), the Station of Abraham; whoever enters it attains security; pilgrimage thereto is a duty men owe to God? those who can afford the journey; but if any deny faith; God stands Rich, not in need of any of the worlds. (97) [Quran:Ch.3]
May God write for us a chance to perform pilgrimage and feel the happiness of visiting His House and worshipping Him.
................................................................................................................................................................................................................
The basic actions of Hajj/Pilgrimage is as follows:
1. When people reach the Holy City Makkah/Bakkah, they go to the house of God and circumambulate it 7 times.
2. After that they go behind the station of Abraham and pray to God therein one prayer with 2 Rakaahs.
3. They walk around Safa and Marwa 7 times. (These are 2 small mountains where Hagar the mother of Ismael was walking around searching for Gods bounty to save her baby from death. Abraham left them alone in the desert and trusted God to save them).
O our Lord! Verily, I have settled some of my seed (posterity) in a valley without corn, near Your Sacred House. O our Lord! That they may establish proper worship, so make the heart of men yearn towards them, and provide them with fruits in order that they may give thanks. (37) [Quran: Ch.14]
4. On the 9th day of this mounth, pilgrims go to Arafah/Arafat and stay therein till sunset. That is the most blessed day in Hajj. All people cry seeking Gods forgiveness admitting that they are sinners deserving Hell, but You God is the most Merciful and Your Mercy is ever needed and it is the base of all life, so reject us not O God! O most Merciful of merciful ones.
5. After sunset, people go to Muzdalifah and stay there till the morning.
6. Before sunrise of the 10th day, people go to Mina/Muna and throw 7 Hasaah (small stones) at the biggest Jamrah (Embers, place of bonding, etc. Satan is created from fire and is bonded there (at least symbolically) those days to be stoned). Each time the pilgrim throw a stone, he says: BismAllaah, Allaahu Akbar = In the name of God; God is greater.
They also sacrifice their expensive animals for God if their Hajj is not Ifrad type (Ifrad type does not require any sacrifice).
Maybe the main idea behind sacrifice is to keep your heart pure for God, and do whatever thing , no matter how hard it is, just to please your Lord.
Prophet Abraham, peace be upon him and his family, succeeded in that and was the most faithful lover of God.
And he said (after God saved him from the fire into which the pagans threw him): Verily, I am going to my Lord. He will guide me! (99)
My Lord! Grant me (offspring) from the righteous. (100)
So We gave him the glad tidings of a forbearing boy. (101)
And, when he (his son Ismael) was old enough to walk with him, he said: O my son! I have seen in a dream that I am slaughtering you (offer you in sacrifice to God), so look what you think! He said: O my father! Do that which you are commanded, if God will, you shall find me of the patient. (102)
Then, when they had both submitted themselves (to the Will of God), and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead; (103)
And We called out to him: O Abraham! (104)
You have fulfilled the dream! Verily! thus do We reward the good-doers. (105)
Verily, that indeed was a manifest trial. (106)
And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice; (107)
And We left for him (a goodly remembrance) among the later generations. (108)
Peace be upon Abraham. (109)
Thus indeed do We reward the good-doers. (110)
Verily, he was one of Our believing slaves. (111)
And We gave him the glad tidings of Isaac a Prophet from the righteous. (112)
We blessed him and Isaac, and of their progeny are (some) that do right, and some that plainly wrong themselves. (113) [Quran:Ch.37]
7. After that, people go to the house of God and circumambulate it 7 times, then pray behind Abrahams Station.
8. Then people go back to Mina/Muna and stay there for the rest of the 10th day till the 12th day (13th is optional). In the 11th, 12th, and 13th, pilgrims stone the devil at the three positions prophet Abraham stoned him when he appeared to him as an advisor to let him disobey God.
9. Finally, pilgrims go to the house of God and circumambulate it 7 times and pray to God behind the station of Abraham before they leave the holy city Makkah/Bakkah.
Prophet Mohammad, peace be upon him, said: The well done Hajj has no reward other than Paradise
Congratulations!