The Prophet&#39s Haj step by step — 4

The ProphetÅfs Haj step by step - 4

The articles in this series quote the detailed Hadith narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah, describing the pilgrimage of the Prophet (peace be upon him) from the moment he announced his intention to do it. This Hadith provides the basis of most of the rulings concerning the performance of all pilgrimage rituals. We quote the Hadith and add some comments of explanation where necessary.

Last week, we learned that the Prophet stayed in Mina on the 8th of Dhul Hijjah, and ordered that a dome of animal hair be erected for him at Namirah, at the Arafat border.

The Prophet then proceeded. The Quraysh people were certain that he would stop at Al-Mash’ar Al-Haraam (in Muzdalifah, short of Arafat), in the same way as the Quraysh used to do before Islam. The Prophet, however, proceeded until he came to the dome, which was erected for him at Namirah and dismounted there. When it was midday, he ordered that his she-camel, Al-Qaswa’, be prepared for him and proceeded to the middle of the valley (of Arafat).

In breaking with the Quraysh traditions, the Prophet put the pilgrimage rituals back to their original state, as performed by the Prophet Abraham and his son the Prophet Ishmael (peace be upon them). Their practice continued to be followed until the Arabs deviated from the pure divine faith, introducing idolatry and polytheism. This led them to invent new practices, some of which meant giving the Quraysh, the tribe living in Makkah, a status with special privileges, such as refraining from attendance at Arafat. They argued that since they lived in the Haram area, they could not leave it to Arafat, which is outside it, because the Haram area is the blessed one. This is contrary to the Qur’an and the Prophet’s practice.

Perhaps we should briefly comment on the fact that after her Umrah, Fatimah, the Prophet’s daughter, put on a colorful dress and wore make up. This is perfectly normal in Islam, and it is practiced in many Muslim countries, such as Pakistan and African countries, where Muslim women go out wearing Islamic dress of all colors.

“The Prophet addressed the people and said: ‘Your blood and your properties are forbidden among you in the same degree of sanctity as this day, in this month, in this city. Everything, which belonged to jahiliyyah (the state of ignorance that is the antithesis of Islam) is hereby forgone and placed under my feet. The blood (i.e. revenge killing) of jahiliyyah is hereby forgone. The first (victim) whose blood I forgo from among our own people is Ibn Rabee’ah ibn Al-Harith (the Prophet’s own cousin). He was nursed in the tribe of Bani Saad and was killed by the tribe of Hudhayl. All the usury of the days of jahiliyyah is wiped off. The first of it I wipe off is that which belongs to Al-Abbas ibn Abd Al-Muttalib (the Prophet’s own uncle). All of it is hereby forgone. Fear God in (your treatment of) women. You have taken them on to yourselves with peace from God, and they are lawful to you with God’s word...’ He continued his speech until he said: ‘They (women) have a right against you to provide for them and to dress them in accordance with what is reasonable. I am leaving with you God’s book. If you hold fast to it you will never go astray. You will be asked about me, but what will you say?’ They (i.e. the people present) replied: ‘We declare that you have delivered the message perfectly and have given sound counsel.’ He pointed his forefinger raising it to the sky and, pointing it to the people, said: ‘My Lord! Bear witness.’ (He repeated this three times).”

The Prophet’s speech at Arafat was longer than what is quoted here, but Jabir quotes the most relevant parts, re-emphasizing the total prohibition of vengeance killing and usury. The Prophet gives the lead, making clear that what belonged to his own relatives in these two areas was ended and forgone.

The Prophet again speaks about the importance of kindness to women. It is well known that women were ill treated in pre-Islamic Arabia, as they have been, and remain, ill-treated in many parts of the world. Islam gives women equal status with men and requires all men to be most kind to their women folk. Unfortunately, many Muslims do not heed the Prophet’s orders, even in our own time. This is a depressing state of affairs. No God-fearing Muslim could abuse a woman under his care or deny her what God has given her and remain God-fearing.