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The Spirit of `Ibadah in Islam
(3)*
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By
Abul A`la Mawdudi **
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Jan.
3, 2006
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In
part
1 the author shed light
on the spirit of prayer, and in part
2 he continued with
fasting and zakah.
Hajj
Hajj,
or the pilgrimage to Makkah, is the fourth basic act of worship(`ibadah).
It is obligatory once in a lifetime only for those who can afford it.
When we undertake the pilgrimage, we are required to suppress our
passions, refrain from bloodshed, and be pure in word and deed. God
promises rewards for our sincerity and submissiveness.
The
Hajj is, in a way, the biggest of all acts of worship. This is so
because unless people really loved God, then they would never
undertake such a long journey, leaving all their near and dear ones
behind them. This pilgrimage is unlike any other journey. Here,
pilgrims’ thoughts are concentrated on Allah, their very beings
vibrate with the spirit of intense devotion. When they reach the holy
places, they find the atmosphere laden with piety and godliness; they
visit places which bear witness to the glory of Islam, and all this
leaves an indelible impression on their minds, which they carry to
their last breath.
In
addition, there are in Hajj, as in any other act of worship, many
benefits that Muslims can gain. Makkah is the center towards which the
Muslims must converge once a year and discuss topics of common
interest. Hajj refreshes in them the faith that all Muslims are equal
and deserve the love and sympathy irrespective of their geographical
or cultural origin. Thus, Hajj unites Muslims from around the world
into one international brotherhood.
(Part
1 | Part
2)
* This series of articles is part of the author’s book Towards Understanding Islam, Chapter 5, “Prayer and Worship.” Excerpted, with some modifications, from:
http://www.ymofmd.com/books/tui/chp5.html
** Abul
A`la Mawdudi (1903-1979) was one of the most eminent
Islamic thinkers, reformers, and scholars of the last century. His
thought has spread all over the world and greatly influenced the work
of Islamic da`wah. His books and articles covered most topics
that needed guidance for the revival of Islam. He also wrote many
articles on the critique of the Western thought and strategy of
Islamic da`wah which were published in the journal he started
in 1932 called Tarjuman al-Qur’an.
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