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| Guest Name |
Prof. Shahul Hameed
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Consultant to Reading Islam website
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| Subject |
Ask About Pilgrimage in Islam
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| Date |
Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2008
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Time |
Makkah
From...
16:00...To...
18:00
GMT
From... 13:00...To...15:00
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Host
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Dear visitors,
The session has just started. Please feel free to join us with your questions.
After the session has ended, you can view the whole dialogue by clicking Recent Sessions, or the Archive.
For feedback and suggestions, please contact us.
Yours,
Reading Islam Team.
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| Name |
Asiyah
- United States
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| Profession |
homemaker
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| Question |
When you convert to Islam, you’re like a newborn in your like. Meaning everything has been wiped away. Does this mean debts that you had before you became Muslim have to be paid back before hajj?
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| Answer |
Salam Asiyah,
Thank you for your question.
When a Non Muslim becomes a Muslim, all his/her past sins (note: only the sins) are wiped away. But they have to repay the debts they had incurred while they were Non Muslims. This is a duty on Muslims, whether they go for Hajj or not.
While going for Hajj, if one cannot immediately repay all the debts, one should make arrangements for the repayment of debts in case one does not return, and one should tell the creditors about the arrangement and seek their approval.
Hope this answers your question.
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Albert
- Indonesia
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Hi,
I have heard so much about Muslims opposing idolatry. Yet they keep an idol in the mosque in Mecca. Is it true?
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Salam Albert,
Thank you for your question.
You have heard right about Muslims – that they are opposed to idol worship. But if so, how can you at the same time believe that the same Muslims are keeping an idol in their Holy Kabah in Makkah? This is absolutely ridiculous and patently untrue.
Maybe your question arose out of a misconception some people have about the black stone that is part of the wall of Kabah. This stone is not an idol and Muslims do not worship it.
The black stone is a sort of a marker- stone, placed in a corner from where the pilgrims begin their circumambulation (going around) of the Kabah. Its significance is derived from the fact this stone was placed there when Kabah was originally built.
That is, even though the cubical structure of the Kabah was rebuilt a number of times in history, this particular corner stone was not replaced, as it represented the original house of worship built on earth to worship the One and Only God of the universe.
It is noteworthy that the Kabah is the Center of the whole earth as it symbolizes the Oneness of Allah Almighty, the Only God deserving of worship and unconditional obedience.
Islam’s specialty is that it permits the worship of no creation of God Almighty, whether human, animal or material. So there is no question of Muslims worshipping any being or thing other than the One True God.
And God knows best.
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George
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What is so special about the Muslim pilgrimage?
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Salam George,
Thank you for your question.
Unlike other pilgrimages, Hajj is an obligatory pilgrimage prescribed by God Almighty for all believers who are capable; it is a duty potentially binding on all Muslims as a form of worship due to their Creator.
Whereas other pilgrimages derive their importance from their connection to the birth or death or burial of a prophet or saint or some such “holy” human being, the real significance of the destination of Hajj (Kabah in Makkah) is not that it is connected to the birth and life of Muhammad, (pbuh), but that it was the First House built for the worship of the One and Only God of the universe. And even the rites performed there are not commemorative of Muhammad, (pbuh), but of Abraham, the Patriarch revered by Jews, Christians and Muslims alike.
The hajj brings together at Makkah a larger number of pilgrims than any other pilgrimage at any other place in the world.
And hajj brings so many humans of so many different races, tribes, colors, languages and nationalities united in one place, wearing the same garb, participating in the same rites for the worship of the One and Only God. No other pilgrimage does anything even remotely resembling this.
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Iman
- Australia
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Salam,
jazak allah khairan for your service in answering my question inshallah.
What is the youngest age for someone to go to Hajj? and how many days is the pilgrimage all up ?
Thank you
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Salam Iman,
Thank you for your question.
There is no youngest age for a child to do hajj. Very young children can be carried by their elders during Hajj. And though a child can do hajj and be rewarded for it, that does not mean that the child's obligatory hajj is done. That should be done when the child becomes mature.
Prophet, peace be upon him, is reported to have said: “Any child who does hajj when he reaches puberty, he must do hajj again.” (Narrated by al-Shaafa’i in his Musnad)
And Allah knows best.
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B
- Australia
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Hi,
Why is Abraham’s real wife Sarah and her son Isaac given no importance in your pilgrimage while Sarah’s slave woman Hagar and her son Ishmael are honored?
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Salam B,
Thank you for your question.
We know that God had been sending His chosen prophets to mankind at different stages of history, entrusted with the mission of guiding people to the Straight Path. And it is His privilege that some of them He has made more prominent than others; but we have no right to differentiate between His prophets as Allah has clearly commanded in His Holy Qur’an. (See for instance, Holy Quran: 2:136)
Muslims are commanded to give honor and respect to all His prophets without any discrimination.
As for Abraham, God gave him an extraordinary test and he passed it; so He gave him the title: "Friend to God".
Abraham had two wives: the first was Sarah, the second Hagar. There is no evidence either in the Quran or in the Bible to suggest that only Sarah was his “legally wedded wife” while Hagar was not. Both are mentioned in the Bible as wives: See Genesis 16:3:-
"So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sara his wife took her Egyptian maidservant Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife."
The above verse means that your claim that Hagar was not Abraham’s legally wedded wife does not stand in the light of the Bible.
We should not forget that it was as an answer to Abraham's prayer for an offspring that Ishmael was born. But Jews and Christians would argue that Ishmael had no right at all, no right even to his father’s love. Because, they wish to discredit Ishmael and his children who are the Arabs.
It was Abraham and Ishmael together who built the Kabah in Makkah and so it is natural for Muslims to honor them in their pilgrimage to Makkah. The unfortunate experiences in the life of Hagar and her son, and the way they bore all that because of their deep faith in Allah Almighty make them all the more admirable.
And so they are honored every year during hajj. This does not mean any kind of dishonor to Isaac or to his mother Sarah at all.
And Allah knows best.
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Amankwaah
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Student
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please, what is the position of Islam on Euthanasia?
2. How does Islam enfoces morality among women using the Prophet's farewel sermon?
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Salam Amankwaah,
Thank you for your question.
Morality among women as well as among men, is enforced by the injunctions of the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet, peace be upon him. If we specifically consider the words of the Prophet in his Farewell Sermon, we can see that he addresses men and tells them this about women:
"O People, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under Allah's trust and with His permission. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. And it is your right that they do not make friends with any one of whom you do not approve, as well as never to be unchaste."
Particularly note the last part: "Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. And it is your right that they do not make friends with any one of whom you do not approve, as well as never to be unchaste."
Here women are indirectly asked to be the partners and helpers of men in all good endeavors. And women should guard their chastity and take special care not to make friends with people their men folk do not approve of.
This along with the general teachings given in the Sermon about faith in Allah, and practice of all their worship - gives a strong direction to the believing women to observe morality and be moral in all their activities. And Allah knows best.
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Alberta
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How to prepare myself to hajj?
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Salam Alberta,
Thank you for your question.
Kindly visit this site:
http://www.soundvision.com/Info/hajj/hajj00.asp
or similar other sites for details.
Thank you.
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Anita
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Is there a special dress for females in hajj?
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Salam Anita,
Thank you for your question.
For females the proper hijab dress is enough; there is no special dress other than this for women.
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Jewan
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Why pilgrims throw pebbles at stones?
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Salam Jewan,
Thank you for your question.
There was a historical incident depicted by the throwing of stones in Hajj. That happened in the life of Prophet Abraham. When he was about to abide by the command of God - i.e to sacrifice his son - he was being discouraged by the devil; and then Abraham threw stones at the devil at three places. Commemorating this event, the pilgrims throw pebbles at three stone pillars during hajj.
These stone pillars are called "jamarat", and they symbolically stand for the devil or evil forces that tempt us to do evil. By throwing pebbles at these pillars, the pilgrims are actually taking a pledge to eject all evil thoughts and impulses from their hearts.
Hope you understand.
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concerned
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why misxing is allowed in hajj?
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Salam Concerned,
Thank you for your question.
Hajj symbolizes to a great extent the gathering of all humans in the hereafter - that is one reason for allowing men and women to mingle in Hajj.
Another is: A separation between males and females is not possible around Kabah. Or else two Kabahs would be necessary, which will defeat the purpose of the unity of humanity and brotherhood.
And there may be other reasons... Allah knows.
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