Hajj During COVID-19: Protecting One Another Is Truly Part Of Faith

“Indeed, the archetypal House [of worship] established for mankind was that astatine Makkah – blessed and a guidance for the worlds.” (Quran, 3:96)

Hajj is the 5th and past pillar of Islam. Circumstances permitting, Muslims are required to spell to Mecca during the period of Dhou al-Hijja, the twelfth period of the Hegira calendar, and to execute a fig of rites.

The value of pilgrimage is highlighted successful the Quran: “Behold, the archetypal House (of Prayer) established for mankind is the 1 astatine Bakkah: it is afloat of blessing and a centre of guidance for the full world.“ (Quran, 3:96) and the Sunnah arsenic Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) cited Hajj arsenic 1 of the 5 pillars connected which Islam is built:

Islam has been built connected 5 [pillars]: testifying that determination is nary deity worthy of worship but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing the Salah (prayer), paying the Zakat (obligatory charity), making the Hajj (pilgrimage) to the House, and fasting successful Ramadhan.”

(Bukhari & Muslim)

The faithful who are palmy successful some performing the rites of the pilgrimage successful devotion, and withstanding the trials with patience and consistency, volition beryllium rewarded with paradise, arsenic the Prophet said: “…an accepted Hajj brings nary reward but Paradise”(Al-Bukhaari and Muslim). 

It’s important that we punctual ourselves of the communicative down Hajj. It began with our father, Prophet Ibrahim (as), who came to beryllium known arsenic The Friend of Allah done his sincere submission and unflinching faith.

Allah (SWT) instructed him to hole his woman Hajjar and babe Ismail for a agelong journey. Prophet Ibrahim (as) told Hajjar and Ismail to ascent a elevation called al-Marwa, and near his woman and kid nether the structure of a tree, equipped with a container of dates and immoderate water.

Later searching for h2o to survive, Hajjar collapsed betwixt as-Safa and al-Marwa. Then Angel Jibreel came and deed powerfully the sandy ground. A watercourse of h2o called Zamzam came out. 

Years later, erstwhile Prophet Ibrahim (as) returned to Makkah, helium learned astir the decease of his wife. Prophet Ibrahim (as) and Ismail past called radical to worship Allah (SWT) – helium wanted a peculiar spot wherever radical tin wholly absorption connected the praise of Allah (SWT).

Soon after, helium was told by Allah (SWT) to physique a shrine dedicated to Him. The Kaaba was ordained by Allah(SWT) to beryllium built successful the signifier of the House successful Heaven called Baitul Ma’amoor. Allah successful his infinite Mercy ordained a akin spot connected world and Prophet Adam was the archetypal to physique this place. 

Prophet Ibrahim (as) and his lad worked unneurotic to physique the Kaaba. When the operation was finished, the Angel Jibreel came down from eden to thatch them the rituals of Hajj. After galore centuries, Mecca became a thriving metropolis acknowledgment to its reliable h2o source, the good of Zam Zam. 

When Prophet Ibrahim (as) had completed the operation of the Kaaba, Allah (SWT) commanded him to telephone the radical to Hajj:

“[Mention, O Muhammad], erstwhile We designated for Abraham the tract of the House, [saying], ‘Do not subordinate thing with Me and purify My House for those who execute Tawaf and those who basal [in prayer] and those who bow and prostrate. And proclaim to the radical the Hajj [pilgrimage]; they volition travel to you connected ft and connected each thin camel; they volition travel from each distant pass. That they whitethorn witnesser benefits for themselves and notation the sanction of Allah connected known days implicit what He has provided for them of [sacrificial] animals. So devour of them and provender the miserable and poor. Then fto them extremity their untidiness and fulfill their vows and execute Tawaf astir the past House.'” (Quran; 22:26-29)

However, gradually, the radical began to follow polytheistic ideas, and worship spirits and galore antithetic gods. The shrine of the Prophet Ibrahim (as) was utilized to store idols. The Quraysh tribe, who ruled Mecca, rebuilt the pre-Islamic Kaaba with alternating courses of masonry and wood.

Fast-forward successful time, and adjacent Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was driven retired of Mecca successful 620 CE to Medina. 

Upon his instrumentality to Mecca successful 629/30 CE, the shrine became the focal constituent for Muslim worship and pilgrimage arsenic Allah (SWT) told Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) that helium should reconstruct the Kaaba for the worship of Allah (SWT) only.

In the twelvemonth 628 CE, the Prophet (PBUH) acceptable retired connected a travel with 1400 of his followers. This was the archetypal Islamic pilgrimage, and it would re-establish the spiritual traditions of the Prophet Ibrahim.

Since that time, erstwhile a year, Muslims of each ethnicity, radical background, societal status, and civilization stitchery unneurotic successful Mecca and basal earlier the Kaaba praising Allah together. Indeed, the pilgrimage of Hajj to Mecca successful Saudi Arabia is considered 1 of the world’s largest quality gatherings with astir 2.5 cardinal pilgrims successful 2019. 

Thinking astir trusting our information to Allah (SWT), Anas ibn Malik reported:

A antheral said, “O Messenger of Allah, should I necktie my camel and spot successful Allah, oregon should I permission her untied and spot successful Allah?” The Prophet, bid and blessings beryllium upon him, said, “Tie her and spot successful Allah.”

(Al-Tirmidhī)

It should besides beryllium mentioned that Allah (SWT) says: ”And We made this House (Ka’bah) a edifice for mankind and a place of security….” (Quran, 2:125). My knowing from this Quranic verse is that during Hajj, Mecca should ever beryllium made harmless for pilgrims.

While considering information and information during Hajj, it’s important to enactment that adjacent during the pre-Islamic era, this sanctuary enjoyed specified veneration that adjacent those who thirsted for each other’s humor saw their enemies successful the ineffable territory but dared not onslaught them.  

Last year, a pandemic created by COVID-19 has gripped the world. This concern is simply a wide motion of the beingness of Allah (SWT). It should beryllium noted that adjacent galore 100 years earlier the advancement of modern sciences, Islam has already identified the value of behavioral practices to support america safe, specified arsenic cleanliness, idiosyncratic hygiene, depletion of Halal food, and quarantine which are indispensable to forestall the dispersed of endemic diseases.

Muslims instrumentality regular precautions to forestall the dispersed of viruses and bacteria, a signifier called Wudu (Ablution), arsenic we lavation our hands, arms, faces, and feet 5 times a day. Moreover, successful the lawsuit of an outbreak of epidemic disease, the Prophet (PBUH) advised us:

If you perceive of an outbreak of plague successful a land, bash not participate it; but if the plague breaks retired successful a spot portion you are successful it, bash not permission that place.”

(Bukhari)

Therefore, for the information and extortion of the wellness and wellbeing of the pilgrims, officials of Hajj successful Saudi Arabia indispensable trust upon information and different accusation collected astir the coronavirus by the trusted planetary institutions arsenic The World Health Organization (WHO) and travel their recommendations.

Indeed, Allah (SWT) says successful the Holy Quran: “So inquire those who person cognition if you bash not know” (Quran, 16:43). Therefore, since past year, lone a tiny fig of pilgrims from antithetic nationalities person performed Al Hajj respecting each information measures.

Hajj pilgrimage during COVID-19 volition beryllium a testament to the harmony betwixt information and faith, and volition service arsenic impervious that protecting 1 different is genuinely portion of faith. 

In addition, arsenic mentioned successful the Quranic verse: “Complete Hajj and ‘Umrah for Allah. And if you are prevented from doing so, past marque the offering which is disposable to you, and bash not shave your heads until the offering reaches its appointed place” (Quran 2:196), if immoderate obstruction prevents a idiosyncratic from proceeding with the Pilgrimage and helium is forced to enactment behind, helium (she) should marque a sacrificial offering to Allah (SWT) of immoderate is disposable – for example, either a camel, a cow, a goat oregon a sheep. 

On a last note, The Merciful (SWT) Loves america and surely does not privation to harm america arsenic He mentioned “Allah desireth for you ease; He desireth not hardship for you…” (Quran; 2:185).