Essence Of Hajj

**Prof. Dr. Sinsi** · 10-11-2012

Essence of Hajj
Hakkında Essence of Hajj

Essence of Hajj

Junaid ibn Muhammad Abu al-Qasim al-Khazzaz al-Baghdadi also known as Junaid Baghdadi was born in Baghdad (830-910 AD)

He was one of the early Persian scholars and teachers of Islam

The following story is attributed to him regarding an explanation of the essence of Hajj

Once Junaid Baghdadi met a man who had returned from Hajj (Hajji)

After observing him for a while he asked him, "Have you been to Hajj?"

Hajji: Yes, I have just come back

Junaid: When you left your home with the intention of Hajj, did you repent from all your sins?

Hajji: I did not think about it

Junaid: In that case, you did not even depart for Hajj

Junaid: What about your journey, rest-breaks and stopovers? When covering distances, did you move mentally and spiritually closer to Allah?

Hajji: I was too busy with other details of the journey and did not reflect on that

Junaid: Then you have not really travelled to the house of Allah

Junaid: How about while putting on the Ihraam and replacing your usual clothes, did you think about discarding your undesirable habits and attitudes?

Hajji: It did not cross my mind

Junaid: Alas! You did not even put on the Ihraam

Junaid: Did you experience the presence of Allah while you were standing in Arafaat as if He was in front of you?

Hajji: No, I did not get that feeling

Junaid: That means you did not even reach Arafaat

Junaid: When you went to Muzdalfah, did you think about gathering your your worldly desires and aspirations as you picked up the pebbles so that you can cast them out when you reach the pillars of temptation?

Hajji: I was only thinking about gathering the pebbles

Junaid: So, you have not even been to Muzdalfah

Junaid: What about throwing stones at the pillars? When performing that ritual, did you make a pledge to avoid corrupt enticements and cast away your ill deeds?

Hajji: This did not happen either

Junaid: Unfortunately, you have not performed Ramy (stoning rites) either

Junaid: How was your Tawaaf (circumambulation)? Did you feel overwhelmed by an ardent attraction towards the perfect Majesty of Allah during Tawaaf?

Hajji: No, I was only counting the number of Tawaaf I was making

Junaid: It is, then, as if you have not even performed Tawaaf

Junaid: Perhaps you understood the spirit, wisdom and objective of running between Mounts Safaa and Marwah

Did you think about the struggle of Mother Hajira? Did you think about her faith and devotion to Allah?

Hajji: Not really

Junaid: In other words, you have not performed Sayee (running between Safaa and Marwah)

Junaid: Tell me about your sacrificial rites

While slaughtering the animal, did you sacrifice for the love of Allah? And did you think about Prophet Ibrahim and his unwavering commitment to Allah?

Hajji: That did not come to my mind

Junaid: In that case, you have not even offer the sacrifice

Junaid: Allah is the Most Merciful! You must go back next year and perform the Hajj again with the correct spirit and attitude of becoming God Conscious

You needto reenact the experiences of Ibrahim and contemplate on his example

Remember and reflect on the verse of the Quran that says, "And Ibrahim who fulfilled his commitments

" (53:37)

10-11-2012	#1
Prof. Dr. Sinsi	Essence Of Hajj *Essence of Hajj* Hakkında *Essence of Hajj* Essence of Hajj Junaid ibn Muhammad Abu al-Qasim al-Khazzaz al-Baghdadi also known as Junaid Baghdadi was born in Baghdad (830-910 AD) He was one of the early Persian scholars and teachers of Islam The following story is attributed to him regarding an explanation of the essence of Hajj Once Junaid Baghdadi met a man who had returned from Hajj (Hajji) After observing him for a while he asked him, "Have you been to Hajj?" Hajji: Yes, I have just come back Junaid: When you left your home with the intention of Hajj, did you repent from all your sins? Hajji: I did not think about it Junaid: In that case, you did not even depart for Hajj Junaid: What about your journey, rest-breaks and stopovers? When covering distances, did you move mentally and spiritually closer to Allah? Hajji: I was too busy with other details of the journey and did not reflect on that Junaid: Then you have not really travelled to the house of Allah Junaid: How about while putting on the Ihraam and replacing your usual clothes, did you think about discarding your undesirable habits and attitudes? Hajji: It did not cross my mind Junaid: Alas! You did not even put on the Ihraam Junaid: Did you experience the presence of Allah while you were standing in Arafaat as if He was in front of you? Hajji: No, I did not get that feeling Junaid: That means you did not even reach Arafaat Junaid: When you went to Muzdalfah, did you think about gathering your your worldly desires and aspirations as you picked up the pebbles so that you can cast them out when you reach the pillars of temptation? Hajji: I was only thinking about gathering the pebbles Junaid: So, you have not even been to Muzdalfah Junaid: What about throwing stones at the pillars? When performing that ritual, did you make a pledge to avoid corrupt enticements and cast away your ill deeds? Hajji: This did not happen either Junaid: Unfortunately, you have not performed Ramy (stoning rites) either Junaid: How was your Tawaaf (circumambulation)? Did you feel overwhelmed by an ardent attraction towards the perfect Majesty of Allah during Tawaaf? Hajji: No, I was only counting the number of Tawaaf I was making Junaid: It is, then, as if you have not even performed Tawaaf Junaid: Perhaps you understood the spirit, wisdom and objective of running between Mounts Safaa and Marwah Did you think about the struggle of Mother Hajira? Did you think about her faith and devotion to Allah? Hajji: Not really Junaid: In other words, you have not performed Sayee (running between Safaa and Marwah) Junaid: Tell me about your sacrificial rites While slaughtering the animal, did you sacrifice for the love of Allah? And did you think about Prophet Ibrahim and his unwavering commitment to Allah? Hajji: That did not come to my mind Junaid: In that case, you have not even offer the sacrifice Junaid: Allah is the Most Merciful! You must go back next year and perform the Hajj again with the correct spirit and attitude of becoming God Conscious You needto reenact the experiences of Ibrahim and contemplate on his example Remember and reflect on the verse of the Quran that says, "And Ibrahim who fulfilled his commitments" (53:37)