Pilgrimage (Hajj)

Peace Danish, Would you happen to know the historical background/findings/differecnces between Allah and Allat? What is the difference between Sallah and Sallat or zakah and zakat in comparison? In other words, I am discussing the relevancy of "h" and "t" in comparisions as well as meanings. Your feedback would be appreciated. Thanks. One thing that is a big problem and results in many misunderstandings is how one transliterates between Arabic and English. There is no common standard. Hence, the same word in Arabic " " can be either rendered as "al-salat", "al-salah", "alsalaah", etc. So there is no diffference between salat and salah and it is just in the transliteration. On the other hand, Allah and Allat are two different words in Arabic. The first means The God and the second is the proper name that literally means the goddess. I hope this helps. Peace, Ayman

I can understand now what was meant by the translation. Thank you Wakas. FocusBeyond.

Salam Jhamza, all, Salaam All! I believe hajj is real pilgrimage and prayers are to be facing a certain direction,since I am not positive where that exact location is I face S-SE from Alabama in the direction of the Middle east and Mecca until we have 100% proof thats its somewhere else.. If I am ever able to make pilgrimage,I will visit both Mecca and Jerusalem,but I will not partake in the obvious pagan rituals. ........Surah2197-203 describe the pilgrimage.. Very good approach and may the All-Mighty help you in this process of searching for the truth. Inchallah you will be able to make pilgrimage in Mekka, Jerusalem, and even Petra and the Sinai!!!-), I did it by eliminating what you call the obvious pagan rituals but you have to realize it is not an easy task-) but what matters or at least for me, is doing our best to answer God's call to pilgrimage with a pure heart, rather than indulging into where is what as an excuse of not doing it. People tends to forget that piligrimage-- before anything else -- is about a period of time for an extensive God rememberance at a collective level. For your information (if you have never come across it), you may find the following link interesting http//www.koranlitranslateandtheconspiracy.com/mekka_bakka.htm, this web site has been set up by Brother Mohamed and his daughter, they are the first to provide a literal translation of the Quran. I had a chance to talk to him several times over the phone, he and his wife are very good persons, but he is very passionate about his research on mekka versus bakka, although I don't agree with everything he writes. And God the All-Mighty knows best. Just sharing the link. Peace. Myr. Salaams Sister Myr, Thanks for the reply,and very good reply..I will be sure to read the article on the link and GOD willing We all Will continue to grow in knowledge.. As for the link it didnt work,I had to go to http//www.koranlitranslateandtheconspiracy.com/ Peace. Hamza

Peace simple and all. I will have a closer look at the verses tommorow. Your closing comments make a lot of sense,even if we have reason to dislike behaviour,we should not do injustice. Peace all.

Salaams Ayman, good to hear from you Br. Here is the piece of info i saw About one fifth of the way down of the following page http//www.ai-deutschland.de/Main/PQ/ch9b-index.html#ch9b look for the title A DEFINITE CHANGE IN MEANING Then About a quarter of the way down the following page http//www.ai-deutschland.de/Main/PQ/A4.htm#AppA4 look for PAGE #652 Gods Blessings.

I think the Quran say that Allah has never sent to the Arabs a messenger before Mohammed. So Abraham and his son never built the cube?

SaLaM Progod Thanks brother for keeping your patience with me. You are starting to make sense. If what you say is right, then i HAVE to question you to make sure that it IS the truth and not your opinion before i can remotely consider it to be accpted as a part of my belief. In all your post, you have made some excellent points. Dont think that i am ignoring them or simply dont understand. On the contrary, i do. And it makes me happy that we have a brother here who has excellent knowledge of the Quran. Not envious or intimidated. Rather, proud. http//www.geocities.com/bigjaxal/s1.gif I will take my time in re-evaluating this belief of mine. I know you understand. So inshallah i will post when i reach a conclusion. Ok brother?

In regards to the ruins of Sodom and Gomorr. Arab traders would necessarily pass by there on their way to Al-Sham (Syria) on their trade routes. The prophet was a merchant that went often to Syria on those very same routes and that could what the ayats are referring to as the ruins. They don't need to be in proximity of Arabia. But on a different note guys. It seems to me COMPLETELY ridiculous for anyone to have changed the place of Pilgrimmage of the Prophet if people were doing it with him while he was alive. It would be one hell a feat to do the switch. So are you saying that the prophet didn't actually live in Mecca/Medina?! Are you ignoring 1400 years of recorded history of the expansion of Muslim empires centered in Arabia? Again, Muhammad (pbuh) lived in the full light of history, its quite a feat to have so many details about his life distorted so easily and fooling millions of his followers overnight. For such a trick to be pulled, you'd need a gigantic propaganda machine and institution, which simply didn't exist at the time. And we know that Muslims have been practicing Hajj to Mecca since day 1. And since Islam spread so fast, it would be hard to believe that they were able to twist the forms/functions designated by the prophet without having the closest of his companions realizing what was going on. Maybe we're dreaming up of conspiracies here? Let's focus on Illuminati/NWO when it comes to conspiracies It's my impresion the Qibla was changed to set us apart from the Huda and Nassarah in the first place. Plus, it is known that the Jewish tribes were in Mecca and Medina because they were expecting the coming of a prophet in that area as per there own Scripture/Prophecies.

Peace be upo you, As brother Joe stated, even on this website, we come from all over. No matter where you are, you must "FACE" the place of hearing and obeying the God's restrictions (al masjid al haraam), the true focus(qibla). You can be anywhere in the world and still "get to" the God's house of security. wink

SaLaM Elke In the end, God knows what is in our hearts. WE can search for the truth for years and when we finally come to believe it. It can be either true or false. But God knows we tried our best.

Peace be upon you all Brother hafeez kazi thanks for your explanation, I've been reflecting about the same question quite months ago. I'm confident when I think that Prophet Muhammad was from somewhere north of Arabia, I would say the land of Ezion-geber in the Gulf of Aqaba. That was one station of the major highway going north to Syria and it travels across the land of Edom, Petra as well, continue at south and east of the Dead Sea (where Sodom and Gomorra are supposed to be) etc. But it could be anywhere around there. EDIT I used to deffend Jerusalem as the City of Peace and the House but now I think I was wrong. I deffend that is Shechem and not Jerusalem the place to gather. Jerusalem was not an important city until the jews came back from Babilonia. There are no arqueological evidences that once there was an ancient Temple for God there before their exile. So i've changed my mind. Actually is quite interesting that Gerizim is called by the arab-speakers who dwell there "Jebel At-tur". If i'm not mistaken, Jebel and Tur means the same thing. Mount or Mountain. It seams to me that they're emphasizing this Mountain with this name. What do u think??? I'll appreciate your comment, Peace. nur

Peace. Frankly I find it utterly disgusting how some Arabs have the shamelessness to keep quiet when they know exactly what is going on. 997 The Arabs are the worst in rejection and hypocrisy, and more likely not to know the limits of what God has sent down upon His messenger. God is Knower, Wise. 9101 And from the Arabs around you are hypocrites, as well as from the city people, they persist in hypocrisy. You do not know them, but We know them. We will punish them twice, then they will be returned to a great punishment. My situation with my family is rather funny to be honest. I went up to my dad and tried to put it on the line, (I went through a lot of planning for this moment), and he just asked me 'why do you believe in hadith anyway?' (!) Basically, he thought that hadith baooks are only for sermons and that, and he doesn't believe in half of the sermons anyway. I am now trying to get him to realise what exactly is left if we reject hadith! Its gonna take a long time, and I he just doesn't have the patience... The rest of my family exploded in outrage when I told them I have left hadith books and idolatry. What made it even worse for me was that I am the youngest in my family, and they thought I'd gone mad, becuase I'd stay up whole nights reading translations and articles, so during the day I would look a bit drunk and red eyed. So they concluded from this that I was on some kind of drugs and that I stayed up all night because of the drugs. Apparently I also have a non-muslim girlfreind who is misleading me(!). In the end my parents took the Quran off me, (The Alim Software CD), and told me to read it in arabic and be happy! Its funny what people can do sometimes isn't it. Peace. Natu on the line.

Peace be upon you, Bayt=house. It is used metaphorically. The "House" of the God is the CORRECT IMAGE of truth based on(built by) the right beliefs. Abraham raised the foundations with his son(the right thoughts/beliefs). The Metaphorical House is the PLACE of hearing and obeying the God's restrictions (al masjid- al haraam) that we should always "face". Before we can follow the example of Abraham and raise the foundation from the house is to use the process of enlightenment(salaat). Salaat= process. It is the process of attaining balance(wusta) through weighing evidence (does it contradict or can it be proven?) By this process of enlightenment, we get the building materials(beliefs) that we construct the house (correct image) with.

Brother Boom's thought about hajj! For the benefit of Sis Majidah Ripen; This is the contextual essence of the surah 5. The subject is largely food. And this ? inside the context of food ? is the only chapter in the Qur?an where we find the word ka?aba. It is mentioned three times O you who believe, when you uphold your commitments you shall wash your faces, your arms to the elbows, wipe your heads, and wash your legs to the ankles (ka?baini).74 (56) The word ka?baini in this verse means ankles. The same word is used in 595 to mean the ankles of animals. Yaaiyuhallazi na-amanu la-taqtalu soida wa-antum Hurumun waman qotalahu minkum muqota?amidan fajaza-un misluma qotala-minalna?ami yah-kumu bihi zawa?adli minkum hadyan balighor ka?bati aukafarotun tho?amu masakina au?adlu zaalika siyaman liyazuqo wabala amrihi ?afal-lah ?am-ma salafa waman ?aada fayantaqimul-lah minhu wal-lahu ?azizun zuntiqam. (595) O you who believe, do not kill the wildlife which you are restricted (Hurumun). If anyone kills on purpose, he shall expatiate with an equivalent livestock to be judged by two equitable men from among you to point out the maturity the ankles (ka?bati),75 or expiate by feeding the poor or impose self-abstinence (from hunting), so that he feels the consequences of his actions. God has pardoned his previous offences. Whoever reverts to his offence, God will avenge from him. God is almighty, avenger. (595) The word before ka?bati in the verse is hadyan baligha which literally means to guide/lead or point out the maturity (in the determination of the maturity of the ankles). The word hadyan comes from the root hada, which means to guide or to lead or to direct or to point out. The word baligha comes from the root balagh, which means to mature, or to advance/mature towards an objective. For example in 46, if we take care of the child orphan we must test their maturity The word ka?aba also appears in 597. The message is identical to 52 God has set the ?ankles? (ka?bata) the sanctioned system (baytil-Harami) to be upheld for mankind, and the restricted months (shahrul Harama), and guidelines (hadya), and the indicators (qolaa-ida). This is to let you know that God, He knows everything in the heavens and the earth and what is beneath the earth. And surely God is fully aware of everything. (597) Some critics who want to defend the rock idol might find the above verse illogical. They have overlooked the significance of the wildlife conservation as part of God?s decree in 2236. The word al-budna in this verse means wild animals or beasts, but translators differ in their understanding, and some of them have erroneously said it means the camel. Besides the misunderstanding of al-budna, the Arabs also say Jamal, ibbil, ba?ir, rikab, heem, ?shar as camel. Upon realising too many words became camel they make a slight change to the word dhomir in 2227 as skinny camels. It seems that to the Arabs any four legged creature is a camel. The word ka?aba in 595 and 597 is related to the ankles of wild animals, a topic which starts from 594. The word is mentioned again indicating that mankind must not hunt these animals until they are matured by distinguishing their ankles (the animals will not settle down in the same area once they are matured), the sanctions in the system, the guidelines, and the indicators restricting the hunting during specific months. Experts identify the animal maturity by their strides or their moving pattern. IT IS ABOUT WILDLIFE PRESERVATION. CHAPTER 5 of Quran has been heavily changed by the Arabs to give them importance in the believe system, Islam. Actually the Chapter is about wildlife preservation as an important part of the DEEN of Islam. Hope this explains the issue. You do not have to go anywhere to take up the challenge, HAJ Peace BooM

Salam... Well.. Some do have a concern whether to eat or not those meat they get from sunni Muslims during haj festivals.. They say they get lot of meat from their relatives and neighbours during conventional haj days.. Is it Okay to eat? Or shall I give them to poor people back? God has forbidden four foods.. One of them is " Uhilla Lighair Allah biHi"... First of all are these sunni people believers in the God that all Messengers believed in? Do they associate with Allah? Do they differentiate with Messengers? For what purpose they sacrifice these animals on these days calling Haj? Is Allah happy in their sacrifice of animals? Does these sacrifices all over the world have any meaning to Allah? So let them stone to stone and sacrifice animals. Why a believer want to be part of it by sharing their sacrificed meat? What a real believer has to do with these rituals and food sacrificed? Just avoid in which you have no knowledge of... That's all I have to say. They have their own religions and rituals formed away from Quran thus they have their own god.. They serve nothing but satan... If anyone wants to eat... But be responsible for whatever you do... After God's guidance, never choose SATAN'S path...

http//www.quran4peace.org/documents/Quran4peace-part5.pdf Web site http//www.quran4peace.org/

Salam, On 7th March begins a new year, and also the Pilgrimage. So you can fast on the 7th if you don't do the Pilgrimage. Salam

WHAT MAKAH SHALL BE ? The only place of pilgrmage for those who submit to God. 2226 For, when we assigned unto Abraham the site of this Temple, "Do not ascribe divinity to aught beside Me!" - and "Purify My Temple for the visiting-ones, and the standing-ones, and those who will bow down the prostration." 2227 Hence, proclaim thou unto all people the pilgrimage they will come unto thee on foot and on every fast mount, coming from every far-away point , ? Makah shall be a sanctuary to which all persecuted believers can emigrate, and be patient until God gives them strengt to return to their land and put their enemies at their feet. (2857) Now some say, "If we were to follow the guidance to which thou invitest us, we would be torn away from our very soil!" Why - have We not established for them a sanctuary secure, to which, as a provision from Us, shall be gathered the fruits of all things? But most of them are unaware . 2857 And they said ?If we follow the guidance with you, we will be deposed from our land.? Did We not establish for them a safe territory, to which all kinds of fruits are offered, as a provision from Us? Indeed, most of them do not know. 2967Are they, then, not aware that We have set up a sanctuary secure, the while all around them men are being carried away/kidnaped/ despioled ? Will they, then, believe in things false and vain, and thus God's blessings deny? 2967 Have they not seen that We have established a safe territory, while all around them the people are in constant danger? Would they still believe in falsehood, and reject the blessings of God? ? A headquarters for an army of believers ready to fight whoever dares to atack a believer's community anywhere in the world. 872 Those who have believed and emigrated and strived with their money and lives in the cause of God, and those who have sheltered and supported; these are the allies of one another. And those who believed but did not emigrate, you do not owe them any obligation until they emigrate. Yet, if they ask you for succour against religious persecution, then you must support them, except if it is against a people with whom there is a covenant between you and them. And God is Seer over what you do. 475 And how could you refuse to fight in the cause of God and of the utterly helpless men and women and children who are crying, "O our Sustainer! Lead us forth out of this land whose people are oppressors, and raise for us, out of Thy grace, a protector, and raise for us, out of Thy grace, one who will bring us succour!" 485 Whoever rallies to a good cause shall have a share in its blessings; and whoever rallies to an evil cause shall be answerable for his part in it for, indeed, God watches over everything. 2191 And slay them wherever you may come upon them, and drive them away from wherever they drove you away ? for oppression is even worse than killing. And fight not against them near the Inviolable House of Worship unless they fight against you there first; but if they fight against you, slay them such shall be the recompense of those who deny the truth. That is what Makah should be, but Makah is now a circus of Arab-American madness. Infidels have again turnet the House of worship into a cave of tieves, they have corrupted again the Holy city, just like the Jew-Roman did to Jerusalem. 2968 And who could be more wicked than he who attributes his own lying inventions to God, or gives the lie to the truth when it comes unto him? Is not hell the abode for all who deny the truth? 2969 But as for those who strive hard in Our cause - We shall most certainly guide them onto paths that lead unto Us for, behold, God is indeed with the doers of good. May God increase our knowledge and give us wisdom.

I don't think that is anything more exciting than Hajj! This is a pilgrimage of the masses. Let me know what you think Hajj means and how it has affected you. You can visit "what is the Hajj" for information and explanations on the history and traditions of Hajj in detail.

peace all, I read The religious dialectics of the Hadjdj, by Hava Lazarus-Yafeh In this book http//www.ashgate.com/default.aspx?page=637&calcTitle=1&isbn=9780860787129&lang=en Basically, he points out that Traditions seem to imply al hajj was a means to an end, i.e. not something holy/special or obligatory or a critical component of Islam, just an event that helped actualise the goals of unification, brotherhood, spread of the message, ascension to power/influence/authority in the region etc and afterwards there was very little insistence put on performing it. This is interesting because it has been discussed on this forum whether Quran also implies this. Just a thought.