Mushu's thoughts on hajj
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Salaam all,
No, but I dont consider them totally different things.
Bait al-ateeq, Al-bait and bait al-ma3moor are different stages of the institution. You can discern this stage thing by reading the suras in which they appear (22, 2 and 52 respectively). As Wakas says, not totally different but not totally the same either.
So I was looking into this idea of how al bait is described in aq. Here are some of my notes
I believe al bait goes through stages, as suggested by abdalquran. The first stage seems to be one where we each establish our homes as al bait, buyuutan
1087 We inspired to Moses and his brother "Let your people leave their buyuutan in misra, and let these buyuutakum be your focal point and salat. Give good news to those who acknowledge."
The people of Moses were obviously refugees and oppressed, and were clearly in a fragile state. They were commanded to make their own homes the place of salat and hence the establishment of the deen. The focus here is not to have a top-down transformation of society, but to first begin with yourselves in your own home. Once this is achieved, the next stage can be implemented. This idea is consistent with the general ethos of aq be the change you wish to see in the world.
The next stage is to make al bait a public organisation
2/125 and 3/96. Al bait is a guidance for the worlds and invites people with hajj so they can witness the benefits. As argued earlier, just like al quran (which is described as guidance to the worlds) is duplicated, so can al bait. There can be several 'al bait' all which invite people with the hajj to witness the benefits of the deen.
Al bait could then become al haram
In 2/125, the verse refers to 'al bait'. In 2/126 Ibraheem asks Allah to make the town secure for the people. We see Ibraheem making the same request to Allah in 14/35, but this time al bait is al bait al haram
1435 When Abraham said, "My Lord, make this town a sanctuary, and keep me and my sons away from serving idols."
1436 "My Lord, they have misguided many from amongst the people. So, whoever follows me, then he is of me, and whoever disobeys me, then You are Forgiving, Compassionate."
1437 "My Lord, I have resided part of my progeny in an uncultivated valley near your bait al haram. My Lord, so that they may hold the contact prayer. So let the hearts of the people incline towards them. Provide them with fruits that they may appreciate."
Is this the same al bait as in 2/125? Or is this a different town altogether? Either way, al bait has now become al bait al haram. I understand this to mean that al bait has now become more than just a place where people can witness the benefits, it now has some sort of civic duty. It is now 'haram' because the community cannot ignore or violate its agenda. The establishment now yields some type of authority, or it is held in high esteem such that people should not encroach it.
This is supported by 5/97
597 Allah has made al kabah al bait al haram qiyaaman for the people and the haram months and the offerings and the garlands; that is so you know that God knows what is in heavens and what is in earth, and that God is aware of all things.
Making al bait al haram a qiyaaman for the people suggests al bait al haram is charged with organising the people in some way.
However, wielding authority is not the end game. I propose al bait al haram evolves to become bait al ateeq
22/26-33 mentions bait al ateeq twice.
2229 Then let them complete their duties and fulfill their vows, and let them partake at al bait al ateeq.
2233 In them are benefits to an appointed time, then their place is to al bait al ateeq.
Whereas al bait was about inviting people to witness, and al bait al haram about organising people, bait al ateeq seems to focus on something different
2226 We have appointed to Abraham the location of al bait "Do not set up anyone with Me, and purify My bait for those who tawaf, and those who wal qaimeena, and those who ruku' and sujud."
2231 Hunafa to God, not setting up anything with Him. Whosoever sets up partners with God, then it is as if he has fallen from the sky and the birds snatch him or the wind takes him to a place far off.
2232 Thus, and whoever honors the decrees of God, then it is from the piety of the hearts.
The people visiting the house are ones who do ruku' and sujud, with further mention of hunafa (monotheists), honouring decrees of Allah and piety. Al bait al haram becomes ateeq when it has successfully cultivated the deen in the community. The people who visit it have been effected positively and are living as upright people. It is the aim of every bait al haram to reach the level of bait al ateeq.
Finally, I believe bait al ma'mur is the last evolution of al bait, 52/4.
Although chapter 52 is a cataclysmic chapter, the imagery used gives clues as to what bait al ma'mur is. The mentioning of mountains, seas, al kitab and high ceilings suggest elevated things. Amongst this imagery, bait al ma'mur is mentioned a long-lived bait, well visited, well established.
buyuutakum --> al bait --> al bait al haram --> al bait al ateeq --> al bait al ma'mur
I do not believe these evolutionary stages effects my understanding of duplication. Al bait and subsequent stages should be established all over the world, making the invitation universal.
As always, thoughts welcome. peace
