A History of Hajj - Part 2 of 3

Sure enough, a man by the name of Muhammad ibn 'Abdullaah (SAWS) was born in the very city that Ibraaheem (AS) had made this supplication centuries earlier. For twenty-three years, the Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) spread the message of Tawheed [true monotheism -SA] - the same message that Ibraaheem and alI the other Prophets came with - and established the law of Allaah upon the land. He expended every effort into making the word of Allaah supreme and his victory over falsehood culminated in the smashing of the idols inside the Ka'ba which once again became the universal centre for the worshippers of the one True God.

Not only did the Prophet rid the Ka'ba of all its impurities, but he also reinstated all the rites of Hajj which were established by Allaah's Permission, in the time of Ibraaheem (AS). Specific injunctions in the Qur'aan were revealed in order to eliminate all the false rites which had become rampant in the pre-Islamic period. All indecent and shameful acts were strictly banned in Allaah's statement:


"There is to be no lewdness nor wrangles during Hajj." (Surah al-Baqarah 2:197)


Competitions among poets in the exaltations of their forefathers and their tribesmen's' achievements were all stopped. Instead, Allaah told them:

"And when you have completed your rites [of Hajj] then remember Allaah as you remember your forefathers; nay with a more vigorous remembrance." (Surah al-Baqarah 2:200)


Competitions in generosity were also prohibited. Of course, the feeding of the poor pilgrims was still encouraged as this was done in the time of Ibraaheem (AS) but Allaah commanded that the slaughtering of the animals which was done for this purpose should be done seeking the pleasure of Allaah rather than fame and the praise of the people. He said:


"So mention the name of Allaah over these animals when they are drawn up in lines. Then, when they are drawn on their sides [after the slaughter], eat thereof and feed the beggar who does not ask, and the beggar who asks." (Surah al-Hajj 22:36)

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