Religious Tradition Depth Study 2 - Islam45
3
arkan alislam Within Islam, the practice of the faith is supported by five pillars. These pillars, known as arkan alislam (the pillars of Islam) are activities and beliefs which are regarded as foundational for all who follow Islam. Each of the pillars requires both an internal or spiritual commitment together with an outward action or sign. pilgrimage to Makkah The fifth pillar of Islam is the pilgrimage or "hajj". Every devout Muslim male will desire to make the pilgrimage to Makkah at least once in their lifetime. For those who live nearby it may be possible to make the pilgrimage on a number of occasions. However, for most Muslims it is a once in a lifetime experience and some need to save for most of their lives in order to perform the hajj. purpose of Hajj The word "hajj" means to embark on a journey with a purpose. The purpose is essentially to visit the Ka'bah in Makkah and worship on Mount Arafat. The pilgrimage takes place during the twelfth month of the Muslim calendar "DhulHijjah". challenge of organisation The organisation of the hajj is an enormous challenge both for the individuals undertaking the pilgrimage and for those in Saudi Arabia responsible for organising it. The individual not only needs to provide for their own needs on the pilgrimage but they also need to provide for the needs of their family while they are away. hajj guides For the organisers in Saudi Arabia the hajj is an enormous exercise in logistics. Over a million people gather annually in Saudi Arabia for the hajj. Those undertaking the hajj are organised into groups under the guidance of an experienced hajj guide who is able to ensure that the proper protocols are followed. community and goodwill Despite the degree of organisation and the expertise of the hajj leaders, there is an inevitable element of chaos with such a large gathering. Yet despite the heat, the logistical difficulties and enormous crowd there is a attitude of pilgrims Content Description One significant practice in Islam Hajj The five pillars Hajj
description
Religious Tradition Depth Study 2 - Islam45
Transcript of Religious Tradition Depth Study 2 - Islam45
-
6/3/2015 ReligiousTraditionDepthStudy2Islam
http://portal.waverley.nsw.edu.au/library/sor/09_islam_depth/practices01.html 1/3
arkanalislam WithinIslam,thepracticeofthefaithissupportedbyfivepillars.Thesepillars,knownasarkanalislam(thepillarsofIslam)areactivitiesandbeliefswhichareregardedasfoundationalforallwhofollowIslam.Eachofthepillarsrequiresbothaninternalorspiritualcommitmenttogetherwithanoutwardactionorsign.
pilgrimagetoMakkah
ThefifthpillarofIslamisthepilgrimageor"hajj".EverydevoutMuslimmalewilldesiretomakethepilgrimagetoMakkahatleastonceintheirlifetime.Forthosewholivenearbyitmaybepossibletomakethepilgrimageonanumberofoccasions.However,formostMuslimsitisaonceinalifetimeexperienceandsomeneedtosaveformostoftheirlivesinordertoperformthehajj.
purposeofHajj
Theword"hajj"meanstoembarkonajourneywithapurpose.ThepurposeisessentiallytovisittheKa'bahinMakkahandworshiponMountArafat.ThepilgrimagetakesplaceduringthetwelfthmonthoftheMuslimcalendar"DhulHijjah".
challengeoforganisation
TheorganisationofthehajjisanenormouschallengebothfortheindividualsundertakingthepilgrimageandforthoseinSaudiArabiaresponsiblefororganisingit.Theindividualnotonlyneedstoprovidefortheirownneedsonthepilgrimagebuttheyalsoneedtoprovidefortheneedsoftheirfamilywhiletheyareaway.
hajjguides
FortheorganisersinSaudiArabiathehajjisanenormousexerciseinlogistics.OveramillionpeoplegatherannuallyinSaudiArabiaforthehajj.Thoseundertakingthehajjareorganisedintogroupsundertheguidanceofanexperiencedhajjguidewhoisabletoensurethattheproperprotocolsarefollowed.
communityandgoodwill
Despitethedegreeoforganisationandtheexpertiseofthehajjleaders,thereisaninevitableelementofchaoswithsuchalargegathering.Yetdespitetheheat,thelogisticaldifficultiesandenormouscrowdthereisa
attitudeofpilgrims
ContentDescriptionOnesignificantpracticeinIslamHajj
Thefivepillars
Hajj
-
6/3/2015 ReligiousTraditionDepthStudy2Islam
http://portal.waverley.nsw.edu.au/library/sor/09_islam_depth/practices01.html 2/3
greatsenseofcommunityandgoodwillamongthepilgrimswhichreadilyoutweighsthedifficultiesencountered.
ThehajjisaneventforMuslimsonly,touristsarenotallowedtoattend.Itisexpectedthatthepilgrimswhoattendwillbepeoplewiththematurityandsoundnessofmindtounderstandthesignificanceofwhattheyareundertaking.Acertaindegreeofphysicalfitnessisexpectedinordertomanagethephysicaldemandsofthepilgrimage.
intentionknownas"niyyah"
SomeMuslimsarenotabletoundertakethepilgrimagethemselvesduetopoorhealth,alackoffinancialmeansorunexpectedandunavoidablecircumstances.InthesecasesMuslimsbelievethattheintentionwillsuffice.Thisintention,knownas"niyyah"isanimportantelement.MuslimsbelievethatAllahjudgesthemontheirintentionsprovidingthattheireffortsaresincere.Thereforesomeonewhoisgenuinelyunabletoperformthehajjneednotfeelthattheyarefailingintheirreligiousduty.
symbolicpilgrimage
Insomeinstances,Muslimswhoarenotabletoperformthehajjseektojointhepilgrimsinasymbolicwaybypayingforsomeoneelsetoattendintheirplaceorgivingtocharitythemoneythattheyhavesavedforthehajj.Inthecaseofpayingforsomeoneelsetoattendintheirplacethereisarestrictionthatthispersonmustalreadyhaveperformedthehajjontheirownbehalf.
prescribedrituals
Therearevariousprescribedaspectsundertakenbypilgrimsperformingthehajj.ThepreparationphaseofthehajjtakesplaceoutsideofMakkah.Thispreparatorystageinvolvesplacingthemselvesinanappropriatedispositionorattitude.Thisinvolvesadeliberateandconsciousstrivingtowardsastateofpurity.Thisattitudeisknownas"ihram".Asasignoftheirpreparednessallnormalclothingisreplacedbyasimpleensembleoftwowhitecloths,onewornaroundthewaist,theotherdrapedovertheleftshoulder.Womenwearaplaingarmentcoveringallbuttheirhands,theirfeetandtheirface.
arrivalinMakkah
AsthepilgrimarrivesinMakkahtheybegintorepeatedlypraytheprayerknownas"talbiyah"whichisintheformofaresponsetothecalltoperformthehajj.ImmediatelyuponarrivinginMakkahpilgrimsgototheKa'bahandencircleitseventimes.Thisencirclingisknownas"tawaf".
procession
-
6/3/2015 ReligiousTraditionDepthStudy2Islam
http://portal.waverley.nsw.edu.au/library/sor/09_islam_depth/practices01.html 3/3
Thenexteventtofollowistheprocessionknownasthe"sa'y".ThisprocessiontakesplacebetweenSafaandMarwahandiscompletedseventimes.ThisprocessionisbasedontheQu'ranictraditionofHajar'ssearchforwaterinthedesert.
journeytoMina
ThenextpartofthehajjinvolvesajourneytoMinawhichisundertakenonthe8thdayofthemonthofDhulHijjah.InMinapebblesarehurledapillarstosymbolisetherejectionofthedevilandallworksofevil.
MountArafat
AftercampinginMinathejourneycontinuestoMountArafat.OntheplainofArafatpeoplestandfrommiddayuntilsunsetinastateofmeditationThisisknownasthe"wuquf"orthestandingbeforeAllah.ThepilgrimsthenclimbMountArafatwhereasermonispreached.
Thepilgrimagecontinues,however,toMinaviaMuzdalifahwherenightprayerisheldtogetherwitharitualstoningofthedevil.Onthemorningof10DhulHijjahthepilgrimsstandbeforedawninabriefrepetitionofthe"wuquf"beforemovingontowardsMinaasthesunbeginstorise.
offeringofsacrifice
InMinathepilgrimscampforthreedayswhileofferingtherequiredsacrificeofananimalforIdulAdha.Afterthis,menhavetheirheadsshavedandwomenarerequiredtocuttheirhairbyatleast2.5cm.
ThehajjthenreturnstoMakkahforanotherencirclingoftheKa'bahasthefinaleventofthepilgrimage.HavingcompletedthehajjMuslimsareentitledtotakethenameHajjiorHajjah.
