The Quran's mathematical structure based on the number 19, centered on the Basmalah, its 19 letters and four words, with new findings by Katerina Kullman, including 1919 verses containing those words. A second article explains Hajj and Umrah as practices from Abraham, the corrected Sacred Months, each rite in order, and why visiting Muhammad's tomb is an added innovation.
God teaches us in the Quran that all
religious practices came us through Abraham. The Contact Prayers
(Salat), the obligatory charity (Zakat), fasting
(Syaam), and pilgrimage (Hajj) were commanded
by God to Abraham and his followers.
Say, “My Lord has guided me in a straight path—perfect
religion of Abraham, monotheism. He never was an idol worshiper.”
Say, “My Contact Prayers (Salat), my worship practices, my
life and my death, are all devoted absolutely to God alone, the
Lord of the universe.” (6:161-162)
Hajj pilgrimage is one of the pillars of Submission and is carried
out by visiting the Sacred Mosque (Ka’aba) in Mecca, which
was built by Abraham and Ismail.
As Abraham raised the foundations of the shrine,
together with Ismail (they prayed): Our Lord, accept this from us.
You are the Hearer the Omniscient.
Our Lord, make us submitters to You, and from our
descendants let there be a community of submitters to You. Teach
us the rites of our religion, and redeem us. You are the Redeemer,
Most Merciful. (2:127-128)
Our Lord, I have settled part of my family in this
plantless valley, at Your Sacred House. Our Lord, they are to observe
the Contact Prayers (Salat), so let throngs of people converge upon
them, and provide for them all kinds of fruits, that they may be
appreciative. (14:37)
Hajj can be observed any time during the four Sacred months.
Hajj shall be observed in the specified months....
(2:197)
The count of months, as far as God is concerned,
is twelve. This has been God’s law, since the day He created
the heavens and the earth. Four of them are sacred. This is the
perfect religion; you
shall not wrong your souls (by fighting) during the Sacred Months.
However, you may declare all-out war against the idol worshipers
(even during the Sacred Months), when they declare all-out war against
you, and know that God is on the side of the righteous. (9:36)
Umrah is a shortened version of Hajj pilgrimage. It can be observed
any time during the year. One of the major duties of the Messenger
of the Covenant was to correct the Sacred months in which Hajj can
be observed, since they were distorted, as pointed out in the Quran.
Altering the Sacred Months is a sign of excessive
disbelief; it augments the straying of those who have disbelieved.
They alternate the Sacred Months and the regular months, while preserving
the number of months consecrated by God. They thus violate what
God has consecrated. Their evil works are adorned in their eyes.
God does not guide the disbelieving people. (9:37)
Note that the Sacred Months according to the corrupted Muslims
are Rajab, Zul-Qe`dah, Zul-Hijjah, and Muharram (7th, 11th,
12th and 1st months of the Islamic Calendar). A careful study of
the Quran, however, reveals that they should be Zul-Hijjah,
Muharram, Safar, and Rabi I (12th, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd months).
The first step in pilgrimage is a state of sanctity called “Ihram”
which is done by taking a shower and donning (wearing) the Ihram
clothes. The men cover their bodies with seamless sheets of material
(mostly white), while women may wear a modest comfortable dress.
The second step in pilgrimage is “Al-ttawaf” which
is walking around the Ka’aba seven times while glorifying
and praising God at the Sacred Mosque.
We have rendered the shrine (the Ka’aba) a focal point for
the people, and a safe sanctuary. You may use
Abraham’s shrine as a prayer house.
We commissioned Abraham and Ismail: “You shall purify My house
for those who visit, those who live there, and those who bow and
prostrate.” (2:125)
Pilgrims say specific words to commemorate God. These words are
“Labbayka Allahumma Labbayk” (My Lord I have responded
to You) and “Labbayka La Shareeka Laka Labbayk” (I have
responded to You and proclaim that there is no god besides You,
I have responded to you.)
The next step in pilgrimage is “Assa’ay” or walking
between Safa and Marwah seven times. By doing these three steps,
pilgrims finish Umrah.
The knolls of Safa and Marwah are among the rites
decreed by God. Anyone who observes Hajj or Umrah commits no error
by traversing the distance between them. If one volunteers more
righteous works, then God is Appreciative, Omniscient. (2:158)
To complete Hajj pilgrimage, the pilgrims must glorify God at Arafaat.
You commit no error by seeking provisions from your
Lord (through commerce). When you file from `Arafaat, you shall
commemorate God at the Sacred Location (of Muzdalifah). You shall
commemorate Him for guiding you; before this, you had gone astray.
(2:198)
Pilgrims pray sunset at Arafaat and then go to Muzdalifah to observe
the night prayer. They also pick up 21 pebbles for the stoning at
Mena symbolizing the rejection of Satan’s polytheism. This
is done by throwing seven pebbles at each of three stations of stoning.
From Muzdalifah, pilgrims go to Mena to spend a few days.
You shall commemorate God for a number of days (in Mena);
whoever hastens to do this in two days commits no sin, and whoever stays
longer commits no sin, so long as righteousness is maintained. You shall
observe God, and know that before Him you will be gathered. (2:203)
The pilgrims commemorate God’s intervention to save Ismail and
Abraham from Satan’s trick, by offering an animal sacrifice on the
first morning at Mena.
We ransomed (Ismail) by substituting an animal sacrifice.
(37:107)
We should remember that one of the duties of the Messenger of the Covenant
was to proclaim that God never ordered Abraham to kill his son. As a true
submitter, Abraham was willing to sacrifice his only son, when he believed
the dream which was inspired by Satan.
They both submitted, and he put his forehead down (to sacrifice
him). We called him: “O Abraham. You have
believed the dream.” We
thus reward the righteous. (37:103-105)
After the stoning of the ceremonies, the pilgrims go back to Mecca to
walk seven times around Ka’aba as the last step in Hajj pilgrimage.
Throughout Hajj, the pilgrims continue praising God while following specific
rules according to God’s teachings in the Quran.
...Whoever sets out to observe Hajj shall refrain from
sexual intercourse, misconduct, and arguments throughout Hajj. Whatever
good you do, God is fully aware thereof. As you prepare your provisions
for the journey, the best provision is righteousness. You shall observe
Me, O you who possess intelligence. (2:197)
It is very important to know that these are the only steps for Hajj.
Visiting Muhammad’s tomb in Medina during Hajj, as another Sacred
Mosque, is an innovation added later. The Quran talks only about one Sacred
Mosque.
God has appointed the Ka’aba, the Sacred Masjid,
to be a sanctuary for the people, and also the Sacred Months, the offerings
(to the Sacred Masjid), and the garlands marking them. You should know
that God knows everything in the heavens and the earth, and that God is
Omniscient. (5:97)
Whoever visits the prophet’s tomb as part of the religious ritual
commits
idolatry, and may nullify his or her Hajj.
Islam (Submission) is referred to in the Quran as the religion of Abraham.
All practices of submission came to us through Abraham, and Muhammad was
his follower. Therefore, we should submit to the Lord of the universe
and uphold His teachings alone.
Who would forsake the religion of Abraham, except one who
fools his own soul? We have chosen him in this world, and in the Hereafter
he will be with the righteous. (2:130)
After God has pointed out the religion for us, we should not die except
as submitters.
Hajj can be a great conference where Muslims (submitters) come from the
farthest locations of different nations to respond to God alone. We should
ask God to direct us to do the righteous works that please Him, and to
admit us, by His mercy, to be one of His righteous servants. We should
also ask Him to give us an opportunity to visit the Sacred Masjid (Ka’aba)
for pilgrimage in our life time.
He is the One who sent His messenger with the guidance
and the religion of truth, to make it prevail over all other religions.
God suffices as a witness. (48:28)
Ahmed Rayan
About this work
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Author
International Community of Submitters
Publisher
International Community of Submitters / Masjid Tucson