hajj / feast / debate

[drfazl]

Hajj is the 'individualised Wish of God' blessed to every soul independently, which it shall live out in this world to the fullest satisfaction of Allah; And 'Unra' is his 'Efforts' towards gaining it through patience, endurance, steadfastness while seeking to strenghen his belief and faith in Him.

2:196
Begin your Hajj and Umra in the Way of Allah; and if you are blocked then preserve in righteousness and persevere; and until you reach your goal, never slacken in the determination; however if any of you due to weakness slackens then his due compensation is: fasting, or to spend for the needy, or to sacrifice from his valuables; and when peace comesforth unto him, let him fulfil to a great extent possible his obligation from Umra to Hajj by giving his valuables; and if this is not possible let him complete ten days’ fasting- three, during the Hajj journey and seven when he is contented; and this is for those whose heart is not upon the sacredness and so fear Allah; and know that Allah is severe in punishing.

[Wakas]

salaam drfazl,
Thanks for your translation of 2:196 however you may wish to see: http://www.islam-and-muslims.com/articles/Quran-2196-critical-thinking.html
Also, in terms of someone actually being able to verify your translation you may wish to provide a word for word.

[Wakas]

peace Bro Ayman,

Peace brother Wakas,

Brother Wakas, your translation is a real eye opener. I think that there are only two things I would change:

1. Your translation of masjid as "time of acknowledgement" is interesting but I am not sure it would fit all occurrences. I think that "institution" as opposed to "time" fits everywhere.

2. It is clear that the emphasis and importance is placed on the offering/gift. Even one's attendance is secondary to ensuring that the offering takes place. Logically, this tilts the scale heavily in favor of "hagg" being a feast and not a conference/symposium.

Even with our different word choices, in terms of practical application, it would appear to make little difference. 

It's now just a matter of putting the verses together.

[Ilyusha]

How can these two verses be reconciled with each other's meanings:

[9:28]      O ye who believe! Truly the ‘mushriks’ (polytheists) are ‘Najas’ (impure, unclean, etc.); so let them not after this year of theirs approach the Sacred Mosque.

[22:27] And call out to mankind with the Pilgrimage, they will come to you walking and on every transport, they will come from every deep enclosure.

Because many from the "mankind" are mushrik, as we know from 12:106 as well as from a posteriori.

Please give your opinion.

[youssef4342]

Peace back to  everyone who said peace

if hajj was instituted to Abraham, then a suggestion would be looking at the previous scriptures,

read http://free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=9599972.0

[Bender]

How can these two verses be reconciled with each other's meanings:

[9:28]      O ye who believe! Truly the ‘mushriks’ (polytheists) are ‘Najas’ (impure, unclean, etc.); so let them not after this year of theirs approach the Sacred Mosque.

[22:27] And call out to mankind with the Pilgrimage, they will come to you walking and on every transport, they will come from every deep enclosure.

Because many from the "mankind" are mushrik, as we know from 12:106 as well as from a posteriori.

Please give your opinion.

Salaam,

The one is talking about AlMasjied AlHaram the other is talking about AlHajj.

I have tried for some time to understand what AlHajj, AlMasjied AlHaram, AlBait, AlAsahru AlHaraam etc means.
The only thing I learned, is that our current understanding (=my sunni understanding) is far away from the truth.
At the moment I have only a vague idea.

We really have to erase every influence of our previous sect-thinking to understand this better, as long as we approach this with our previous sect-understanding, we will not understand a thing and get only more confused.

Salaam,
Bender

[Wakas]

salaam ilyusha,

al hajj is open to all but not active troublemakers, and this is the context of chapter 9, so 9:28 must be read in that context.

As a side note, this topic has been discussed in the forum in the past, with various views.

[mmkhan]

Salaam,

The one is talking about AlMasjied AlHaram the other is talking about AlHajj.

I have tried for some time to understand what AlHajj, AlMasjied AlHaram, AlBait, AlAsahru AlHaraam etc means.
The only thing I learned, is that our current understanding (=my sunni understanding) is far away from the truth.
At the moment I have only a vague idea.

We really have to erase every influence of our previous sect-thinking to understand this better, as long as we approach this with our previous sect-understanding, we will not understand a thing and get only more confused.

Salaam,
Bender

Salaam Bender,

I agree with you 100% on the highlighted part above 


May TheCreator increase us in knowledge and guide us to His true path 
mmKhan

[sushi1992]

Hi guys !

I've been reading alot about Hajj... and I feel like I've got the fattest headache on the planet. Ever since I was young I was never in an agreement that I should travel to Mecca to see some black stone that isn't even mentioned by the Quran and circle it 7 times which isn't also mentioned by the Quran (and from what I've heard originates from pagan practices.. if anyone has any archierlogical evidence of this ). I believe hajj is definitely something else... it seems to be referring to some form of a feast but where...? In a place which does not associate idols with God correct? Does this not mean then that it can be done in any believers house? Inviting a whole load of people to have a feast and witness the benefits of God...? Do we FINALLY have a set definition of what hajj actually is?? My brain has melted by constant observations of threads ... as I said the tradition thinking never sat right with me.... also just contradicted so many things .

Peace guys  

[dawngorgeous]

Peace Sushi,
I agree with you.  It could be a feast at someone's house.  However, for those people who have to fast, it suggests 3 days fasting on the journey to Hajj....This suggests that Hajj is a long journey away?
Dawn.