Salaam,
I would like to share my thoughts and what I have done regarding hajj.
To me, hajj is kind of celebration and thanks to God for the guidance we got from "intensively" studying the Quran during Ramadhan fasting.
My starting point for the hajj is the parable in the following verse,
29:41 The example of those who take allies other than Allah is like that of the spider who takes a home <baytan>. And indeed, the weakest of homes is the home of the spider, if they only knew.29:43 And these examples We present to the people, but none will understand them except those of knowledge.This verse metaphorically illustrates that belief in gods other than Allah is like the "house" of the spider. A very weak house.
So from here I began to be vigilant, if God talks about the house in his verses, I should be able to distinguish which one is metaphorically house and which one is really a physical house.
What I got according to my senses, if it is a metaphor, then the word house is usually followed by the existence of the God, either polytheis, or monotheis.
Here is the example:
16:26 Those before them had schemed, so God came to their buildings from the foundation, thus the roof fell on top of them; and the retribution came to them from where they did not know.
16:27 Then, on the Day of Resurrection He will humiliate them, and say: "Where are My partners regarding whom you used to dispute?" Those who have received the knowledge said: "The humiliation today and the misery are upon the rejecters.This building is no a physical building, but a parable to illustrate the existence of the God, in this verse, the polytheist one.
The same approach I found in the Gospel of Barnabas,
Chap 33
Then said he who had invited him: 'Master, which is the greatest sin?'
Jesus answered: 'Which is the greatest ruin of a house?'
Everyone was silent, when Jesus with his finger pointed to the foundation, and said: 'If the foundation give way, immediately the house falleth in ruin, in such wise that it is necessary to build it up anew: but if every other part give way it can be repaired. Even so then say I to you, that idolatry is the greatest sin, because it depriveth a man entirely of faith, and consequently of God; so that he can have no spiritual affection. But every other sin leaveth to man the hope of obtaining mercy: and therefore I say that idolatry is the greatest sin.'The greatest sin is idolatry, the house of spider, the weakest house.
If there is a weak house of polytheism, of course there is a strong house with solid foundations that represents the opposite beliefs (monotheist) as illustrated by the following verse,
24:36 In houses which Allah has ordered to be raised and that His name be mentioned therein; exalting Him within them in the morning and the eveningsOne of the is the house that were raised on its foundation by Abraham and Ishmael,
2:127 And it was so, that Abraham was raising the foundations for the house, and Ishmael: "Our Lord accept this from us, You are the Hearer, the Knowledgeable."
22:26 And We have directed Abraham to the location of the house: "Do not set up anyone with Me, and purify My shrine for those who visit, and those who are standing, and the kneeling, the prostrating."I could recognize that the house in the verses above is a parable of the monotheistic beliefs, as opposed to the weak house made by the polytheists which has been explained metaphorically as the spider house, the weakest house.
A House which is mentioned and followed by existence of the divine (monotheism) command, "Do not set up anyone with Me" is a parable.
So for me, the houses of Ibrahim and Ismail, was not a physical house form, but it's a monotheist belief, a safe place for all the people who enter it.
Now after the initial idea of the "House" was formed, all of my understanding of the Hajj had to be adapted to that idea.
Since the House was declared as something non-physical, then the physical journey to certain location was no longer needed. So I choose the following translation for the Hajj,
Haji = Haa-Jiim-Jiim = to intend to a certain target, and the target is monotheism.
So for me, the hajj is calling people to return to the one God, regardless of what their beliefs.
Since the hajj will attended by the people who has different creed, so I can see the connection of this verse,
2:197 ...and no disputing during Hajj.We don't need to talk about the our "sharia" with the people who come from different beliefs.
22:67 For every umma We have established rites which they are to fulfill. So do not let the matter fall into dispute. And call upon your Lord, for you are on a guidance which is straight.Just call upon the Lord.
The Hajj is also means feast, we slaughtering the cattle and give it to the poor, using a procedure called "Safa & Marwa".
Here is how to do it,
2:158 Indeed, as-Safa and al-Marwah are among the symbols of Allah.22:36 And the plump livestock, We have made them for you to be among the symbols of God; you will have benefit in them. So mention the name of Allah upon them when lined up <sawaffa>; then, once their sides have become still, you may eat from them and feed with them the poor and the needy. Thus have We subjected them to you that you may be grateful..The plump livestock, Safa <sawaffa>& Marwah are the symbols of Allah.
Marwah= Miim-Ra-Waw = flint stones, white fragile stone where a cooking fire is started or from which blades are made, the stone on which an animal is slaughtered, hard, barren land, type of fragrant tree. The eminence in the immediate vicinity of Ka'bah, a mountain near Mecca called Marwah.So the procedure is,
1. Line up the cattle <sawaffa>
2. Mention the God's name upon them
3. Slaughtering the cattle on Marwah <the stone on which an animal is slaughtered>
As a result we will witness the greatness of God, which is mentioned in the last sentence of the verse,
22:36 ..It was thus that We have subjected them for you, that you may be thankful..the animals were in total surrender, not struggling when slaughtered, and the death was calm.
I have prove it by myself,
So Safa and Marwa are slaughter procedures that will show the greatness of God that anyone can do, regardless of the people creeds, as long as he/she believes in One God. The goal is that we all understand that our Lord is one God.
You can see on this video to see how it works,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vc5BWafzEu4Lastly, I am re-translating to this Bakkah verse, with a more relevant sense in my opinion,
3:96 inna awwala baytin wudhi'a lilnnaasi lalladhii bibakkata mubaarakan wahudan lil'aalamiinainna
indeed
awwalaAlif-Waw-Lam - its origin or source; his or its original state,
baytin house (please understand as monotheism)
wudhi'a
Waw-Dad-Ayn = the proper place of a thing.
lilnnāsi
for the mankind
lalladhī
those who
bibakkata
= Ba-Kaf-Kaf (e.g. bakka) = distinguishing/ranking above others
mubārakan
blessed
wahudan
and a guidance
lil'ālamīna
for the worlds.
3:96 Indeed, something that originated from monotheism (baytin) is a proper place for people who in the difference with another (in beliefs), which is blessed, and guidance for whole worlds.And this verse also becomes clear to me,
2:189 They ask you regarding the crescent moons, say: "They are a timing mechanism for the mankind and the Hajj." And piety is not that you would enter the houses (monotheism) and become distinct <ẓuhūrihā>, but piety is whoever is righteous and comes to the houses (monotheism) in its proper manners <abwābihā> . And be aware of God that you may succeed.ẓuhūrihāZa-ha-Ra = become distinct, distinguish
abwābihāBa-Waw-Ba = mode/manner.
We should not be different from each other only cause of different creed as long as we worship the God alone.
Salaam.
