Meanwhile...

Meanwhile, the Arabic term “Hajj” literally means proof, demonstration, or an intention of doing something important. (Ibn Manṣūr, Lisan al-‘Arab) In Islamic terminology, including jurisprudential books, the term “Hajj” is embarking on a journey to Ka’aba to perform special rites during a specific time. According to the jurists, Hajj is a set of actions performed in certain places in Mecca.

The set of acts of worship performed during Hajj is called “Manasik al-Hajj” (the Hajj rites), that is, all the rites that a pilgrim performs in Mecca. Hajj in the Qur’an The Qur’an talks about hajj in various verses, in which Hajj is described as the duty of capable people, an Islamic sacrament and also deserving to be honoured and respected.

According to verse 27 of Qur’an 22 (Surat al-Hajj), God ordered the Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) to inform people about Hajj: “And proclaim the Hajj to all the people: they will come to you on foot and on lean camels, coming from distant places” The Qur’an defines Hajj as an act of worship that has a specific time, which is known by sighting the new moon crescent. The Qur’an clearly indicates that there are specific months to perform the Hajj.

Thus, Islam voided the prevalent tradition of postponing or advancing the months of Hajj which was common during the Ignorance Era (Jahiliyya Period).

There are several verses about the rites of Hajj, the jurisprudential and ethical rulings of it, including the legislation of tamattu’ for non-residents of Mecca; staying in al-Mash’ar al-Haram and ‘Arafat and its rites; the rulings of slaughtering sacrifices in Mina; the rulings of hunting during hajj; compulsion of performing tawaf and sa’y between al-Safa and al-Marwa; permission to buy and sell during hajj and some disliked (makruh) or forbidden (haram) acts during hajj such as arguing, engaging in sexual activities; and some wrong traditions from the Ignorance Era.

Hajj in Hadiths By going through the Shia books of Hadith, it is observed that more than 9150 hadiths have been documented on the significance and the rulings of Hajj only in Wasa’il al-Shi’a and Mustadrak al-Wasa’il. This indicates the status and complexity of the rulings of the Hajj. According to hadiths, Hajj is better than fasting, jihad and even every act of worship except prayer. (Al-Kulayni, al-Kāfī, vol. 4, p. 253-254) There are countless secrets and benefits in the rites of Hajj.