ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Hajj, Manifestation of Unity Hajj, Symbol of Walayah ========================== The Hajj is one of the pillars of Islam whose importance and centrality becomes apparent upon even a little deliberation. For instance a part of the first verse quoted above read, “And it is the duty of mankind toward God to make pilgrimage to the House”.

For no other pillar or commandment of the Law are the words “duty…toward God” used and this manner of speaking is unique to the Hajj. The remainder of the verse implies that those who do not take up this duty - while having the ability to do so - have disbelieved in some manner! So among the exoteric pillars of Islam, the Hajj stands out and God has called the people to perform the Hajj in this serious tone.

But there is another pillar, more esoteric than the others, which demands even greater attention. In a tradition from the grandson of the Prophet (S), Imam Zayn al-‘Abidin (‘a) it is said: بُنِيَّ الاسلام على خَمسْ على الصلاة و الزكاة و الصوم و الحج و الولاية و لم يناد بشيء كما نودي بالولاية Islam has been founded on five [pillars]: on Salah, zakah, Sawm, Hajj, and walayah; and nothing has been called to like walayah has been called to.4 What is this walayah that is so important and how is it related to Hajj?

The word walayah, in its root meaning, means “nearness” and proximity - both in its physical and figurative senses. As such it is a relative concept. When it is said “waliyahu” (i.e. he/it became close to him/it), the meaning is reciprocal in that just as one thing became close to and attained proximity to the second - the other thing, in an equal and similar manner became close to the first. This is very much like brotherhood and opposed to fatherhood.

In this meaning if someone becomes close to Allah, He becomes near to him. But in the Qur’an, the concept of nearness is not usually used in this simple “horizontal” sense - especially when the nearness that is intended is not of a material and physical nature. This “vertical” nearness in the Qur’an is such that it is obtained on one side and ,not obtained for the other.