ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Hajj (The Pilgrimage) Entering Miqat and Becoming One The show begins at Miqat. At this point, the actor (mankind) must change his clothes. Why? Because one's attire covers the person as well as his character. In other words, an individual doesn't wear clothes, but rather, the clothes cover him! Clothes symbolize, pattern, preference, status, and distinction. They create superficial "borders" which cause "separation" between people.

In most cases, "separation" between people, gives birth to "discrimination". Furthermore the concept of "I" not "we" emerges! "I" is used in the context of my race, my class, my clan, my group, my position, my family, my values, and not "I" as a human being. So many "borders" have been created in our lives. The descendants of Cain, the executioners and the cruel split Adam's family and mankind's unity into many parts and factions.

What resulted were the following relationships: master and servant, oppressor and oppressed, colonialist and colonialized, exploiter and exploited, strong and weak, rich and poor, nourished and malnourished, honored and dishonored, happy and unhappy, noble persons and lay persons, civilized and uncivilized, Eastern and Western, Arab and Ajam and etc. Humanity is divided into races, nations, classes, subclasses, groups, and families.

Each one has its own distinct status and values, names and honors. And-for what? All this just to show "ones-self-but under so much "make-up"! Now take off your clothes. Leave them at Miqat. Wear the Kafan which consists of plain white material. You will be dressed like everyone else. See the uniformity appear! Be a particle and join the mass; as a drop, enter the ocean. Don't be proud, you are not here to see somebody, but be humble. You will be seeing Allah.

Be the one who realizes his mortality or a mortal who feels his existence. At Miqat, regardless of your race or tribe, you must doff all the covers you wore in your daily life as: a wolf (symbolizing fierceness and oppression), a rat (symbolizing slyness), a fox (symbolizing craftiness), or a sheep (symbolizing slavery). Leave all these in Miqat and assume your original shape as a "man" - just one "Adam" as you will be at the end, as one "dead"! Wrap yourself in two pieces of cloth.

One covers your shoulders and the other goes around your waist. No special style or material is used. It is made of very plain and simple fabric. Everyone is wearing the same outfit (Ihram).