HOW HAJJ WAS MUTILATED

HOW HAJJ WAS MUTILATED?

Competitions of Poets

How Hajj was mutilated in that period of ignorance can be gauged from the fact that it was turned into a fair which used to be held from year to year. Many big tribes with their gangs used to come to Mecca and encamp there separately. Poets and clowns of every tribe waxed eloquent in fantastically praising the bravery, renown, dignity, strength and generosity of their fellow-tribesmen and tried to excel others in bragging about them ultimately resulting in the satire of others.

Demonstrations of fake generosity

Then a competition in generosity used to be staged. The chief of every tribe in order to assert his superiority, installed huge cauldrons, and, to run down others, slaughtered camels upon camels to cook the flesh therein. The only object of this prodigality was that their name should be exalted in the whole of Arabia and that it should be publicized that this person slaughtered so many camels and that person gave food to so many people. Singing, revelry, drinking, adultery and every kind of ribaldry were pompously indulged in and the thought of God scarcely occurred to anybody.

Circumambulation in the nude

There used to be circumambulation of Ka'ba but how? Women and men all went round and round stark naked and said : "We shall go before God in the same condition in which our mothers gave birth to us." 'Ibadat was performed in the mosque of Abraham but how ?  By clapping of hands, by whistling and by blowing horns. The name of God was proclaimed but with what gusto? They said:

"Here I am present, My Lord. I am present. No one is your partner except the one who by being yours is by Thee. You are his master for and the master of what he possesses."

Concept of sacrifice

They made sacrifices in the name of God but with what indecency? The blood of the animals was spilt on the walls of Ka'ba and the flesh thrown at its door with the idea that, (may God forgive) Allah demands flesh.

Sacrilege of sacred months

Abraham had declared four months of Hajj as scared and had directed that no warfare should be waged in these months. These people paid regard to this sanctity to some extent but when they wanted to fight they arrogantly turned a sacred month in one year into a violable one and compensated for it in the next year.

Some self-imposed restrictions

Then even those who were good-intentioned in religion had
contrived strange ways due to ignorance. Some people used to set out for Hajj without any provision for journey and travelled begging food from here and there. They considered this as an act of piety. They claimed that they were mutawakkil (those having full trust in God), and were proceeding towards the House of God and so needed no worldly material. Doing business or working for livelihood during journeying for Hajj were generally considered unlawful. Many other people used to give up food and water during Hajj, and regarded this abstention as a part of 'Ibadat. Some people, while setting out for Hajj, stopped talking. Its means has Hajj-e-Musmit, i.e. dumb Hajj. There were countless other customs of this type by describing which I do not want to waste your time.

Abraham's prayer granted

This condition lasted for more or less than two and a half thousand years. No Arab prophet was born during this long period nor did any prophet's genuine teaching reach the people of Arabia. Ultimately the time arrived for granting the 'Dua' of Abraham which he had invoked while raising the walls of Ka'ba, i.e.

"0 Lord! raise up in their midst a messenger from among them who shall recite unto them Thy revelations, and shall instruct them in the Scripture and in wisdom and shall reform their morals".

(Al-Qur'an 2 : 129)

Consequently, a perfect man rose from the progeny of Abraham whose holy name was Muhammad bin Abdullah (peace be upon him). Just as Abraham was born in the family of Pandits and Mahants, likewise Muhammad (peace be upon him) was born in a family which had been for centuries Mahant of the teerath of Ka'ba. Just as Abraham struck a blow with his hands to the Mahantism of his family, likewise Muhammad (peace be upon him) struck a blow to it, and, more than that, actually exterminated it for good. Again, just as Abraham strove to extirpate the godhood of false deities and prevalence of spurious beliefs and tried to popularize servitude to one God, actually the same work was done by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) who revived the same genuine and pure Deen which was introduced by Abraham. When in the course of 21 years he completed all this work, he again, with God's command, declared Ka'ba as the centre of God-worshippers of the world and sounded the same call to the people to come to this centre from all sides for Hajj.

"And pilgrimage to the House is a duty unto Allah for mankind, for him who can find a way thither. As for him who disbelieveth (i.e., fails to come in spite of ability let him know that) lo ! Allah I independent of (all) creatures." (Al-Qur'an 3: 97)

Revival of Abraham's 'Sunnah'

In this manner, along with the renewal of Hajj, all the customs of the time of ignorance which, had become rampant during the last two and a half thousand years, were completely exterminated.

End of idol worship

All the idols in Ka'ba were smashed. The worshipping of objects other than Allah being done there was completely stopped. All rituals were wiped out. All fairs and carnivals were closed down and it was ordered that Allah's Ibadat must be carried out in the prescribed manner.

"Remember Him as He bath before ye were of those astray."

(Al-Qur’an 2- 198)

Prohibition of indecent acts

All indecent acts were strictly banned.

"There is to be no lewdness nor ribaldry nor wrangles during Mid."

(Al-Qur'an 2 00197)

Poet's competitions brought to an end

Competitions among poets, exaltations of foret'ather's achievements, contests in satire and sycophancy were all stopped.

"And when you have completed your devotions, then remember Allah as you remember your, fathers or with a more lively remembrance." (Al-Qur'an 2 : 200)

End of ostentatious generosity

All competitions in generosity which were meant solely for ostentation and fame were terminated and in their place was revived the system of Abraham's days to slaughter animals exclusively in the name of Allah in order that by the sacrifice made by the well-to-do people, the poor. Hajis may get a chance to eat the meat.

"Eat and drink, but be not prodigal. Lo! He loveth not the prodigals." (Al-Qur'an 7 : 31)

"So mention the name of Allah over these animals when they are drawn up in lines. Then when their flanks fall (dead), eat thereof and feed the beggar and the suppliant. " (Al-Qur'an 22 : 36)

No spattering of blood and flesh of sacrificed animals

The practice of spattering the blood of the sacrificed animals on the walls of Ka'ba and throwing of their flesh there was stopped, and it was said :

"Their flesh and their blood reach not Allah, but the devotion from you reacheth Him." (Al-Qur'an 22 : 37)

Prohibition of circumambulation in the state of nudity

Circumambulation in the state of nudity was strictly prohibited, and it was said :

"Say; who has forbidden the adornment of Allah (i.e. dress) which He has brought forth for His bondrnen”. (Al-Qur’an 7:32)

"Say,: (O Prophet) Allah, verily enjoineth not lewdness."

(Al-Qur'an      29)

“O Children of Adam! Look to your adornment (i.e. dress) at every place of worship." (Al-Qur'an 7: 31)

Transposition of months of 'Hajj' prohibited

It was strictly prohibited to interchange the months of Hajj so as to turn the Haram month into Halal ones for purposes of battle.

"Postponement (of a sacred month) is only an excess of disbelief whereby those who disbelieve are misled. They allow it one year and forbid it (another) year, that they may make up the number of the months which Allah hath allowed, so that they allow that which Allah hath forbidden." (Al-Qur'an : 37)

Order to take provision

It was prohibited to start for Hajj without taking provision, and it was said:

"You must take provision for the journey because (not to take provision for a journey in the world does not mean taking provision for the Hereafter) the best provision for the Hereafter is piety."

(Al-Qur'an : 197)

Permission to earn livelihood during 'Hair

It was formerly considered an act of piety not to make any earning during Hajj because it was regarded unlawful in this condition to utilize sources of livelihood. This concept was refuted.

"It is no sin for you that ye seek the bounty of your Lord (by trading)." (Al-Qur’an 2:189)

End of customs of ignorance

The system of dumb Hajj and hungry and thirsty Hajj was also ended. After abolishing all other customs of Jahiliya,

Hajj was made a model of piety. fear of God, purity., simplicity and austerity. The Hajj were ordered that when they set out from their homes they must purify themselves. of all worldly pollution, abandon sexual desire, suspend during that period carnal relations with their wives, and abstain from filthy language and indecent acts.

Fixation of 'Meeqat'

On all roads leading to Ka'ba, marks were fixed from scores of miles away to indicate that before proceeding beyond these limits all pilgrims must put on the mendicant-like dress of Ihram so that the rich and the poor may become equal, distinctions of different nationalities may he eliminated and all of them may appear in the Court of Allah in a state of oneness as suppliants full of humility.

Instruction to maintain peaceful atmosphere

It was made haram, with Ihram on, to kill any animal, not to speak of killing a human being. The object was to create an atmosphere of peace, and to make the minds of the pilgrims spiritualised. The four months of Hajj were made sacred so that no battle takes place during this period, peace reigns on all roads leading to Ka'ba, and no pilgrim is molested en route. When the Hajis reach Ka'ba in this manner, there will be no festival or carnival, fun and games, frolic and revelry. There is remembrance of God at every step. There are prayers, lbadaat, sacrifices and circumambulation of Kaba. If there is any clamour, it is this:

Only one slogan, 'Talbiyah'

"Here I am present, My Allah! I am present, I am present. There is no partner unto You, I am present. Verily all praise is due to Thee. All boons are Yours. Thine is the entire sovereignty."

The Holy Prophet (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has said about such a neat and clean, selfless and sincere Hajj

"Whosoever performs Hajj solely for Allah and, in the course of it abstains from sensual and ribald acts, he returns from there as immaculate as a child just born."

Importance of 'Hajj' as an obligatory act of devotion

Before I describe to you the benefits of Hajj, I should point out what kind of Fard this Hajj is. Allah says in the Holy Qur'an

"And pilgrimage to the House is a duty unto Allah for mankind, for him who can find a way thither. As for one who disbelieves, (let him know that) Lo! Allah is Independent of (all) creatures."

(Al-Qur'an  : 97)

In this verse, failure to perform Hajj, in spite of possessing means to undertake it, is interpreted as Kufr and its elucidation is found in two Ahadith of the Holy Prophet:

1."Whosoever possesses provisions and conveyance for a journey to the House of God and in spite of this does not perform Hajj, then his death in this condition and the death of a Jew and a Christian are both similar."

2."Whosoever, not prevented from proceeding for Hajj by any clear preoccupation of his, or by an order of an oppressive ruler, or due to any deterrent disease, fails to perform the Hajj and dies in this condition, it is his volition either to die as a Jew or as a Christian."

Elucidating this very Hadith, Hadrat 'Umar said

"I wish to impose Jizyah (tax) on those who do not perform Hajj in spite of possessing the required means. They are not Muslims. They are not Muslims."

From the commandments of Allah and from its elucidation by the I Holy Prophet and his Caliph (peace be on them), you must have judged that this Fard (obligatory act) is not such as may be fulfilled or neglected as you like, but it is one which is obligatory once in a lifetime on every such Muslim who can defray the expenses of making journey to and from Ka'ba and is not physically incapable, no matter in which part of the world he resides and whatever may be his responsibility in regard to maintaining his family and his business or service. Those who, despite the necessary means, avoid Hajj and put it off year after year on the pretext of thousand and one preoccupation should be mindful of their Iman. As for those who never care to think for once in their whole life that there is such an obligatory duty as Hajj, and go about travelling throughout the world, and pass by the coast of Hejaz, which is at a few hours' distance from Mecca, in the course of their frequent trips to Europe, their beloved country, they are certainly not Muslims. They lie if they call themselves Muslims, and that person who considers them Muslims is ignorant of the Qur'an. They may pose that their heart aches for the Muslims. In any case, their hearts are devoid of any feeling for obedience to God and they are bereft of faith in His Commandments.

REAL AIMS OF FASTING

REAL AIMS OF FASTING

1.Abstention from lying

Prophet Muhammad(peace be upon him) has drawn attention in various ways towards the real aim of fasting and has explained that to be hungry and thirsty without keeping in view the objective is in no way useful. He said:

 "Whoever did not give up lying and practicing falsehood, Allah is in no need of his giving up food and water."

In another Hadith he said:

  "Many are the fasters whose fasting does not bring them anything except hunger and thirst and many are those who keep standing in the night but their standing does not bring anything except being awake in the night".

The purport of both these Ahadith is quite plain. It means that being merely hungry and thirsty is not by itself Ibadat but an instrument of performing real Ibadat. And real Ibadat consists in not violating the law of God for fear of God, and for the love of God an eager pursuit of every such work as would please Him, and lastly, avoidance of satisfying corporeal urges as far as possible. Whoever remained heedless of this real 'Ibadat, unnecessarily caused inconvenience to his stomach with hunger and thirst. Why should Allah need to make him merely give up food and water for twelve to fourteen hours?

2.Faith and self-scrutiny

The Prophet has drawn attention to the real aim of fasting thus:

  "Whoever observed fast imbued with faith and with the expectation of reward from Allah, all his past sins are forgiven".

The reference to faith implies that the belief in God with a Muslim should remain fully fresh in the mind of a Muslim, Ihtisab denotes that man should be desirous of only Allah's pleasure constantly keeping an eye on his thoughts and actions to check if he is doing anything against the pleasure of Allah. If, in accordance with these two principles, a person were to observe all the fasts of Ramadan, he will have all his past sins forgiven because even if he was once an unruly and disobedient slave he has now turned fully repentant to his Master---and "A penitent is like one who has, as it were, never committed a sin at all" this the Prophet said.

3.Shield for protection from sins

In another Hadith it is said:

  "Fasts are like a shield (just as a shield is meant for protection from the enemy's assault, so is fasting for protection from Satan's attack). Therefore when a man observes fast he should (utilize this shield and) abstain from disorderly behavior. If anybody abused him or quarreled with him, the person who keeps fast should tell him: "Brother, I am fasting (do not expect from me that I shall take part in such activities of yours").

Temptation of goodness

The Prophet (peace be on him) has directed in other Ahadith that man while fasting ought to do more and more good works and should be eager to perform benevolent acts, particularly during fasting, he must develop with full intensity a sympathetic sentiment for his other brothers because being himself in the throes of hunger and thirst he can all the more realize what is befalling other slaves of God in their plight of destitution and misery. It is related by Hadrat Ibn 'Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be on him) used to become especially kind and benevolent during Ramadan. No beggar in that period went empty-handed from his door, and the slaves secured emancipation.

Reward for providing 'Iftar'

According to a Hadith the Prophet (peace be on him) said:

  "Whoever in Ramadan provide a person who is keeping fast with Iftar, this act will become a source of forgiveness for his sins and safety from Hell Fire and he will get as much reward as will the keeper of fast get without any reduction in the recompense of the latter"

WHAT DO YOU RECTTE IN 'SALAH'

WHAT DO YOU RECTTE IN 'SALAH'

Brethren-in-Islam!

I have explained to you in my last lecture how Salah prepares a man for Allah's 'Ibadat, i.e. servitude and obedience. Whatever I said in this connection should have helped you to comprehend that if one offers Salah regularly considering it his duty according to the Divine injunction, it keeps alive in his mind the fear of God, the belief in His Omniscience and Omnipresence and the conviction that he is accountable before Him, even though he may not understand the meaning of what he is reciting. By this continuous practice the belief that he is slave of none but God and that God alone is his real Sovereign and Ruler, becomes a living consciousness in his mind. The habit of being dutiful and ready to carry out God's commandment is developed. All those qualities are automatically developed in him which are necessary to transform the entire life of a man into one of servitude and worship of God. Now I want to stress the fact that if a man were to observe this very Salah with a full understanding of its contents and consciousness of what he is reciting, imagine what a tremendous effect will it produce on his thoughts, habits and natural qualities nd to what great extent his power of faith will develop and how his life will be refashioned.

'Adhan' and its effects

Let us first take the case of Adhan. You are summoned by it five times a day with the following words:

Allahu Akbar, (repeated four times)

Allah is the Greatest of all,

Ash-hadu al-la Ilaha ill-Allah (repeated twice)

I testify that there is no god but Allah.

Ash-hadu anna Muhammad-ar-Rasulullah (repeated twice)

I testify that Muhammad (peace be on him) is the Messenger of Allah.

Hayya' ala-a-salah (repeated twice)

Come for prayer.

Hayya'ala-a-falah (repeated twice)

Come for well-being.

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar,

Allah is the Greatest of all, Allah is the Greatest of all.

La Ilaha ill-Allah,

There is no god but Allah.

See how forceful call it is ! How this voice reverberates five times a day and reminds you that. "All the big entities on the earth whom you see laying claim to divinity are liars. In the earth and the heavens there is only one Being Who possesses the attribute of greatness and He alone is worthy of worship. Come and worship Him. In His worship alone lies your well-being of this world and that of the Hereafter". Who is there who will not be moved on hearing this voice? How is it possible for anyone who has faith in his heart to hear such a great testimony and so powerful a call, and yet sit heedlessly and not run to bow his head before his Master?

Wudu' (Ablution)

On hearing the above voice you rise from your seat and first of all see whether your body is clean or not, whether you have done Wudu' or not? This shows that you are conscious of  the fact that the matter of attending the court of the Lord of all the worlds is different from all the other affairs of the world. Other works can be done in every condition but here it is highly disrespectful to attend without cleanliness of body and dress and, over and above it, without further purity, i.e. Wudu'. With this feeling you first satisfy yourself about your being clean and then begin doing Wudu'. If in the course of Wudu', while washing your limbs, you remember Allah and after finishing it recite the prayer taught by the Messenger of Allah (peace be on Him) not only your limbs but along with these your heart also will be washed clean. The words of this prayer are:

Ash-hadu al la Italia ill-Allahu Wandahula Sharika lahu Wa ash hadu anna Muhammadan 'abdu-hu wa rashuluhu Allah-umma j'alni min attawwa bina waj'alni minalmuta-tahirin.

"I testify there is no god save one single God, Who has no associate and I testify that Muhammad is Allah's slave and messenger O God! Include me among the penitents and make me keep pure."

Beginning

After this, you stand up for Salah with your face toward Qibla. Neat and clean you are attending the court of the Sovereign of the universe. First and foremost, you utter the words:

Allahu Akbar

    "Allah is the Greatest of all ".

Admitting this superb reality, you raise your hands to your ears as if you have relieved yourself of the world and whatever there is in it. Then you clasp your hands around yourself so that you are now standing reverently before your Sovereign with folded hands. After this you make the following submission:

'Tasbih'

Subhanak-Allahumma wa bi-hamdika wa tabarakasmuka wa to ala jadduka wa la-Ilaha ghairuk.

"O Allah, I affirm Thine purity and that too with Your praise. Highly blessed is Thy name. Sublime is Thine

greatness and there is no god save Thou".

'Ta'awwudh' (Seeking refuge with Allah)

A 'uzu billahi min-ash-shaitan-it-rajim

"I seek refuge in God from the intermeddling and mischief of cursed statan".

'Bismillah' (In the name of Allah)

Bismilla hir-Rahman-ir-Rahim

"I begin with the name of Allah Who is most beneficent and Merciful."

'Hamd' (Praise of Allah)

Al-hallidu lillahi Rabbil-alamiti

" Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds".

A r-Rahman-ir-Raliim

" The Beneficent, the Most Merciful".

Maliki Yaum-id-din

"Master of the Day of Judgement".

lyyaka na’budu wa iyyaka nasta'in

"Thee alone do we worship and Thee alone we ask for help".

Ihdi-na-a-sirat-al-mustacjima

" Shows us the straight path".

Sirat-allazina an'amta 'alaihim

"The path of those whom Thou hast favoured".

Ghair-il-maghdubi 'alaihim wa la-ddallin

"Not ( the path) of those who earn Thine anger nor of those who go astray"

      Amen (Surah Al-Fatiha)

“Amen! O God! Let it be so. O Lord! Grant this our prayer.”

After this you recite some verses of the Qur'an each of which is wisdom and beauty. There are instructions, admonitions and lessons as also directions to guide you to the same straight path for which you have prayed in Surah Al-Fatiha.

For instance:

HISTORY OF 'HAJJ'

HISTORY OF 'HAJJ'

Brethren-in-in-Islam

I have explained to you in my previous lecture how Hajj originated and what was its purpose. I have also stated that Abraham had made Mecca the center of the Islamic movement and had settled there his eldest son, Isma’il to carry on this movement after him.

Custom of idol-worship among Abraham's descendants

God knows better how long after Ismail his descendants continued to adhere to the Deen which he had left for them to follow. However, in a few centuries these people forgot all the teachings and the way of their elders and gradually adopted all those wrong practices which were rampant among the other ignorant communities. Hundreds of idols were installed in that very Ka'ba which was built as a centre of preaching and exhortation for the worship of one God, and, ironically enough, idols were made of Abraham and 'small themselves whose whole lives were spent in exterminating the practice of idol-worship. The descendants of Abraham, the upright, made idols called Lat, Manat, Hubal, Nasr, Yaghus, Uzza, Isaaf, Naela and God knows what others, and worshiped them. They also worshipped Moon, Neptune, Venus, Saturn and so many other stars. They further worshipped jinns, ghosts, angels as well as the spirits of their dead ancestors. Benightedness rose to such a high pitch that if the family idol was not available to them while emerging from their house, they worshipped on the way any glossy stone they came across and, should no stone be available, they made a round bail from clay with a sprinkle of goat-milk over it, and this lifeless mound became a god of them. That very Mahantism and Pandithood re-entered their houses against which Abraham had fought in Iraq. They turned Ka'ba into a sort of Hardware or Benaras, and settled down there as its Mahant. They transformed Hajj into a Teerath Yatra and started preaching idol-worship in a house which was constructed to propagate the belief of oneness of God. Adopting all the tricks of Pujarees they began accepting gifts and offerings from Yatrees flocking from the four corners of Arabia. In this way all the work done by Abraham and Isma’il was destroyed and the purpose for which they had introduced the system of Hajj was superseded by a different type of objective.

GENERAL INJUNCTIONS ABOUT "INFAQ FI SABILILLAH"

GENERAL INJUNCTIONS

ABOUT "INFAQ FI SABILILLAH"

(SPENDING IN THE CAUSE OF ALLAH)

Two kinds of directives-------General and Special

Brethren-in-Islam!

Allah has formulated a rule of His Shari'ah that firstly a general directive is given in regard to good and bad deeds so that people may in general take up the path of piety. Then a special form of piety is laid down in order that it is specially adhered to.

General injunction for remembering Allah

As an example you may note that remembering Allah is an act of piety, in fact the greatest piety, and the fountainhead of all good deeds. For this there is a general injunction that remember Allah every moment and in every condition and never be heedless of Him.

"Remember Allah, standing, sitting and reclining." (Al-Qur'an 4 : 103)

"And remember Allah more, that you may be successful."

Undoubtedly in the creation of heavens and the earth and in the alternate appearance of night and day are numerous tokens (of His sovereignty) for those who are men of understanding and considering Allah, standing, sitting and reclining, and considering the creation of the heavens and the earth, instinctively say:

Our Lord Thou created not this in vain." (AI- Qur'an 3 : 190-191)

"And obey not him whose heart We made heedless of Our remembrance, who follows his own lust and whose all works have gone beyond limit."

(A1Qur'an 18 : 29)

There arc many other verses besides these in which it has been enjoined to keep up remembering Allah always and in every condition because it is the very remembrance of Allah which keeps the affairs of man in proper shape and sustains him on the right path. Whenever he becomes heedless of His remembrance, corporeal urges and instigation's of evil forces overpower him. Its inevitable consequence is that straying from the right path he will go beyond limits in the affairs of his life.

Special injunction for Remembrance of Allah

It should be noted that the above is a general injunction. Now a special form has been enunciated for remembrance of Allah. There is Salah, and here too in the five-time daily offering of it a few Rak'ats have been made obligatory which do not take more than five to ten minutes. Thus making Allah's remembrance obligatory for a few minutes at one time and for a few minutes at another time does not mean that you should remember Allah only at these fixed periods and forget Him for the rest of the time. On the other hand it means that at least for this much period you ought to be exclusively engaged in the remembrance of Allah. After that, while you keep yourself busy in your work, in the midst of it you should Continue remembering Allah.

General injunction of 'Infaq-Fi-Sabilillah'

Similar is the case of Zakat. Here also there is a general injunction and then a special one. On one side it is enjoined: "Refrain from miserliness and narrow-mindedness as it is root of evils and mother of vices. Develop in your manners the color of Allah Who is all the time bountifully showering His beneficence on His innumerable and limitless creations although no one has any right and claim over Him. Spend whatever you can in the way of Allah. Save as much as you can from your requirements and from the savings fulfill the wants of other needy slaves of Allah. Never flinch from sacrificing life and money to sublimate the Word of Allah and to render service to religion. If you love Allah, then sacrifice your love of wealth for the love of Him."------And this pertains to the general injunction.

Special injunction for 'Infaq'

On the other side, there is the special injunction that if you possess so much amount of money then it is incumbent on you to spend at least this much part of it in the cause of Allah, and when so much is the produce of your land, then at least this much portion of it must be offered to God by you. Then just as the fact of a few Rak'ats or Salah having been made obligatory does not mean that God should be remembered only while offering these Rak'ats and be forgotten for the rest of the time, in the same way the fact of a small quantity of money having been fixed to be spent in the cause of Allah also does not mean that only those who possess so much of money should spend in the way of Allah while those who have less money than this should close tightly their hands. Nor does it mean that the rich people should spend in the way of Allah while those who have less money than this should close tightly their hands. Nor does it mean that the rich people should spend in the way of Allah that much Zakat only, which has been made obligatory and after that drive away a needy fellow if he approaches them, or if an occasion arises to render service to religion you should say : "We have already given Zakat. Now don't expect a pie from us." This is certainly not what is meant from making Zakat obligatory. On the other hand, it actually means that at least this much money has to be given in any case in the way of Allah by every well-to-do person and that beyond it whatever is possible for any man should be spent by him in His cause.

CONSTRUCTION OF KA’BA

CONSTRUCTION OF KA’BA

At this place both father and son constructed that center of Islamic movement which is renowned today as Ka’ba in the whole world. Allah Himself selected this center and suggested its site. This building was not meant merely for the purpose of worshipping, as mosques are, but from the very first day it was made the propagation and preaching center of the universal movement of Islam, and it’s purpose was that believers of Allah, drawn from all places, should assemble here, perform the ‘Ibadat of Allah collectively and go back to their respective countries with them the message of Islam. This was the assembly which was named Hajj. The full details of how this center was constructed, with what sentiments and prayers both father and son raised its walls and how Hajj was initiated are given thus in the Qur’an:

“Lo! the first sanctuary erected for mankind was, that at Mecca, a blessed place, a guidance to the peoples; wherein are plain memorials (of Allah’s guidance); the place where Abraham stood up to pray; and whosoever entereth it is safe.” (Al-Qur’an 2 : 95-97)

“Have they not seen that We have appointed a sanctuary immune (from violence), wink mankind are ravaged all around them."

(AI-Qur'an 29 : 67)

That is there was always peace in Ka’ba, when all around were rampant plunder, murder, and devastation and conflict and warfare, so much so that even the wild Beduin, on detecting the murderer of even their father in its precincts, did not dare to touch him

Supplications of Abraham and !small

"And when We made the House (at Mecca) a resort for mankind and a sanctuary, (saying) Take as your place  of worship the place where Abraham stood (to pray). And We imposed a duty upon Abraham and Ishmael, (saying) Purify my house for those who meditate therein and those who how and prostrate themselves (in worship). And when Abraham prayed: My Lard! make this a region of security and bestow upon its people  fruits, such of them as believe in Allah and the last day…

 And when Abraham and Ishmael were raising the .foundation of the House, (they prayed) Our Lord! Accept from us (this service). Lo! Thou, only Thou, are the Hearet; the Knower, Our Lord! And make us submissive wire Thee and of our seed a nation submissive unto Thee, and show us our way of worship, and relent toward us. Lo! Thou, only Thou, are the Relenting, the Met-cilia. Our Lord! And raise up in their midst a messenger from among them who shall recite unto them Thy revelations, and shall instruct them in the Scripture and in wisdom and shall make them pure. Lo! Thou, only Thou, are the Mighty, Wise!

(Al Qur'an : 125-129)

"And when Abraham said : My Lord ! Make safe this  territory and preserve me and my sous from strving idols. My Lord ! Lo ! They have led many of mankind  astray. But whoso follows me, he verily is of me. And  whoso disobeys me        still Thou are Forgiving, Merciful. Our Lord! Lo ! I have settled some of my posterity in an uncultivable valley near unto Thy holy House, our Lord ! that they may establish proper worship; so incline some hearts of men that they may yearn toward them, and provide Thou them with fruits in order that they may be thankful.

(Al-Qur'an 14 :35-37)

"And (remember when We prepared for Abraham the place of the (holy) House, saying: Ascribe thou nothing as partner unto Me, and purify my House for those who make the round (thereof) and those who stand and those who bow and make prostration. And proclaim unto mankind the Pilgrimage. They will come unto thee on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every deep ravine. That they may witness things that are of benefit to them, and mention the name of Allah on appointed days over the best of cattle that He has bestowed upon them (i.e., sacrifice animals). Then eat thereof and feed therewith the poor unfortunate." (Al-Qur'an 21:26-28)

Brethren-in-Islam!

This is the story of the beginning of that Hajj which has been acclaimed as the fifth pillar of Islam. You would know from it that Mecca was the headquarter of the mission of that Prophet who was appointed for the first time in the world to propagate the message of Islam. Ka’ba was that focal point from where this preaching was conveyed to different parts of the world, and the system of Hajj was introduced for this reason that all those who affirm servitude to God and enter into submission to Him, no matter to which nation or country they belong, should get attached to one centre and assembling here circumambulate it once every year. It would be as if outwardly they set the design of their inward feeling that their life resembles the wheel which always revolves round its axle.

CONDITIONS OF PUNJABI MUSLIMS

CONDITIONS OF PUNJABI MUSLIMS

Brethren! To be a slave of the three idols I have spoken to you about today is real Shirk. You have broken the idols of stone, demolished the temples built of bricks and mortar, but paid little attention to the temples built within your breasts. To break these idols is most essential, nay it is the foremost condition to become a Muslim. Although I am addressing all the Muslims, and I am sure whatever loss the Muslims of the world as well as those of India are suffering is the result of worshipping these idols- but because Punjabi brethren are at present before me I have particularly to tell them that the root of all their ruination, humiliation and calamity are these very three things I have just mentioned. You are more than fifteen million in this land of the Punjab. You are more than half of the population of this province and the rest belong to other communities. But in spite of being such a big community you have no weight of your own. Some numerically far smaller communities than you are weighty. Think over its reason? Its only reason is that by being slave to Nafs, to family customs and to human beings, leaving aside God, your strength has been sapped from within.

1.Difference of castes

You have amongst you Rajputs, Gakhars, Mughuls, Jats and many other communities. Islam had asked all these communities to become one community, be a brother unto each other and get cemented like a solidly built wall of compact bricks. But you are still clinging to the old Hindu ideas. Just as there are separate castes among Hindus, in the same manner you are still split into separate tribes. You do not intermarry like Muslims. There is no relationship of brotherhood and fraternity between each other. Verbally you call each other Muslim brothers but in reality you observe all those distinctions which were prevalent before Islam. These distinctions have prevented you from becoming a strong wall. Each and every brick of yours is disjointed. You can neither rise together nor face a calamity together. If you are asked, in accordance with Islamic teachings, to break these distinctions and become one again, what do you reply? Just the same one point: "We cannot break the customs which have come down from our forefathers". What answer is given by God to this retort?

 “Only this "You may not break these customs and you may not give up following the rites of Hindus. We shall also break you into pieces and shall put you to disgrace and dishonor in spite of your numerical superiority."

2. Injustice in inheritance

Allah had commanded you that your sons and daughters are all entitled to inheritance. The answer you give to it is:

  "According to the law of our forefathers only sons and not daughters are entitled and we recognize the law of our forefathers in the place of the law of God."

For God's sake tell me if this is Islam? When you are asked to break this ancestral law, everybody from amongst you says that when all others will break it, you will also break it, as otherwise if others did not give a share to their daughters and you gave it then your wealth will go to others and the wealth of others will not come to your home. Just consider what does this reply mean? Will the Law of God be obeyed on this condition that when others will obey it then you will also follow suit.

Tomorrow you will say: "If others commit adultery, I shall also do it, if others commit theft, I shall also steal. In short, till such time as others do not give up sinning, I shall continue to commit all sins". The actual fact is that in this matter all the three above-mentioned idols are being worshipped. There is servitude of Self, servitude of forefathers, and servitude of polytheist nations. And along with all these three evils, there is also the claim that you yet belong to Islam! These are only two examples. Otherwise if the situation is looked at with open eyes, countless diseases like this will be found rampant within you. And in all these you will find that somewhere there is worship of one idol, somewhere of two and somewhere of three. While these idols are being worshipped and along with it Islam is also being claimed, then how do you expect that Allah will shower His blessing on you which has been promised only to true Muslims?