THE origin of Haj dates back to about 5,000 years from now with the advent of Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim - peace be upon him) who built Ka'ba in the holy city of Makkah. Prophet Abraham could not have a son from her first wife Sarah. He had a son from his second wife Hagar. Some differences cropped up between Sarah and Hagar. Hagar left the house and came to stay at ‘Ain.' An angel came asking her not to be afraid and gave the glad tidings of the birth of a son having great good in him. The angel asked Hagar to go back home and name the son Ishmael (Ismael). Ishmael was born to Abraham at the age of 86. (Al-Bidaya wa-Al-Nihaya) Allah ordered Abraham to bring Hagar and her infant son Ishmael from Jerusalem to Makkah valley and leave them here. Abraham did as he was commanded. The barren and sandy valley was without any trace of human life. Abraham left Hagar with a water skin and a bag of dates. Sitting in the saddle, Abraham turned back. Hagar cried: “O Abraham! Where are you going after leaving us in a valley with no human being? Running after him she asked again and again. Abraham did not answer. For the last time, she asked: “Did Allah ask you so?” Abraham replied in affirmative. Hagar said: “Then Allah won't let us perish.” This shows the firmness of her faith in Allah. When Abraham reached ‘Thaniyyah' he raised his hands facing Makkah. He said: ‘O Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in an uncultivable valley by Your Sacred House in order, O our Lord, that they may perform prayers. So fill some hearts among men with love towards them, and provide them with fruits so that they may give thanks. (14/37) Ishmael's mother suckled him till her breast dried up. In her agony she climbed over the As-Safa mountain and looked around to find nothing, then she came to Al-Marwah mountain (almost running) but couldn't find any help. This way she ran seven times from As-Safa to Al-Marwah but to no avail. But when she was at the end of her seventh run on Marwah, she heard a voice. She hurried back to her son to find a spring gushing forth. She began to fill her water skin with her hands. Ibn Abbas reported that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “If mother of Ishmael hadn't filled her water skin, Zamzam would have been an ever-flowing spring over the earth.” An angel told Hagar not to be afraid and said: “This boy and his father would both build the House of Allah, and Allah would never destroy its inhabitants.” Zamzam served them as both food and water. The spring of Zamzam water was a miracle that later became the only source of water for the inhabitants of Makkah. Thousands of years have passed and the Zamzam spring is still running under the ground. A ritual for Umrah and Haj Ibn Abbas quoted the Prophet (peace be upon him) as saying: “The way Hagar had run between As-Safa and Al-Marwah that very way people should hasten between As-Safa and Al-Marwah.” Allah loved the act of her running in anguish for the sake of saving her son's life, looking for His mercy all the while. So He liked this act of hers and made it incumbent for the generations to come as a ritual for Umrah and Haj. Jurhum in Makkah A party from the tribe of Jurhum while passing saw a bird hovering over the skies (a sign of water nearby). They sent some men to find water and on finding it, they took permission from Hagar to encamp there. She agreed on condition that they would not own the Zamzam water. Ishmael was brought up among them and learned their language. When he grew up, he married among them. Later Hagar passed away and was buried where now Hateem is below the waterspout. Building of Ka'ba Prophet Abraham visited his son quite a few times. He told his son that Allah has ordered him to accomplish one job. “Go ahead then and I will help you,” said Ishmael. Abraham asked the son to help him in building the House of Allah. So they both started to build the House. “And when Abraham and Ishmael were raising the foundations of the House” (Ka'bah) saying: “Our Lord accept from us. Verily you are the All-Hearer, All-Knower.” (2:127) They both raised the foundation of the House, Ishmael brought stones and Abraham continued to build till its height came up to the height of the Black Stone (Hajr Al-Aswad). Ibn Kathir said: “This stone was brought by Adam from the Heaven, and it was jet white. Due to the sins of the people it became black. Abraham fixed it where it is now. (Al-Bidaya Wa-Al-Nihaya) Prophet Abraham stood on a stone, it is known as ‘Maqam Ibrahim' (Station of Abraham). He used to stand on it when the structure of Ka'ba had been raised beyond his reach. The Station of Abraham is known as a landmark of Allah: “And take you Maqam Abraham as a place of prayer.” (2:125) This stone still has the footmarks of Abraham. Abraham's call for Haj Allah directed Abraham: “Proclaim to mankind the Haj (pilgrimage). They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel, they will come from every deep and distant (wide) mountain highway (to perform Haj).” (22:27) Is it not amazing that Abraham's call given 5,000 years ago is being responded to by millions even today. Rituals of Haj After the construction of the Sacred House was complete, Allah the Most Merciful sent Gabriel to show Prophet Abraham the boundary of Haram, and rituals of Haj. He told Abraham about Tawaf (circumambulation of Ka'ba), As-Safa and Al-Marwah and hastening there seven times. He took him to the Mina valley. Upon reaching Mina, Satan appeared. Gabriel gave seven pebbles to Abraham and asked him to pelt the Satan with those stones saying: Allah is Greatest. (Imam Ahmad from Ibn Abbas) Satan attempted two times more and every time Gabriel told Abraham to throw pebbles at him. Satan wanted to interfere with the rituals of Haj. This way the pelting of Satan (Jamrah) became a ritual of the Haj pilgrimage to make Muslims know their enemy and reject him when he whispers evil. No doubt Prophet Abraham was put to severe tests by Allah the Almighty. First, the only son that was born to him when he was 86 years of age was ordered to be left in the barren and sandy valley with no animate being living there. Then he remained steadfast to Islamic Monotheism so much so that he was thrown in a very huge fire by Nimrod, the ruler of Babylon. Allah said: “O fire be you coolness and safety for Ibrahim (Abraham)!” (21:69) Then came to him the severest test as described by the Qur'an: And when his son was old enough to walk with him, he said: “O my son! I have seen in a dream that I am slaughtering you (offering you in sacrifice to Allah). So look what you think?” He said: “O my father! Do that which you are commanded, if Allah wills, you shall find me the patient.” (37:102) When the son was about 13 years and the father was 99, Allah ordered him to sacrifice his only son at that time. Abraham did not waver and put down his son to sacrifice as the Qur'an describes the event: “Then when they had both submitted themselves, and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead.” (37:103) It may be noted that Prophet Abraham consulted his son for this sacrifice. The great lesson in this supreme sacrifice that Allah's bondman is always ready to sacrifice every thing for the pleasure of Allah. “We called out to him O Abraham! You have fulfilled the dream! Verily thus We reward the good-doers.” (37:104,105) Allah replaced Ishmael with a sheep and a blindfolded Abraham's knife cut the throat of the sheep. This great sacrifice is commemorated as a rite of Haj every year on 10th, 11th and 12th Dhul Hijjah known as the Days of Immolation. Those who do not go for Haj also commemorate the sacrifices on the day of Eid Al-Adha. The sacrifice is the most commendable act in the sight of Allah. The entire Haj is to commemorate the great sacrifices of Abraham, the father of Islamic nation who gave us Haj and all its rituals.
