Returning Hajj to Abrahamic Path A Problem Solver for Islamic World: Scholar
Speaking in an interview with IQNA, Hojat-ol-Islam Davoud Hosseini, the director of the Ethics Department of the Hajj and Pilgrimage Research Institute, said the Abrahamic Hajj, which was founded by Prophet Abraham (AS) and continued by the Holy Prophet of Islam (PBUH), can be a problem-solver and a solution-maker for the Islamic world if it returns to its original path.
One of the terms that Imam Khomeini (RA) introduced into the political literature of Hajj was “disavowal of disbelievers” and “Abrahamic Hajj”, he noted.
“This issue, namely the Abrahamic Hajj and its characteristics, as well as disavowal of disbelievers, is one of the emphatic recommendations of the Holy Quran.”
The Abrahamic Hajj is a Hajj in which, in addition to individual worship, social and political aspects as well as the problems and issues of Muslims are raised and examined, he stated.
“Unlike Umrah (minor Hajj), which can be performed in any season, God has made Hajj obligatory at a specific time and with specific actions so that all Muslims can perform this act together and side by side. This makes it clear that other goals were also in mind, apart from the individual worship dimension. In addition to individual worship, Muslims should also pay attention to other issues in this collective gathering; the problems of the Islamic society, its needs, and everything that contributes to the progress of the Islamic society should be taken into account. These matters show that, in addition to worship issues, social and political goals were also considered in Islam, and Hajj was legislated with these characteristics.”
Hojat-ol-Islam Hosseini added that if Hajj were only an individual act of worship, it could have been ordered, like Umrah, to be performed whenever you had the opportunity.
“So Hajj does not only have an individual dimension, but also has other dimensions, one of the most important of which is the dimension of disavowal of disbelievers, in the sense that Muslims should separate their policy from the enemies, recognize the enemy’s sinister plans, identify their goals and fight them. For this reason, we say that Hajj, in addition to the religious dimension, also has a political dimension, and that political dimension is manifested in the disavowal of disbelievers. If we leave this dimension aside, Hajj will become a pure act of worship with no effect on the fate of Muslims; meaning that you simply go, perform an act of worship and return, without being aware of the fate and issues of Muslims.”
He further said Imam Khomeini (RA) raised the issue of the Abrahamic Hajj because Abraham (AS) made the fundamental and main dimension of his Hanif religion the fight against idols and polytheism, as well as the fight against idolaters and disbelievers.
“For this reason, the Abrahamic Hajj was proposed, and among it, the dimension of eliminating polytheism and fighting polytheists is of particular importance. To realize this issue and return the Hajj to its original position, as well as Muslims’ attention to the political dimension of the Hajj, the purification of the soul and the connection of the pilgrims with God will also be important. But Muslims must also have close relationships with each other, be aware of each other’s problems, and think about their collective destiny, which is one of the important dimensions of the Hajj. Therefore, to achieve this goal, we must remove the Hajj from its one-dimensional state.”
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He went on to say that the Islamic world must understand that the Hajj is the best point and the best place where Muslim representatives from all over Islamic and even non-Islamic countries come together, understand each other’s issues, listen to each other’s problems, and brainstorm with each other to find solutions.
“Then they return to their cities and countries and present what they have heard to others, share it and offer solutions. If this dimension of Hajj is taken into account, it will be of the greatest help to the Islamic Ummah and the Islamic world will no longer remain isolated and indifferent.”
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