The Hajj Guide http://www.hajjguide.org The Hajj - a spiritual pilgrimage to be performed once in a lifetime en Tue, 11 Apr 2006 07:51:23 +0100 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss info@hajjguide.org info@hajjguide.org Religion - Islam 1440 RSSeditor v0.9.54 (http://www.rss-info.com) http://www.hajjguide.org/images/hajj_guide_logo_i.jpg The Hajj - a spiritual pilgrimage to be performed once in a lifetime http://www.hajjguide.org/rssfeed.xml Old & Rare Pictures of the Holy Kaaba http://www.hajjguide.org/old_rare_pictures.html Hajj Guide - Various Sources Spiritual Aspects of Hajj - 1426 http://www.hajjguide.org/Literature/SpiritualAspectsofHaj-1426/index.htm This brief presentation is a partial translation of two works: the first is, Purshukuhtarin Marasim-e- 'Ibadat or The Most Glorious Rite of Worship, a book written a few years ago by Dr. 'Abd al-Karim Bi-azar Shirazi under the supervision of the Grand Ayatullah Na ir Makarim Shirazi.

]]> The Hajj: The Ultimate Journey - capturing the experiences of youths across the globe http://www.hajjguide.org/Literature/IEBNYD%20Hajj%20Experiences/index.htm A joint publication by the Islamic Education Board and Youth Network Desk of The World Federation A "journal" and recollection of the experiences of youths in this holy pilgrimage of Hajj.

]]> Rules & Conduct of Hajj - Taken from the Tadhkirah al Muttaqeen, Chapter 9 http://www.hajjguide.org/rules_of_conduct_of_hajj.htm Translated by Yasin T. Al-Jibouri Be informed, O seeker of the Sacred House of Allah, that Allah, the most Great and the most Exalted, has various houses: this obvious Ka`ba, the sacred mausoleum in Jerusalem, the Ever-Inhabited House (al-Bayt  al-Ma`mar), the `Arsh, till the matter reaches the true house which is: the heart of the believer (mumin), which is the greatest of all these houses. Undoubtedly, each of these houses is approached through a set of rules of conduct and etiquette. It is important to display here the rules of conduct of visiting the Ka`ba, in addition to what is contained in books dealing exclusively with holy places, and we may point out to the true Ka`ba in general terms. So let us say the following:

            Be informed that the objective behind legislating the hajj is to absorb this fact: The reason why the hajj was mandated is to get to know All~h, to arrive at loving Him, feeling comfortable with Him, and these cannot take place except when one purifies his heart. The latter, in turn, cannot take place except when one keeps himself away from surrendering to desires, placing himself in the arduous task of performing the acts of worship, the outward and the inward ones. This is why the One Who brought the Shar`ah did not make the rituals on one and the same level. Rather, He made them diversified: Each act of worship causes the removal of one abominable act of immorality. For example, offering charity and paying other financial obligations causes one to stop leaning towards perishing worldly wares. Fasting puts an end to ones illicit desires. Performing the prayers prompts one to enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong. So does the performing of other obligations.

            As for the hajj, it incorporates all these many objectives. It contains the hardship of performing rituals each one of which suffices to remove one abomination. It involves generous spending, not thinking [for the time being] about the family, the children and the home country, staying away from the company of evil-doers, being tested with thirst during hot weather, etc. It also involves doing things which primary thinking does not readily accept such as throwing the stones, making the rounds, running, wearing the ihram clothes, etc.

            Hajj contains another benefit which is: remembering the conditions of the Hereafter when one sees so many people on one and the same level, following the same path, especially in wearing the ihram and standing at both sacred places, in addition to reaching the place where the revelation descended and where the angels visited the prophets from Adam to the Seal of Prophets () and feeling the honour of walking where their purified feet once walked. It also includes the honour of visiting the sacred haram, something which softens the heart and brings about the purity of the soul.

]]> Hajj Rituals http://www.hajjguide.org/Literature/Hajj_-_Sistani/default.htm His Excellence Grand Ayatullah Al-Uzamah Sayyid Ali Husaini Sistani It is clear from the Holy Qur'an and the traditions that performance of Hajj (Pilgrimage) is obligatory on every person who has attained puberty and has the means mentioned below.

Hajj is one of the basic principles of Islam; its performance is one of its essentials, and its non-performance is a grave sin. Denial of the obligatory nature of Hajj  is blasphemy (kufr). Allah states in the Holy Qur'an, ".. and pilgrimage to the House is incumbent upon men for the sake of Allah, (upon) every one who is able to undertake the journey to it; and whoever disbelieves, surely Allah is Self-sufficient, above any need of the worlds". (3/97).

This book encompamses the rituals & their performance for the Hajj by His Excellence Grand Ayatullah Al-Uzamah Sayyid Ali Husaini Sistani.

]]> Hajj Guide for Pilgrims with Islamic Ruling (Ahkaam), Philosophy & Supplications (Dua) http://www.hajjguide.org/Literature/HajjGuideforpilgrims/index.htm 2005 Hajj Group - Shia-Muslim Association of Bay Area San Jose, California, USA As per the title, this is an essential handbook for every pilgrim - from organiser of the Hajj group - The 2005 Hajj Group: Shia-Muslim Association of Bay Area San Jose, California, USA

]]> Secrets of the Hajj http://www.hajjguide.org/Literature/Secrets%20of%20the%20Hajj/index.htm Ayatullah al Hajj ash Shaykh Husain Mazaheri What follows in this short book is a glance at the secrets of the Hajj, as expounded by the great scholar and teacher of Akhlaq (Islamic Etiquette) and `Irf-an (Mysticism) Ayatullah al-Hajj ash-Shaikh Husain Mazaheri, presently living in Isfahan, Iran.

]]> The Hajj - An Islamic Pilgrimage http://www.hajjguide.org/Literature/Syed%20Mohammed%20-%20The%20Hajj/index.htm Ayatullah Sayyid Mohammad Zia Abadi In this materialistic world, mans spiritual assets are being plundered. The sublime spiritual virtues, being the only source of mans dignity and a criterion for humanity, have lost their values and are gradually being removed from mans life. A beastly atmosphere is turning the world into a quagmire. The freedom-fighting and hearty human beings are naturally living in depression under such circumstances. Like taking breath in a polluted environment, living has become painful for them. Hence, they are always looking for a chance to hear a heavenly and divine call amidst the mammonists yellings so that it will remove fatigue from their lives and depression from their hearts, take them to a world above this boring one, and satiate them with the elixir of affinity with God, prophets, and saints. That is the call of the Hajj pilgrimage and the call of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) (a.s)[1], which generates much enthusiasm in the ummah Muslim community- with the coming of the Hajj rites.

]]> Hajj (The Pilgrimage) http://www.hajjguide.org/Literature/Dr.%20Ali%20Shariati%20-%20Hajj/default.htm Dr. Ali Shariati A Hajj Presentation - all about the Hajj (with pictures) http://www.hajjguide.org/Literature/hajj%20presentation/index.htm Anonymous A multimedia presentation (viewable online), explaining the pre-requisites for Hajj, and the various obligations due upon a person for performing the pilgrimage (Hajj) with excellent pictures at various sites in and around the holy cities.

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