THE
HAJJ CONTROVERSY: MUSLIM VERSION OF EVENTS...
THE ISLAMIC VERSION:
When Prophet Abraham (a.s.) planned to build the Ka’aba,
the Bai’t Allah (House of God) in the valley of Mecca as a place of worship, he heard for 3 consecutive nights the voice of
God asking him to sacrifice his only
son if he was truly sincere. Abraham at first thought that he was being
discouraged by Shaitan but finally convinced; he proceeded with the sacrifice.
On the way; Shaitan whispered to the boy’s ear telling him that his father is
about to sacrifice him. Abraham picked up a pebble and stoned the devil. After
the sacrifice where God replaced the boy with a ram; Abraham and Ishmael finally built the Ka’aba and instituted the first Hajj (Pilgrimage)
rituals marking the occasion. Millions of Muslims come every year to the valley
of Mecca for the annual pilgrimage re-enacting the Hajj sacrifice rituals
including the sacrifice of a sheep by every participant and the stoning of the
devil at the same spot where Abraham did millenniums ago.
Bible
Psalm 84:4 – Blessed are those who dwell in your
house, they are ever praising you. Blessed are those whose strengths are in you
who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. As they pass the valley of Bacca
(Makkah), they make it a place of spring; the autumn spring also covers it with
pool.
Jews and Christians used to perform the
annual pilgrimage before Islam along with the idol worshipers who have placed
their objects of worship (idols) inside the Ka’aba. At what point in history
they and all other religions were prevented by Muslims from entering the city
of Mecca; I have no idea.
Qur’an
3:96 – the first house of worship appointed for men
was that of Bakka full of blessings and guidance.
wow! 31 years ago
I like your writing about the controversy during Hajj
ReplyDelete