Going on haj is a spiritual exercise, people claim<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The annual pilgrimage to the two holy cities of
\nMecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia is the world largest Moslem
\nfestival; with some 2.5 million people making the trip this year.<\/p>\n
Many Moslems believe that haj is a purification rite, one
\nwhich should be started by clearing one's heart and mind from
\nimpure thoughts. Otherwise, it would be nothing but visiting
\npacked cities and mosques under the scorching sun.<\/p>\n
"Going on the haj pilgrimage is an exercise of death,"
\ndescribed Adi Sasono, the secretary-general of the Association of
\nIndonesian Moslem Intellectuals, of his trip in 1992.<\/p>\n
He described the permanence of Kaaba, the Holy Shrine in
\nMecca, as the symbol of the Eternal One, Allah, while the
\nhundreds of thousands of people who circle it during the thawaf
\nrite are a symbol of the transience of human beings.<\/p>\n
"I learned about how men are created equal, that nothing is
\neternal but Allah," he said. "There, during the haj, men learn
\nhow to be humble."<\/p>\n
Four people reflected on their haj experience in the following
\nexcerpts:<\/p>\n
H. Rosihan Anwar, 74, senior journalist:<\/p>\n
"It's a journey to return to my faith. I went on the
\npilgrimage in 1957 when I was a bad Moslem. I did not say my
\nprayers, I did not fast during the holy fasting month of
\nRamadhan," he said.<\/p>\n
The former chief editor of the Pedoman daily, which was banned
\nby first president Sukarno, has gone on the pilgrimage four
\ntimes.<\/p>\n
"The pilgrimage taught me to be more humble, which, for a
\njournalist, is a necessity," he said. "All great journalists are
\nhumble people."<\/p>\n
The most significant rite for Rosihan is the ihram, when he
\ndonned two length of seamless white cloth which he said reminded
\nhim of a death shroud.<\/p>\n
Rosihan puts the letter "H" before his name, meaning Haj. "Not
\nto show off to people that I'm a haj, but to remind myself
\nconstantly to live according to the moral values of Islam."<\/p>\n
Didin Hafidhuddin, a lecturer at the Bogor Institute of
\nAgriculture:<\/p>\n
"I learned about the real values of men in the holy land," he
\nsaid. "Whenever we go on haj, we dispel all of our worldly
\ncoverings -- status, position, wealth -- they all mean nothing."<\/p>\n
"We start the haj as a mere human being," according to Didin
\nwho has gone three times.<\/p>\n
The arduous rites are a reflection of life itself, he said.
\n"The constant moving of haj pilgrims during these rites is a
\nsymbol that human beings move toward Allah."<\/p>\n
"This is what we should contemplate on when we stand on the
\nPlain of Arafat," he said. "Life should be like that. Constantly
\non the move, but always with room for contemplation."<\/p>\n
Whether or not a person can be considered mabrur (successful)
\nin his haj can be determined if he returns a renewed, better
\nperson.<\/p>\n
Moslems should go on pilgrimage only with optimum preparation,
\nphysically, spiritually and with adequate knowledge of the rites.<\/p>\n
"Unfortunately," Didin noticed, "there are too many people who
\nare more serious about shopping. Indonesians are famous in Mecca
\nand Medina as champions of shopping."<\/p>\n
Danarto, 52, author, poet:<\/p>\n
"Close your eyes, shut your mouth and become deaf in the Holy
\nLand," was how Danarto described his effort to shut out worldly
\ntemptations and tend to his religious duties when he went on
\npilgrimage in 1983.<\/p>\n
Danarto, who then wrote about his spiritual experience in a
\nbook called Orang Jawa Naik Haji (A Javanese Man Goes on
\nPilgrimage), said Moslems should be grateful for anything they
\nexperience during their pilgrimage.<\/p>\n
"This gratitude toward Allah will help us through the
\nrituals," he said.<\/p>\n
Danarto wrote in his book: "Oh Allah, how happy I would be if
\nYou took my life now, here in this Holy Land. Take me oh Allah.
\nThere are times for journeys, there are times to return home...<\/p>\n
"Oh Allah, only death could return my troubled soul to peace."<\/p>\n
Koes Lawinningsih, 51, a housewife and mother of four
\nchildren:<\/p>\n
"I went on the pilgrimage because I wanted to become a better
\nMoslem.<\/p>\n
"I had just completed doing the thawaf (circling the Holy
\nShrine) and was whispering my prayers, when suddenly I started
\nweeping uncontrollably. I didn't know why."<\/p>\n
Suddenly, Koes said, an elderly woman in white approached her,
\ntouched her handbag and asked why she was crying. Koes, who went
\non the haj 16 years ago with her husband, father and stepmother,
\nsaid she had suddenly remembered her less than clean past.<\/p>\n
The elderly woman said, "Prostrate in gratitude, then."<\/p>\n
Koes did. When she raised her head again, the woman was
\nnowhere to be seen.<\/p>\n
"I spent my days in the Holy Land praying to Allah to forgive
\nall my sins, and to show me the right path," Koes said. (Wisnu
\nPramudya\/swe)<\/p>",
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