Rites of haj, a brush with death<\/p>\n
You wanted a look
\n At Death
\n before you faced it?
\n Now you have seen it
\n with your eyes
\n (and you flinch)<\/p>\n
-- Al Qur'an 3:143<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Some of the rites of the annual haj pilgrimage
\nare dress rehearsals for Judgment Day, and Allah beckons
\nbelievers to flock to this rehearsal. This is why the pilgrims
\nstream into the holy sites in the Saudi Arabian cities of Mecca
\nand Medina chanting the talbiya, an \"acquiescence\", or an answer
\nto the call:<\/p>\n
I am here to serve you, Allah. Here I am!<\/p>\n
I am here because nothing compares to you.<\/p>\n
Here I am! Praise, blessings, and the kingdoms are yours.<\/p>\n
Nothing compares to you.<\/p>\n
Historically, however, the rites of haj are actually a re-
\ntracing of the struggles of the Prophet Abraham, \"the father of
\nall prophets\" as Moslems call him, thousands of years ago.<\/p>\n
In the seventh century, Prophet Muhammad perfected the rites
\nand introduced them as one of the five pillars or tenets of
\nIslam. The fulfillment of these tenets -- the declaration of
\nbelief in Allah, the shalat or saying prayers, the fasting,
\ngiving alms and the haj pilgrimage -- differentiates Moslems from
\nnon-believers.<\/p>\n
Haj, however, is something that a Moslem has to do only when
\nhe is physically and financially able; and he is only required to
\ndo so once in a lifetime.<\/p>\n
\"Perform the haj as I do,\" Prophet Muhammad said 14 centuries
\nago, and millions of Moslems today try to emulate him in facing
\nthe arduous rites.<\/p>\n
Though Indonesian pilgrims spend about 40 days in Saudi
\nArabia, the actual haj rites only span five days, from the 9th to
\nthe 13th of the Islamic month of Dzulhijjah (which, this year,
\ncoincides with April 27 to May 1).<\/p>\n
The first of the rites is ihram, when male pilgrims don two
\nlengths of seamless cloth to cover their bodies.<\/p>\n
People doing ihram may not use perfume, destroy trees, kill
\nanimals or commit any other violence, or even have sex; they are
\nasked to watch themselves so that their every step and utterance
\nreflects their closeness to Allah.<\/p>\n
The second rite is wukuf or \"standing \" in the Plain of
\nArafat, some 25 km east of Mecca, on the 9th of Dzulhijjah.
\nPilgrims are required to be here from midday to sunset, and to
\nspend their time meditating, reading the Qur'an or saying their
\nprayers. They may eat and drink in moderation.<\/p>\n
Pilgrims usually visit two historical sites here: the Jabal
\nal-Rahmah (Mount of Mercy), a hill in the plain which people say
\nis where Adam met Eve after years of separation, and the Namira
\nMosque.<\/p>\n
Other than that and the scorching sun, nothing. Even the most
\nhardened heart may start thinking about death; how, on Judgment
\nDay, they will all be gathered in the scorching plain of the
\nafterlife.<\/p>\n
Upon the completion of the evening prayer, millions of
\npilgrims will march to the Muzdalifah, 5 km north of Arafat. They
\nwill spend a few hours there and collect pebbles to bring to
\nMina, some 9 km west of Muzdalifah, after midnight.<\/p>\n
On the morning of the 10th Dzulhijjah, the pilgrims start the
\nrite of stoning the jamarat, a group of three pillars, a re-
\nenactment of Abraham's effort to chase the devil away as he was
\nabout to sacrifice his son Ishmael. The term jamarat denotes not
\nonly the pillars, but also the rite and the pebbles.<\/p>\n
Also this morning, Moslems all over the world celebrate the
\nIdul Adha or Islamic Day of Sacrifice, and slaughter cattle.<\/p>\n
The stoning of the third jamarat brings the ihram period to an
\nend, and is signified by tahalul where pilgrims cut at least
\nthree strands of their hair. Prophet Muhammad shaved his head
\ncompletely.<\/p>\n
For the next three days, the pilgrims are required to spend
\ntheir time in Mina to stone the three pillars once a day. The
\njostling among thousands of pilgrims represents some of the most
\narduous exercises. Disabled people, however, may do the stoning
\nby proxy.<\/p>\n
Pilgrims then return to Mecca to do the thawaf, the circling
\nof the Kaaba holy shrine seven times. Just before returning to
\ntheir home countries, the pilgrims are required the perform the
\nthawaf wada, a farewell to the House of Allah.<\/p>\n
They are now \"haj\", people who have already had a brush with
\ndeath, a deepened relation with Allah, an enriched spirituality.
\nPeople with a strong resolution to become better Moslems. (Wisnu
\nPramudya\/swe)<\/p>",
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