Rites of haj, a brush with death

Rites of haj, a brush with death

You wanted a look
At Death
before you faced it?
Now you have seen it
with your eyes
(and you flinch)

-- Al Qur'an 3:143

JAKARTA (JP): Some of the rites of the annual haj pilgrimage
are dress rehearsals for Judgment Day, and Allah beckons
believers to flock to this rehearsal. This is why the pilgrims
stream into the holy sites in the Saudi Arabian cities of Mecca
and Medina chanting the talbiya, an "acquiescence", or an answer
to the call:

I am here to serve you, Allah. Here I am!

I am here because nothing compares to you.

Here I am! Praise, blessings, and the kingdoms are yours.

Nothing compares to you.

Historically, however, the rites of haj are actually a re-
tracing of the struggles of the Prophet Abraham, "the father of
all prophets" as Moslems call him, thousands of years ago.

In the seventh century, Prophet Muhammad perfected the rites
and introduced them as one of the five pillars or tenets of
Islam. The fulfillment of these tenets -- the declaration of
belief in Allah, the shalat or saying prayers, the fasting,
giving alms and the haj pilgrimage -- differentiates Moslems from
non-believers.

Haj, however, is something that a Moslem has to do only when
he is physically and financially able; and he is only required to
do so once in a lifetime.

"Perform the haj as I do," Prophet Muhammad said 14 centuries
ago, and millions of Moslems today try to emulate him in facing
the arduous rites.

Though Indonesian pilgrims spend about 40 days in Saudi
Arabia, the actual haj rites only span five days, from the 9th to
the 13th of the Islamic month of Dzulhijjah (which, this year,
coincides with April 27 to May 1).

The first of the rites is ihram, when male pilgrims don two
lengths of seamless cloth to cover their bodies.

People doing ihram may not use perfume, destroy trees, kill
animals or commit any other violence, or even have sex; they are
asked to watch themselves so that their every step and utterance
reflects their closeness to Allah.

The second rite is wukuf or "standing " in the Plain of
Arafat, some 25 km east of Mecca, on the 9th of Dzulhijjah.
Pilgrims are required to be here from midday to sunset, and to
spend their time meditating, reading the Qur'an or saying their
prayers. They may eat and drink in moderation.

Pilgrims usually visit two historical sites here: the Jabal
al-Rahmah (Mount of Mercy), a hill in the plain which people say
is where Adam met Eve after years of separation, and the Namira
Mosque.

Other than that and the scorching sun, nothing. Even the most
hardened heart may start thinking about death; how, on Judgment
Day, they will all be gathered in the scorching plain of the
afterlife.

Upon the completion of the evening prayer, millions of
pilgrims will march to the Muzdalifah, 5 km north of Arafat. They
will spend a few hours there and collect pebbles to bring to
Mina, some 9 km west of Muzdalifah, after midnight.

On the morning of the 10th Dzulhijjah, the pilgrims start the
rite of stoning the jamarat, a group of three pillars, a re-
enactment of Abraham's effort to chase the devil away as he was
about to sacrifice his son Ishmael. The term jamarat denotes not
only the pillars, but also the rite and the pebbles.

Also this morning, Moslems all over the world celebrate the
Idul Adha or Islamic Day of Sacrifice, and slaughter cattle.

The stoning of the third jamarat brings the ihram period to an
end, and is signified by tahalul where pilgrims cut at least
three strands of their hair. Prophet Muhammad shaved his head
completely.

For the next three days, the pilgrims are required to spend
their time in Mina to stone the three pillars once a day. The
jostling among thousands of pilgrims represents some of the most
arduous exercises. Disabled people, however, may do the stoning
by proxy.

Pilgrims then return to Mecca to do the thawaf, the circling
of the Kaaba holy shrine seven times. Just before returning to
their home countries, the pilgrims are required the perform the
thawaf wada, a farewell to the House of Allah.

They are now "haj", people who have already had a brush with
death, a deepened relation with Allah, an enriched spirituality.
People with a strong resolution to become better Moslems. (Wisnu
Pramudya/swe)