Analyse_How_One_Personal_Devotion_Expresses_the_Beliefs_of_Islam

The Hajj is an Islamic religious ritual which incorporates and expresses the beliefs of Islam through the various stages of the pilgrimage. The Hajj is a significant practice of Islam as Muslims express their submission to Allah, walk in the footsteps of the Prophet Muhammad and fulfil the fifth pillar of the Islamic faith. Muslims go on the journey to commune with God through being in his presence and worshipping him, washing away of their sins, and to understand their faith better as well as sharing the experience with millions of Muslims all there for the same reason. The Hajj also develops spiritual awareness and understanding of what it is means to live as a Muslim and to follow the faith. “And pilgrimage to the House is incumbent upon men for the sake of Allah” – Surah 3:96. Throughout the pilgrimage of the Hajj, every Muslim performs the same actions which are symbolic and reinforce the religious beliefs and the Five Pillars of Islam. During the pilgrimage of the Hajj, it is the expected that all male Muslims wear white clothing and female Muslims wear simple clothing as it unites all Muslims together regardless of colour, race, and language with faith being the superior bond. The belief in the one and only Lord, the creator of all things who sustains and maintains creation is the first of the six pillars of faith. Through believing in this Muslims must single out Allah as the object of all worship and can demonstrate this through either physical or spiritual aspects. Allah is greater than human understanding and his qualities are the most magnificent. Shahadah the belief in Allah is shown by the participation in the Hajj with Muslims fulfilling one of the other pillars of Islam. By completing the Hajj the Islamic beliefs are put into action through the various rituals throughout the stages. During the preparation stage Muslims surrender to Allah to gain closeness, asking for forgiveness of ones sins and getting the blessing of Allah through worshipping one god. The Ka’ba symbolises the worship of one God and Muslims circulate this seven times to reaffirm the individual’s belief in Allah and his prophets. While circulating the Ka’ba the pilgrims chant “Here I am, O God, at thy command”. The circulation of the Ka’ba is a significant ritual in the Hajj. The black stone which is placed in the Ka’ba is believed to be sent down from Allah and Muslims try to touch this while circulating the Ka’ba to gain a spiritual connection with their creator. Salat is another pillar of faith which Muslims fulfil throughout the pilgrimage of the Hajj. Muslims pray in the direction of the Ka’ba as it is a sacred place for Muslims- Allah’s house on earth. Through praying here Muslims feel they are praying directly to God. “Day of Arafat”, is where pilgrims spend the entire day standing near the Mount of Mercy asking Allah for Forgiveness through offering prayers to Allah. Muslims do not worship Angels; however angels constantly praise, obey and worship Allah. Angels help and protect believers and they bring messages from Allah to the people. Angels take the souls of the people during death and question them in their graves; they also blow the trumpet at the Day of judgement. The belief in the angels is seen in Mecca at the Ka’ba as the angels surround the heavenly throne. Also the angel Jibril appeared and showed Hagar the location of water for her son and herself. Through the angel Jibril doing this it saved the life of Hagar and her son and Muslims see this as a reassurance that in the end Allah will provide what is needed. The sacred text of Islam the Qur’an must be completely followed as it was the last book revealed to Muhammad by Allah. The Qur’an has a vast significance on the Hajj as the teachings of the rituals and ceremonies which must be carried out during the Hajj come from this sacred text. The words in the Qur’an are Allah’s own words and Muslims are expressing their belief in the Qur’an as the Hajj is commanded in the Qur’an. “And pilgrimage to the House is a duty unto God for mankind, for him who can find the way thither” (3:97). Throughout the various stages of the Hajj Muslims read and recite the Qur’an. The prophet is a person who is given special information or revelation by Allah to guide the people to eh right path. It is an obligation that Muslims obey the prophets as they conveyed Allah’s command and guidance. The belief in the prophets is seen through various rituals throughout the Hajj. Pilgrims follow in the footsteps of the Prophet Muhammad as he restored the pilgrimage that was established by Ibrahim. Pilgrims walk hastily 7 times between the mountains of Safa and Marwa, through this ritual it re-enacts and recalls the experience of the difficulty of Abraham’s wife Hagar, who desperately searched in the area for water for herself and her son. Allah chose life for Hagar and Ishmael through his saving power of water which came available for Hagar. Pilgrims also visit Medina where the Prophet Muhammad was buried to feel a nearness to the messenger of Islam. Standing on Arafat is part of the Hajj and it recalls the last act of Muhammad to show Islam as the chosen religion. Pilgrims stand here to seek a spiritual connection to Muhammad and his message. The festival of sacrifice signifies Abraham’s sacrificing his son for God, however Abraham sacrificed a sheep. Pilgrims sacrifice an animal to show their willingness to sacrifice something that is precious to them, just as the Prophet Abraham was prepared to sacrifice his son at God’s command. Muslims believe there will be a last day, only Allah knows of its exact time but it will come all of a sudden. The belief in the afterlife is seen in the Hajj where Muslims walk and keep the Ka’ba to the left while chanting and acknowledging faith in Allah and the afterlife. The hajj is also considered a positive deed for Muslims for the Day of Judgment. The stage of stoning of the devil shows the rejection of Satan and evil which Ibrahim stoned when tempted. This ritual signifies the throwing away of evil and rejecting sin. Through accomplishing the Hajj it highlights Allah’s all encompassing knowledge, the irresistible will and perfect power Allah has. The hajj acts as a universal reminder of the blessing of Allah on humanity of our diversity and the brotherhood to worship the one Allah Inconclusion the fifth pillar of the Islamic faith the pilgrimage of the Hajj expresses the beliefs of Islam and demonstrates how a Muslim should live their life according to their faith. These are expressed through the rituals that are performed which illuminate these Islamic beliefs