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Friday, December 19, 2014

Grand Mufti urges Muslims to forge unity, shun evil deeds

MOUNT ARAFAT, Saudi Arabia: Mufti Azam Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Abdul Aziz Bin Abdullah delivered Hajj sermons in Masjid-e-Nimra at Mount Arafat, urging Muslims to shun evil, forge unity and staunchly practice teachings of Islam, SAMAA reported.

“Islam is a complete code of life, it’s a perfect and definite religion of Allah, it teaches brotherhood among Muslims and provides spiritual, moral and social training,” said the grand Mufti while addressing millions of Hajj pilgrims.

The chief mufti urged Muslims to keep away from crimes, such as murder and other evil deeds.

“The murder is great fitna (mischief) in Islam. Our religion teaches the abidance of Allah and His Prophet… Islam prohibits obscenity as haram and sin… Oh Muslims! Be God-fearing, keep a control on yourselves,” he said.

“Oh believers! Murder of a single person is the murder of entire humanity, and the one who committed this act unduly shall burn in the hell forever.”

“Tyranny throws one in darkness whereas takwah (fear of Allah Almighty) leads one towards success,” he said while addressing the world's biggest Muslim gathering.

The Mufti said un-Islamic forces are hatching conspiracies against Islam and Muslim countries. “Blood is being shed… Khawarij (those who seceded from the mainstream Islam) are still among the ranks of Muslims.”

The Mufti said Jihad is also an obligation of Islam which should be carried out as per true and definite teachings of Islam.

“Jihad is better than everything else in the way of Allah, it dispels fitna (evil/malicious acts) and fassad (anarchy/bloodshed), everyone of you should follow the teachings of Islam which is a perfect religion.”

Praying to Allah for betterment and falah (success) of the Muslim ummah, the Saudi religious cleric urged Muslims to observe patience in their lives in testing times, protect each other’s lives and properties and work together for the success and prosperity of Muslim societies.

Concluding his annual sermon, Mufti Abdullah prayed for the Muslims of Syria, where internal strife claims thousands of lives.

Nearly three million Muslims from across the world are in the holy cities of Islam for annual Hajj pilgrimage.

Tent City

In first phase of Hajj, the pilgrims spent a day and following night (Thursday) in Mina — a tent city near Makkah, and later started moving to towards mount Arafat where the main pillar of Hajj pilgrimage, Waqoof-e-Arafat, was observed.

Waqoof-E-Arafat

Waqoof-e-Arafat is main ritual of Hajj. It is a reminder of the Day of Judgment, where Muslims believe mankind will stand on a similar plain, in scorching heat, waiting for judgement.

The holy Prophet (PBUH) said, "Al Hajju Arafah," means ‘standing in Arafat’ is the Hajj.

At Arafat, the Muslims pray to God and remember the purpose of their lives. It is surely an emotionally testing time for the crowd.

Muslims spend the entire day in Arafat and offer Zohar and Asar prayers jointly at Arafat. Waqoof (stay) in Arafat is performed from Zuhar to sunset on the 9th of Zil-Hajj of Islamic year.

The main action in Waqoof is not to pray lots of Nafils but to just stand facing the Baitul Haram (Sacred House) asking Allah for forgiveness while recognizing Him as our Lord.

Night In Muzdalifah

After the Waqoof-e-Arafat, the pilgrims would move towards Muzdalifa, a place between Mina and Arafat, where they would perform remaining two prayers, Maghrib and Isha, together.

All Hajj pilgrims will stay whole night in Muzdalifa and continue worships for forgiveness and pleasing God, the almighty.

In the night, the pilgrims will collect stones to throw at the Big Satan as part of the last ritual that is called Rami, an act of Hazrat Ibrahim (A.S) as well as 1,400-year-old tradition of Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H).

Rami Of Jamarat (The Stonning)

After offering Fajar prayer on morning of 10th Zil-Hajj in Muzdalifah, the pilgrims will then return to Mina for Rami.

The symbolic "stoning of the devil" at the Jamarat (pillars) in Mina is followed by the ritual of sacrificing an animal.

During the remaining three days of the Hajj, the pilgrims continue the stoning ritual before performing the circumambulation of the Kaaba in Makkah.

Eid & Sacrifice

After stoning the Satan, Hajj pilgrims will shave off heads or trim hairs, to the prescribed level, and then would get off the Ahrams, Hajj cloths, at completion of Hajj rituals.

Muslims celebrate Eid-ul-Adha and sacrifice Halal animals of their choices every year, after completion of Hajj proceedings.

Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam that must be performed at least once in lifetime by all Muslims capable of making the expensive and difficult journey.

It is religious obligation equally applicable to Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims.

Change of Ghilaf-e-Kaaba

Earlier today, the annual ceremony to change Ghilaf-e-Kaaba was held at Masjid-e-Al-Haram (the Sacred Mosque) in Saudi Arabia.

The covering cloth of the Kaaba, known as Kiswa, is changed on 9th Zilhaj every year on the day of Arafat.

The new cover has been prepared with estimated 150 kg pure gold and 670 kg silk fiber.

The cover, inscribed with verses from the Holy Quran, is prepared by over 200 weaving experts in Dar-ul-Kiswa factory with the cost of 20 million Saudi riyals (nearly PKR.540 million).  - Samaa

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