Spiritual Path to Global Harmony : A few Jews are aware that for over 1.000 years, as there was a Ka’ba Makka was built on the initiative of Abraham as well as Ishmael was infested with idols the Jerusalem’s First and Second Temples–
Bait the Muqaddas/Beit HaMiqdash stood in its place, and the Jewish holiday known as Hag Sukkot was regarded as an Hajj the festival of pilgrimage. In Biblical times, the Hebrew phrase Hag was known as Hajj. Its meaning Hajj literally translates to “to embark on a journey to a destination’.
The Torah states, “Celebrate Hajj Sukkot for seven days following the time you’ve harvested the fruits of your threshing floors and your winepress. Enjoy your celebration with joy–you as well as your daughters and sons together with your male and female servants and the Levites and strangers, those without fathers, and widows in your towns.
For seven days, celebrate the festival in honor of God the Lord your God in the place that the Lord chooses. Because the Lord Your God can bless your throughout your harvest, and in every tasks you do and your happiness will be completely.
Every year, three times, all your men are required to appear before your Lord God at the location the Lord will select to appear: at the Hajj of Matzah as well as at the Hajj of Weeks as well as of course, the Hajj on Sukkot. (Deuteronomy 16:13-16)
Sukkot, the Hajj on Sukkot was a choice made by Prophet Solomon for the dedication of for the First Temple in Jerusalem. (1Kings 8; 2). Hajj Sukkot is so significant throughout the centuries that Solomon’s Temple stood that it was sometimes referred to”just “the Hajj” (1 Kings 8:3; 8;65; 12:62, 2 Chronicles 5:3; 7:8) possibly due to the large number of Jews who flocked to at the Temple located in Jerusalem,
In the six first days of Sukkot it was customary to circle around the Temple alter while singing the psalms. Seven days before Sukkot the custom was to circling seven times around the Temple altar seven times. The Oral Torah says: “It was customary to perform a ritual around the altar every day of Sukkot as well as seven times on Sukkot’s seventh day.” (Mishnah Sukkah 4:5).
The slaughter ritual of Qurbani (Korban in Hebrew) Halal/kosher animals at the end of all ritual reenactments is meant to teach anyone that ” Their flesh and their blood cannot touch Allah however the love and gratitude you show to Allah reaches Allah.” ( Quran 22:37). It is the same fundamental knowledge of the prophets from Hebrew and Rabbis provided to the offerings at Solomon’s Temple of Solomon.
This is the reason “Prophet Muhammad was once asked by his companions: “O Prophet of Allah! What is this Qurbani?” He said, “It is the Sunnah of your father Ibrahim.”
Every seventh day within the Jerusalem Temple was done in honour of a prophet. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aaron and David. Muslims will find some similarities as well as many distinctions among the Judaic Hajj as well as the Muslim Hajj.
Following desecration of the Second Temple by the Romans in 70 CE, the religious aspect of the long, week-long harvest festival started a slow loss of the spiritual consciousness among those who belong to the Jewish People.
Many of the millions of Jews from other countries that are not in from the Land of Israel; and the millions of Jews from across all over the Land of Israel outside the city of Jerusalem that attend each year for the month of Sukkot within Jerusalem during Bait ul-Muqaddas, the furthest sanctuary. They stopped arriving.
Then, two generations on following another major Jewish rebellion (132-135 CE) in the area of Israel In the year 132-135 CE, the Romans built Jerusalem to be a pagan town that was populated with idols.
That prevented all Jews from visiting the site of the destroyed Jerusalem Temple, also known as the Bait ul Muqaddas/Beit Hash.
Nowadays, the vast majority of Jews living outside of Israel live in Land of Israel live in Protestant countries where the concept of pilgrimage plays very little or nothing at all in the religious life.
Therefore, it’s very difficult for the majority of Jews to experience the immense spiritual uplifting that is available for pilgrims who travel the long journey to, and in the chaos of the most sacred and holy place.
It is rare that an outsider is able to experience even a tiny part of the spiritual experience of those who are part of the tradition of pilgrimage.
One such observer is Mark Twain, wrote: “It is wonderful to witness the power of faith that lets many old, weak frail, young and weak go without hesitation or resentment on these incredible journeys, and bear the ensuing miseries without remorse.”
For Muslims The Furthest Sanctuary is in Jerusalem. “Glory to Him Who carried His servant through the night and carried him from Jerusalem’s Holy Sanctuary to the Furthest Sanctuary and the Precincts of the Holy Sanctuary, which We blessed. to give him a few of our signs. We are sure that We are the One-Speaking and all-seeing.” (Qur’an 17:1)
It is important to note that the site of the remains of the Jerusalem Temple was the site of Prophet Muhammad’s ascension, mirajwhich means up to heaven. The two holy places that are Makka and Jerusalem are an air cylinder breathing, and recycle the spiritual holiness of the one God across the globe.
The first was the Ka’ba, and later 700 miles to the north, and a generation after al-Aqsa said: ” Indeed, the first House of worship] set up for the world was in Makkah blessed and providing guide for all the worlds.” ( Qur’an 3:96)
Abu Dhar narrated”I said “O Allah’s Prophet! What mosque was the first to be constructed on the surface the Earth?” He said, “Al-Masjid-ul-Haram (in Mekka).” I asked, “Which was built next?” He responded “The Mosque of Al-Aqsa (in Jerusalem).” I asked, “What was the period of construction between these two?” He replied, “Forty years.” (Sahih al-Bukhari Vol. 4 Book 55 Hadith #585)
After the flood, the Ka’ba was restored through Abraham as well as Ishmael. But, a few generations later, the Ka’ba began to be contaminated due to an influx of idols. People from Arabia have completely abandoned the doctrines of their father and founder Prophet Ibrahim.
The House, which Abraham had cleansed to be a place of worship for Allah only, was completely destroyed by the pagans and the rites that Ibrahim had instituted in that place were completely deformed by pagan Arabs. This sad situation in Arabia was in place for nearly an entire millennia.
However exactly 500 years following the Roman destruction of the Second Temple in 70 C.E. it was time for the prayer by prophet Ibrahim to be heard:
“Our Lord! Send them a messenger of their own who will read to them your verses, and guide them through the book and in the Wisdom and then sanctify them.” (Qur’an 2:129) and Prophet Muhammad was born.
Jerusalem Temple Jerusalem Temple, first built by Solomon around 950 BCE, was devastated by Babylonians during 586 BC. It was rebuilt 70 years later, only to be destroyed by the Romans and later infest the entire site by constructing an Roman city that was populated by roads and buildings brimming with idols.
The devastation of the Furthest Sanctuary of monotheistic religious pilgrimage to Jerusalem through the pagan Romans was five and a half centuries later defeated by Prophet Muhammad’s ascension, miraj towards the heavens and the soon to be completed elimination by the Prophet Muhammad of more than 300 idols that were worshipped in Pagan-infested Ka’ba located in Makka.
After the Ka’ba was cleansed once more and the Ka’ba was cleansed, there was no need for a third temple to be constructed in Jerusalem that remains a holy city both for Jews as well as Christians even without the Temple and animal sacrifices for nearly 1950 years.
The prophet Zechariah imagined a future period where God will aid us in establishing peace throughout the world and justice. In the future, people from all nations of the world will visit Makka or Jerusalem in order to praise God.
Every year, during Hajj Sukkot, Jerusalem will accept Jews, Christians, Muslims and all other individuals who (ancestors) were Israel’s foes “Then the survivors of all the nations who have attacked Jerusalem will ascend each year to praise the King of the Universe, the Lord Almighty and to celebrate Hajj Sukkot.” (Zechariah 14:16)
The Ka’ba will always welcome everyone Muslims who will answer the demand: “Call upon the people to make Hajj. They will be there in their soles or riding a weak camel and will come to you from all over the desert. (Qur’an 22:27).
In the next few years, God will allow the prophecies of the prophet Isaiah shall be fulfilled “In this day” there’s a road from Egypt towards Assyria. The Assyrians will travel towards Egypt as well as the Egyptians go to Assyria. Assyria will be the third. Egyptians along with the Assyrians will be worshipping together.
On that day, Israel will be third in the list, along alongside Egypt and Assyria which will be a blessing to the earth. In the Lord Almighty shall bless them by saying “Blessed to be Egypt my beloved people. Assyria my workmanship, and Israel my inheritance.” (Isaiah 19 23-25)
Thank you God let it happen in the near future.
Categories: PRAYER (Salat), ALMS (Zakat), SAWN (Fasting) HAJJ (Pilgrimage) & DUA (Supplications), Hadith and Tafseer, The Holy Quran, Quran Jaz 1- 114
Topics: Ushr and Zakat, Hijab, Arabic Corner, Faith, Islamic History, Biography, Sirat ul Nabi PBUH, Islamic Studies, Halal & Haram
Hajj:
- What is Ihram Haji ? | Hajj and Umrah-Quranmualim
- Importance of The Days of Zil Hajj | The Day of Arafah
- Define Menses during Hajj and Umrah | Mina in Makkah
- The Holy pilgrimage of The Messenger | The Rituals of Hajj
- 3 Types of Hajj | Tamattu | Ifrad | Hajj Qiran – Quranmualim
