A Breif Intro of Hajj

To make up mind or to plan for. According to other dictionaries it means to plan for something which is glorious (Taj). That is why when someone plans to go to Makkah al-Mukarramah it was called Hajj. Al-Hijjah means one year; plural Hijaj. In verse (28/27) "Thamania Hijaj" means 8 years. Al-Hajj also means to prevent, to stop, to quarrel, as while doing so one prevents the other (Taj). In verse (3/19) Fa-in-H'aajjooka - "so if they stop you from your planning." It also means argument (6/81) (Moheet). In verse (6/150), Quranic arguments and directions are called Al-Hujjatul-B'aligha, clear, distinct arguments.

Hajj is an international convention, in which Muslims from all over the world assemble at their central place, their capital, in order to discuss their mutual problems (social, economic, political, etc.) in the light of the Holy Quran. Quran has asked the Muslims to invite all the mankind to come and see what this system is doing for them with their own eyes (22/28). Moreover, in order to set up a system throughout the world, it is necessary to hold international congregations, basically to demonstrate the progressive, democratic and modern teachings of Islam.

These teachings, which were revealed 1,400 years ago at the time when despots and kings ruled the world, directed the Muslims to decide their affairs by mutual consultations (22/36). Another thing worth nothing is that the word Hajj comes in the Quran ten times and every time the command or direction is for the mankind (An-N'as) and not only for the Muslims or Momineen; quite unlike Sal'at or Zak'at which are specifically mentioned for Muslims (9/3-22/27-3/97).

THE UMMRA

A meeting; to visit a habituated place. Besides performing Hajj, a visit to K'aba and
doing Tawaf and S'aee is called Umra. Whereas Hajj is an annual meeting, at a fixed
date in a fixed month, i.e., 9th of Zul-Hajj, Umra can be performed at any time of the
year, so it can be called an emergency meeting. For details also see Hajj.

Al'lma'rato means a thing with the help of which a place is habituated. Verse
(9/17) says that it is not the Mushrikeen who would habitat the mosques of Allah,
only the Momineen would do it.

Verse (52/4) refers to a frequented home. Al-Bait-ul-M'amoor (Al-K'aba).