HAJJ
AYATULLAH
SAYYID MOHAMMAD ZIA ABADI
Translated by
ALI AKBAR AGHILI ASHTIANI


TRANSLATOR'S NOTE 12
INTRODUCTION 13

CHAPTER ONE
THE PURPOSE OF ACTS OF WORSHIP

THE ISLAMIC PIETY IS NOT AGAINST THE PRINCIPLES OF EVERYDAY LIFE 17
SUMMARY 19
BEING A SERVANT OF GOD IS MAN'S DIGNITY 20
IMPACT OF WORSHIP AT SOUL 20
HAJJ, A LIVELY ACT 21
HAJJ OF MOST PEOPLE IS DEVOID OF SPIRIT 21
HAJJ DEVOID OF SPIRIT HAS NO LIVING EFFECTS 22

CHAPTER TWO
SOCIAL EFFECTS OF HAJJ

HAJJ, THE ASSEMBLY OF DISPERSED POWERS IN SINGLE FORUM 23
CALLING TO HAJJ IS CALLING TO UNITY OF POWER 24
HAJJ, MAN'S ASCENSION TO HEAVEN 24
THE KAABA'S WONDERFUL ATTRACTION 25
HOW LOVINGLY PILGRIMS CIRCUMAMBULATE THE KAABA 25
PEOPLE'S INCLINATION TOWARDS THE KAABA, UNUSUAL 26
WHY SHOULD GUARDIANS OF SPIRITUALITY BE SETTLED IN A DESERT 26
WHAT GREAT ASSET HAS BEEN GIVEN TO MUSLIMS! 27
THE KAABA, A SECURITY FOR THE SURVIVAL OF HUMAN SOCIETY 28
THE KAABA, A SANCTUARY AND A PLACE OF SECURITY 28
IGNORING HAJJ MEANS DISPERSION IN HUMAN SOCIETY 29
THE PROPHESY OF THE ABANDONMENT OF THE KAABA AND ITS SINISTER EFFECTS IN TRADITIONS 29
HAJJ, GOD'S RIGHT TO MAN AND MAN'S GRATEFULNESS TO HIM 30
THE TRUE BENEFACTOR IS GOD AND OFFERING THANKS IS OBLIGATORY 30
GOD ACCEPT GENEROUSLY EVERY LITTLE DEED 30
THANKFULNESS BENEFITS MAN, NOT GOD 31
THANKFULNESS TO GOD MAKES MAN DISTINCT FROM ANIMALS 31
CALL TO WORSHIP IS MAN'S DIGNITY 31
WHY IS AN UNGRATEFUL MAN MORE ASTRAY THAN BEASTS? 32
CALL TO HAJJ IS GOD'S GRACE TO MAN 32
WHAT PROFITABLE TRADE THE VISITATION OF THE KAABA IS! 32
SOME OF THE WONDERFUL BLESSINGS OF HAJJ ACCORDING TO TRADITIONS 32
NOT ALL HAJJ PILGRIMS ARE EQUAL IN TERMS OF REWARD 33
WHY IS THE DIFFERENCE IN REWARD? 33
HAJJ IS THE MARKET OF THE HEREAFTER 34
HAJJ PILGRIMS ARE GOD'S GUESTS 34
LOOKING AT THE KAABA IS BLESSING, TOO! 34
THE PRECINCT OF THE KAABA IS SHOWERED WITH MERCY AND BLESSINGS 35
WHAT BLESSED ACT THE CIRCUMAMBULATION OF GOD'S HOUSE IS! 35
FORSAKER OF HAJJ IS NOT HUMAN 36
FORSAKERS OF HAJJ, ON THE DAY OF JUDGMENT, ARE WITH JEWS OR CHRISTIANS 37
FORSAKER OF HAJJ WILL BE BLIND ON THE DAY OF JUDGMENT 38
HAJJ CONSOLIDATES FAITH 38
THE KAABA, EMBLEM OF ISLAM 39
HAJJ REMOVES POVERTY AND SOCIAL DISOBEDIENCE 40
IGNORING HAJJ LEADS TO WEAKNESS OF THE RELIGION AND THE UNBELIEVERS' DOMINATION OVER MUSLIMS 40
NO CHARITY CAN REPLACE HAJJ 42
SPENDING A MOUNTAIN OF RED GOLD IN THE SAKE OF GOD DOES NOT EQUAL GOING ON HAJJ 42
ONE DIRHAM IS BETTER THAN THOUSANDS 42
NEITHER FORSAKE HAJJ NOR DISSUADE OTHERS 43
THE BLESSINGS OF HAJJ ON ALL PEOPLE OF THE WORLD 44
WHERE ARE THE POSITIVE EFFECTS OF HAJJ ON THE UMMAH? 44
THE HOLY PROPHET WORRIES ABOUT HAJJ AT THE END OF THE WORLD 45
WE HAVE TO CONFESS THIS BITTER FACT 45
THE FAULT LIES WITH US 45

CHAPTER THREE
SPIRITUAL PHILOSOPHY OF HAJJ

GOD'S FAVOR TO MAN 47
THE KING MAKES A PALACE IN A RUINED VILLAGE 48
HAJJ, A DISPLAY OF MAN'S SPIRITUAL JOURNEY 48
THE IMAMS; THE TRUTH OF THE RELIGION AND RELIGIOUS DUTIES 52
THE IMAM IS THE CRITERION OF THE BELIEF, ETHICS, AND DEEDS 53
THE IMAM, THE STRAIGHT PATH OF GOD 54
SUMMARY 56
HAJJ, SPIRITUAL JOURNEY NOT PHYSICAL ACTS 57
THE HAJJ OF PROPHET IBRAHIM (A.S), A SPIRITUAL ONE 57
CONTENT, NOT FORM, IS IMPORTANT 57
WHERE ARE THE TRUE FEATURE OF ISLAM AND THE EFFECT OF PROSTRATION? 58
READ THE FOLLOWING REPORTS AND GET TO KNOW THE FEATURE OF A SHIITE MUSLIM 58
NOTE 60
WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF SKEPTICISM 61
THE SKEPTICISM OF A MATERIALIST THIRTEEN CENTURIES AGO 61
WHY WAS GOD'S HOUSE NOT BUILT IN A PLEASANT AREA? 63
WHY DO HAJJ ACTS NOT PLEASE THE INTELLECT AND TEMPERAMENT? 65
GOD'S TRIAL IS DIFFICULT 67
FAILURE OF PEOPLE OF SABBATH IN GOD'S TRIAL 67
TRIAL OF TALUT'S ARMY 67
ANOTHER TRIAL OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL 69
PROPHET IBRAHIM AND GOD'S STRANGE TRIAL 69
SUMMARY 71
QUESTIONS OF PRACTICAL LAWS OF ISLAM 72
NOTE 72
THE AIM OF QUESTIONING THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE PRACTICAL LAWS OF ISLAM 72
WHY ARE WE IN NEED FOR A DIVINE REVELATION? 73
WHAT IS RELIGIOUS OBEDIENCE? 73
GOD IS IN NO NEED FOR OUR OBEDIENCE 77

CHAPTER FOUR
STAGES OF HAJJ

BEGINNING OF THE JOURNEY AND GOING THROUGH DIFFERENT STAGES 81
STAGE ONE: PURE INTENTION 81
STAGE TWO: REPENTANCE 82
STAGE THREE: DETACHMENT FROM WHAT IS NOT GODLY 82
CHOOSING A CO-TRAVELER 84
GOOD TEMPERAMENT 84

CHAPTER FIVE
HALTING PLACES

HALTING PLACE I: MIQAT 85
HOLDING OF TONGUE IMPORTANT IN STATE OF IHRAM 87
HALTING PLACE II: MATAAF 89
IMAM BAQIR BY THE SIDE OF THE KAABA 90
BEWARE, THIS IS THE PRECINCT OF THE KAABA, AND A HOLY PLACE 91
SURVIVAL OF THE KAABA, A WONDER 91
IMPORTANCE OF THE CIRCUMAMBULATION OF THE KAABA 92
THE POSITION OF ONE WHO HAS THE HONOR OF CIRCUMAMBULATION 93
HALTING PLACE III: MAS'AA 94
HALTING PLACE IV: MOUNT ARAFAT 97
WHERE IS ARAFAT? 97
MAN WILL NOT BECOME FAMILIAR WITH GOD AS LONG AS HE IS ATTACHED TO THE WORLD 98
DAY OF ARAFAT IS THE DAY OF SUPPLICATION TO GOD 100
DUAA HAS ITS OWN EFFECT 100
BEWARE! HERE IS ARAFAT 102
GOOD TIDINGS: IMAM MAHDI (A.S) IS PRESENT IN ARAFAT 104
TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR DUAA 105
DUAA FOR REAPPEARANCE OF IMAM MAHDI (A.S) 106
ASK FORGIVENESS FOR YOUR PARENTS, RELATIVES, AND ALL BELIEVERS IN ARAFAT 108
WHAT A BLESSED DUAA! 109
NOW, SUPPLICATION TO GOD 110
THE SUN IN ARAFAT IS SETTING 110
GOOD TIDINGS 112
HALTING PLACE V: AL-MASH'AR AL-HARAM 112
RESTRAIN YOUR ANGER 113
AL-MASH'AR OR THE MEETING PLACE OF GOD'S LOVERS 113
WHAT A BLESSED PLACE AND WHAT AN AUSPICIOUS NIGHT! 114
NIGHT, TIME OF COMMUNION WITH GOD 114
NOW IT IS NIGHT, THE EVEN OF FEAST OF SACRIFICE IN AL-MASH'AR AL-HARAM 116
REFLECT FOR AN HOUR 118
NIGHT IN AL-MASH'AR AL-HARAM AND REFLECTION 118
THE PHILOSOPHY OF STAYING OVERNIGHT IN AL-MASH'AR 118
PRAISEWORTHINESS OF PICKING UP PEBBLES IN AL-MASH'AR 119
AL-MASH'AR AL-HARAM, A SIGN OF ISLAMIC EDUCATION 120
HALTING PLACE VI: MINA, THE PLACE OF SACRIFICE 121
RAMY AL-JAMARAT IN MINA AND ITS PHILOSOPHY 122
OFFERING ANIMAL SACRIFICE IN MINA AND ITS PHILOSOPHY 124
PAYING HOMAGE TO THE MASTER OF MARTYRS (A.S) 125
ISLAM HAS TWO OFFICIAL FEASTS 126
SOCIAL ASPECT OF SACRIFICE IN MINA 126
A LIVING RELIGION NEEDS BOTH MOSQUE AND SACRIFICE 128
SACRIFICE, EXISTED AMONG FORMER NATIONS 128
THE SPIRITUAL PHILOSOPHY OF OFFERING SACRIFICE 129
ECONOMIC PROFITS IN SACRIFICE 131
HOW TO USE THE MEAT OF A SACRIFICED ANIMAL ACCORDING TO THE HOLY QURAN AND TRADITIONS 132
HALQ AND TAQSIR IN MINA AND THE PHILOSOPHY 133
SUMMARY 137
STAYING OVERNIGHT IN MINA 137
UNDERSTANDING AMONG THE UMMAH IN MINA 137
NIGHTS IN MINA AND COMMUNION WITH GOD 139
KHEIF MOSQUE IN MINA 142
HALTING PLACE VII: VISITATION OF THE KAABA AND KISSING THE BLACK STONE 142
THE BLACK STONE, GOD'S HAND ON THE EARTH 142
THE BLACK STONE IS OF HEAVENLY ESSENCE AND GOD'S TRUSTEE AMONG SERVANTS 143
NOTE 144
ALL BEINGS IN THE WORLD HAVE TWO FEATURES 146
SUMMARY 147
SOME NOTES 147
KISSING AND CARESSING THE BLACK STONE BY CAUSING INCONVENIENCE TO OTHERS 147
AVOID DROPPING PEBBLES ROUND THE KAABA 148
TAKE PART IN THE CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER AND DO NOT LEAVE THE MOSQUE 148
DO NOT MISS THE OPPORTUNITY OF PERFORMING CIRCUMAMBULATION AND PRAYER IN THE SACRED MOSQUE AND READING THE HOLY QURAN 149
THE VIRTUE OF PRAYER IN THE SACRED MOSQUE 151
THE VIRTUE OF READING THE WHOLE QURAN IN MECCA 151
DO NOT MISS THE UMRAH MUFRADAH 151

CHAPTER SIX
CONCLUSION OF THE HAJJ RITES

PEOPLE OF THE PRE-ISLAMIC ERA PERFORMED HAJJ, TOO 153
O PILGRIMS OF THE SACRED HOUSE 154
SERMON OF MAN OF LETTER 155
IMAM SAJJAD'S COMPREHENSIVE REFERENCE TO THE SECRETS OF HAJJ 156
IMAM SADIQ'S FULL INSTRUCTION ON HAJJ 168
AN ANALOGY BETWEEN MAN'S LIFE AND THE HAJJ RITES 171

CHAPTER SEVEN
VISITATION

VISITATION TO THE HOLY SHRINE OF GOD'S MESSENGER 175
LOVE FOR THE AHL UL-BAYT IS REWARD OF PROPHETHOOD 176
WILAYAT MAKES THE HAJJ RITES PERFECT 176
ACCEPTABLE HAJJ 178
VISITING THE PROPHET'S TOMB 180
PEACE BE UPON YOU, O MESSENGER OF ALLAH AND UPON YOUR PURE AND IMMACULATE HOUSEHOLD 183
SOULS OF TRUE BELIEVERS KEEP ON LIVING AFTER DEATH AND THEY ARE AWARE OF ALL EVENTS 184
DUST FROM MESSENGERS' FOOTSTEPS IS LIFE-GIVING 186
SHIITES ARE IN SEARCH OF FATIMA'S GRAVE IN MEDINA 188
AL-BAQIE CEMETERY, THE SACRED HALL OF AUDIENCE 190
THE MARTYRS OF THE BATTLE OF UHUD 190
CONCLUSION OF THE JOURNEY 192