i kept reading though that sikhs reject rituals but yet they are doing rituals and hence my confusion.
can you pm me any articles on the difference in feeling here between ritual and blind ritual? others have contradicted you that is all.
but i would say all would say they are against blind ritual without understanding the reasons for it etc. this isnt something particular to sikhi.
Abu Abdullah
1 - anDhaa kachaa kach nikach. ||1|| rahaa-o.
If I am pleasing to Him, then that is my pilgrimage and cleansing bath. Without pleasing Him, what good are ritual cleansings?
2 - mannai mag na chalai panth.
The faithful do not follow empty religious rituals.
3 - manmukh karam kamaavnay ji-o dohaagan tan seegaar.
The self-willed manmukh performs religious rituals, like the unwanted bride decorating her body.
Meaningless rituals such as going hajj, bathing in the ganges because this apparently 'cleanses the soul'
Ėk Gusā Alhu Mėrā
The One Lord, the Lord of the World, is my God Allah.
Dhan Guru Arjan Dev Mahraaj Ji!
Kal Meh Bėḏ Atharbaṇ Hū Nā Kẖuḏā Alhu Bẖa.
In the Dark Age of Kali Yuga, the Atharva Veda became prominent; Allah became the Name of God.
Hajj is a symbol of submission to Allah and Muslim Unity.
Allah says: “And (remember) when We showed Ibraheem u the site of the House (saying): 'Associate not anything with Me, and sanctify My House for those who circumambulate it, and those who stand up (for prayer), and those who bow and make prostration (in prayer).” [Soorah al-Hajj (22): 26-27]
This verse signifies the purpose of Hajj, it being, the worship of Allah. Allah, the Exalted ordered Ibraheem (alaihis-salaam) to build the Kaa'ba and call people to circumambulate it, and stand up (for prayer), bow down and make prostration (in prayer) to Allah (alone). Therefore, one who performs Hajj is required to sincerely worship Allah and associate none as partners with Him; seek His help, forgiveness and Taqwa.
Anyways, back to topic :X
*Without Allah, without Islam, life would be meaningless. If I've ever learned patience, it's because of this. Alhamdulillah...*
Dear scholars, As-Salamu `alaykum. What is the significance of the Ka`bah? I converted to Islam last year by marriage, and a non-believer told me that Muslims go to Hajj just to touch the stone. Is this true? If not, why is it that all Muslims pray toward the Ka`bah and toward the East? I would like to learn more about my religion so when someone tells me something like this, I can tell them the truth about Islam. Jazakum Allah khayran.
Answer
Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Dear questioner, thank you very much for raising this question, which reflects a good understanding and truthful desire to have a clearer view of the teachings of Islam. May Allah crown this truthful desire with His satisfaction and reward.
The Ka`bah is the first and the most ancient house of worship ever built for all mankind and it was dedicated to the worship of one God. So by facing toward the Ka`bah in our prayers, we are stressing the unity of mankind under the Lordship of the One and only God. Moreover, by facing toward the Ka`bah, we are stressing the concept of Allah, the Almighty being the center of our lives.
Responding to the question in point, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and an Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states:
Allah says in the Qur’an, (The first sanctuary ever built for mankind was that at Bakkah (Makkah), a blessed place, a guidance to the peoples.) (Aal `Imran 3:96). Thus, by ordering us to face towards the Ka`bah, we are taken back to our Adamic roots. One of the most essential messages of Islam is to break the barriers such as race, language and ethnicity, etc. that separate human beings from one another by stressing their common origin in Adam and Eve. We need not emphasize the fact that racism is the scourge of humanity in all times. Thus, through its entire teachings, Islam cuts at the root of this menace. It is no wonder then that all of the Islamic rituals of worship stress equality and egalitarianism rather than division and distinction based on caste, clan or status. One of the last messages delivered by the Prophet during his farewell pilgrimage was, “O people, (through Islam) Allah has abolished from your hearts your boasting on your ancestors. Remember all of you are descended from Adam and Adam is created from the dust of the ground.”
Islam teaches us to worship one and only God. Unlike all other religions, which tend to revere their founders excessively often to the point of worshiping them, Allah makes the Prophet Muhammad to declare: “I am only a human being like you …”
Therefore, nothing is farther from the truth than stating that Muslims undertake the Pilgrimage (Hajj) to touch the black stone or the Ka`bah. They are going to undertake the Hajj, which is one of the five pillars of Islam.
While it is true that while going around the Ka`bah, some pilgrims may touch the black stone, doing so is not an integral rite of Hajj. It is therefore totally absurd and incorrect to say that Muslims go to Makkah to touch the stone.
Touching the stone is a mere symbolic act; it is merely intended to symbolize the beginning of the ritual of circumambulation around the Sacred House. In this context, it is worth remembering what the Caliph `Umar said while touching the black stone: “I know for a certain fact that you are simply a stone; you have no power to benefit or harm anyone; if I hadn’t seen the Prophet touching you I wouldn’t have even bothered to touch you.”
We do not attach any importance to this stone other than the fact that it was placed there by Prophet Ibrahim by the order of Allah. So we are merely renewing our memory of the great Prophet, whose faith and sacrifice is celebrated in the rituals of Hajj.
If anyone is telling you otherwise, he is distorting Islam. Anyway, a non-Muslim is not the source to learn about Islam. The source for Islam is the Qur’an and the Sunnah and those who are well versed in these sources.
Finally, it is not true to say that Muslims always turn to the East; rather they always turn towards the Ka`bah while performing their prayers, and its precise direction may be different, depending on where we are located in the world.
The Ka`bah is the first and the most ancient house of worship ever built for all of humankind and dedicated to the worship of one God. So by facing toward the Ka`bah in our prayers, we are stressing the unity of humankind under the Lordship of the One and only God. Moreover, by facing toward the Ka`bah, we are stressing the idea of centrality of God in our life.
As for the second part your question, I don't exactly have the answer to that. I think I know it, but I won't risk giving you the wrong information.
Insha'Allah someone else can answer for you.
Last edited by Nσσя'υℓ Jαииαн; 02-13-2007 at 01:24 AM.
*Without Allah, without Islam, life would be meaningless. If I've ever learned patience, it's because of this. Alhamdulillah...*
Hold on, aren't you the one who boast's that your Guru went on Hajj?
All you have to do is listen to the testimonies of people who have been on Hajj, and you will realise it is the most life changing experience a person can have. They love it, and it makes them much better Muslims.
It isn't something easy- it involves sacrifice, for example, of ones money to buy a plane ticket etc. It takes a lot of patience, perseverance, it is a test and allows the strong Muslims to show themselves to be as such, because they will undertake all the hardship of hajj, (and still enjoy it and be changed by it, for the better), purely for the sake of God.
And not to mention that it erases all of ones sins!
And, no, Allah does not live in the Ka'ba, but it is His house, i.e. it is attributed to Him by way of honour. It is a sacred/holy place.
Last edited by Malaikah; 02-13-2007 at 01:52 AM.
Reason: LOL thanks:X
I'm not sure if this is right. But where the Ka'ba resides, isn't that where supposedly the Throne of Allah(swt) is, in Jannah? Like the position, cuz the Ka'ba is in the center of the world... I'm not sure where I've heard this.
*Without Allah, without Islam, life would be meaningless. If I've ever learned patience, it's because of this. Alhamdulillah...*
Anyway where did I say Guru Nanak did pacarma (circle the Kaaba)? He went in and did his job as instructed by God! - He didnt' touch the Kaaba, instead the Kaaba moved where his feet were. You do that math!
Gur Fateh!
Ėk Gusā Alhu Mėrā
The One Lord, the Lord of the World, is my God Allah.
Dhan Guru Arjan Dev Mahraaj Ji!
Kal Meh Bėḏ Atharbaṇ Hū Nā Kẖuḏā Alhu Bẖa.
In the Dark Age of Kali Yuga, the Atharva Veda became prominent; Allah became the Name of God.
Hold on, aren't you the one who boost's that your Guru went on Hajj?
All you have to do is listen to the testimonies of people who have been on Hajj, and you will realise it is the most life changing experience a person can have. They love it, and it makes them much better Muslims.
It isn't something easy- it involves sacrifice, for example, of ones money to buy a plane ticket etc. It takes a lot of patience, perseverance, it is a test and allows the strong Muslims to show themselves to be as such, because they will undertake all the hardship of hajj, (and still enjoy it and be changed by it, for the better), purely for the sake of God.
And not to mention that it erases all of ones sins!
And, no, Allah does not live in the Ka'ba, but it is His house, i.e. it is attributed to Him by way of honour. It is a sacred/holy place.
lol - So your belief is like that of hindus, bathing in th ganges. They too claim all sins are washed away by taking a bath. You're saying by going to see the Kaaba, sins are washed. Can anyone verify this please. Does the Quran state it?
Ėk Gusā Alhu Mėrā
The One Lord, the Lord of the World, is my God Allah.
Dhan Guru Arjan Dev Mahraaj Ji!
Kal Meh Bėḏ Atharbaṇ Hū Nā Kẖuḏā Alhu Bẖa.
In the Dark Age of Kali Yuga, the Atharva Veda became prominent; Allah became the Name of God.
lol - So your belief is like that of hindus, bathing in th ganges. They too claim all sins are washed away by taking a bath. You're saying by going to see the Kaaba, sins are washed. Can anyone verify this please. Does the Quran state it?
“And Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) to the House (Ka‘bah) is a duty that mankind owes to Allaah, those who can afford the expenses (for one’s conveyance, provision and residence); and whoever disbelieves [i.e. denies Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah), then he is a disbeliever of Allaah], then Allaah stands not in need of any of the ‘Aalameen (mankind, jinn and all that exists)”
[Aal Imraan 3:97]
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever does Hajj for the sake of Allaah, and does not have sexual relations or commit sins, will come back like the day his mother bore him.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, no. 15210)
(i.e. sinless)
I couldn't find a verse, it might not be in the Quran, I do not know, but it is in an authentic hadith.
format_quote Originally Posted by AvarAllahNoor
lol any Quran verses to back up?
"Then I was taken up to the Much-Frequented House: every day seventy thousand angels visit it and leave, never returning to it again, another [group] coming after them." (Reported by al-Bukhaari, Fath, no. 3207).
That is the place I was referring too, I do not have any other references about it.
Sorry - But this is what ritualistic practices duwad wanted to know of
If you think Hajj is pure rituals, you are wrong, because the rituals have great meaning attached to them. It isn't, just do this and then your over.
I betters a person spiritually.
Perhaps something you might not realise about Islam, is that God requires us to do things. This is because anyone can claim to love God and be a great Muslims when all you have to do is just say 'I believe' or something. But if that were so, how would God differentiate between the good Muslims and the hypocrites? The answer is through our actions, because the hypocrite hates to act in the way God asked him to, whereas the strong Muslims rushes to do as God orders.
How can one understand the significance of the Hajj when one doesn't understand the implications of the Worship of One God, i.e. pure monothiesm?
Hajj demonstrates the essence of Islaam which is belief in One God. Allaah alone. All the ceremonies a pilgrim performs, all the places through which he goes during Hajj reminds him of a great deal of history of this belief, Tawheed (Islamic Monotheism).
When one goes on Hajj he meets his brothers from around the world, and what is stronger there than the bond of brotherhood that is among the people performing the Hajj? You'll find even the kings there equal to the peasant, the rich equal to the poor.
lol - So your belief is like that of hindus, bathing in th ganges. They too claim all sins are washed away by taking a bath. You're saying by going to see the Kaaba, sins are washed. Can anyone verify this please. Does the Quran state it?
What I find with reading your posts is that you seem to be asking questions and the same time mocking the questioner and his beliefs with your use of phrases such as 'lol'. Secondly, you are decieving yourself by only asking proof from the Qur'an. The Ahadith and the Way of the Prophet is an equal source in Islam.
Thirdly, it is not by seeing the Kaabah that sins are forgiven. It is by completing Hajj, for the sake of God, free of any showing off, to the best of abilities which earns the pilgrim the forgiveness of Allah.
lol any Quran verses to back up?
Same as before. Cut it out with the 'lol' or your posts wont be taken seriously. And again, the Sunnah is an equal source to the Qur'an.
The House is mentioned in the Qur'an:
42: 4. And by the Bait-ul-Ma'mur..
And this is explained in the Ahadith:
...(The gate) was opened for us and there I found Ibrahim (Abraham peace be upon him) reclining against the Bait-ul-Ma'mur and there enter into it seventy thousand angels every day, never to visit (this place) again...{Muslim-Book 1-Hadith 309}
The Hadith is much longer but above is the relevent part. There are other similar authentic narrations.
Regards.
“Do not argue with your Lord on behalf of your soul, rather argue with your soul on behalf of your Lord.” - Dhul-Nun
"It is the very pursuit of happiness that thwarts happiness." - Victor Frankl
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