Living The Quran
From Issue: 658 [Read full issue]
The First House
Al Imran (The House of Imran) - Chapter 3: Verses 96-97
"The first House [of worship] ever set up for mankind was indeed the one at Bakkah: rich in blessing, and a source of guidance to all the worlds, full of clear messages. It is the place whereon Abraham once stood; and whoever enters it finds inner peace. Pilgrimage to this House is a duty owed to God by all people who are able to undertake it. As for those who disbelieve, God does not stand in need of anything in all the worlds."
It was in Makka (Bakkah) that Abraham (Ibrahim) and his son built the Holy Kaba, the centre of the Islamic movement, on a site chosen by Allah himself. This building was not intended for worship only, as mosques are; its purpose was to act as the centre for spreading the universal movement of Islam, a world-wide gathering point for believers in the One God to assemble to worship Allah in congregation and go back to their respective countries carrying with them the message of Islam. This was the assembly which was named Hajj.
Peace always reigned in and around the Kaba, when all around it were rampant plunder, murder, devastation, conflict, and warfare - such was its sanctity that even the Bedouins who respected no law, if they detected in its precincts the murderer of even their father, did not dare to touch him.
These verses establish the obligation of performing Hajj. There are many Hadiths that mention it as one of the pillars of Islam and this is agreed upon by the Muslims. Pilgrimage is a personal obligation on every individual once in a lifetime, and it becomes due when the conditions of ability are fulfilled, including physical health, ability to travel and safe passage.
Pilgrimage is the Muslims' annual general assembly which is held at the House from which their message was given to them for the first time, and which witnessed the birth of the pure faith of Abraham, their first father, and which was the first House God has set up on earth for His own worship. Pilgrimage is, therefore, an assembly of great significance. Its historical associations centre around the noble concept of faith, which highlights the link between man and his Creator. It is a worthy concept to form the basis for human unity. Hence, it is appropriate that people should assemble every year at the Sacred Place which witnessed the birth of this call to mankind to unite on pure faith.
Compiled From:
"Let Us Be Muslims" - Sayyid Abul Ala Mawdudi, p. 250
"In the Shade of the Quran" - Sayyid Qutb, Vol 2, pp. 152-153