Pilgrims gather to perform prayers at the Nimra mosque in Arafat, southeast of Makkah. PHOTO: AFP
Saudi Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz has urged Muslims to make concerted efforts in their individual and collective lives to spread the true message of Islam as a religion of peace, love and brotherhood. He was delivering the Hajj sermon from Masjid-e-Nimra at Maidan-e-Arafat where 2.5 million pilgrims have converged to perform Waqooq-e-Arafat, the main ritual of Hajj.
The grand mufti dwelt at length over “conspiracies being hatched by enemies of Islam to undermine its strength” and urged the Muslim Ummah to forge unity in its ranks to foil their designs.
In an apparent reference to the ultraorthodox extremist group Islamic State, which has set up a self-styled caliphate in large swathes of land in Syria and Iraq, he cautioned Muslims against those who are misusing the name of Islam and indulging in sabotage and terrorist activities.
“They have not spared even mosques and peaceful citizens,” the grand mufti said. “These elements have gone astray and are strengthening the hands of enemies of Islam,” he added. “They are disfiguring the image of Islam and serving the cause of its enemies.”
The Prophet of Islam (PBUH) had declared all types of injustices Haram (forbidden), Mufti Abdul Aziz said, adding that no human being should take the life of another human being. “Sooner or later injustice is destined to be eliminated,” he said.
Addressing the Muslim youth, the grand mufti said they should not listen to those who are spreading anarchy. Instead, they should direct their energies towards constructive pursuits and spread the true message of Islam. “We should make our lives a beacon of light for people living around the world.”
Mufti Abdul Aziz also urged rulers of the Islamic world to take care of the needs of their people and concentrate on efforts for promoting unity in the ranks of the Ummah. At the same time, he called upon the media to discharge its professional responsibilities in an honest manner, putting across what is right and inculcating the sense of unity among the Ummah.
He said there is a dire need for Muslims to create unity in their ranks as their enemies are uniting. He especially referred to plans to divide Masjid-e-Aqsa and said “our efforts to liberate the Qibla-e-Awwal have weakened.”
Mufti Abdul Aziz asked Muslims in distress all over the world to demonstrate patience and perseverance as “the time is not far off when their difficulties will end.”
Hajj is a duty for all Muslims at least once in their lives if they can afford it, and for many of the faith’s 1.6 billion adherents it represents a moment of supreme spiritual worth that was reflected in the joy expressed at Arafat.
“I wish everyone could come here. I am sure they would leave with a good heart because here Islam was born,” said Abdullah, a Chinese convert to Islam.
Some pilgrims prayed for peace in Middle East countries ravaged by war and chaos as the annual hajj reached its climax. “What is left of our Arab nation? Iraq was the symbol of power and civilisation. What happened to it now? Look at Syria: the refugees are greater in number than the pilgrims here,” said Egyptian Muhammad Rizq, 65.
After sunset on Wednesday the faithful will move to Muzdalifah. There they will gather pebbles for a symbolic stoning of the devil ritual at Mina on Thursday, which is also the Eidul Azha feast of sacrifice marked by the world’s more than 1.5 billion Muslims. They will put off their Ihrams after sacrificing animals, and shave off their heads followed by Tawaaf-e-Ziara which could be performed within three days. This practice will complete the Hajj rituals.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 24th, 2015.
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