Children of Abraham - 0402
“Consider Abraham: ‘He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness (from Genesis 15:6).’ Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham.” [Galatians 3:6-7]
Beginning January 23 this year, Muslims from around the world celebrate their faith by making the pilgrimage or Hajj to Mecca. Saturday, January 31, is the Day Of Hajj (Pilgrimage) and Sunday, February 1, is Eid al-Adha (Day of Sacrifice). Let’s review how Hajj, Eid al-Adha, and Abraham are connected.
“In Islam, Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) is the friend of Allah and the father of Prophets Ismail (Ishmael in English) and Ishaq (Isaac), and the grandfather of Prophet Yaqub (Jacob). He is also one of the ancestors of the Prophet Muhammad . . .. Anyone who rejects Prophet Ibrahim is not a true believer in Islam. Prophet Ibrahim plays a key role in this regard.”[1]
Muslims, who believe in all the prophets of the Old Testament, especially revere Abraham[2]. In fact, during each of the five daily prayers, each worshiper asks for Allah to bless Abraham. And Muslims pray those prayers while facing the Kaba, which was (re)built by Abraham and Ishmael, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
"The first temple ever built for men was that at Bakka (another name for Mecca), a blessed site, a beacon for the nations. In it there are veritable signs and the spot where Abraham stood. Whoever enters it is safe. Pilgrimage to the House is a duty to God for all who can make the journey.” (Qur’an 3:96-97)[3]
“. . .the Hajj consists of several ceremonies meant to symbolize the essential concepts of the Islamic faith, and to commemorate the trials of the prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and his family.”Making the pilgrimage is one of the five pillars of Islam. (The other "pillars" include a declaration of faith, daily prayers, offering regular charity, and fasting during the month of Ramadan.) “Hajj is one of the best forms of worship and is one of the most sublime deeds. . .[but it] is only acceptable when . . . one devotes it to Allah alone, with a desire for the Hereafter, [and when] one follows the Prophet's example, in words and deeds.”[4] But preparing for, and making the Hajj requires sacrifices: time, money, comfort, and several worldly relations and many corporeal desires and pleasures.
It is believed that the Hajj traditions and rituals have come down from Abraham.
Those who make the journey may jog around the Kaba three times, and then walk around four more times, counterclockwise. They may do this more than one time. Some Muslims believe that this ritual mirrors the way angels worship God in heaven.
They walk and run seven times a short distance to commemorate Hajira’s (Hagar’s) care for her son, Ishmael.[5] Abraham had left them without food or water at Mecca, calling for divine intervention. Hajira ran back and forth between two hills, alternatively checking on her child and looking for help (eventually provided by the angel Gabriel in the form of a well).
They toss pebbles. It is believed that Satan blocked Abraham from performing the Hajj rites, so Abraham threw seven stones at Satan, who then disappeared. This happened twice more.
We know of the command that Abraham sacrifice his son, of Abraham’s willingness to do that out of obedience to God, and of God’s last minute intervention, sparing the child, and providing a ram for sacrifice instead. Muslims celebrate this event as Eid al-Adha or Feast of Sacrifice, the most important feast of the Muslim calendar.[6]
“It concludes the Pilgrimage to Mecca. Eid al-Adha lasts for three days and commemorates Ibrahim's (Abraham’s) willingness to obey God by sacrificing his son. Muslims believe the son to be Ishmael, considered the forefather of the Arabs, rather than Isaac as told in the Old Testament. The feast re-enacts Ibrahim's obedience by sacrificing a cow or ram. The family eats about a third of the meal and donates the rest to the poor.[7]”
This is not a blood offering: "Neither their meat nor their blood ever reaches God, but heedfulness on your part does reach Him." (Qur’an 22:37).
"Muslims, when celebrating this day of sacrifice, remember all possible sacrifices a Muslim may do and practice the many aspects of sacrifice, which were done by prophet Ibrahim, the father of the prophets. . .the Hajj consists of several ceremonies meant to symbolize the essential concepts of the Islamic faith, and to commemorate the trials of the prophet Ibrahim and his family.”[8]
Commemorating the trials, sacrifices, and obedience of Abraham is what Hajj and Eid al-Adha are all about. By this acts, Muslims demonstrate their obedience to God, and recognize God’s power and mercy. We Christians share with Muslims, and with Jews too, the desire to worship the one God, the God of Abraham.
[1] http://www.soundvision.com/info/hajj/abraham.asp
[2]"Salamun (peace) be upon Abraham!" (Qur’an 37:109); and “And who has a nobler religion than he who surrenders himself to God, does what is right, and follows the faith of saintly Abraham, whom God chose to be His friend?” (Qur’an 4:125).
[3] As translated by N.J. Dawood, Penguin books, 1990
[4] http://www.islam101.com/hajj/howHajj.htm
[5] http://www.soundvision.com/Info/hajj/hajira.asp
[6] http://www3.kumc.edu/diversity/ethnic_relig/eid-al-adha.html
[7] http://www.berkeleypta.org/02.html
[8] http://www.dailyillini.com/feb03/feb12/news/stories/news_story05.shtml
Beginning January 23 this year, Muslims from around the world celebrate their faith by making the pilgrimage or Hajj to Mecca. Saturday, January 31, is the Day Of Hajj (Pilgrimage) and Sunday, February 1, is Eid al-Adha (Day of Sacrifice). Let’s review how Hajj, Eid al-Adha, and Abraham are connected.
“In Islam, Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) is the friend of Allah and the father of Prophets Ismail (Ishmael in English) and Ishaq (Isaac), and the grandfather of Prophet Yaqub (Jacob). He is also one of the ancestors of the Prophet Muhammad . . .. Anyone who rejects Prophet Ibrahim is not a true believer in Islam. Prophet Ibrahim plays a key role in this regard.”[1]
Muslims, who believe in all the prophets of the Old Testament, especially revere Abraham[2]. In fact, during each of the five daily prayers, each worshiper asks for Allah to bless Abraham. And Muslims pray those prayers while facing the Kaba, which was (re)built by Abraham and Ishmael, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
"The first temple ever built for men was that at Bakka (another name for Mecca), a blessed site, a beacon for the nations. In it there are veritable signs and the spot where Abraham stood. Whoever enters it is safe. Pilgrimage to the House is a duty to God for all who can make the journey.” (Qur’an 3:96-97)[3]
“. . .the Hajj consists of several ceremonies meant to symbolize the essential concepts of the Islamic faith, and to commemorate the trials of the prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and his family.”Making the pilgrimage is one of the five pillars of Islam. (The other "pillars" include a declaration of faith, daily prayers, offering regular charity, and fasting during the month of Ramadan.) “Hajj is one of the best forms of worship and is one of the most sublime deeds. . .[but it] is only acceptable when . . . one devotes it to Allah alone, with a desire for the Hereafter, [and when] one follows the Prophet's example, in words and deeds.”[4] But preparing for, and making the Hajj requires sacrifices: time, money, comfort, and several worldly relations and many corporeal desires and pleasures.
It is believed that the Hajj traditions and rituals have come down from Abraham.
Those who make the journey may jog around the Kaba three times, and then walk around four more times, counterclockwise. They may do this more than one time. Some Muslims believe that this ritual mirrors the way angels worship God in heaven.
They walk and run seven times a short distance to commemorate Hajira’s (Hagar’s) care for her son, Ishmael.[5] Abraham had left them without food or water at Mecca, calling for divine intervention. Hajira ran back and forth between two hills, alternatively checking on her child and looking for help (eventually provided by the angel Gabriel in the form of a well).
They toss pebbles. It is believed that Satan blocked Abraham from performing the Hajj rites, so Abraham threw seven stones at Satan, who then disappeared. This happened twice more.
We know of the command that Abraham sacrifice his son, of Abraham’s willingness to do that out of obedience to God, and of God’s last minute intervention, sparing the child, and providing a ram for sacrifice instead. Muslims celebrate this event as Eid al-Adha or Feast of Sacrifice, the most important feast of the Muslim calendar.[6]
“It concludes the Pilgrimage to Mecca. Eid al-Adha lasts for three days and commemorates Ibrahim's (Abraham’s) willingness to obey God by sacrificing his son. Muslims believe the son to be Ishmael, considered the forefather of the Arabs, rather than Isaac as told in the Old Testament. The feast re-enacts Ibrahim's obedience by sacrificing a cow or ram. The family eats about a third of the meal and donates the rest to the poor.[7]”
This is not a blood offering: "Neither their meat nor their blood ever reaches God, but heedfulness on your part does reach Him." (Qur’an 22:37).
"Muslims, when celebrating this day of sacrifice, remember all possible sacrifices a Muslim may do and practice the many aspects of sacrifice, which were done by prophet Ibrahim, the father of the prophets. . .the Hajj consists of several ceremonies meant to symbolize the essential concepts of the Islamic faith, and to commemorate the trials of the prophet Ibrahim and his family.”[8]
Commemorating the trials, sacrifices, and obedience of Abraham is what Hajj and Eid al-Adha are all about. By this acts, Muslims demonstrate their obedience to God, and recognize God’s power and mercy. We Christians share with Muslims, and with Jews too, the desire to worship the one God, the God of Abraham.
[1] http://www.soundvision.com/info/hajj/abraham.asp
[2]"Salamun (peace) be upon Abraham!" (Qur’an 37:109); and “And who has a nobler religion than he who surrenders himself to God, does what is right, and follows the faith of saintly Abraham, whom God chose to be His friend?” (Qur’an 4:125).
[3] As translated by N.J. Dawood, Penguin books, 1990
[4] http://www.islam101.com/hajj/howHajj.htm
[5] http://www.soundvision.com/Info/hajj/hajira.asp
[6] http://www3.kumc.edu/diversity/ethnic_relig/eid-al-adha.html
[7] http://www.berkeleypta.org/02.html
[8] http://www.dailyillini.com/feb03/feb12/news/stories/news_story05.shtml
posted by Ric at 2:01 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home