Religious Education Coursework Assignment Essay

COURSEWORK QUESTIONa) (i) What is hadj?(ii) Describe and explain why a Muslim would take spell in hadj and what this involves 40b) (i) Explain the meaning and signifi johnce of the hithertots of haj for a Muslim.(ii) What difficulties faculty in that respect be for a Muslim performing hadj?(iii) How might participating in haj affect the life of a believer?35c) A original transit is re entirelyy a locomote within.Do you agree with this statement? Give reasons to support your answer and state that you lose thought about different points of view. You must refer to Islam in your answer.25A (i) hadj is the pilgrimage to Makkah, a Muslim- that city. Tourists arnt welcome to Makkah hadj is for Muslims to bring on pixilatedr to divinity fudge and isnt meant to be a tourist attraction. It is the responsibleness of either healthy and financi each(prenominal)y stable Muslim to nail haj once in their lifetime. It is a profoundly spiritual journey for the millions of Musli ms who complete Hajj every Muslim form, between 8 and 13 Dhul-Hijjah the concluding month. Some Muslims whitethorn prefer to come across Makkah on a pilgrimage at a nonher time in the year, but this is not con positioningred as important as Hajj, and is c in eached Umrah. Be work so m either Muslims want to follow up Hajj for the first time, those who overhear done it onwards ofttimes do Umrah instead. Hajj is the fifth of the five pillars of Islam the basis of the religion. It is meant for the sane and mature Muslim mind, and it is ordinarily considered an honour to die during ones Hajj, as it is widely believed sepulcher in the city of Makkah lead bring Muslims closer to their idol, and is a close indication of their dedication to Islam.A (ii)Hajj is widely considered essential in army to be a devout Muslim. It is one of the five pillars of Islam which argon the biggest and important requirements of the religion. It is considered that Hajj is roughthing of a ticket to heaven in the by and bylife. The pilgrimage is to to a lower placestand ones self to Allah, and let him be the judge of character. With a sizable Hajj comes a peaceful laterlife and paradise. It is not only a somatogenetic practice, for accredited meaning a pilgrim must enter a whole new mindset and way of animateness, at least for the long time of Hajj. This was of living is called Ihram, and is the first obligatory rite of Hajj.All men must come in 2 white unhemmed sheets so that all look alike, and wealth, age and position in general is not even considered. Whilst in Ihram, Muslims should not argue, swear, start (even insects) or participate in a sexual relationship even accompanied by husband or wife. Ihram creates an equilibrium and purity for Hajj. It unites every pilgrim and crates a pure mental canvas solely ready to prize about nothing but God. The physical part of Hajj is all about recreating significant and very sexagenarian events in Islam. First the pilgrims all run or walk quickly around the Kabah sevener-spot times, if close enough they for overreach touch or kiss it. They wherefore tap close to the Kabah, unaired Maqam Ibrahim. Next the Muslims good deal between Marwah and Safa, two hills seven times. The hills atomic number 18 linked now by a corridor for convenience and safety. afterward doing this, the pilgrims must depict their way to the plain of Arafat, around 20km from Makkah. The pilgrims stand under the sun from midday until sunset praying to Allah, and exacting for benevolence.after this the pilgrims go to Muzdalifah to pray, watch scars and camp over iniquity. In the morning the pilgrims go to Mina to throw seven stones at one-third walls. After stoning the walls pilgrims catch a resign, often through companies nowadays. The sacrificed animal is the either frozen for future use or given to the deplorable Muslim community to eat. Men then plane their heads, and women cut off a lock of hairsbre adth, unremarkably a undersized amount a few centimetres or a quarter. Muslims be then allowed to exit Ihram, changing into their normal clothes. They camp at Mina for three nights, and then return to Makkah to walk around the Kabah once again. They then insobriety piddle from the ZamZam well and their Hajj is complete. They are then a priapic Hajji, or a female Hajjah.B (i)Carrying out the actions of Hajj is not meaty without a proper understanding for the ideas behind each procedure. It is all about representing the past and having empathy for Muhammad (PBUH), Ibrahim his son Ismahil and others. The Kabah is a cube-shaped building supposedly first constructed for God by the first man Adam. It was process away in Noahs time, but Ibrahim and his son Ismahil rebuilt it. It is cover in a black cloth called kiswah with verses of the Quran stitched into it. The Kabah is rebuilt on the similar foundations by the same method when it needs to be, and the cover is re-made every ye ar, after it is cut up and given to some lucky pilgrims as a memento of their journey. The Kabah is the very first house of God and many an(prenominal) prophets have visited it. It is for this reason that pilgrims feel much(prenominal) closeness and representation to God when they visit it during Hajj. Tawaf is the circling of the Kabah seven times.To begin, the pilgrims can kiss the Black Stone al-hajar-al-aswad or just raise their hands towards it (on the east corner of the courtyard) and recite a prayer. After this the Pilgrims rush around the Kabah seven times to represent the position that their lives roam around God. It is the first thing that the pilgrims do when they arrive in Makkah. Tawaf is the punt rite of Hajj, after Ihram, mentioned earlier. The second event is called the sai, where pilgrims rush between the hills Marwah and Safa, to visual aspect perseverance and patience. This is what Ibrahims wife Hajar did as she desperately searched for aid as her and her th irsty son came close to death in the desert.This part of Hajj can be very tiring and difficult under the fulgurant sun, despite thither being a modern corridor built curiously for sai. Hajars patience was rewarded by God with a spring of water that appeared at her son Ismahils feet, which was named the ZamZam well today it is in the courtyard of the great Mosque in Makkah. Sai is not a overbearing part of Hajj but is ordinarily included in the pilgrimage, and has a deep meaning. The pilgrims turn on to Mina, a city of tents near the plain of Arafat. In Ihram, the Muslims are united and equal they residue side by side often grouped only by language if anything. All of the pilgrims sleep in tents in their Ihram clothes, poor and rich sleep aside each other as the devout, proud and fellow Muslims of Hajj. The following day the pilgrims travel to Mount Arafat for the most important part of Hajj, where they stand in advance Allah and ask forgiveness for all of their sins. This is the third obligatory rite of Hajj. Mount Arafat is as well as known as the Mount of Mercy and is supposed to be where God forgave Adam and Eve for their sins and reunited them, after previously separating them for wrongdoing. Here the Muslims stand before God, the wuquf.The pilgrims stand from midday to sunset praying, weeping and meditating, all under the searing Saudi sun. The afternoon of wuquf is purely concentrated on Allah, and some pilgrims have to rush to maintain the stand, as without it their Hajj is invalid. Everyone is expected to stand alone and test every wrong doing individually, and pray to Allah for forgiveness for their sins. In this rite, repent is essential, and if pilgrims are truly sorry for their sins, it is said they volition be completely purified and forgiven by Allah, and can start again, as pure as the day they were born. It is an red-letter sleep together and is savoured by every pilgrim. After wuquf, pilgrims travel to camp in Muzdalifah in time for prayers in the evening. Here they usually collect 49 pebbles for the ramy al-jamarat (stoning of the bawl out) the following day. In 2004 Saudi authorities got rid of the pillars and replaced them with long walls, to make the stoning the devil process easier and therefore safer. Hundreds of people have died in the large crowds all trying to get a good nip at the pillars. On the first day of the process, after a night in Muzdalifah, the first wall is stoned 7 times. The following days each of the three walls has to be stoned 7 times for two consecutive days. This means 49 pebbles are required, but if the pilgrims miss any shots they may need at least 21 extra pebbles to stone all three walls 7 times the following day. This light uponms like a strange ritual when no background is supporting it, but there is good meaning. Ibrahim was told by God one day he had to sacrifice his son Ismahil. Ibrahim made his way to the place of sacrifice, abiding Allahs instruction, after consulti ng his son who told him to do what he had to.On the way the devil appeared before him first to try and tempt him not to sacrifice his son, and the angel Gabriel, the messenger of God told him to pelt him. Ibrahim threw 7 pebbles at the devil and it disappeared. It soon reappeared along the way, this time representing the come-on of Hajar to stop her husband sacrificing her son to God, and Gabriel told Ibrahim to pelt him again. He did what he was told and threw 7 stones at the devil who once again disappeared. The devil appeared a third time along the road, to tempt Ismahil to avoid being sacrificed. Gabriels order to pelt him was followed by Ibrahim, and the devil then disappeared for the final time. Ibrahims loyalty and resistance to the devil was rewarded by God when Ibrahim was told to stop as he prepared to kill his son. He was told by God to sacrifice a ram instead, and Ibrahims resistance to temptation paid off. Ramy al-jamarat shows the pilgrims dedication to Gods wishes, and rejection to the temptations of the devil.Most Muslims make a sacrifice after stoning the devil, to recreate Ibrahims experience as closely as possible. Because there are so many pilgrims who want to make a sacrifice, there are special companies, who make it on their behalf and feed the poor. What cannot be used immediately to feed the poor Muslim community is frozen and used later. After making a sacrifice, male pilgrims have their heads shaven by a person who is not in Ihram and women have usually around an inch cut off. Pilgrims usually change into their normal clothes and do a single Tawaf this is the quartern obligatory rite of Hajj. After doing this single Tawaf the Muslims are now formally Hajjis or Hajjahs as a female. They can then return dwelling but most choose to stay and visit other places such as Medina, where the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was buried.B (ii) there are many factors to prevent Muslims pass to Hajj. It is said Allah excuses these factors. It is intent ion or niyyah that counts with the pilgrimage, and when there is something to prevent Muslims from attending it, they volition be excused by Allah. The most common circumstance is poverty. There are around 1.4 billion Muslims in the world, and many live in poverty.Lots of Muslims will save up most of their life to do Hajj, and by the time they have enough money to go, they are of old age and arent physically able. In this case the Muslim can pay another existing Hajji to attend on their behalf, or donate their savings for Hajj to charity. If they do this they will be blissful as fully as if they had completed Hajj themselves. For those who cant afford Hajj, they can donate their available savings for Hajj to charity. They will receive the full Hajj benefits also. If a Muslim passes away on their way to carry out Hajj, they will receive the full benevolence also, they have died making a commitment to their religion, this shows devotion and niyyah if anything doesOf course there ar e difficulties that could occur during Hajj. Because around two million pilgrims undergo Hajj every year, and are all dressed in near uniform garments, it is very promising that groups will be separated for the period of Hajj. This may seem like a panicking time but Muslims in Ihram will be very sympathetic and helpful with each other in such circumstances, and probably take on new members into their travel groups. The enkindle whole tone of closeness to God on Hajj is enough to root out any feelings of worry for the meantime anyhow, so separation doesnt cause much of a fright.Those unfortunate enough to die during Hajj are proud. It is a blessing to be buried in or near Makkah, close to God. Passing away making commitments to Islam is an honour, and a will is usually written before leaving for Hajj anyway. For those who fear the physical falsify of Hajj, or are encouraged not to repeat the journey if they have already, Umrah is the lesser pilgrimage which can be carried out a ll year round. It involves the seven rotations of the Kabah (Tawaf), the Sai (Between Marwah and Safa) and a halq or taqsir which is to cut the hair. Taqsir is shortening hair halqis the complete head shave.B (iii)Hajj creates equilibrium, and a sympathetic atmosphere among the pilgrims who dispense the highs and lows of the journey. For most, the journey strengthens and confirms their commitment to Islam. After Hajj, a Muslim is much likely to be more courteous to people in general, and more at ease with life. Once a good Hajj is completed, the afterlife should be more peaceful and happy.Some Muslims like the experience of the pilgrimage so much they move to a Muslim country if they do not live in one already, as they like the convenience and feeling of togetherness and empathy. Hajj strengthens the tenet of many Muslims, and if they werent a very good Muslim before Hajj, they might feel the need to be more committed to their faith, and practice Islam more regularly. Although fo r most the pilgrimage of Hajj is a blessing experience, some may have felt let agglomerate and disengaged during the journey. For those who could not get into a good Ihram, or feel true belief in God on the mount of mercy their belief in Islam and Allah may have been hindered.C To me, this statement means that although all of the processes of a pilgrimage are physical, the true idea is the thoughts within the pilgrims mind and the intention, empathy and symbolism of what they are doing in the pilgrimage.The vast majority of Hajjis remark the sacred journey to Makkah nourishing and feel they have found forgiveness from Allah. As they travel around the different rites of Hajj they cherish the experience and remember the meaning of each process, going back as farthest as the time of Adam and Eve. They enter a new commonwealth as they stand before God on the Mount of Mercy, are unable to hold in their tears and are swept with emotion.On the other hand, Hajj is purely a physical proce ss for some pilgrims. It isnt supposed to be, but some cant get into the frame of mind which is intended during the pilgrimage. The journey is supposed to be emotional, deeply thoughtful and soul cleansing. To some Muslims, their belief may be moderately hampered by the fact they struggle to get into a real Ihram. They will get their moneys worth on the trip and see people from all different cultures following the same rituals, but not feel truly engaged in the experience.Some people might argue that if you go on Hajj, and carry out the same processes as the prophets did, that is adequate in displaying your devotion to Allah and Islam. Some may arrange the fact that so much is physically required of them in Hajj, that alone shows they are a devout Muslim.Personally, I fully agree with the statement, because I would say that Hajj is a journey to Makkah to carry out the rites, and a true Hajj is a deep and thoughtful journey not only to Makkah, but to the bottom of a pilgrims heart. Although carrying out Hajj is a blessing experience cherished by Muslims, it is not truly meaningful unless they feel a certain dedication and spiritual enrichment on their journey.