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Q: Why is there a real footprint of the prophet Abraham (Ibraheem) near the Ka'ba, to where Muslims
make the pilgrimage, and Muslims pray two bows (rak'ah) in that place of Ibraheem (= Maqam Ibraheem)?
A: And when Abraham was raising the foundations of The House (of Allah = AlKa'bah) with Ishmael (Ismaeel)
(they were praying): Our God accept from us for You (Allah) are The All-Hearing, The All-Knowing; Our God and make
us in submission (= Muslimeen) to You and from our offspring a nation in submission (Muslimah) to you and show us
our rituals and grant us forgiveness for You are the Most-Forgiving, The Most-Merciful; Our God and send among them (our Muslim
nation) a messenger from them (Prophet Muhammad) to recite on them Your lines and teaches them The Book (of Allah) and wisdom and
purifies them for You are The All-Mighty, The All-Wise.
Translation of: Ayat 127 - 129, Surat AlBaqarah.
Words: Yarfa' = Raise, AlQawa'id = The Foundations, AlBayt = The House of Allah, Arina = Show us,
Manasik = Rituals (actions and places), Tub = Grant forgiveness, Rubbana = Our God, Ib'ath = Send, Rasool
= Messenger, Yatlou = Recites, Ayat = Lines, AlHikmah = Wisdom, Yuzaki = Purifies.
Q: Who started the ritual of The Pilgrimage (AlHajj): Prophet Abraham or Prophet Muhammad?
A: And when We (Allah) appointed to Abraham (Ibraheem) the place of The House (AlKa'bah); (We told him): Do not
partner with Me anything; And purify My House for those who go around it, those who stand up for prayers, and
those who bow down and prostrate (in worship).
Translation of: Ayah 26, Surat AlHajj.
Words: Idh = When, Baw'a' = Appointed, Makan = Place, AlBayt = The House (AlKa'bah), Tushrik =
Partner, Shaye' = Anything, Tah'hir = Purify, Bayti = My House, Ta'ifeen = Who go around, Qaimeen
Who stand up for prayer, Ruk'ke = Those who bow down, AlSujud = Those who prostrate.
Q: The Prophet Abraham, pbuh, had two sons: Ishmael (Ismaeel) and Issac (Is'haq). Who do you think is the eldest?
A: We (Allah) have revealed to you (Muhammad) as We did reveal to Noah (Nooh) and the prophets after him. And We revealed
to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob (Yaqoub), The offspring of Jacob (AlAsbat), Jesus (Issa), Job (Ayub), Jonah (Yunus),
Aaron (Haroon), Solomon (Suleiman) and We gave David (Dawood) The Psalms (AlZaboor). And messengers (prophets) We had already told
you about them before, and messengers We did not tell you about them and Allah spoke to Moses (Mousa) directly.
Translation of: Ayat 163 - 164, Surat AlNisa'.
Words: Awha = Revealed, Nabi = Prophet, Rusul = Messengers, Naqsus = We tell about, Kallama =
Spoke, Takleem = Direct Speech.
Q: To celebrate the Muslim Eid AlAdha (Feast of Sacrifice) after the completion of The Pilgrimage (AlHajj), Muslims sacrifice
a lamb or any type of cattle. Who started the Sacrifice Ritual: The Prophet Abraham or The Prophet Muhammad?
(Please note in the answer Allah gives Abraham, in two separate lines, the good news of the birth of two sons. The
first news was for the birth of Ishmael (Ismaeel) and the second news for the birth of Isaac (Is'haq).
A: They (Disbelievers at time of Abraham) said: Build him a furnace and throw him in the blazing fire; And they
wanted to plot against him so We (Allah) made them the inferiors (losers). And he (Abraham) said: I am going towards
My God (towards Syria) Who will guide me. (He said) My God: Grant me (a son) from the righteous. So We (Allah) gave him
the good news of a tolerant boy (Ishmael = Ismaeel). And when he (Ishmael) reached (the age of) work (around 13) with him,
he (Abraham) said: I see in my sleep that I am sacrificing you so see what you think? He (Ishmael) said:
Do what you are ordered to do. You will find me with the willing of Allah, from the patient. So when they both
submitted themselves to Allah, and he laid him down on his forehead; We called Abraham: O Abraham! You had
fulfilled the vision (dream). This is how We (Allah) reward the good doers. This is indeed the obvious hard test. And
We ransomed him with a huge sacrifice (sheep). And We passed his example over to people (Muslims) coming after.
Peace be upon Abraham: In this way We (Allah) do reward the good doers: He is from Our believing servants. And We gave him the good news
of Isaac to be a prophet from the righteous. And We blessed him (Abraham) and Isaac and from their offspring a
good doer and an unjust obviously to himself.
Translation of: Ayat 97 - 113, Surat AlSaffat.
Words: Ibnu (plural) = Build, Bunyan = Furnace - Any building, Alquh = Throw him, AlJaheem = Blazine fire,
Kayd = Plot, Asfal = Inferior - Loser, Dha'hib = Going to, SaYahdeen =Will guide me, Heb =
Give me, Salih = Good doer, Besh'ara = Gave good news, Ghulam = Boy, Haleem = Tolerant - Patient,
Balaga = Reached, AlSaye = Work, Manam = Sleep, Adhbah = I Sacrifice, Tara = Think, Abati =
My father, If'al = Do, Sabir = Patient, Tala = laid him - Pulled him gently, Na'da = Called him,
Sadaqta = You fulfilled, Ru'ya = Vision - Dream, Bala' = Hard Test, Fadaynahu = We ransomed him, Thabh = Sacrifice (
sheep - ram - cattle); Tarakna = We passed over, Aakhereen = People coming after (Muslims), Thuriyah
= Offspring, Nafs = Himself, Mubeen = obvious.
Q: Is there an announcement of the beginning of AlHajj, nowadays done by The Government of Saudi Arabia? (Note:
Already done for this year.).
A: And call (Muhammad) people for AlHajj; They will come to you on foot and on every wasted away physically*
vehicle coming from every distant way.
Translation of: Ayah 27, Surat AlHajj.
* Means of transport which become wasted away physically due to long and repeated travel. Animals in the past, planes
and cars nowadays.
Words: Aththen = Call for, Ya'ti = Will come, Rijalan = On foot, Kul = Every, Dhamer = Wasted Away
physically - Became thin, Kuli = Every, Faj = Way, Ameeq = Distant - Far.
Q: The Prophet Abraham left his son Ishamel (Ismail) and his mother 'Hagar'in Mecca near The Sacred House of Allah.
What did Abraham pray for when he was leaving them there?
A: And when Abraham said: God make this place peaceful and prevent me and my offspring from worshipping
the idols; My God they (idols) had misguided a lot of people; so who follows me he is from me and who disobeys
me then You (Allah) are Most-Forgiving and Most-Merciful, Our God I have made from my offspring (Ishmael) to dwell in
a valley without agriculture near Your Sacred House, Our God, so that they perform the prayer; So (Allah) make
hearts from the people to love them and grant them from the fruits so that they may be from the thankful. Our God you
know what we conceal and what we reveal and nothing is hidden from Allah (be it) in earth or in heaven. Thanks to God Who
granted me in old age Ishmael and Isaac ; Indeed my God is A Listener to the call (on Allah).
Translation of: Ayat 35 - 39, Surat Ibraheem.
Words: Aamin = Peaceful, Na'bud = Worship, Asnam = idols, Adhllena = They had misguided,
Kastheer =
A lot, Nas = People, Ta'bia = Followed, Assa = Disobeyed, Askantu = I made to dwell, Wadi =
Valley, Zare' = Agriculture, Salat = Prayer, Af'idah = Hearts, Tahwi = Loves, Urzuk = Grant, Samarat
= Fruits, Ta'lam = Know, Nukhfi = We Conceal - Hide, Nu'lin = We Reveal, Wahaba = Granted, Kibar =
Old Age, Du'a' = Call on Allah - Prayer.
Q: AlSafa and AlMarwah are two hills near Allah's Sacred House. Hajar, Ishmael's mother ran between them seven times
looking for water, after the prophet Abraham had left her there. During the pilgrimage muslims do the same, is it a ritual?
A: Indeed AlSafa and AlMarwah (two hills) are from Allah's rituals. So who has gone on a pilgrimage to The
House (Hajj) or on a voluntary pilgrimage (Umrah), he has no objection in passing around them; And who volunteers
righteously; It is Allah Who is Thankful and Knowledgeable.
Translation of: Ayah 158, Surat AlBaqarah.
Words: Sha'a'ir = Rituals - Symbols of Worship, I'tamar = Has gone on a voluntary pilgrimage. Junah
= Objection, Yat'tawafa = Pass around, Ta'tawa' = Volunteers, Khairun = Righteously - Out of goodness,
Shakir = Thankful.
Q: During the Pilgrimage why do Muslims slaughter an animal (cattle) in the name of Allah?
A: And We made for every nation a ritual so that they mention the name of Allah on what He provided them from the
cattle animals; Because Your god is One God so to Him submit (all of you) and (Prophet Muhammad) give the good news to those who
humble themselves: Those when the name of Allah is mentioned their hearts become filled with fear and the patient ones over
what has afflicted them and the performers of the prayer and from what We (Allah) gave them they spend. And the well-fed
cattle We made them for you from the rituals of Allah - in them is good (deeds) for you so mention the name of
Allah over them while they are standing up and when their sides are collapsed (after slaughtering) then eat from them and
feed the satisfied (who has money) and the unfortunate (poor) - this is how We have made them (cattle) yield to you so that you might be
grateful; It is not their meat or their blood that will reach Allah but your piety reaches him - in this way He (Allah)
made them (cattle) yield for you so that you glorify Allah for what He guided you and do give the good news to
those who perfect their Religion, For Allah defends those who have faith - indeed Allah does not like whoever is much of a traitor and
much of a disbeliever.
Translation of: Ayat 34 - 38, Surat AlHajj.
Words: Ummah = nation, Mansak = Ritual, Yadhkur = Mentions, Ism = Name, Razaka = Provided,
Baheemat AlAn'am = Cattle Animals, Wahid = One, Aslim = Submit, Bash'ir = Give Good News, Muhsin =
Good doer, Dhukira = Mentioned, Wajilat = Became filled with fear, Kuloub = Hearts, Sa'bir =
patient, Asaba = Afflicted - Made them suffer, Yunfiq = Spends, Budn = Animals with well-fed stout bodies, Khair =
Charity, Udhkur = Mention, Sawaf = Standing up, Wajabat = Collapsed, Junoub = Sides, Kulu = Eat
(plural) At'im = Feed, Kani' = Satisfied, Mu'tar = Unfortunate - Poor, Sakharraha = Made them yield,
Yanal = Reach, Luhoum = Meats, Dima' = Blood, Taqwa = Piety - Devoutness, Tukabbir = You glorify,
Hada = Guided, Bashshir =
Give good news, Muhsineen = Who perfect their Religion - The good doers. Yudafie' = Defends, Yuhib = likes, Khawwan = much of a Traitor,
Kafour = Much of a disbeliever.
Q: During The Pilgrimage, pilgrims stand one day from sunrise to sunset glorifying Allah on the Mount of 'Arafat'
which has a marked place indicating where our forefatherIs Arafat mentioned in The Qur'an?
Note: Mount Arafat is from the verb arafa = met. Our forefather Adam peace be upon him met Eve when both were cast
out to earth from Paradise.
A: There is no objection upon you to seek favour (do business) from your God. And when you (big crowd) pour out of
Arafat, then mention Allah near the sacred monument (in Muzdalifa*), And mention Him as He
guided you (to The Truth) because before that you were from the misguided.
Translation of: Ayah 198, Surat AlBaqarah.
* From Muzdalifa, the pilgrims gather 21 stones to ,symbolically, stone three satans,as Abraham did, when they
reach Mina, The satans tried separately to lure Abraham away from sacrificing his son Ishmael. So he stoned them to
cast them away.
Words: Juhnah = Objection, Tab'taghi = seek, Afadhtum = Pour out because of the huge crowd, Mash'ar =
Ritual - Sign, Hada = Guided, Dhal = Misguided.
Q: Why did the late scholar of Islam Muhammad Mutawalli AlSha'rawi mention that the pilgrimage to Mecca (AlHajj) conveys the
message of harmony between man and nature?
A: O people who have faith! Do not kill the prey (animals or birds) while you are in the state of pilgrims; And whoever kills it from
you on purpose so his repayment is like what (number-worth) he killed from the cattle - to be judged by two fair persons
from you as a sacrifice (to feed the poor) reaching the Ka'bah; Or as an atonement (for his sin) to feed some poor or the equivalent
of that in
fasting in order to taste the evil consequences of his deed - May Allah forgive what has past and whoever repeats so Allah
will revenge from him and Allah is Omnipotent, Holder of Revenge. It is allowed for you sea fishing and its food as
enjoyment for you and the travellers and hunting* on land is forbidden for you as long as you are in the state of
pilgrims and do fear Allah to Whom you will be gathered back.
Translation of: Ayat 95 - 96, Surat AlMa'idah.
Note: The Government of Saudi Arabia had already declared the beginning of
the Pilgrimage season for the year 2008.
* Hunting for fun is not allowed in Islam. Hunting even for food is not allowed during the Pilgrimage.
Words: Taqtul = To kill, Sayd = Prey that is hunted, Hurum = In the state of pilgrims, Mutaamid = On purpose,
Na'am = Cattle, Hady = Offering - Sacrifice, Baligh = Reaching, Kaffarah = Atonement for sin, Ta'am = Feeding,
Wabal Amr = Evil consequences, Thou Intiqam = Holder of Revenge, Bahr = Sea, Mata' = Enjoyment, Hurrima
= Is forbidden, Sayyarah = Travellers, Etaqqou = Fear (plural), Tuhshar = Is gathered.
Q: Are Muslims commanded to rid their bodies of the superfluous growth on their bodies?
Note: Reference is to Toronto Star's
article New
debate on circumcision By Megan Ogilvie, First Page, July 5, 2010.
Hint: The mentioned Islamic rituals take place towards the ending of the
Pilgrimage (= Hajj).
A: Then let them (Pilgrims) complete their c leansing rituals*, fulfill their vows (to
Allah) and let them circle the Ancient House (of Allah in Mecca).
* Such as trimming their nails and hair.
Translation of: Ayah 29, Surat AlHajj.
Note: In a summary of a saying of the Prophet Muhammad: Allah's creating
nature upon which He created man (= AlFitrah: Nature chosen by
Allah) is five or five are from "AlFitrah": Circumcision (= AlKhitan), Shaving off the
pubic hair (= AlIstihdad), Removing the hair from the armpit (= Natf AlIbt), Trimming the nails
(= Taqleem AlAthafir), and cutting the moustache (= Qass AlSharib). Source: AlLou'lou' walMarjan
feema etafaqqa alayhi alSheikhan AlBukhari wa Muslim. page 58, in Arabic.
Words: Lyaqdou = Let them complete, Tafasthahum = Their cleansing
rituals, Lyufou = Let them fulfill, Nuthourahum = Their offerings, AlBayt = House,
AlAteeq = The Ancient.
Q: During the pilgrimage Muslims repeat what the Prophet Muhammad said. What were the Prophet's
words based on?
Hint: Based on the Qur'an.
A: So eat of what He (Allah) provided you halal (lawful) and good (food) and praise the
blessing of Allah if you are Him worshipping.
Translation of: Ayah 114, Surat AlNahl.
Note: During the pilgrimage ritual Muslims repeat 'We are answering Your call our God We are
answering Your call - We are answering Your call there is no partner with You - For the Praise and
the Blessing is Yours as well as the Absolute Supremacy (Kingdom) - There is no partner with You' = Labbayka
Allahumma Labbayk - Labbayk la shareeka laka Labbayk - InnaAlHamda welNi'mata Laka welMulka - La
shareeka Lak.
Note: Hajj
(Pilgrimage) rituals live on Youtube.com.
Note: The white mark on the top of Mount Arafat. During the Pilgrimage we were told that this the place where
humanity's forefather Adam and Eve (Hawwa) met after they were placed on the earth.
Words: FaKulou = So eat, Halal = Lawful - Allowed by Allah, Tayyeban =
Good, Ushkorou = Praise - Thank, Ni'mat = Blessing - Favour, Iyyah = Him, Ta'bodoun
= Worshipping.
