GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENT FOR PILGRIMAGE

    Here the verses begin with the construction of KAABEH which is the most Sacred Mosque of Muslims, and stands in the city of Mecca.

      According to Islamic traditions, the Sacred Mosque was at first built by ADAM, and it was ruined in the FLOOD. Then Allah showed its foundations to ABRAHAM, and he, with the help of his son Ishmael, raised up the walls and reconstructed the first Mosque of Mankind in which the only one God of universe, (Allah) should have been worshipped. So when the Sacred house was completed, Allah said to Abraham:ِ

      ``....And do not associate with me anything, and cleanse my house for those who encompass, and for those who stand in prayer, or who bow down and prostrate themselves.''

      When the house was built and cleansed all round, and made ready for worship; Abraham was ordered to proclaim the pilgrimage among all people, to come there from far and near, either on foot or mounted.

THE CERTAIN DAYS OF PILGRIMAGE

      Commentators differ as to when the certain days of pilgrimage (NO.28) are, but most of them have understood it to be the first ten days of the Arabic Month ZUL-HAJJ, and also another limited period consisting of the two or three subsequent days known as, ``TASHRIQ''. The Days of Tashriq is a stay of two or at maximum three days after the complete performance of the rites of pilgrimage.

      So was the pilgrimage announced generally and for all people by Abraham, so as to come there from everywhere, far or near, on foot or mounted on lean camel or whatever.

      There in the Mecca, during performing the rites, pilgrims would see many kinds of benefits that may exist for them, in this present material life, or on their future spiritual life as well. Thereby, they may enjoy the benefits of trade and commerical activities, or appreciate the profits of tourism, be it for pleasure or culture.

      So also the spiritual advantages of their pilgrimage can be estimated as immense. Such advantages differ from different points of view, that every individual pilgrim may look on. Among the pilgrimage's social advantages, we may consider the opportunities which the journey may provide for strengthening our international brotherhood.

ETHICAL BENEFITS OF PILGRIMAGE

      One of the main objects of pilgrimage to the Sacred House of Allah is the ethical benefits of the pilgrims. There in the course of performing the rites of HAJJ, all the morals of the pilgrim will undergo a change! When he wears the white garb of the pilgrims, and finds himself alike with all; he even may forget that he lives in such a material world. With the GARB=IHRÄM, certain pilgrim's prohibitions come into operation, and the pilgrim is dedicated to worship, and denial of vanities, passions, lusts, luxuries, and worldly desires. Then the pilgrim may at once feel a wonderful comfort which is rarely found in our material world. He feels to be completely unloaded.

      When the chief rites are performed one after another, the spiritual relation of Man with his Lord will increase instant by instant. So much so that the pilgrim may find himself a newly born, and brought into existence by new rules and regulations.

POLITICAL PROFITS OF PILGRIMAGE

      In spite of presenting the deepest and purest of worship, HAJJ is the most effective means of political development. The spirit of worship is to consider God, and the soul of politics is to consider people. So the pilgrimage's political aspect, is a very effective means of uniting Muslims together. It also is a good medium of communicating with other nations who are ruled by a tyrant or a dictator. Pilgrimage is a door which opens to freedom, and also serves to strengthen the faith of people.

THE CULTURAL BENEFITS OF PILGRIMAGE

      During the pilgrimage, cultural exchange among various groups of people is something inevitable.

      The great congregation of Muslims, who have gathered together for their religious worship, include different kinds of people of various race, nation, colour, language, culture, and thought. In their religious contacts, they may exchange all sorts of news of their nations to one another, and may also have all kinds of commerical transactions, and cultural or political, activities.

      A considerable rite of HAJJ, is the sacrifices of cattle. In the first sight, the sacrifices are symbols of the piety of heart, and some sort of a worship. Then the flesh of the sacrifices has to be shared with fellow-men, and in particular with those who are poor and needy. It is not a rightful deed to sacrifice a cattle, have a little part of it served, and to bury the rest of the flesh in the ground. If there is an extra amount of meat, it should be taken to other countries any how, and be given to the poor and needy.