How the Hajj changed Malcolm X

[hamba2han]

Today is the Festival of the Sacrifice (Eid-ul-Adha) and it is one of two major Islamic celebrations. It takes place on the 10th of Zulhijjah i.e. the last month of the Islamic calendar in which millions of Muslims from around the world make an annual pilgrimage to Makkah in order to worship Allah and to commemorate the willingness of the Prophet Abraham to sacrifice his son Ishmael (peace be upon them both) in response to a command from Allah.

The Qur’an describes Prophet Abraham as follows:

"Surely Abraham was an example, obedient to Allah, by nature upright, and he was not of the polytheists. He was grateful for Our bounties. We chose him and guided him unto a right path. We gave him good in this world, and in the next he will most surely be among the righteous." … (Qur’an 16:120-121)

"We made him (Abraham) pure in this world and in the hereafter; he is most surely among the righteous. When his Lord said to him, ‘Submit,’ he said, ‘I submit myself to the Lord of the Worlds.’" … (Qur’an 2:130-131)

One of Prophet Abraham’s main trials was to face the command of Allah to sacrifice his beloved son Ishmael. Upon hearing this command, he prepared to submit to Allah’s will and Prophet Abraham and Ishmael set off to Mina for the sacrifice. As they went, the devil attempted to persuade Prophet Abraham to disobey Allah and not to sacrifice his beloved son. But Prophet Abraham stayed true to Allah, and drove the devil away. When he was all prepared to sacrifice his son, Allah revealed to him that his “sacrifice” had already been fulfilled and gave him a sheep to sacrifice instead.

Prophet Abraham (pbuh) had shown that his love for his Lord superceded all others that he would lay down his own life or the lives of those dear to him in order to submit to Allah. Now in remembrance, Muslims all over the world commemorate the day of supreme sacrifice made by the Prophet Abraham by sacrificing a lamb, goat, or other animals, and give the meat to family, friends, relatives, and most importantly, the poor.

The meat from the sacrifice of 'Eid ul-Adha is mostly given away to others. One-third is eaten by immediate family and relatives, one-third is given away to friends, and one-third is donated to the poor. The act symbolizes our willingness to give up things that are of benefit to us or close to our hearts, in order to follow Allah’s commands. It also symbolizes our willingness to give up some of our own bounties, in order to strengthen ties of friendship and help those who are in need. We recognize that all blessings come from Allah, and we should open our hearts and share with others.

It is very important to understand that the sacrifice itself, as practiced by Muslims, has nothing to do with atoning for our sins or using the blood to wash ourselves from sin. This is a misunderstanding by those of previous generations:

"It is not their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah; it is your piety that reaches Him." (Qur’an, Surah Al-Hajj 22:37)

The symbolism is in the attitude - a willingness to make sacrifices in our lives in order to stay on the Straight Path. Each of us makes small sacrifices, giving up things that are fun or important to us. A true Muslim, one who submits his or herself completely to the Lord, is willing to follow Allah’s commands completely and obediently. It is this strength of heart, purity in faith, and willing obedience that our Lord desires from us.

To be continued…

 

[hamba2han]

… continuation:

The life of Malcolm X was completely changed after his pilgrimage to Makkah in April of 1964 and the following is Malcolm X’s (al-Hajj, Malik al-Shabazz) letter to his assistants in Harlem during that pilgrimage:

Never have I witnessed such sincere hospitality and overwhelming spirit of true brotherhood as is practiced by people of all colors and races here in this ancient holy land, the home of Abraham, Muhammad and all the other Prophets of the holy scriptures. For the past week, I have been utterly speechless and spellbound by the graciousness I see displayed all around me by people of all colors.

I have been blessed to visit the holy city of Makkah; I have made my seven circuits around the Ka’aba, led by a young Mutawwaf (guide) named Muhammad; I drank water from the well of the Zamzam. I ran seven times back and forth between the hills of mount al-Safa and al-Marwa. I have prayed in the ancient city of Mina, and I have prayed on mount Arafat.

There were tens of thousands of pilgrims, from all over the world. They were of all colors, from blue-eyed blondes to black-skinned Africans. But we were all participating in the same ritual, displaying a spirit of unity and brotherhood that my experiences in America had led me to believe never could exist between the white and non-white.

America needs to understand Islam, because this is the one religion that erases from its society the race problem. Throughout my travels in the Muslim world, I have met, talked to, and even eaten with people who in America would have been considered white - but the white attitude was removed from their minds by the religion of Islam. I have never before seen sincere and true brotherhood practiced by all colors together, irrespective of their color.

You may be shocked by these words coming from me. But on this pilgrimage, what I have seen, and experienced, has forced me to rearrange much of my thought-patterns previously held, and to toss aside some of my previous conclusions. This was not too difficult for me. Despite my firm convictions, I have always been a man who tries to face facts, and to accept the reality of life as new experience and new knowledge unfolds it. I have always kept an open mind, which is necessary to the flexibility that must go hand in hand with every form of intelligent search for truth.

During the past eleven days here in the Muslim world, I have eaten from the same plate, drunk from the same glass, and slept on the same rug - while praying to the same God - with fellow Muslims, whose eyes were the bluest of blue, whose hair was the blondest of blond, and whose skin was the whitest of white. And in the words and in the deeds of the white Muslims, I felt the same sincerity that I felt among the black African Muslims of Nigeria, Sudan and Ghana.

We were truly all the same (brothers) - because their belief in one God had removed the white from their minds, the white from their behavior, and the white from their attitude.

I could see from this, that perhaps if white Americans could accept the Oneness of God, then perhaps, too, they could accept in reality the Oneness of Man - and cease to measure, and hinder, and harm others in terms of their “differences” in color.

With racism plaguing America like an incurable cancer, the so-called “Christian” white American heart should be more receptive to a proven solution to such a destructive problem. Perhaps it could be in time to save America from imminent disaster - the same destruction brought upon Germany by racism that eventually destroyed the Germans themselves.

Each hour here in the holy land enables me to have greater spiritual insights into what is happening in America between black and white. The American Negro never can be blamed for his racial animosities - he is only reacting to four hundred years of the conscious racism of the American whites. But as racism leads America up the suicide path, I do believe, from the experiences that I have had with them, that the whites of the younger generation, in the colleges and universities, will see the handwriting on the walls and many of them will turn to the spiritual path of truth - the only way left to America to ward off the disaster that racism inevitably must lead to.

Never have I been so highly honored. Never have I been made to feel more humble and unworthy. Who would believe the blessings that have been heaped upon an American Negro? A few nights ago, a man who would be called in America a white man, a United Nations diplomat, an ambassador, a companion of kings, gave me his hotel suite, his bed. Never would I have even thought of dreaming that I would ever be a recipient of such honors - honors that in America would be bestowed upon a King - not a Negro.

All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds.

Sincerely,
al-Hajj, Malik al-Shabazz (Malcolm X)

 

[ralphinal]

Hamba,
Beleive it or not, the effect that the Hajj had on Malcom X is very well known in America. Those who study his life are see it clearly. It is considered one of the reasons that he tried to move the Black Muslim movement in America closer to traditional Islam. And that push is one of the reasons that he was killed.

My question from your post is related to the first part. Abraham sacraficing his son. According to the Jewish Scriptures, the son that was offered was not Ishmael but Isaac. This is in Genisis. Please provide me with a link so that I may understand thsi discrepancy.

 

[hamba2han]

Please provide me with a link so that I may understand this discrepancy.

Here is one link.

 

[manualman]

Malcom X compared apples to oranges. He grew up in a segregated society in everyday life and then went on a sacred pilgrimage in Islam and compared the two experiences!

I say send Malcom X to live in Darfur. Send Malcom X to live in Indonesia. Send Malcom X to live in the Phillipines. Then send Malcom X on a months long pilgrimage to the Holy Shrines of Christendom with a group of other pilgrims (not tourists). Then watch the shoe go on the other foot. (Yes, I’m aware he’s dead, but anybody else can try it too and have a similar effect)

 

[ralphinal]

Thanks. I do not want to derail this thread, but the issue of Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac is a major difference. According to both Jewish (Christian) and Islamic thought, Ismael was the “father” of the Arabic people and Isaac was for the Jewish. That said, this is a major rewrite of scripture, in some ways greater than saying that Jesus was not crucified.

See Genesis Chapter 17

18And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!

19And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.

20And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.

21But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.

According to the link you provided (thank you for that), the covenant was not to include Isaac but was for Ishmael. If that is the case, is the rest of the Bible wrong? Was Jacob’s name not changed? Was Joseph not the one who saved Isreal from famine by providing them a place in Egypt? Was God’s covenant not with Moses?

 

[RebeccaJ]

Hamba,
Beleive it or not, the effect that the Hajj had on Malcom X is very well known in America. Those who study his life are see it clearly. It is considered one of the reasons that he tried to move the Black Muslim movement in America closer to traditional Islam. And that push is one of the reasons that he was killed.

Not just considered, in his own autobiography he writes that his changed views regarding Islam and speaking out about them would end his life. He predicted his own death.

 

[Booklover]

Feel the love at this Iran-hajj ceremony:

Disavowal of Pagans ritual started in this sacred desert on Tuesday attended by a huge group of Iranian pilgrims.

The pilgrims chanted anti-US and anti-Zionist slogans during the ceremony also attended by the Supreme Leader’s representative for Hajj affairs, Hojatoleslam Mohammad Mohammadi Reyshahri.
“God is Great,” “**There is no Deity but Allah,” “Death to Israel” and “Death to America” were among the slogans chanted by the masses in unison as they gathered in the Desert of Arafat, 20 km (12 miles) from Mecca, for a day of prayer and meditation. **
The faithful – men clad in two-piece seamless white shrouds and women all covered except for their hands and faces to symbolize equality – converged on Arafat by bus and on foot from the tent city of Mina, where they spent the night.
The Supreme Leader’s message for the Haj pilgrims is to be read by Reyshahri during the ceremony.
A resolution will be issued by the pilgrims at the end of the ceremony.

Vickie

 

[hamba2han]

Putting aside the question of which son was to be sacrificed by Prophet Abraham (pbuh), I would submit that the sacrifice of a father to willingly kill his only son in steadfast obedience to the command of his Lord is very much greater than the sacrifice of someone who gives up his own life for humankind to be crucified on the cross.

If we were forced at gunpoint to make a choice, would we choose to kill our children rather than end our own life?

This just goes to show that however which way you look at it, the alleged crucifixion of Prophet Jesus (pbuh) simply does not make much sense at all.

 

[Valke2]

Do you participate in the sacrifice. I’d be interested in knowing how it is done. Do you personally sacrifice the animal, clean and cook it, or is there an intermediary who does this on your behalf?

Thanks.

 

[hamba2han]

The choice on how to perform the sacrifice is ours actually i.e. we can either slaughter the animal ourselves or in most cases, have someone else do it and it is highly recommended that we at least be present when the slaughter is being done.

And as for cleaning and cooking the meat, again the choice on how to go about this would be ours as well and it makes no diference either way actually.

 

[FaithofAbraham]

I think the true meaning of Hajj is not a real trip to Mecca, but this:

Kaaba is shaped like a cube and the home of God.

*Revelation 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

Revelation 21:16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.

Revelation 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.*

Well of Zamzam = water of life that saved Ishmael.

Genesis 21:19 And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.

So Hajj tells us to turn our hearts to belief that Jesus is the one who saves Ishmael from death with his sacrifice so that Ishmael may be grafted in to the New Covenant and drink from the River of Life.

Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

 

[hamba2han]

I think the true meaning of Hajj is not a real trip to Mecca, but this:… (snip)

From reading your posts here, it is obvious to me that the problem with you is that you “think” way beyond necessary.

There is a limit on how much we should be thinking and analysing on matters of faith.

Remember that the most important thing that a Muslim needs to constantly take care of is his salat or prayers for that is the first thing that will be asked of us on the Day of Judgment and when we are perfoming our salat, we are really not allowed to think of anything except the remembrance of our Creator and Sustainer.

This then would be my sincere advice to you – Don’t “think” so much on matters regarding your faith because the mind is the playground of the devil.

 

[FaithofAbraham]

From reading your posts here, it is obvious to me that the problem with you is that you “think” way beyond necessary.

There is a limit on how much we should be thinking and analysing on matters of faith.

Remember that the most important thing that a Muslim needs to constantly take care of is his salat or prayers for that is the first thing that will be asked of us on the Day of Judgment and when we are perfoming our salat, we are really not allowed to think of anything except the remembrance of our Creator and Sustainer.

This then would be my sincere advice to you – Don’t “think” so much on matters regarding your faith because the mind is the playground of the devil.

Why is there a limit on how much we should be thinking? After all, these beliefs were relayed by men just like you and me, they weren’t gods. Unless you are making an idol of them. Mohammed was a prophet, and all prophecies are symbolic of deeper things.

Of what real value is facing a certain way when you pray, or taking a trip to a certain place, if in your heart you don’t know why you are doing it? God gave us brains so that we can use them to think about what we’re doing and why we’re doing it.

The Quran says Jesus is Jewish Messiah, and the role of the Jewish Messiah is to bring the New Covenant so everyone has everlasting life without sin. And to be the High Priest who takes our prayers to God to make atonement for us. If we don’t accept Jesus as being that when we pray, maybe he won’t take our prayers to God.

That’s why the Quran tells Muslims to read Torah and Gospels so they know all this, and understand what they are really being told to do.

 

[Freshman88]

Putting aside the question of which son was to be sacrificed by Prophet Abraham (pbuh), I would submit that the sacrifice of a father to willingly kill his only son in steadfast obedience to the command of his Lord is very much greater than the sacrifice of someone who gives up his own life for humankind to be crucified on the cross.

If we were forced at gunpoint to make a choice, would we choose to kill our children rather than end our own life?

This just goes to show that however which way you look at it, the alleged crucifixion of Prophet Jesus (pbuh) simply does not make much sense at all.

There’s one detail you forgot in your assessment… Jesus is God incarnated, Abraham or Isaac were just human.

The Crucifixion makes absolute sense - In order to attain for all of our sins a perfect sacrifices was needed and what is a more perfect sacrifice than the sacrifice of the divine - The completlely innocent and all-powerful.

Furthermore, no matter how many people Abraham could have sacrificed, none of them would have been God incarnated - there is nothing more precious than God.

 

[Freshman88]

There is a limit on how much we should be thinking and analysing on matters of faith.

Good thing Catholics don’t teach this. Having the True faith we need not fear that reason or thinking will ever contradict our faith, instead reason only confirms the Christian revelation.

 

[Lev23]

… continuation:

America needs to understand Islam, because this is the one religion that erases from its society the race problem. )

Americans and all need to realize Islam is built on deception.

Deception is an equal-opportunity deciever.

Americans and all need to realize long before Macolm X, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob(Israel) loves all people, all the world, and has sent his ONLY son, Jesus Christ, so all might believe in him and know the one and only true God. God chose Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to show the world he would fufill his promises to them and thus the world can know the God of Israel and all is and has made good of his promise of salvation from sin and death from the grave through Jesus Christ. God has declared ALL peoples can recieve the mercy from his son, Jesus.

 

[FaithofAbraham]

Americans and all need to realize Islam is built on deception.

Deception is an equal-opportunity deciever.

Americans and all need to realize long before Macolm X, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob(Israel) loves all people, all the world, and has sent his ONLY son, Jesus Christ, so all might believe in him and know the one and only true God. God chose Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to show the world he would fufill his promises to them and thus the world can know the God of Israel and all is and has made good of his promise of salvation from sin and death from the grave through Jesus Christ. God has declared ALL peoples can recieve the mercy from his son, Jesus.

Islam is here to bring Ishmael to Isaac in the New Covenant and does not reject Jesus entirely as Judaism does. But the man-made trappings of Islam and Christianity, yes they are deceivers because they have been handled by men. Among them both are still the believers too. Both those religions are going away when Jesus is here.