The Arabian Peninsula Partnership
The Gospel for every person and a church for every people in the Arabian Peninsula amongst indigenous peoples
03 November, 2011
Hajj CALL to Prayer 2011
From November 4 to 7, you will receive from us prayer information focused on the Hajj. Please be praying for Muslims during this time.
Please watch this 5 minute video on YouTube about the Hajj:
Hajj Introduction
Young Muslim children grow up hearing passionate stories about the men and women who have gone on a Hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca. Young women are blogging asking if the Hajj will cleanse them of sins, not only their small common sins, but also their big serious sins. These women desire to be clean and they are told the Hajj, "when performed properly and sincerely for Allah, removes all sins."* (From islamonline.com they talk about two Hadiths that most Muslims scholars point to for the removal of sins by those going on the Hajj.)
This year we have seen revolutions in the Muslim world. We have seen Muslims rising up against long-standing corrupt governments. Muslims desire freedom from these oppressive government leaders. They desire new freedoms. There is a hunger in their hearts for something that can really satisfy. For those of us that follow Jesus, we know that true freedom and peace is found in His life, death and resurrection.
Muslims are going on the Hajj to be cleansed of sin; we all desire to be clean of sin. We want to call on God to be merciful and intervene in their lives as only He can do, just like Paul's experience on the Damascus road**.
When and What is the Hajj
Hajj is the pinnacle of the lives of Muslims around the world. They are commanded to make Hajj at least once in their life if they are able. It begins on the 8th day of the 12th month of Dhul Hijjah in the Islamic calendar. Because the calendar is based on the moon's cycle, the dates of the Hajj change each year. This year, the Hajj will start on November 4 and last for 3-4 days. During this time, Muslims from all over the world will flock to Mecca to perform sacred acts and follow the steps of Muhammad, their prophet.
Each day they will perform a different ritual:
· Day 1: The ritual of IHRAM (cleaning) #1
· Day 2: The ritual of WUQOOF (standing) #4
· Day 3: The ritual of Stoning and Sacrificing #6
· Day 4: The ritual of Sa'y (running between) #7
Yet a time is coming and has now come
when the true worshipers
will worship the Father in spirit and truth,
for they are the kind of worshipers
the Father seeks.
John 4:23
What does the Bible Say?
* The Bible does not state that we must go on a pilgrimage to be cleansed from sin. It talks about sins being cleansed by the blood of Jesus. Matthew 26:28, Acts 2:38, 1 John 1:7** Paul journeyed to Damascus wanting to persecute men and women who were following Jesus. Instead he met the resurrected Jesus, Acts 9.