The Arabian Peninsula Partnership

The Gospel for every person and a church for every people in the Arabian Peninsula amongst indigenous peoples

14 November, 2010

Hajj Day 1

Ihram - Sacred Act #1

There are six different places to enter Mecca for Ihram (ritual cleansing), so it is at the Miqat, "a stated place," where Muslims actually enter into the Hajj. After performing this ritual, the pilgrims will wear white cloths, wrapped around them, a sign showing that all pilgrims are equal in Islam, kings and servants are all dressed alike. More crucial than wearing the white clothing, Ihram is the state of sacred purity the Muslim faithful must enter before conducting the Hajj.

From the Miqat entry point, most pilgrims head to the Kaaba in the Grand Mosque. As they enter Mecca, they will shout the Talbiyah, a Muslim prayer. "Here I am at Thy service O Lord, here I am. Here I am at Thy service and Thou hast no partners*. Thine alone is All Praise and All Bounty, and Thine alone is The Sovereignty. Thou hast no partners*."

After the Kaaba visit, the pilgrims will walk to a tent city called Mina, continuing to quote the Talbiyah prayer. They must spend the night in prayer and meditation.

Kaaba

The Kaaba contains a black stone believed to have been given to Abraham by the angel Gabriel**, according to some sources. Others say the stone was simply part of the original structure of the Kaaba.

In pre-Islamic times, the Kaaba was an object of pilgrimage, housing idols, jahiliyyah (the age of ignorance) and, according to Islamic tradition, was cleansed by Muhammad of idols and then dedicated to the worship of the one God.

Key Scripture

They will call on me, and I will answer them. I will say, you are my people and they will say, The Lord is our God. Zechariah 13:9b

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14

Going before the Father

Purification rituals may cleanse the body, but they don't cleanse the heart. Only Jesus can cleanse our hearts and we can only do that through repentance. Pray that the Holy Spirit would issue a call to genuine repentance that seeking hearts hear and respond to.

Thank Jesus that it is through His blood sins can be forgiven and pray that Muslims would understand that He is the only way to the Father. John 1:29, Hebrews 1:3, Acts 10:43

Ask the Lord to bring to memory Scripture verses they may have heard over the TV or radio or internet about the white robes God provides for those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ (Revelation 7:9). Pray they may understand and desire to be clothed with Christ's righteousness.

Two to three million people come together from all over the world for the Hajj. Pray for physical safety (protection from stampedes and disease - like the "Mecca flu").

What does the Bible say?

* It would be in statements like these that Muslims would not allow room for the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:18-20, Luke 10:21-23, Galatians 4:6

** There is nothing in the Bible about Abraham receiving this stone.