My dream place is always Mecca, I want to go there with my beloved mother. As Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam, I'm thinking about to bring my mother there. God's will. :) she will be happy if I'm taking her there. Many people out there must be wondering why Muslim do this hajj.
Hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca is one of the five pillars of Islam. Hajj was made obligatory in the 9th year of Hijra. The Holy Prophet sent off 300 Muslims under the leadership of Hazrat Abubakr Siddique (may Allah be pleased with him) to Mecca so that they could perform Hajj. That was the year when it was banned for the Mushrikeen (those who associate partners with Allah) to enter Ka’ba. It was also made unlawful to perform Tawaaf by circling of Ka’ba with naked body, wearing ihram. The following year, 10th Hijra, the Holy Prophet Muhammad announced a head of time he himself would perform Hajj that year. He led tens of thousands of Muslims to Hajj that year and demonstrated to Muslims how to perform all the rites and rituals of the Hajj. This Hajj is known in history as Hajjatul Wida’ or Farewell Pilgrimage because this proved to be the last Hajj the Holy Prophet Muhammad performed. At the end of this farewell pilgrimage, the divine revelation that had started some 22 years ago came to an end with the following verse of Surah Al-Maidah:
“This day have I completed My commandments for you, and have brought to its fullness the favor that I have bestowed upon you, and have chosen Islam as your religion”
.Hajj is an act of worship just like Salat which are the five daily prayers and Sawm that fasting in the month of Ramadan. Muslims from all over the world gather in Mecca in the last month of Muslim calendar and worship Allah. Hajj is a special worship that lasts for several days. This is an occasion that brings Muslims of all countries, colors, and races to one place – the Ka’ba. This is a unique opportunity of worshipping Allah collectively in a large gathering at one place.
Like any other dream places that everyone has, the history of Mecca goes back to Prophet Ibrahim who built the Kaaba with the help of his elder son Ishmael in around 2000 BCE (before century) when the inhabitants of what was then known as Bakkah had fallen away from the original monotheism of Abraham. Another history that Mecca holds is that the Ka'bah stands on the site of a primordial temple where Adam is said to have prayed after his expulsion from paradise. This all proven and stated in Quran as the book of divine guidance and direction for humanity.
To get the real image where is actually Mecca stated, the picture below will show us where is my dream place, Mecca situated.
A little information about Mecca is it at an elevation of 277 m (909 ft) above sea level, and approximately 80 km inland from the Red Sea. Central Mecca lies in a corridor between mountains, which is often called the "hollow of Mecca." The area contains the valley of Al Taneem, the Valley of Bakkah and the valley of Abqar. This mountainous location has defined the contemporary expansion of the city. The city centers on the Masjid al-Haram area, whose elevation is lower than most of the city. The area around the mosque comprises the old city. The main avenues are Al-Mudda'ah and Sūq al-Layl to the north of the mosque, and As-Sūg Assaghīr to the south. As the Saudis expanded the Grand Mosque in the center of the city, where there were once hundreds of houses are now replaced with wide avenues and city squares. Traditional homes are built of local rock and are generally two to three stories.
Another attraction about Mecca is that the many sources of water. The first were local wells, such as the Zamzam Well, that produced generally brackish water. The second source was the spring of Ayn Zubayda. The sources of this spring are the mountains of Jabal Saʿd and Jabal Kabkab, which lie a few kilometers east of Djabal ʿArafa (Djabal 'Arafa) or about 20 km east southeast of Mecca. Water was transported from it using underground channels.
Finally why I choose Mecca besides other country is that everything about the beauty of Hajj are stated in Quran,
thus no doubt that my dream place is there at Mecca. I want to share two verses that deal with Hajj (Pilgrimage) in the Quran;
And perform properly (i.e. all the ceremonies according to the ways of Prophet Muhammad SAW), the Hajj and Umrah (i.e. the pilgrimage to Makkah) for Allah. But if you are prevented (from completing them), sacrifice a Hady (animal, i.e. a sheep, a cow, or a camel, etc.) such as you can afford, and do not shave your heads until the Hady reaches the place of sacrifice. And whosoever of you is ill or has an ailment in his scalp (necessitating shaving), he must pay a Fidyah (ransom) of either observing Saum (fasts) (three days) or giving Sadaqah (charity - feeding six poor persons) or offering sacrifice (one sheep). Then if you are in safety and whosoever performs the Umrah in the months of Hajj, before (performing) the Hajj, (i.e. Hajj-at-Tamattu and Al-Qiran), he must slaughter a Hady such as he can afford, but if he cannot afford it, he should observe Saum (fasts) three days during the Hajj and seven days after his return (to his home), making ten days in all. This is for him whose family is not present at Al-Masjid-al-Haram (i.e. non-resident of Makkah). And fear Allah much and know that Allah is Severe in punishment. (Quran 2:196)
The Hajj (pilgrimage) is (in) the well-known (lunar year) months (i.e. the 10th month, the 11th month and the first ten days of the 12th month of the Islamic calendar, i.e. two months and ten days). So whosoever intends to perform Hajj therein by assuming Ihram), then he should not have sexual relations (with his wife), nor commit sin, nor dispute unjustly during the Hajj. And whatever good you do, (be sure) Allah knows it. And take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the best provision is At-Taqwa (piety, righteousness, etc.). So fear Me, O men of understanding! (Quran 2:197)
InsyaAllah all my dream will come true about going to Mecca, my dream place. (:
Aminn.
