Page 98 - World Religions I - Islam

sacrifice. Ironically, aside from acknowledging Abraham's successful passing of God's test,
Muslims miss the entire prophetic significance of the event.
 "And complete the Hajj or 'umra in the service of Allah. But if ye are prevented (from completing
it), send an offering for sacrifice, such as ye may find, and do not shave your heads until the
offering reaches the place of sacrifice. And if any of you is ill, or has an ailment in his scalp,
(necessitating shaving), (he should) in compensation either fast, or feed the poor, or offer
sacrifice; and when ye are in peaceful conditions (again), if any one wishes to continue the 'umra
on to the hajj, he must make an offering, such as he can afford, but if he cannot afford it, he
should fast three days during the hajj and seven days on his return, making ten days in all. This is
for those whose household is not in (the precincts of) the Sacred Mosque. And fear Allah, and
know that Allah is strict in punishment." - Al-Baqara (The Cow) 2:196
 Pilgrims sacrifice an animal on Eid al-Adha: a sheep for each pilgrim, or a cow which can
represent seven people. The meat is packaged and given to charity. At the same time that the
sacrifices occur in Mecca, Muslims worldwide perform similar sacrifices during Eid al-Adha.

o During the final days of Hajj (the 11th, 12th, and 13th of Dhu al- Hijjah), pilgrims return to once again
cast stones at each of the three jamarat.
 The ritual stoning is performed before noon on the first day according to the Sunnah, and in
the afternoons on the other days.26
 Pilgrims leave Mina for Mecca before sunset on the 12th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, therefore ending
their pilgrimage. If they are unable to leave Mina before sunset, they must perform the stoning
ritual again on the 13th day of Dhu al- Hijjah before returning to Mecca.
 Before leaving Mecca, pilgrims perform a final farewell tawaf around the Ka'aba.
• The Hajj is one of the largest pilgrimages in the world.
o Numbers have increased since the early 1900's from around 58,000 to the nearly 2 million pilgrims that
converge on Mecca today.

I Never Believed Jesus Was God’s Son

97