The Hajj and the Dome of Rock
Introduction
The Hajj is a journey made annually to the Kaaba by the Muslims in the sacred city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia which is the holiest city for the Muslims. It is the second-largest meeting for the Muslims around the world. The Dome of Rock in an Islamic shrine that was the first-ever to be built. It is one of the oldest remaining works of Islamic buildings. The Hajj and the Dome of Rock help to commemorate Islamic history and origin.
According to Amanullah, the main purpose of the Hajj is the remembrance of the origin of Islam. The event acts as a reminder of the relationship between the believer and the divine. It represents the peak of years of spiritual preparation and once the Muslims complete the event, they are given the respectful title pilgrim. It allows pilgrims to show their strong belief in Islamic teachings and commitment. During the event, the Muslims are relieved of their worldly possessions and for the women, they wear loose-fitting clothes and a covering on the head. The men wear white clothes that are not sewn. They follow the same rituals in the immense gathering and this is done to show that they are all equal.
The dome of Rock is considered to be a place where Prophet Muhammad ascended from into heaven. In remembrance of his ascension, the Dome of Rock was built. According to Macaulay (2014), the dome of the rock is considered to be the place where Abraham wanted to sacrifice his son from. It is also believed to be standing directly over the area where Solomon and Herod’s temples were situated.
Conclusion
The hajj is a journey that commemorates the origins, teaching, and commitment of the Muslims. It is an event that represents all of them being equal even with how they dress. The rituals they perform at the event are performed together. The Dome of rock is a historical shrine that commemorates the ascension of Muhammad, and a place where the son of Abraham was to be sacrificed from. It is also said that it sits on the site where Herod’s and Solomon’s temples were. This represents in-depth the Islamic history and where it originated from.
References
Amanullah, S. (2009). Hajj 2.0: Technology's Impact on the Muslim Pilgrimage. Georgetown
Journal of International Affairs, 10(2), 75-82. Retrieved May 8, 2020, from
www.jstor.org/stable/43133576
Macaulay.L.E (2014). The Dome of the Rock (Qubbat al-Sakhra) Retrieved from https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/west-and-central-asia-apahh/west-asia/a/the-dome-of-the-rock-qubbat-al-sakhra
