Chapter Five

The Miqat is the place of getting into the state of Ihram in Umrah and Tamattu'. The following five places serve as Miqat:
1. Masjid ash-Shajarah (also known as Thu'l-Hulayfah) is the Miqat for people of Medina who intend to go to Mecca.
2. Juhafah is the Miqat for those who head for Mecca through Damascus and Egypt.
3. Al-Aqiq is the Miqat for those who go to Mecca from Najd and Iraq.
4. Yalamlam is the Miqat for those who go to Mecca from Yemen.
5. Qarn al-Manaazil is the Miqat for people who go on Hajj through Ta'if.
All those who head for God's House have to stop in the Miqat, take off their ordinary clothes, put on Ihram, and go to the Sacred Mosque while saying, 'Labbayk'.
The Miqat is a station where a pilgrim waits for permission to enter God's House and purification from all pollutions. Hence, performing Ghusl (ritual washing of the body) before putting on Ihram is a praiseworthy act for a pilgrim. After performing Ghusl, men wrap themselves with two pieces of unstitched white clothes instead of elegant clothes, which make people distinct from one another. They look like dead people in shroud, detached from the world and entering the realm of submission. A pilgrim takes off the robe of disobedience and puts on the garment of piety, prepared for saying:
 

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( 86 ) Yes, here I am, O Lord, here I am. Here I am, there is no partner for You, here I am. Surely, praise, grace, and kingship are Yours. There is no partner for you. Here I am.�
When a pilgrim gets into the state of Ihram, he enters into a sanctuary and is entitled to a special position, which he should really appreciate. For this reason, the prophets and Imams (a.s) looked pale, trembled, and in some cases became unconscious in the state of Ihram and in saying Labbayk.
Talbiyah (saying Labbayk) is the special words pronounced by the pilgrims of God's House. It is a song of love chanted by the bird of Paradise in response to a heavenly and invisible call. Repetition of Talbiyah is a praiseworthy act of Ihram and a motto for Muhrim (one in state of Ihram). إنّ رسولَ اللهِ صَلّى اللهُ عليهِ وآلِهِ لمّا أَحرَمَ أتاهُ جِبرئِيلُ عليهِ السلامُ فقالَ لهُ: مُرْ أصحَابَكَ بالعَجِّ والثَّجِّ � والعجُّ رفعُ الصّوتِ بالتّلبِيةِ، والثجُّ نحرُ البُدنِ.
�When the Messenger of Allah became Muhrim, Archangel Gabriel came to him saying: Tell your companions to say 'Labbayk' and sacrifice a camel.�1 The Holy Prophet (saw) is quoted by Imam Baqir (a.s) as saying: مَن لَبَّى في إِحرامِهِ سَبعِينَ مَرَّةً إِيماناً واحْتِساباً أَشْهَدَ اللهُ ألْفَ ألفِ مَلَكٍ بِبرائَةٍ مَن النّارِ وبَرائَةٍ مِن النّفاقِ
�Whoever says Labbayk for seventy times out of faith and devotion, Allah will assign thousands of angels to witness him immunity from the Fire (of Hell) and schism.�2
The Talbiyah of Imam Sadiq (a.s) was as follows: ____________
1 See al-Kafi; Vol. 4 p.336 hadith 5
2 See al-Kafi; Vol. 4 p.337 hadith 8

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( 87 ) Yes, here I am, O Lord, here I am. Here I am, there is no partner for You, here I am. Surely, praise and blessings belong to You and the kingdom, too. There is no partner for You, here I am. The Lord of the ways of Ascent, her I am, here I am. You call to the dwelling of peace, here I am, here I am. O Forgiver of sins, here I am, here I am. You are the worthiest of being answered, here I am, here I am. Lord of Glory and Honor, here I am, her I am. I am coming towards You fearfully and willingly, here I am, here I am. You are the Beginner and all the returns are towards You, here I am, here I am. Remover of all sorrows, here I am, here I am. I am Your servant and the son of Your two servants, here I am, her I am. O Generous One, here I am.�1
  A pilgrim has to hold his tongue, for a great number of man's sins results from his tongue. A man's deeds can be ruined as a result of a slip of tongue. The Holy Prophet (saw) says: وهَل يَكُبُّ الناسَ عَلى مَناخِرِهِم في النّارِ إلاّ حصائِدُ ألسِنَتِهِم؟ لا يَستَقيمُ اِيمانُ عَبدٍ حتّى يَستَقيمَ قَلبُهُ، ولا يَستَقيمُ قَلبُهُ حتّى يَستَقيمَ لِسانُهُ. رَحِمَ اللهُ عَبداً تَكَلّم خَيراً فَغَنِمَ أو سَكتَ عن سوءٍ فَسَلِم.مَن كانَ يؤمِنُ باللهِ واليَومِ الآخَرِ فليقُلْ خَيراً أو لِيسكُتْ.
�Has the people's being thrown into the Fire (of hell) on their faces been for any reason other than their tongues? The faith of a servant of Allah will not become straight unless his heart is straight and his heart is not straight unless his tongue is straight. Allah may have mercy upon a servant who speaks good words and enjoys its blessings, refrains from speaking indecent words and is safe from its sinister consequence. He who believes in Allah and the Last Day must say good wording or keep silent.�2
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1 See al-Kafi; Vol. 4 p.335 hadith 3
2 See Jami'us-Sa'aadat; Vol. 2

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( 88 )
Therefore, it is incumbent on the pilgrims to be careful about what they say and not to invalidate their great acts. They must refrain from telling lies, backbiting, swearing, taking oaths, self-praising, finding faults with others, mocking, joking, and vexing others. اَلْحَجُّ أَشْهُرٌ مَعْلُومَاتٌ فَمَنْ فَرَضَ فِيهِنَّ الحَجَّ فَلا رَفَثَ وَلا فُسُوقَ وَلا جِدَالَ فِي الْحَجِّ.
�The pilgrimage is (performed in) the well-known months; so whoever determines the performance of the pilgrimage therein, there shall be no intercourse nor fornication nor quarreling amongst one another. (The Holy Quran; 2:197)�
The Holy Prophet (saw) says: إنَّ الرّجُلَ لَيَتكلّمُ بكَلِمةٍ فَيُضحِكُ بها جُلُسائَهُ يَهوِي بِها أَبعَدَ مِن الثُّـرَيّا.
�On many occasions, a man may say something to make his companions laugh but as a result of the same words he will go far from Allah's mercy as much as the distance between the earth and the heavens.�1 مَن صَمَتَ نَجا
�Whoever keeps silent will be delivered.�2
Jesus Christ (a.s) is quoted as saying: لا تُكثِروا الكَلامَ في غَيرِ ذِكْرِ اللهِ فإنّ الذِينَ يُكثِرونَ الكَلامَ في غَيرِ ذِكرِ اللهِ قاسِيةٌ قُلوبُهُم ولكِن لا يَعلَمونَ.
�Do not speak too much save in remembering Allah, for those who speak too much but do not remember Allah are hardhearted but they do not know.�3
Therefore, a pilgrim should keep on remembering God and pronouncing His Names. To be reckless in a state of Ihram, to let eyes, ears, and tongues free to do what they wish, to insult the cook, the courier, and the co-travelers means to dishonor the Host in His House. We seek refuge to God from ignorance.
O brethren of sincerity and God's confidants, let us say Labbayk from the bottom of our hearts in unison: Yes, here I am, O Lord, here I am. Here I am, there is no partner for You, here I am.
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1 See Jami'us-Sa'aadat; Vol. 2 p.285
2 See Jami'us-Sa'aadat; Vol. 2 p.339
3 See Jami'us-Sa'aadat; Vol. 2 p. 340

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( 89 ) وَلْيَطَّوَّفُوا بِالْبَيْتِ الْعَتِيقِ
�� And let them go round the Ancient House. (The Holy Quran; 22:29)�
We now enter the city of Mecca where the Messenger of God was born and the Holy Quran was revealed. It is the descending place of the revelation and the angels. It is a city of security. Its safety has covered both plants and animals. No one has the right to cut off a plant, to harm an animal even to scare away the birds form their nests. For this reason, the birds of the Sacred Mosque are accustomed to bet people and fly here and there without being scared. This, by itself, shows the spread of overall justice in the world of Islam to the extent that even plants and animals are secure from aggression let alone the human beings who have superior rights.
Mecca, the Mother of cities, is the birthplace of the real civilizations of human beings, a civilization devoid of corruption, indecency, and plundering, a civilization that generates godly, trustworthy, truthful, faithful, and pious human beings. Such a civilization produced the Holy Quran that has its rise from the horizon of Mecca. Therefore, Mecca is the mother of the cities where actual humanity lived. Mecca is the generator of a magnificent human civilization devoid of bestiality. Mecca is the city of monotheism, a sacred center, which houses the Ancient House, the ancient temple as well as the international Muslims' Kiblah.
We now go through the streets of Mecca, though overcrowded but dignified and tranquillizing, and approach the Sacred Mosque. We see the flood of pilgrims pour into the magnificent Mosque and enthusiastically go towards the Kaaba through different gates opened to the guests of God. We, too, enter the Mosque and our eager look falls on the Kaaba, and edifice of glory and majesty having its head in heaven, casting its shade upon God's servants and spreading its lap to give comfort to God's guests who have come here from distant places with much trouble.
Like moths attracted to bright lights, the pilgrims, fascinated by the Kaaba, go round and embrace it as the dearest one, expressing their need to the One Who is free from want. They are deeply impressed by the scene. They start weeping and praising the House of God:

 

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( 90 )
الحَمدُ للهِ الّذي عَظَّمكَ وشَرَّفَكَ وكَرَّمَكَ وجَعلكَ مَثابَةً للنّاسِ وأَمْناً، مُبارَكاً وهُدىً للعالمينَ.
�Praise is due to Allah Who gave you dignity and honor making you pilgrimage for men and place of security, blessed and guidance for the people of the world.�1
Yes, this is the House of the Lord of the heavens and the earth. It is a house whose magnificence makes the kings' hearts sink and whose majesty and awe made the prophets prostrate themselves before it saying: سائِلُكُ فَقيرُكَ مِسكينُكَ بِبابِكَ فَتَصَدّقْ عليهِ بالجَنّةِ
�O Lord, Your humble, poor, and needy servant has come to Your House. Do him favor by giving a portion of Paradise to him.�2 اللّهُمّ البيتُ بيتُكُ والحَرَمُ حَرَمُكَ والعَبدُ عَبدُكَ
�O Lord, the House is Yours, the Sanctuary is Yours, the servant too is Yours.�3
  Aflah, the slave whom was set free by Imam Baqir (a.s) reports: I was accompanying Imam Bqir (a.s) during Hajj. When he entered the Sacred Mosque and his look fell on the Kaaba, he was overwhelmed by weeping. I said, 'My parents be ransoms for you, people are watching you, can you not lower your voice to a whisper?' The Imam answered, 'O Aflah, this is Allah's House, why should I not be weeping? Perhaps He will look at me favorably making me delivered in the Hereafter.'
The Imam then circumambulated the Kaaba, performed the Tawaf Prayer in its proper place, and went into prostration. When he raised his head, I saw that his forehead was wet with tears.4
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1 See al-Mahajjat ul-Beidhaa; vol. 5 p.169
2 See al-Mahajjat ul-Beidhaa; vol. 5 p.170
3 See al-Mahajjatol Beizaa; vol. 5
4 See al-Mahajjat ul-Beidhaa; vol. 4 p.243

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( 91 )
  This is the place before which all the prophets from Adam (a.s) to the seal of the prophets (saw) as well as the immaculate Imams were humble, made circumambulation, and prostrated themselves. Traditions say that after the descending of Adam (a.s) �from Paradise-, God made a dome of white pearl in the present place of the Kaaba for him to circumambulate it. The dome survived until the time of Noah's flood when God took it to the heavens. Since then, the site of the Kaaba became a place for circumambulation for the prophets (a.s) until the time of Prophet Ibrahim (a.s) who was missioned by God to build the Kaaba. وإِذْ بَوّأْنا لإِبراهِيمَ مَكانَ البَيتِ
�And when we assigned to Ibrahim the place of the House. (The Holy Quran; 22:26). وَإِذْ يَرْفَعُ إِبَرَاهِيمُ القَواعِدَ مِنَ البَيْتِ وَإِسْمَاعِيلُ
�And when Ibrahim and Ismail raised the foundations of the House. (The Holy Quran; 2:127)�
With the passage of time, the Kaaba was sometimes completely or partially subject to changes. Yet it continued to survive with its majesty and glory and the ummah is enjoying its blessings.
  It is a wonder that all the royal palaces built throughout history have been demolished but the Kaaba, a house built of mud and stone about four thousand years ago by Prophet Ibrahim and his son Ismail (a.s) in a parched land is still upright and will continue to be loved by human beings until the Day of Judgment.
What is more wonderful is the attraction of this House. So many glorious and majestic buildings in the world are found in areas of good climate, but the Kaaba attracts people to itself without having means of entertainment or being satisfying people's pleasure. The reason however is natural. It is God Himself Who has created this attraction in people's hearts through Prophet Ibrahim's supplication: وَأَذِّنْ في النَّاسِ بالحَجِّ يأْتُوكَ رِجَالاً وَعَلى كُلِّ ضَامِرٍ يأْتِينَ مِنْ كُلِّ فَجٍّ عَمِيقٍ.
�And proclaim among men the pilgrimage: they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel, coming from every remote path. (The Holy Quran; 22:27)�
A quotation from Imam Sadiq (a.s) refers to the same secret:
 

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( 92 ) When Prophets Ibrahim and Ismail (a.s) were assigned to build the House and they completed it, Prophet Ibrahim (a.s) sat on a pillar calling people to Hajj. Then people in men's loins gave a positive response to the call of Allah. Whoever said Labbayk for ten times performs ten times of Hajj, whoever said for five times performs five times of Hajj, whoever said more performs more, and whoever said Labbayk once performs only one time of Hajj and one who did not say Labbayk performs no Hajj.�1
  Circumambulation means to go round something. This act shows the utmost degree of love to the extent that a lover wishes to sacrifice himself for the beloved. A real pilgrim who has thirst for meeting his Beloved has been detached from everything. By going round the House of the Beloved, he wishes to prove that he desires nothing but God. The planets circumambulate the sun, for they take everything from it. Inside an atom, the electrons circumambulate the protons. The whole universe ranging from the invisible particles to the planets and galaxies circumambulate. Man, being a part of the universe, should circumambulate, too, with the difference that the planets circumambulate in a compulsory way according to the laws of nature, but man, the rational being and possessor of free will, circumambulates with his logic and will a House God has appointed to honor human beings. Hence, it is natural for Muslims to offer their prayers, to sit, to stand, to recite the Holy Quran, to sleep, to lie down at the moment of death, to be put in grave, and finally to be in that direction during their lifetimes and death. قُلْ إِنَّ صَلاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيايَ وَمَماتِي للهِ رَبِّ العَالَمِينَ
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1 See al-Kafi; Vol. 4 p.206 hadith 6

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( 93 )
�Say: Surely my prayer and my sacrifice and my life and my death are all for Allah, the Lord of the worlds. (The Holy Quran; 6:162)�
  As for one who has given a positive response to God's call and has managed to attend His House, he is honorable guest received by the Honorable Host Who gives abundantly and freely: يَا مَنْ يُعْطِي الكَثيرَ بِالقَليلِ
�O' He Who gives much in return of very little deeds.�1 Imam Ali (a.s) was asked: What is the meaning of a pilgrim's act when he restores to the Kaaba and catches hold of its curtains? He (a.s) answered: مَثَلُهُ مَثَلُ رَجلٍ لهُ عِندَ آخَرَ جِنايَةٌ وذَنبٌ فَهو مُتَعَلِّقٌ بِثوبِهِ ويَتَضرَّعُ اِلَيهِ ويخْضَعُ لهُ أنْ يتَجافى عَن ذَنبِهِ
�His act is like one who has committed an offence against another person and now while regretting, he appeals to him, takes hold of his garment, and humbly asks for pardon.�2
Under such circumstance, a magnanimous person is required to show favor and forgiveness. God Who is the most magnanimous will be certainly generous and forgiving towards His servant.
The following glad tidings reached us from the Holy Prophet (saw): For every pilgrim who circumambulates the Kaaba at noon bareheaded and bare-footed, takes short paces, lowers his eyes out of modesty, touches the Black Stone in every circumambulation, harms no one, and keeps on
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1 This is a statement of the Du'aa �supplication- of month of Rajab.
2 See Qadi Saeed Qummi's Asrar ul-Ibadat, p. 230

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( 94 )
remembering Allah, Allah will write seventy thousand rewards for him, remove from him seventy thousand wrongdoings, promotes him seventy thousand ranks, sets free on his behalf seventy thousand slaves worth ten thousand dirhams each, give him the right of intercession for seventy persons of his relatives, and fulfill seventy thousand of his demands either immediately or later on.�1
Imam Sadiq (a.s) says: مَن نظَرَ الى الكَعبَةِ لم يَزَلْ تُكتَبُ لهُ حَسَنَةٌ وتُمحَى عنهُ سَيِّئَةٌ حَتّى يَنصَرفَ بَبَصَرِهِ عنهَا.
�Whoever looks at the Kaaba, as long as his eyes are on it, rewards are written for him and his wrongdoings are written off until he turns his look from it.�2 إِنَّ للهِ تعَالى حَولَ الكَعبَةِ عِشرينَ ومِائَةَ رَحمَةً؛ منها سِتُّونَ للطّائِفِينَ وأَربَعونَ لِلمُصَلّينَ وعِشرونَ للنّاظِرينَ.
�There are a hundred and twenty kinds of Allah's mercy in the precinct of the Kaaba; sixty of them are for those who circumambulate, forty for those who perform prayers there, and twenty for whose who look at it.�3
Therefore, one must take care to obtain the highest degrees of divine profit with the easiest acts. ذَلِكَ فَضْلُ اللهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ واللهُ ذُو الفَضْلِ العَظِيمِ.
�That is Allah's grace; He grants it to whom He pleases, and Allah is the Lord of mighty grace. (The Holy Quran; 62:4)�
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1 See al-Kafi; Vol. 4 p.412 hadith 3
2 See al-Kafi; Vol. 4 p. 240 hadith 4
3 See al-Kafi; Vol. 4 p240 hadith 2