FOR centuries, since the haj became an obligation for Muslims in the ninth year of Hijrah, large numbers of pilgrims from all over the world gather every year in the holy city of Mecca to perform the fifth pillar of Islam.

Haj became a significant event in Muslims’ lives, where they attend to seek benefits for both worldly life and the hereafter as Allah mentioned in the Quran:

“That they may witness things that are of benefit to them (ie, reward of haj in the hereafter, and also some worldly gain from trade etc), and mention the name of Allah on appointed days (ie, 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th day of Dhul-Hijjah), over the beast of cattle that He has provided for them (for sacrifice) (at the time of their slaughtering by saying: Bismillah, Wallahu-Akbar, Allahumma Minka wa Ilaik). Then eat thereof and feed therewith the poor who have a very hard time.” (Surah Haj : 28)

However, since the dawn of Islam, the world has witnessed difficult circumstances in which Muslims were forced to abandon the haj.

Although it was imposed on every sane adult Muslim capable of performing it, at times fulfilling it was impossible during some seasons due to the pilgrims’ safety and security being compromised such as during the Qarmatians’ control of the kaabah.

In other instances, the haj was also postponed due to fear of epidemics and diseases, or due to the difficulty of the road, or the high cost of living expenses.

Here are some significant circumstances worth mentioning: 

Bandits and robberies attack in 1757AD: bandits from the tribes of northwestern Arabia attacked the Levantine haj caravan, which consisted of Muslims from Europe, Istanbul, Anatolia, and Persia, as well as the Muslims of Aleppo and the Levant.

Many pilgrims were killed, and caravans were robbed by bandits near Tabuk. In that year, haj seasons were greatly affected by this unwanted incident on the road.

Qarmatians Control of Kaabah: at the beginning of the 10th century AD in 317AH/908AD, the Qarmatians, who were from the followers of Hamdan al-Qarmati (Qarāmiṭah were an Iranian dynasty of a syncretic branch of Sevener Ismaili Shia sect. They were centred on al-Hasa in Eastern Arabia) raided Mecca, and attacked during the pilgrimage season and killed many pilgrims.

They took off the door of the Kaabah and robbed it of its covering. They uprooted the black stone from its place, and carried it with them to the east of the Arabian Peninsula to remain in their possession for nearly 20 years. The pilgrimage season was disrupted for years.

The Muslim scholars issued fatwas urging Muslims to disrupt the pilgrimage to protect their lives, and indeed the pilgrims of the Levant and Iraq cancelled their convoys to Mecca.

In his book, The Beginning and the End, Ibn Kathir described these events and reported that Abu Taher al-Janabi al-Qarmati, the Qarmatian Shi’ites leader and king of Bahrain, led this bloody attack.

Natural circumstances, such as floods and natural disasters have also disrupted trips of pilgrims from some countries.

The flood of the Tigris disrupted pilgrimage convoys from Baghdad in one of the seasons of the fifth century AH, while African desert diseases led to the disruption of pilgrimage convoys from West Africa.

The pilgrimage was also disrupted in one of the seasons in the middle of the fourth century AH due to an epidemic that affected the camels of haj caravans and pilgrims, and many of the hajis died of thirst or disease.

Conclusion

What can be understood from the above is that during the absence of security affecting the lives and wealth of pilgrims, which could occur due to natural circumstances or human corruption, the obligation of haj can be disrupted according to the majority of scholars. – July 18, 2021.

* Abu Ahmed Farid reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.