077. 5 REASONS why HAJJ is a PAGAN RITUAL

 Every year, millions of Muslims travel to Mecca for Hajj
Islam compels every able bodied person with financial means to perform at.

But is had a truly Islamic ritual.

Did Islam start its member rituals?

Did Jews and Christians perform pilgrimage in Mecca ever in their history?

And did Moses, Jesus, Jonah, Elijah,David or Solomon ever perform the ritual of Hajj? And if not, what was the reason?

How does a pagan ritual that has nothing to do with Abrahamic religions?

The first reason is Muslims believe that the Kaaba is the most sacred place on the face of the earth, and it is even holier than the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

But Jewish and Christian religious books never talk about the most sacred house of God in the Arabian desert that Adam built
and was rebuilt by Abraham and Ishmael.

No Prophet ever performed Hajj in Mecca old and New Testaments mention hundreds of prophets, but none ventured into the Arabian Desert for the most holy pilgrimage, even while wandering in the Negev desert.

Moses never came to Mecca. Solomon. David Jesus. Jonah. Elijah. Samuel.

Jeremiah never came to Mecca or performed the Hajj.

According to the Bible, Abraham himself, who is considered as the builder of Kaaba, according to Islam, never went to the Arabian Desert nor told anyone to perform Hajj of the Kaaba.
All of this only proves one thing that Hajj has nothing to do with Abrahamic religion.

Second reason is Prophet Muhammad, considered Jews and Christians as his allies.

Initially in Mecca, but they never accepted him as a prophet,
even though he claimed to worship the same God as them.

Because of this, the Prophet stopped praying to face
Jerusalem and started to face Mecca because now he knew
well that he would have to appease the Arab pagans,
that they may get lured towards his new faith.

So he incorporated their pagan Kaaba and its pilgrimage into his religion.


The third reason is it is well-known that the pagan custom of building special houses to house sacred stones is extremely ancient.

Commonly, these stones were believed to be of heavenly origin.

These holy buildings were known as Baetylus, Baetyl, Bethel, or Betyl. Kaaba is also known as Bait Allah. which sounds similar to Baetylus.

These types of structures existed from Yemen to Rome

Sahih al Bukhari Hadith number 4355, mentions the Kaaba of Dhul Khalaasa, in this Hadith, Prophet Muhammad ordered the destruction of this Kaaba.

The stones placed in these temples acted as a connection with the deity.

Today, archeology and history have provided ample evidence to prove that Kaaba was a pagan construction and its pilgrimage a pagan ritual.

The fourth reason is Islamic history mentions neither Christians
nor Jews, but only the pagans of Arabia used to perform Hajj in Mecca.

Islamic holy books provide complete details of the pagan Hajj
before Islam, according to Sahih al-Bukhari Hadith number
1648.

Early Muslims considered running between Safa and Marwa a pagan ritual and disliked it.

However, verse 158 of several books was revealed
that said, Safa and Marwa are among the symbols of Allah.

According to Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith number 1597.

Umar ibn Khattab disliked kissing the black stone
because it was a Pagan ritual, he said.

Had I not seen Allah's messenger kissing you, I would not have kissed you.

Similarly, in Bukhari Hadith number 1643, Momineen Aisha mentions that wearing a Ihram was also a pagan practice to honor the goddess, Mannat, Muslims were free to perform Hajj after the conquest of mankind in 630 of the common Arab pagans and Muslims used to perform Hajj together till 632.

But in 632, when Abubakar led Hajj.

According to Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith number 4363,
he banned the pagans from the Kaaba on the orders of Prophet Muhammad.

The command for this man occurs in Surah al-Tawba verse number 28, which mentions that pagans are unclean and are not allowed to enter the house of Allah.

But from what I mentioned earlier, it is clear Muslims
themselves considered the rituals of Hajj as pagan practices.

The reason for such disbelief in Hajj by Muslims was the presence of Jews and Christians in Arabia, who never regarded the Kaaba and Hajj as sacred and never participated in it.
So the newly converted Muslims knew that had nothing to do with the God of Abraham. These Muslims were frequent travelers to the land of Israel and even Rome.

They knew such pagan pilgrimages had no connection with Abraham, Moses or Jesus.

The Fifth and the last reason is the most important to believe
that Hajj is a pagan ritual and that the reason is Quran itself.
When we ask why prophets never came to perform Hajj, Muslims can say they might have.

The mention of Makkah and Hajj in the Torah and gospel removed.

But in Koran itself, no prophet other than Abraham
is ever mentioned as performing Hajj in Mecca.

Prophet Muhammad himself prayed towards Jerusalem at first.

He changed his direction later and declared that Kaaba
was even holier than the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

The prophet said that it was the first house built by Adam and later rebuilt by Abraham and Ishmael. And he also changed the story that Ishmael, not Isaac, was sacrificed in Mecca
by Abraham, instead in the land of Israel.

He said Hagar and Ishmael were in Mecca and the black stone descended from paradise.



What is Hajj:

source: GPT-4o mini

Hajj is an Arabic term that means "to intend a journey" or "to set out for a place." In the context of Islam, Hajj refers specifically to the annual pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca, which is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.

The pilgrimage occurs during the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah and is obligatory for all Muslims who are physically and financially able to undertake it at least once in their lifetime. Hajj involves a series of rituals performed over several days, including:

    Ihram: Entering a state of spiritual purity and wearing specific garments.
    Tawaf: Circling the Kaaba seven times.
    Sa'i: Walking between the hills of Safa and Marwah.
    Standing at Arafat: A day of prayer and reflection.
    Muzdalifah: Collecting pebbles for the stoning of the devil.
    Ramy al-Jamarat: Throwing stones at three pillars representing Satan.
    Eid al-Adha: Sacrificing an animal, commemorating the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son.

Hajj is a deeply spiritual experience that emphasizes unity, humility, and submission to God.

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Pilgrimage of the Christians:

Some notable Christian pilgrimages include:

    Pilgrimage to Jerusalem: Many Christians visit Jerusalem to see sites associated with the life of Jesus, such as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which is believed to be the site of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection.

    Camino de Santiago: This is a famous pilgrimage route in Spain that leads to the shrine of Saint James the Great in Santiago de Compostela. It has been a significant pilgrimage for Christians since the Middle Ages.

    Canterbury Pilgrimage: In England, the pilgrimage to Canterbury Cathedral, associated with Saint Thomas Becket, is well-known, particularly due to Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales."

    Mount Sinai: Some Christians undertake pilgrimages to Mount Sinai, where it is believed that Moses received the Ten Commandments.

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Pilgrimage of the Jews

 Here are some key aspects of Jewish pilgrimage:

    Shalosh Regalim: The three major pilgrimage festivals in Judaism are known as the Shalosh Regalim. During these festivals, Jews were historically required to travel to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices at the Temple. The three festivals are:
        Passover (Pesach): Celebrating the Exodus from Egypt.
        Shavuot: Commemorating the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai.
        Sukkot: The Feast of Tabernacles, which celebrates the harvest and the Israelites' wandering in the desert.

    Jerusalem: The primary destination for Jewish pilgrimage was the Temple in Jerusalem. Pilgrims would come to offer sacrifices, participate in communal worship, and celebrate the festivals.

    Modern Pilgrimages: While the Temple no longer exists, many Jews still consider Jerusalem a holy city and may make pilgrimages to significant sites, such as the Western Wall (Kotel), which is a remnant of the Second Temple and a place of prayer and reflection.

    Personal Pilgrimages: In addition to the major festivals, some Jews may undertake personal pilgrimages to other significant sites, such as the graves of revered rabbis or historical figures.

While the nature of pilgrimage in Judaism has evolved since the destruction of the Temple, the spiritual significance of these journeys remains an important aspect of Jewish faith and practice.

The Mystic World, "BEWARE! Never Go Near Such Type Of GOD Idols | Sadhguru", Youtube, June 02 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lASnhO9FG5E