Eid al Adha(The Sacrifice) is one of the rituals during the annual Hajj season. Every Muslim needs to complete this pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia at least once in their lifetime. The focus is on seeking Allah's forgiveness. The Hajj involves 5 days of prescribed activities. See Hajj (click).
Going on the Hajj is a huge expense for poor Muslims. Rahmat was the foreman of the crew I supervised at a church-run hospital in Pakistan. He saved up all his working years to go on the Hajj. When his application for the pilgrimage was finally accepted based on a quota system, Rahmat prepared diligently with special lessons. Since he never travelled far beyond his village, Rahmat was in for a BIG shock to see busy airports and extravagance. He was left speechless to see masses of people from different nations going through the various stages of the Hajj.'Daoud', a troubled Christian young man employed by the hospital, spent hours with a Muslim auditor who came periodically. After one of these visits, the local Imam announced over the mosque's loudspeakers that Daoud had converted to Islam. I asked Daoud what brought him to this decision. He said, "Christianity has no centre like Mecca." I said something like "Christianity's centre is Jesus". Our qibla(direction of prayer) has no earthly co-ordinates.
Do the maths...just over 2 million people(1/3 from Saudi Arabia) are allowed to go on the Hajj every year. With 1.6 billion Muslims worldwide, the vast majority of Muslims will never have a chance to go on the Hajj. Yet this is a key requirement(in Muslim understanding) that increases one's chances of getting into heaven. But they also have a system of sending someone as a proxy to perform the Hajj for another Muslim unable to travel or if ceremonially unclean. There are many desperate Muslims who go on the Hajj. Every year many elderly are injured or even crushed to death by the throngs of people. Numerous Muslims go on an Umra, also called the 'lesser Hajj'. Btw, did you know that Mecca is closed to all non-Muslims?
Muslims talk about being awestruck when they enter the 'Sacred Mosque' in Mecca built around the Kaaba--the focus of their ritualistic prayers. No doubt there is a ton of synergy. Wouldn't it be wonderful if Muslims on the Hajj would have a vision of Jesus?
Sadly, most Muslims are unaware or cannot accept the fact that all the Hajj rituals predated Islam--they were adopted from paganism! Most Muslims haven't heard or understood that only through Jesus' sacrifice can our sins be forgiven and through him we have hope of entering heaven. Jesus' followers are called 'children of God'--far better than being called 'hajji' after completion of the Hajj.
We too are on a pilgrimage. "This world is not my home, I'm justa' passin' through..." we used to sing. The focus of our pilgrimage is Jesus. In heaven we'll worship and celebrate forever in the presence of God. This is the very best news mankind can ever receive. And the invitation to join in this pilgrimage is open to everyone!Oh Lord Jesus, have mercy on Muslims who perform the hajj this year. Please meet them, even at the Kaaba and show them the way to God. Amen.
