AL-HAJJ - EIDUL ADHA

MY UNDERSTANDING OF AL-HAJJ & EIDUL ADHA = عيد الأضحى – RETURN TO LIGHT FROM DARKNESS.

Eidul adha and Hajj is wrongly connected with 10th day of the "month of Zil Hajj of Islamic Calendar" thereby endorsing the Biblical parabolic story of Abraham sacrificing his son thus converting the symbolic parable into literal grand event of mass slaughtering of cattle and distribution of meat.

I have tried to analyze some terms in order to understand what Eid actually means; although the festival has nothing to do with the book Quran but still its significance is one of the backbone of Islamic theology. I will try to discuss this topic within the framework of the book Quran and try to unlock the true significance behind this festival by unraveling its real meaning.

Eid عيد means to return, come back or repeat - The triliteral root ʿayn wāw dāl (ع و د) occurs 63 times in the Quran, in six derived forms:


18 times as the form I verb ʿāda (عَادَ)

18 times as the form IV verb uʿīdu (أُعِيدُ)

24 times it is categorize as proper noun ʿād (عَاد)

once as the noun ʿīd (عِيد) - (5:114)

once as the noun maʿād (مَعَاد)

once as the active participle ʿāidūn (عَآئِدُون)


Adha الأضحى means his darkness became light or the road appeared or the road became apparent, under the sun. The triliteral root ḍād ḥā wāw (ض ح و) occurs seven times in the book Quran, in two derived forms:

once as the form I verb taḍḥā (تَضْحَىٰ)

six times as the nominal ḍuḥan (ضُحًى)


That means whenever we come out of darkness to light is Eidul Adha for us minus all the rituals connected to it.


BRIEF:

Eidul Adha is misinterpreted as Bakri Eid in the Indian subcontinent because too much time, energy and importance is given to slaughtering of cattles rather than conquering our own darkness. There is a strong belief among the label Muslims that slaughtering a healthy animal is a great act of sacrifice and on the day of Judgment that slaughtered cattle will carry the person who killed the poor cattle to easily cross the bridge [pool siraat] to the paradise [Jannah]. But the biggest beast or animal we need to sacrifice is our ego. The strong desire for paradise compels them to take the convenient path so it is much easier to slaughter the poor cattle in the name of sacrificing ritual. This mass killing of poor animal is considered as a great deed of sacrifice for God, actually the root of this ritual is found in Pre-Islamic Pagan rituals. 

Eidul Adha is a old Islamic Arabic term and has lot to do with Islamic theology. Although the word Eid is mentioned in the book Quran but not in the context of Eid festival, nevertheless Muslims all over the world enthusiastically celebrate it. The basic significance of عيد (Eid) is to come back to its original state, return, repeat, restore. Collectively Eidul Adha عيد الأضحى literally means to come back to light.

Retrieving back to our original state of mind is a tough task but it is also a moment of great achievement if we able to do it. When a child is born that is his / her original and foremost state. The child is born without any indoctrination or belief. He is not aware what is vanity, greed, fear and expectations. He knows no sadness, he is happy all the time, he cries because he does not know how to talk, crying is his only language which is universally understood. Through crying he conveys whether he is hungry or feeling uncomfortable, in it are the signs for the knowledgeable. One of the meanings of Bakkah in 3:96 is to cry, unable to speak, paucity of wealth, that's why it is called أَوَّلَ بَيْتٍ وُضِعَ لِلنَّاسِ لَلَّذِي بِبَكَّةَ. Gradually as we grow older we have been continuously smeared upon with layers of superficial information by parents, teachers and society at large. Because of this coating of layers of information our original script is lost or hidden from us. The result is we are lost in the whirlpool of information; in the process we forgot to connect with our embedded book / script [Al-Kitab]. In Quranic terminology such person becomes Kafir because his original script is hidden or covered with false information so he is denies, reject and is arrogant or in the state of darkness about the self. 

Hajj is all about Abraham who is Ummatan, Qanitan, Hanifan and is not a Mushrik nevertheless he is the main Imam un Naas [guide of agitated minds] who builds and Ismail cleans our house [طَهِّرَا بَيْتِيَ]. The house of Allah is our own mind, body and soul. Ibrahim is the Imam (guide) of our thinking mind (Naas). We cannot follow dead Imam for that our Imam must be alive and functioning.

The Hajj [repairing / restoration] is not possible without our Imam and Masjid e Haram [not mosque at Mecca] but our inherent institution of guidance which we must take as our Qibla [the direction with acceptance]. Wherever we be our 24x7 focused / attention should be on our Masjid e Haram (2:144). Our own mind, body and soul must be Masjid e Haram provided we keep it clean from impure thoughts. The chapter of repentance (Taubah) deals with the freedom or elimination from impure thoughts [al-mushrikeen] and not from "polytheist people"- This is the Great Hajj if we are able to repair or restore ourselves but I won't touch that topic for the reason of brevity.

When man starts to question his own beliefs and think by himself he begins to gradually get rid of all the superficial information and education that once had cluttered his mind. That gradual de-cluttering of mind and coming back on the original track of proper evolution is the real moment of ecstasy and feast for his own self. The real Al-Hajj is repairing of our own mind and coming back to the course or direction (musalla) of Ibrahim; who is the guide [Imam] and the course [مُصَلًّى] for the agitated mind [جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَامًا]. 

It is a belief among traditional Muslims that when they complete the rituals of Hajj they become like newborn babies. The original significance of Hajj is completely lost or ignored and they are satisfied enacting like babies by shaving their heads, wearing un-stitch loincloths, throwing stones at cement concrete walls assuming it to be satan, the root cause of all their sins. By completing this "magnum opus" ritual they feel a great sense of achievement.  

The moment of real Hajj is a great day for every an individual who have sacrificed their very precious time for achieving the path or the journey towards knowing / understanding his own consciousness [Rabb]. It has nothing to do with animal sacrifice or visiting Mecca. It is a moment of great achievement and celebration for individuals who prefer to walk in darkness to seek light or enlightenment. It is a day of sunshine when the darkness is slaughtered or the darkness is exposed to sun. It is the day / period or a moment of clarity of information and knowledge. This is the 12th and final evolutionary period in man’s life. This period is called Dhu'l-Hijjah / Zil Hajj - ذو الحجة - Dhū al-Ḥijjah ذُو ٱلْحِجَّة possessor or endowed with knowledge to repair, cure or probe his own self. Recognition [Arafat] of self is complete thus attaining the ground of enlightenment.

Zil = contextually it signifies long, touching the lower extremity, boldness, forwardness, proud, drag, carry himself or walk with elegance or posses competency, richness

Hajj = It’s an individual's journey or a path or pilgrimage towards correction or repairing of oneself…It is a journey of inquiry / probe / investigation or gathering of evidence or testimonies for a purpose proof for a final argument, so that it brings satisfaction to heart and mind.

Dhu'l-Hijjah / Zil Hajj - ذو الحجة means the period of long argument with competency or going to the base of an argument, stretching it to the ground level to prove a point until it is clear.


AL-HAJJ ACCORDING TO AL-QURAN:

وَأَذِّن فِي النَّاسِ بِالْحَجِّ يَأْتُوكَ رِجَالًا وَعَلَى كُلِّ ضَامِرٍ يَأْتِينَ مِن كُلِّ فَجٍّ عَمِيقٍ


22:27 And pay attention / listen [أَذِّن] in [فِي]the agitated mind [ النَّاسِ] with the intention of repairing / overcoming an arguments [Hajj]; they [thoughts] will come to you carrying their own weight [رِجَالًا] and with utmost conscience / determination in mind [ضَامِرٍ] ; they [thoughts] will come into existence from every depth of unripe path [فَجٍّ عَمِيقٍ] -

According to the verse 22:27 is very clear that listening / calling our own inner voices in our own agitated / thinking mind [An-Naas] with the intention to repair or rebuilt our self is Al-Hajj. Every arguments or thoughts carry their own weight [رِجَالًا] and determination from various unknown path of knowledge. So according to the above ayaat the real Hajj is IN Naas and not at Mecca, revolving around the cube structure dressed in black cloths.

 ضَامِرٍ - A thing which is determine in your heart or mind, conscience - ضمير

لِيَشْهَدُوا مَنَافِعَ لَهُمْ وَيَذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ فِي أَيَّامٍ مَّعْلُومَاتٍ عَلَى مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّن بَهِيمَةِ الْأَنْعَامِ فَكُلُوا مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا الْبَائِسَ الْفَقِيرَ

22:28 That they may witness / experience benefits for themselves and always preserve in mind the lofty attributes of system of consciousness [Allah] in the moments of knowledgeable information over what He has provided them from the path of confusion / difficult to express or understood [بَهِيمَةِ]. So use intellect from it and educate in order to transform [أَطْعِمُوا] the distressed and the obscure [in knowledge].

AL-SAFAA & AL-MARWAH

2:158 ۞ إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِن شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ ۖ فَمَنْ حَجَّ الْبَيْتَ أَوِ اعْتَمَرَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَن يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا ۚ وَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ شَاكِرٌ عَلِيمٌ

Indeed, the clarity [الصَّفَا] and the process of assimilation [الْمَرْوَةَ] are from the music/poems [شَعَائِرِ] of System of Consciousness [اللَّهِ]. So whoever repairs [حَجَّ] within the system of deep thoughts [حَجَّ الْبَيْتَ] or lives by it [اعْتَمَرَ] - there is no problem upon him that he circumvents [يَطَّوَّفَ] between both of them. And whoever voluntarily desire good - then indeed, Allah is appreciative and All Knowing.

When something is clearly understood and digested or accepted, the feel of music or a flow of current runs through our nervous system, that feeling of stream of current is termed as شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ [poems/music of system of consciousness by the book Quran. This happens when complete the Hajj al bayat is completed; i.e. repairing of our own thought process [حَجَّ الْبَيْتَ]


When something is clearly understood and digested the sensation of music runs through our nervous system, such feeling is termed as شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ by the Quran.


AL-HAJJ IS NEW DISCOVERY OF KNOWLEDGE:

2:189 ۞ يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْأَهِلَّةِ ۖ قُلْ هِيَ مَوَاقِيتُ لِلنَّاسِ وَالْحَجِّ ۗوَلَيْسَ الْبِرُّ بِأَن تَأْتُوا الْبُيُوتَ مِن ظُهُورِهَا وَلَـٰكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنِ اتَّقَىٰ ۗ وَأْتُوا الْبُيُوتَ مِنْ أَبْوَابِهَا ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ


They ask you, about the process of stripping off [old beliefs] . Say, "It is state of defining period for the agitated / restless minds and the reparation of thoughts [Al-Hajj]." And it is not righteousness to come to the house of thoughts from its exoteric background, but the righteousness is one who is diligent. And come to the house of thoughts from its proper way. And be cautious of Allah [system of consciousness] that you may succeed.

 الْأَهِلَّةِ - the process of removing something, stripped off, removing of cover,  passing off [month], separating darkness from light. In the above context الْأَهِلَّةِ is peeling-off of old beliefs or ideas or superficial knowledge for new knowledge and genuine ideas. 

2:190 وَقَاتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ الَّذِينَ يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ وَلَا تَعْتَدُوا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ

Acquire complete knowledge in the Cause of the System of consciousness those who want to acquire complete knowledge and do not transgress. Indeed the system of consciousness does not like transgressors.

2:196 وَأَتِمُّوا الْحَجَّ وَالْعُمْرَةَ لِلَّهِ ۚ فَإِنْ أُحْصِرْتُمْ فَمَا اسْتَيْسَرَ مِنَ الْهَدْيِ ۖ وَلَا تَحْلِقُوا رُءُوسَكُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَبْلُغَ الْهَدْيُ مَحِلَّهُ ۚ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ بِهِ أَذًى مِّن رَّأْسِهِ فَفِدْيَةٌ مِّن صِيَامٍ أَوْ صَدَقَةٍ أَوْ نُسُكٍ ۚ فَإِذَا أَمِنتُمْ فَمَن تَمَتَّعَ بِالْعُمْرَةِ إِلَى الْحَجِّ فَمَا اسْتَيْسَرَ مِنَ الْهَدْيِ ۚ فَمَن لَّمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ فِي الْحَجِّ وَسَبْعَةٍ إِذَا رَجَعْتُمْ ۗ تِلْكَ عَشَرَةٌ كَامِلَةٌ ۗ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ لِمَن لَّمْ يَكُنْ أَهْلُهُ حَاضِرِي الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ

And the complete transformation of self is Al-Hajj [overcoming the internal arguments for the sake of amending oneself] and Al-Umrah [the process of living by it] is only for Him [Consciousness]. But if you are blocked, then use whatever easily available from the guidance. And let not distress afflict your topmost priority [رُءُوسَكُمْ] until the guidance has reached its solution. And whoever from you is disordered or unexpected with it, from its topmost priorities then a process of liberation from abstinence or process of truthfulness or devotion. And when you are secure, then whoever took advantage with the 'umrah towards the Hajj what can be obtained with ease from the guidance. And whoever cannot find [guidance] - then a abstinence till the pending / final stages in the Hajj and continuously congregation [the arguments] till you have reconciled all. This is the process of complete communion [عَشَرَةٌ كَامِلَةٌ]. It is for those who are not its worthy attendee of the enshrined state of humbleness [al-Masjid al-haram]. And be cautious of system of consciousness [Allah] and know that the system of consciousness [Allah] is severest tracker.

2:197 الْحَجُّ أَشْهُرٌ مَّعْلُومَاتٌ ۚ فَمَن فَرَضَ فِيهِنَّ الْحَجَّ فَلَا رَفَثَ وَلَا فُسُوقَ وَلَا جِدَالَ فِي الْحَجِّ ۗ وَمَا تَفْعَلُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ يَعْلَمْهُ اللَّهُ ۗوَتَزَوَّدُوا فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ الزَّادِ التَّقْوَىٰ ۚ وَاتَّقُونِ يَا أُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ

Al-Hajj is the manifestation of the process of knowledge so whoever made obligatory upon himself therein the Hajj then there should be no submission/surrendering and no deviation / neglecting and no dispute in the Hajj and whatever you do from goodness - Allah knows it. And take the provision, so indeed the best provision is caution/diligence. And be cautious of Me, O foremost in possession of intelligence.

2:198 لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَبْتَغُوا فَضْلًا مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ ۚ فَإِذَا أَفَضْتُم مِّنْ عَرَفَاتٍ فَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ عِندَ الْمَشْعَرِ الْحَرَامِ ۖ وَاذْكُرُوهُ كَمَا هَدَاكُمْ وَإِن كُنتُم مِّن قَبْلِهِ لَمِنَ الضَّالِّينَ

There is no fault upon you for seeking preference from your Consciousness. But when you are overwhelmed from recognition / understanding, retrospect upon Allah [system of consciousness] through the sacred/enshrined feeling [al- Mash'ar al-haram]. And remember Him, as He has guided you, indeed, you have accepted it from those who were misguided.

WHAT IS HOUSE [الْبَيْتَ] IN QURANIC CONTEXT ?

2:125 وَإِذْ جَعَلْنَا الْبَيْتَ مَثَابَةً لِّلنَّاسِ وَأَمْناً وَاتَّخِذُواْ مِن مَّقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى وَعَهِدْنَا إِلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ أَن طَهِّرَا بَيْتِيَ لِلطَّائِفِينَ وَالْعَاكِفِينَ وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُودِ

And when We have set up the house of thoughts [Al-Bayat] as a process of returning / restoring the intellect for the agitated / restless minds and a security. And grasp / absorb, from the status of Abraham a course to connect closely. And We charged / entrusted towards Abraham and Ishmael [one who is conscious and responds], [saying], "Refresh / Purify My house of thoughts [Bayat] for those who circumvent and those who persevere and those who bow in humbleness."


The word جَعَلْنَا is used in this context, whenever the word جعل is used that means that the making of anything is done without the help of any physical material. The book Quran uses the word جعل for making of day and night or making of zodiacal signs because no material is required in the making of day, night and zodiacal signs. Here in verse 2:125 the word جعل is used for making the house which is made by Allah, so in this context the house cannot be of stone, brick or concrete cement. Here in this context the book Quran is saying house without physical materials. This verse is definitely not talking about any physical house in Mecca, but the house we built by our own thoughts on the basis of the guidance of Ibrahim and must dwell in it forever. 


2:127 وَإِذْ يَرْفَعُ إِبْرَاهِيمُ الْقَوَاعِدَ مِنَ الْبَيْتِ وَإِسْمَاعِيلُ رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا ۖإِنَّكَ أَنتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ


And if Abraham raises up the beliefs from the house of thoughts and consciously responds [Ishmael], [saying], "Our Consciousness, accept from us. Indeed You are the one who Responds / understands, the Knows very well.

The book Quran clearly refutes the existence of any physical house built by Ibrahim. The function of Ibrahim and Ismael is to raised the beliefs from the house of thoughts which also is the sacred house and purify it to the original state that was originally built by Allah/Rabb. The entire book Quran talks about elements inside us, nothing is physical, all is bil-gayab which we have to experience or witness within ourselves.


THE DAY OF ARAFAH IS THE MOMENT OF RECOGNITION - 2:198

لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَبْتَغُواْ فَضْلاً مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ فَإِذَا أَفَضْتُم مِّنْ عَرَفَاتٍ فَاذْكُرُواْ اللّهَ عِندَ الْمَشْعَرِ الْحَرَامِ وَاذْكُرُوهُ كَمَا هَدَاكُمْ وَإِن كُنتُم مِّن قَبْلِهِ لَمِنَ الضَّآلِّينَ

There is no fault upon you for seeking preference from your Consciousness [Rabb]. But when you are overwhelmed from knowing / understanding; retrospect the system of consciousness [Allah] through the sacred/enshrined perception [al- Mash'ar al-haram]. And remember Him, as He has guided you, indeed, you have accepted it from those who were misguided.

3:96 - إِنَّ أَوَّلَ بَيْتٍ وُضِعَ لِلنَّاسِ لَلَّذِي بِبَكَّةَ مُبَارَكًا وَهُدًى لِّلْعَالَمِينَ


Indeed the foremost house of thoughts laid for the agitated minds is blessed / steady / fixed / perseveringly with poverty [بِبَكَّةَ مُبَارَكًا] however it is a guidance for all the knowledgeable. 

3:97 - فِيهِ آيَاتٌ بَيِّـنَاتٌ مَّقَامُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمَن دَخَلَهُ كَانَ آمِنًا وَلِلّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلاً وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ الله غَنِيٌّ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ

In it are clear cut signs of Ibrahim's stability / status and whoever enters it - is safe, and [it is] upon the agitated minds to repair the course of thoughts for Him, whoever able to seek the way towards it and whoever disbelieved then indeed the system of consciousness [Allah] is free from need of the all the knowledgeable.


THE CRUX OF 3:96-97 - Continuous pain and struggle to find words/ideas or paucity of wealth is called bakkah. The word Bakkah is a derivative of بكا  / بكى - is a feminine gender based on verb form ii pattern. The feminine gender of bakkah signifies a silent process of pain / struggle without able to express; just like a crying child who is not able to express his/ her feelings. Pain and persistency is the foremost requirement for any man to acquire safety and security. It is a blessing in disguise and guidance for the knowledgeable. The journey of amending of our thought process is not easy but whoever can afford to do it should undertake that mental journey. Father Abraham is the pioneer of that process of struggle and pain.The journey is not for Allah [the system of consciousness] as He is above all needs. The mental journey is for our own safety and security because acquiring knowledge, guidance and implementation is our fundamental duty. 

MASS ANIMAL KILLING IS UN ISLAMIC AND NON QURANIC RITUAL. IT'S A WASTAGE OF ONE'S RESOURCES UNDER THE ILLUSION OF PLEASING ALLAH.

The crux of al-Masjid al-haram & al-Masjid al- Aqsa

The crux of al-Masjid al-haram & al-Masjid al- Aqsa -

Sajda in the context of the book Quran -

Malikah do Sajda for Adam - اسْجُدُواْ لِآدَمَ - (2:34)

Iblees don't do Sajda for Adam - (2:34)

Quran (not the 114 chapter book) and Sajda is only for Momin (not a label of any particular community) - 84: 20-21-22

Our Kafeer and Takaboor thoughts don't do Sajda because they are part of our inner Iblees that prevent us from becoming humble (2:34) - إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ أَبَىٰ وَاسْتَكْبَرَ وَكَانَ مِنَ الْكَافِرِينَ

Sajda is not physical action of touching the forehead on the ground neither, neither the word Masjid refers to "Islamic Architectural monument." In Quranic context the foundation of masjid is build on Taqwa (due diligence / discipline) and not on concrete and cement. (9:107 - 108 - 109)

Masjid is only for Allah, it is the House of Allah (2:114) where there is no ego only knowledge with humbleness. All our call (dua) goes through our Masjid (7:29), it is our own connection center with our system of consciousness (Allah). Masjid is our own state of humbleness build on the foundation of Taqwa and Sajda. Humility, humbleness comes from the sincere realization that we have no knowledge except the knowledge taught by the Rabb - The feeling of knowing nothing is characteristics of our Malaikah. 

Masjid, Masjid Haram and Masjid Aqsa are our stages of growth or ascension towards higher knowledge or consciousness (samawaat) - Masjid ḍirāran is harmful / damage Masjid because it is based on division, dispute, corruption and untruthfulness. 

In Arabic, Persian it is known as ooruj (عروج) / meraaj (ميراج - ladder, to elevate or to ascend) - it is soul's forward leap into higher knowledge of self - (34:2 - 43:33) - Although ooruj and miraaj are Arabic words but we will not find these words in their exact forms in the book Quran. In 70:3 Allah is called Owner of Ascent - مِّنَ اللَّهِ ذِي الْمَعَارِجِ - 

What is so important travelling in night between the two physical structures in Mecca and Jerusalem? - Why should the book Quran and Hadith discusses this so called "miraculous event" ? Does it have any message or significance worth heeding?

What Musa and Bani Israel have to do with these verses? Why Musa was given Al-Kitab and what is Al-Kitab in this context? 

سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي أَسْرَى بِعَبْدِهِ لَيْلاً مِّنَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ الْأَقْصَى الَّذِي بَارَكْنَا حَوْلَهُ لِنُرِيَهُ مِنْ آيَاتِنَا إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ البَصِيرُ – 17:1

The verse describes the objective of this inner journey (أَسْرَى) with the obedient servant (pure nafs / self / mohammed) the one having abundant knowledge (سُبْحَانَ) - travelling in the state of anxiety (لَيْلاً) from the state of enshrined state of humbleness (الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ) towards reaching the furthermost degree of humbleness (الْمَسْجِدِ الْأَقْصَى). Whose surroundings are blessed by Rabb, so that the our own consciousness would show it signs (آيَاتِنَا). Indeed its (sign) is full of thought provoking, that knocks the door of insight (البَصِيرُ) hearing (السَّمِيعُ).

The verse (17:1) points towards the inner journey of those who possess tremendous knowledge that made them travel from mere humbleness to the extreme degree of realization of humbleness due to their virtue of knowledge and wisdom. Masjid alharam and Masjid Aqsa are the state of our own conscious mind. It is not a place of physical prostration but a state where our pure mind / nafs / self / soul that reach or get connected with our own higher level of consciousness (samavaat). Without knowledge, wisdom and humbleness we cannot reach or attain ascension of our souls in Hadithic term it is called meraj or ooruj. 

The feeling of humbleness comes from the virtue of deep knowledge, understanding and acceptance that we are nothing in contrast to the vastness of the Universe or the Environment around us. The feeling of humbleness, abasement, humility or nothingness comes when we ponder, meditate, contemplate and compare the immeasurable wonders of the Universe with our minute or microscopic self. The masjid of Allah is where Ego is lost, where we belittle ourselves in admiration and amazement in comparison with the astonishing Nature or Reality of our existence. Masjid is to remain in the state of humbleness 24x7. Just as much we belittle ourselves or abase our selves (nafs) in view of the fact that we are of no importance and our knowledge is very limited compare to Consciousness or Awareness of Mother Nature. The more we grow or move in our inner journey, the further we travel from Masjid Al-Haram towards Masjid i Aqsa we realize there are more bonderies to conquer. It is a continuous non-stop journey for the seeker of truth.

وَآتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْكِتَابَ وَجَعَلْنَاهُ هُدًى لِّبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَلاَّ تَتَّخِذُواْ مِن دُونِي وَكِيلاً – 17:2

And (continuation from the first verse) We have given Musa Al-Kitab and drafted guidance for Bani Israel so that they could not extract out from my weak self (دُونِي) any judgment / opinion (وَكِيلاً) …

We can find Musa when we reach one of the highest level of our own consciousness, when we can know / decode our own script (Al-Kitab) that can guide us to become humble, wise and diligent.

The second verse (17:2) is the continuation of first verse as it is joined by the prefixed conjunction و – so to interpret this verse to the hadith based story of "physical ascension of person Mohammed to seventh heaven” is bogus and misleading. If we correctly understand the right theme of the book Quran then only we can understand the real interpretation of some of the Hadith related to Meraj and few other topics in light of the Quran. 

Nothing is physical in the entire message of the book Quran as well as Hadith. But the book Quran is the mother book if one want to study other books related to religion Islam they must first understand the book Quran thoroughly not the traditional translation or the new interpretations but the original message. Then only they can judge whether other material is helping them or diverting them from the message of the main book. All Islamic literature must be studied under the light of Quran and not vice versa. We should never touch any books other than the book Quran. It took me at least 58 years to understand the core theme of the book Quran now in the light of that enlightenment I am beginning to understand some valuable Hadith. I am not at all encouraging people to read or study Hadith when their base of Islam is founded on rituals, Arab culture, Arab History and Geography. 

The main theme of the book Quran is to understand the Self, nothing else. When you understand your own self you will begin to understand how to grow it and connect it with the fountainhead of all knowledge. (رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ)

UNDERSTANDING THE ESSENCE OF SOME WORDS:

Asra = Inner journey of self – أَسْرَى - its 3rd person masculine singular (form IV) perfect verb - the root word is س ر ى – the basic meaning is something which travels deep, like root of the tree crept beneath the ground, strain of evil crept in the man, the poison crept in him, travelling in night, the word سرى denotes unseen progress. 

Subhan = سُبْحَانَ – accusative masculine noun - Root word is س ب ح – means to swim – Subhan means to swim vigorously or occupy oneself, abundant knowledge – ا ن (aan) suffixes occur in verbal noun, participle/agent noun, and irregular plural structures… as in Rehman, Insaan, Quraan…and commonly used in diptotes also.

Lail = لَيْلاً – Any Anxiety - accusative masculine indefinite noun

Al-Masjid = A state where one is in the state of acceptance / obedience / humbleness - A focused state

Sajda = Lowly, submissive, humble, prepared to obey or accept others unquestioningly, subservience

Al-Haram = Something which is unlawful as well as sacred – Laced with condition of do and don’t list which one has to respect and follow, the enshrined one

Masjid al Haram - الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ = A enshrined state of humbleness or a state of acceptance laced with restrictions and strict discipline – A state of certain restrictions in attaining the humble / modest knowledge whose head is the Knowledgeable Consciousness.

Normally a human mind, body and soul is termed as the most sacred and humble entity – Lowly, submissive but at the same time sacred and attached with lot of conditions. The state of humbleness or submission is called Masjid-e-Haram in Quranic terminology.

Masjid al Aqsa - الْمَسْجِدِ الْأَقْصَى = A state of extreme obedience / humbleness but at the same time who has attained the utmost knowledge of it – In other words who has realized the knowledge of his Rabb.

Bani – لِّبَنِي = possessing the quality of weaving, building, constructing, attain high degree, reared, brought up, educate, form, made, become, grow, adopt, manner, mode, natural constitution…

Israel – إِسْرَائِيلَ = A verbal noun (المصدر) form IV –the root word is س ر ى – إِسْرَائِيلَ - means which travel without being seen – imagination, thinking, doubts, anxiety, rumors, news, jealousy – suffix ايل signifies a force or a power which cannot be seen yet has the power to rule. Bani Israel is the community of individuals who apply their mind to think… that’s why the community of Bani-Israel possess wisdom and are familiar with Al-Kitab; they are the favored community in the sight of the Rabb (45:16) (2:47) (2:122).  

FROM "HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE”:

The place referred to in the Quran as "the farthest mosque" - Arabic: المسجد الأقصى‎‎, al-Masjidu 'l-’Aqṣá, from surat al-Isra, has been historically considered as referring to the site of the modern-day al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. However, the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem was not built during Muhammad's lifetime. The interpretation was advanced by the earliest biographer of Muhammad (ca. 570-632) – Ibn Ishaq (ca. 704-761/770) – and is supported by numerous hadith. The “al-Aqsa Mosque” marks the place from which Muhammad is believed to have ascended to heaven. The exact date of the Journey is not clear, but is celebrated as though it took place before the Hegira and after Muhammad's visit to the people of Ta'if. According to traditional historians Muhammad is believed to have ascended to heaven from “Aqsa Mosque” which was not even existed in Jerusalem at that time. The mosque was originally a small prayer house built by Caliph Umar, but was rebuilt and expanded by the Umayyad caliph Abd al-Malik and finished by his son al-Walid in 705 CE – 72 AH.

The “Masjid-e-Haram الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ or restricted mosque” which was restricted for “idol worshippers” was in fact controlled by them at the time of ascension so the “Masjid-e-Haram” was just a temple at that time of so called ascension and to term it as Masjid-e-Haram is not valid at all.

That means the book Quran is not talking about travelling between two physical structures but it is talking about setup of human mind or nafs. 

BANI ISRAEL: THOSE WHO APPLY THEIR MIND