Discrepant views on Invitation to Hajj based on the Verse "And proclaim among men the Pilgrimage

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Abstract

In most commentary works, a hadith has been mentioned under "And proclaim among men the Pilgrimage" in which Prophet Ibrahim, after constructing the Ka'aba, is divinly instructed to call on people to perform Hajj. All creatures of the world including those who were in the loin of their fathers and in the wombs of their mothers affirmed and accepted his proclamation. Thus, all of those who annually go to perform Hajj are the ones who affirm Ibrahim's proclamation and invitation to the pilgrimage. However, there are discrepancies surrounding this verse. Some especially Mu'tazilah including Hasan Basri and Jubani are of the view that this verse was addressed to the Prophet of Islam (S) who invited people to the Farewell Pilgrimage. After carefully studying various interpretations, it has been concluded that Ibrahim's proclamation and invitation to pilgrimage was public and that it emanaged from man's intrinsic and God-gifted nature which caused men to incline towards performing the pilgrimage. However, according to another verse which says, "and pilgrimage to the House is incumbent upon men for the sake of Allah, (upon) every one who is able to undertake the journey to it", pilgrimage of the House of Allah is obligatory only on those who can physically and financially afford it.

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