There was a convert who asked a devout
Muslim who knows a lot about Islam. The question was simple: “Why do you have
to go on pilgrimage to Mecca?” The
Muslim thought it was an easy question but he found it difficult to answer it.
The more he thought about the question, the more nervous he was. At first he
thought he would answer “I will go to Mecca to fulfill God’s call.” Such an
answer is very common among Muslims as they use it to say their reason for
going to Mecca. He was on the tip of saying “I will go to Mecca to fulfill God’s
call” but then he hesitated to use the statement to answer the convert’s
question. He knew that the convert would not be satisfied with the answer and
continued attacking him with more difficult question like this: “Is God so far
away that He needs to call you to come close to Him in His home Baitullah in Mecca?” The devout Muslim
thought this second question was even more complicated than the first one. What’s
more, the second question mentioned that God has a ‘home’. The Muslim didn’t
want to answer it because he thought it would involve a very long discussion
and he did not have enough time at that time.
Finally, he was trying to find another
alternative simpler answer. He kept thinking about the right answer and he
found it. This was the answer: “..I am going on pilgrimage to Mecca to get a
prayer’s reward of 100 thousand-fold in Al Haram Mosque, and can pray to God in
efficacious Multazam...”
All Muslims know the essence of this
answer, which has become a public discourse for those who want to go on
pilgrimage to Mecca that praying in Al Haram Mosque results in a reward of 100
thousand-fold compared praying in any other places. Praying in Multazam—a place
between Hajar Aswad (Black Stone) and Ka’ba gate—is also efficacious and
directly responded by God.
The answer to the convert’s question was on
the tip of his tongue but again he hesitated and was worried about the convert
attacking him with the following questions:
“Why
is praying in Multazam more efficacious than in any other places? And why are
those performing prayer there rewarded 100 thousand-fold. This is not fair as
Muslims who live there and rich people can go on pilgrimage easily and as many
as they can. Meanwhile, a person like me will never be able to go on pilgrimage
to Mecca and will lose a chance of getting 100 thousand-fold reward—a reward
that I will never get during my devotion as a Muslim.”
The devout Muslim’s answer has caused a
problem—not an answer. Worried, he soon tried to find a quick answer. It was in
fact a cliché answer. He said he would go on pilgrimage to Mecca to fulfill his
obligation as a Muslim as commanded by God and His messenger. He hoped it would
be the most diplomatic answer to cut off the possibility of a long discussion
with the convert.
Suddenly he remembered God’s commandment in Al Baqarah verse 256, which means “There is no compulsion in religion; truly the right way has become
clearly distinct from error; therefore, whoever disbelieves in the Shaitan and
believes in Allah he indeed has laid hold on the firmest handle, which shall
not break off, and Allah is Hearing, Knowing.”
The devout Muslim felt guilty about his
plan to answer the convert, which he then cancelled it as his last answer would
trigger a more complicated and bigger problem. The problem involves not only
the convert but also God because his third answer was indoctrinating! God
Himself says that there is no compulsion and indoctrination in religion.
Finally, he decided not to give quick answers
as he realized that understanding religion cannot be done quickly but it would
take time and full devotion in one’s entire life.
Source: Pusaran Energy Ka'bah by Agus
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