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The four groups - Part 1

The second group of verses of surah al-Hajj includes verses 3 to 16. In these verses, four types of people are introduced, based on their attitude towards Allah and their ending.

The first group are those who argue about Allah without having knowledge and with the intention of screening the truth, therefore, they follow the Shaytan and other devils. Allah's rule is that one who takes the Shaytan as their leader will fall off the path and they will be led to punishment. According to the verses, the main reason one accepts to follow the Shaytan is their lack of knowledge. The next verses explain why and how the Day of Judgment will arrive. This is an area of knowledge about which one needs to educate themselves. Knowledge about the Day of Judgment will regulate one's beliefs and will influence their view about Allah. Some sources that will transform people's attitude towards the day of judgment include thinking about the process of human development before and after birth, and how plants grow out of the still soil with the help of water.

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Adam's descent

It all started with Adam descending from the Garden to live on the earth.
In his creation, Adam was meant to by Allah to degrade from the position that he had so he would fill the distance between Allah and him by his own will, and then enter the eternal paradise.
Surah al-Baqara: 24-27

First part: the Quake

The verses of surah al-Hajj can be grouped in seven parts.
First part: verses 1-2
These verses speak about a sudden huge quake that will force humans to abandon all their attachments, as a result of facing the terrible situation. The reason Allah mentions this event is to urge humans prepare themselves for the Resurrection Day with piety, as a basis for actions and behaviors.

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The two pilgrimages

Whoever does a ritual wash with the water of the Euphrates river, and then goes to the holy shrine of Imam Hussain on foot, for every footstep he takes there will be [a reward equal to] an accepted Hajj with all its rituals.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  (Bihar al-Anwar, vol 98, p 147)

Many pieces of hadith draw analogies between the pilgrimage of Imam Hussain and that of Hajj. This suggests a special relationship between the two – as if they have similar spiritual worlds behind them. Among the surahs of the Quran, surah al-Hajj specifically deals with the rituals of the pilgrimage to Mecca. To understand what is common between pilgrimages to Karbala and to Mecca, we first need to recite surah al-Hajj.

Passengers of Karbala

Over one thousand three hundred and seventy years has passed... and have you ever asked yourself, "Why do they call themselves, passengers of Karbala?" All that passion and enthusiasm! As if the caravan of the year 61 AH is still on its way to the desert of Karbala!
And on their flags they have written: "They will come to you on foot from every distant path" (al-Hajj: 27).
Because Karbala is beyond the limits of time and place...
Karbala is the heart of all place; Ashura is the heart of all time.
This is where the gateways to the heavens sit... A gateway to the world of eternal life is placed here...