An Abrahamic Hajj tradition accepted by the Qur'ān: Qalāid

Abstract

The Abrahamic tradition that the Arabs value most was hajj. The hajj, which means to visit Ka'ba was the greatest means of getting closer to Allāh. The Ka'ba was the house of Allāh. And the visitors of the Ka'ba were Allāh's guests. For this reason, the Arabs used to great respect to the visitors and they never used to attack a man in the harem (the area around the Ka'ba). The same respect included visitors' travels to the Ka'ba. There were two Abrahamic traditions that ensured the safety of visitors and sacrifices: Haram months and qalāid. Haram months were Dhū l-Qa'dah, Dhū l-Hijjah, Muharram and Rajab. And the Arabs did not used to attack anyone in those months. For visits outside the haram months, the visitors used to use the qalāid as a primitive visa. Qalāid is the plural of the word qilāda, meaning necklace. The Arab, who saw the qilādas, used to understand that the person who wore the qilāda wanted to go to the Ka'ba or had returned home from the Ka'ba. Qilādas used to be knitted from wool ropes and they used to be hung on animals' neck or humps. Sometimes horseshoes used to hang on these qilādas. On the way back from Ka'ba, the barks of the harem trees used to hang on the qilādas instead of the horseshoes. The Qur'ān orders Muslims not to disrespect the qilādas. This order also reveals that the Qur'ān recognizes the qilāda tradition. Allāh's Apostle (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) and Sahāba are also known to continue this tradition.