In 2022, Haul Gus Dur was held in 3 cities, namely Jakarta, Yogyakarta and Jombang. Thousands of people come to crowd the area because for them the haul is an important moment for people who have died and people who are still alive.
Not only Haul Gus Dur, the Islamic community in Indonesia also often holds these events for other figures who have died. Haul has become an annual tradition that has deep meaning. For those of you who are still groping, here’s a complete explanation of the haul.
Definition of Haul
Judging from the etymology, ‘haul’ comes from Arabic which means ‘a year’. The word is often used as a term that refers to a period of one year for the payment of zakat for Muslims.
However, haul has a broader meaning that relates to the death of a person. Based on the KBBI, the definition of haul is a commemoration that is carried out once a year to commemorate the day of someone’s death.
Haul is a tradition that has been going on for generations among the Indonesian Muslim community. The main goal is to pray for family members, figures and scholars who have died so that their deeds of worship are accepted by Allah.
It can be said that haul is a form of commemoration of the day of someone’s death which involves activities in the form of worship practices such as praying, reading the Koran and reading sholawat.
That way, the implementation of the haul is not only intended for people who died but also brings benefits and blessings to those who carry it out.
Usually, the haul is held in a small scope such as a family or a larger one to invite many important guests. It depends on who the person being chased is, whether it is a family member or a religious leader.
Haul Sejarah History
Actually, there is no reference that really confirms where the haul came from until it spread and became a tradition in Indonesia. However, several references explain that the history of the haul is derived from the development of the celebration of the Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday.
The haul ceremony developed in Indonesia due to the teachings of Sufism brought by the Sufis. Because, adherents of Sufism believe that the great scholars and guardians are the chosen people who get karomah.
Karamah refers to the extraordinary advantages given by God to pious humans. Therefore, Sufis have great respect for them during life and after death. The virtues possessed by pious people are still worth following even after leaving the world.
In addition, it is also believed that the first haul was held by the Islamic community living in Hadramaut, Yemen. Around before the 19th century, the people there were divided into several social classes, namely sayyid, masyayikh and masaakin.
Sayyid is the uppermost class and comes from the descendants of the Prophet Muhammad. While masyaykh is a group of people who have knowledge but are not the descendants of the Prophet. The last is the masaakin who are poor in wealth and knowledge.
Every year, sayyid and masyayikh groups hold lectures near the graves of respected spiritual figures in memory of their services and kindness. Another activity in the haul event is reciting poetry and praises to the deceased character.
Then around the 19th century, the sayyid group was believed to have gone to mainland Southeast Asia including Indonesia to spread Islam. Automatically, the haul ceremony was introduced and until now it has become part of the tradition of Muslims in Indonesia, especially among the Nahdliyin.
The Meaning of Haul
Not just carrying out traditions and gathering with many people, the haul ceremony actually contains a fairly deep meaning. The essence of the meaning of haul is as follows:
1. Praying for the Dead
In Islam it is recommended to pray for the living and the dead for their own good and for the person who sent the prayer.
Through haul, good prayers will be sent to the person who is being chased in the hope that Allah will accept the deeds of worship, widen his grave and place him in heaven.
When someone prays for others, angels will also pray for the same for those who pray. Therefore, haul also provides benefits for people who are still alive who want to join in praying.
2. Follow the Good Practices That Have Been Done
In general, haul is held to commemorate the death of religious leaders. Each of them has exemplary obedience in carrying out Allah’s commands.
During their lifetime, these figures also often perform practices that benefit others. Therefore, through the haul ceremony, the participants were again reminded of the piety of deceased figures to follow.
3. Remembering Someone’s Service during Life
In addition, the purpose of carrying out the haul is to replay the memory of the services performed by the deceased/deceased.
In carrying out the grand haul which commemorates the death of a great scholar or important figure, the services they have performed are usually read out. This has the intention of further respecting and appreciating the figure of the figure even though he is dead.
4. Remembering Death
The essence of the meaning of the next haul is as a reminder of death. During the haul ceremony, you will be reminded of the deceased character as well as receive a lecture containing death advice.
That way, there will be more awareness to be more active in worship as preparation for the hereafter. Because, no human being will escape death, even a pious character.
5. Maintaining Friendship with Fellow Muslims
Haul has become a deep-rooted habit in certain circles. The celebration which is held once a year is always flooded by thousands of people from various regions. Not surprisingly, haul is also considered a moment to maintain friendship.
Laws and Procedures for the Implementation of Haul
Although it has been growing for a long time in Indonesia, some people think that the implementation of haul is not allowed because it is not directly exemplified by the Prophet.
Is that true? Apparently, the scholars actually agreed with the implementation of the haul and did not issue a ban.
Based on the Fatwa Al Kubra Juz 11 page 18 from Ibn Hajar, it was explained that the companions and scholars allowed the haul provided that they were not allowed to mourn the deceased while crying bitterly.
The recommended haul is an activity that does not involve weeping, but rather a prayer and a reminder of the good deeds of the deceased. That way, the haul participants will be motivated to imitate the same kindness.
The following is a series of activities that are commonly carried out when the haul commemorates the death of someone:
1. Tahlil
The first is tahlil which is commonly known as tahlilan. It is called tahlilan because the recitation of the monotheistic sentence which reads “la ilaha illallah’ is constantly spoken during the event.
In KBBI, tahlil has the meaning of a religious ritual that aims to pray for people who have died. The series of prayers in tahlil include reading tawasul, verses from the Koran, remembrance and prayers.
Doing tahlil for the deceased is not in vain. The deceased or the deceased still benefit from reading prayers, dhikr and the Koran addressed to him.
This is an alms for the dead that is done sincerely by people who are still alive. The recitation of yasin, tahmid, tahlil, tasbih, other remembrance and prayers do not conflict with Islamic teachings in the haul.
2. Study
Furthermore, a series of haul activities is recitation as a form of oral da’wah. The purpose of the study is to provide religious insight, deepen religious understanding and provide motivation to improve the quality of piety.
During the recitation, the preacher or dai will also give advice about death and what major practices need to be prepared to face this fate.
That way, the haul participants will get the benefits to continue to worship, improve their quality and leave useless actions for the sake of an eternal afterlife.
3. Manaqib
In haul events, the reading of manaqib or curriculum vitae is usually done. The goal is clearly not to show off but to remind the service, kindness and all commendable deeds that have been done by the deceased/deceased.
For big figures, important services performed are always read as a reminder as well as an example for people who are still alive.
The reading of the manaqib is also a form of appreciation and respect for the deceased. That way, they will always be remembered even though they have gone before.
Haul is a religious ritual that aims to commemorate the dead but not to mourn. The law of carrying out the haul is not haram because the scholars allow it as long as there are no elements that oppose the teachings of Islam.
With the holding of the haul, the people who attend will be reminded about the deeds, services and kindnesses of the deceased/deceased. The recitation of prayers, remembrance and verses of the Koran was also carried out for the person who had died.
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