To be continued … 

There are many lessons that can be drawn from this great pillar which is the fifth pillar of Islam that includes different kinds of physical and financial acts of worship. The pilgrim performs Hajj in person and performs all the rites of Hajj such as Tawaaf, Sa’y, standing at ‘Arafah, spending the night at Al-Muzdalifah, throwing pebbles and all the other rites by himself. The pilgrim also pays his money to do so and to slaughter the Hady (sacrificial animal) if he is performing Tamattu’ or Qiraan Hajj. Amongst the most important lessons that can be drawn from Hajj are the following:

1)   Attaining Taqwa (piety and fear) of Allah The Almighty through worshiping Him Alone: By performing this great pillar of faith, Muslims strive to achieve Taqwa. Allah The Almighty ordered people to take Taqwa as provision after He forbade them from committing misdeeds and sins and commanded them to avoid sexual relations, disobedience and disputing during Hajj. To this effect, Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Hajj is [during] well-known months, so whoever has made Hajj obligatory upon himself therein [by entering the state of Ihraam], there is [to be for him] no sexual relations and no disobedience and no disputing during Hajj. And whatever good you do - Allah knows it. And take provisions, but indeed, the best provision is fear of Allah. And fear Me, O you of understanding.} [Quran 2:197] Taqwa of Allah The Almighty cannot be attained except by worshiping Him Alone, and that is achieved by ascribing all acts of worship to Him alone without associating partners with Him.

This appears clearly in Hajj, because all pilgrims respond to only one Lord, reciting: “Labbayka Allahumma labbayk, Labbayka laa Shareeka laka labbayk, Innal Hamda wan-ni‘mata laka wal mulk, laa Shareeka lak” (In response to Your call, O Allah here I come, In response to Your call, and I am obedient to Your orders, You have no partner, In response to Your call. All the praises and blessings are for You, All the sovereignty is for You, And You have no partners with You). This is really what worshiping Allah The Almighty Alone means i.e. that one responds and ascribes all the actions of worship to Allah The Almighty.

This calls enjoins Muslims all over the world to establish the worship of Allah The Almighty Alone and not to call upon others than Him such as Awliyaa’ (allies of Allah), the dead or other created beings. Doing such things makes them commit major Shirk (associating partners with Allah The Almighty in worship) that puts one beyond the pale of Islam.

Moreover, the sense of brotherhood appears clearly among Muslims during Hajj; differences among them disappear, while cooperation, kindness and love appear evident in their best forms.

2)   Hajj achieves the unity and power of Muslims: Pilgrims who go to the Sacred House of Allah The Almighty are from different countries, languages and colors; but there is only one thing that unites them, which is Islam. They come together on the occasion of Hajj in millions. They move from one rite of Hajj to another in a scene that evokes awe in the hearts and indicates that the power of Muslims lies in their gathering around the Book of Allah The Almighty and the Sunnah of His Messenger . This indeed vexes the devil as reported from the Messenger of Allah : “On no other day does Satan feel so belittled, humiliated, and angry as he does on the Day of ‘Arafah, except the day of the Battle of Badr”, and this vexes the enemies of Allah The Almighty and the allies of the devil.

3)   Hajj demonstrates Islamic brotherhood: The sense of brotherhood appears clearly among Muslims during Hajj, differences among them disappear while cooperation, kindness and love appear evident in their best forms. You can see the strong helping the weak, even carrying them physically if one of them is unable to walk. You can see the one who has food giving the one who does not. How delightful it is when the Muslim sees groups of young and old people receive their brothers in Al-Muzdalifah after leaving ‘Arafat, giving them water, juice and food, saying, “O pilgrim, it is free for the sake of Allah.” They do this while they do not know anything about each other, except that they are all Muslims. This scene brings to the mind of every male or female Muslim the Hadeeth of our Prophet which we all memorize: “The likeness of the believers in their mutual love, mercy and compassion is that of the body; if one part of it complains, the rest of the body joins it in staying awake and suffering fever.” [Muslim]

4)   Ihraam (the sacral state) reminds one of the shroud: It is well-known that the Muslim man assumes Ihraam in Izaar (lower garment) and Ridaa’ (upper garment). It is recommended that they should be white. He is also recommended to take a ritual bath, and apply perfume to his body before wearing the clothes of Ihraam. This reminds one of the dead person when he is perfumed and shrouded. At the death of any Muslim individual, he is given a ritual bath, perfumed and shrouded. It is recommended that the shroud should be white. However, there is a difference between the pilgrim and the dead person, for the pilgrim can repent, supplicate his Lord and take provision with good deeds. As for the dead person, it is impossible for him to do so. The same applies to the non-pilgrim, as the door of repentance will remain open as long as a person is still alive and death has not afflicted him nor has the Hour come upon him.

Lessons Drawn from Hajj - II