Piety

All praise is due to Allah alone. May He exalt the mention of the last Prophet, Muhammad .

All the laws of the religion aim at achieving piety through fulfilling the commands of Allah and avoiding His prohibitions. The verses of Hajj in particular are concluded by the command to adhere to piety and fear Allah. Allah The Almighty Says (what means):

• {And complete the Hajj and ‘Umrah [lesser-Hajj] for Allah… And fear Allah and know that Allah is severe in penalty.} [Quran 2:196]
• {Hajj is [during] well-known months… And take provisions, but indeed, the best provision is fear of Allah. And fear Me, O you of understanding.} [Quran 2:197]
• {And remember Allah during [specific] numbered days. Then whoever hastens [his departure] in two days - there is no sin upon him; and whoever delays [until the third] - there is no sin upon him - for him who fears Allah. And fear Allah and know that unto Him you will be gathered.} [Quran 2:203]
• {Their meat [that of the sacrificial animals] will not reach Allah, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you.} [Quran 22:37]

These verses address the pilgrim, motivating the inner-self and the internal intense piety to not commit any forbidden act or neglect Hady (the sacrificial animal), Fidyah (the expiatory sacrifice), expiation, engage in sexual relations, indecent speech, immoralities, arguing or any other sin in Hajj. In addition, these verses make the pilgrim feel that his or her deeds, no matter how little they are, are recorded and rewarded. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And whatever good you do - Allah knows it.} [Quran 2:197]

This rigid self-monitoring that the pilgrim observes on known certain days can become a permanent way of life and conduct that the pilgrim adheres to after returning home. It would be for him as if he has awoken from his sleep.

Good Morals

Hajj is a trip that involves hardship, suffering, crowds, formalities, bureaucracy and so on. All of this calls for a high level of noble conduct characterized by patience and tolerance in order to face down exasperation and exalt the person above selfishness. Such morals will lead to altruism, pardoning, and exerting efforts against the soul that calls for following one's evil desires. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {There is to be no sexual relations, no disobedience and no disputing during Hajj.} [Quran 2:197] ‘Ataa’ said, “Disputing is to argue with your companion until you make him angry or he makes you angry.”

Kindness is a lofty social moral. On the day of ‘Arafah, the Prophet (may Allah exalt his mention), heard people shout at their riding animals and beat them to charge forth, and the camels were growling, so he pointed his whip to the people and said: “People, be serene, for the good reward cannot be attained by haste.” [Al-Bukhari]

Modesty is another noble moral. Al-Fadhl Ibn Al-‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him and his father, was the rear rider on the Prophet’s camel when he proceeded from Muzdalifah. Also, the Prophet drank at the well of Zamzam from a bucket from which all the people drank. [Muslim]

Treating one's wife well is one of the finest morals. When the Prophet found ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, crying because she had her menstruation during Ihraam (ritual consecration), he soothed and condoled her, saying: “This is a matter that Allah decreed upon the daughters of Aadam.” When she insisted upon performing ‘Umrah after Hajj, he said to her brother: “O ‘Abdur-Rahmaan (her brother), take her to At-Tan‘eem to assume Ihraam for a new ‘Umrah.” The Messenger of Allah was an easygoing man. If she wanted something, he would do it for her. [Muslim]

This exhausting trip and these rigid etiquettes can establish firm moral values that a pilgrim would adhere to after his return and until the end of his or her life, after feeling the effects and reaping the fruits of these morals within these limited days of Hajj.

Repentance and Steadfastness

Hajj is a significant event in the life of a Muslim. Many Muslims pin their hopes on Hajj considering it the crossroads of their life. They view it as a sign for starting a promising new life free from sins and full of the determination to be steadfast. Little wonder, as Hajj expiates all previous sins. ‘Amr Ibn Al-‘Aas, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “When Allah instilled the love of Islam in my heart, I went to the Messenger of Allah and said, `Extend your right hand, so that I may pledge allegiance to you.' He stretched out his right hand, but I withdrew mine. He said: `What is the matter, ‘Amr?' I said, `I wish to lay down some conditions.' He asked: `What conditions do you wish to put forward?' I replied, `To be granted forgiveness.' He said: `Do you not know that (embracing) Islam wipes out all that came before it (previous misdeeds). Indeed, emigration wipes out all previous sins and the Hajj (also) wipes out all the previous sins.'” [Muslim]

Abu Hurayrah may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Prophet said: “The one who performs Hajj without having sexual relations, speaking indecently or acting wickedly, will return (free from sin) as he was on the day his mother gave birth to him.” [Al-Bukhari & Muslim] This Hadeeth includes glad tidings and indicators:

1. The glad tidings are clear that all sins will be forgiven. Even If a ninety-year-old person fulfills the mentioned conditions in the Hadeeth, he will return as if he was a newborn with a record free from sins.
2. The indication is that whoever receives this honor should preserve it. They should keep their record of deeds clean without any stain of sins. Al-Hasan Al-Basri explained the accepted Hajj to mean, “To return ascetic in this worldly life and longing for the Hereafter.” This is one of the greatest signs of acceptance.

Seeking the Bounty of Allah Through Trade

Ibn ‘Abbaas may Allah be pleased with him and his father, said, “'‘Ukaath, Majannah and Thu'l-Majaaz were marketplaces in the pre-Islamic period of Jaahiliyyah. When Islam came, the Muslims felt that trading in seasons (of Hajj) might be a sin. So, the verse (which means): {There is no blame upon you for seeking bounty from your Lord [during Hajj].} [Quran 2:198] was revealed.” [Al-Bukhari]

Once, Abu Saalih, the freed-slave of ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “I asked, ‘O Commander of the Believers, would you trade during Hajj?" He, may Allah be pleased with him, replied, "Were their livelihoods (the people of that era) obtained except in Hajj?”

Thus, the season of Hajj is an opportunity for Muslims to meet and achieve common interests and mutual benefits in terms of trade and economy without affecting the rituals. Allah The Almighty lifted any blame from the Ummah (Muslim nation) if they engaged in these commercial activities which bring about power and goodness. If Muslims today could utilize this season well, it would be possible to establish a common Islamic market through displaying their products and concluding contracts and deals. Hence, they would achieve self-sufficiency and would be free from international humiliating extortion.