Hajj is an important pillar of Islam. As a command from Allah, the hajj has many benefits. It is obligatory once in life for every adult Muslim, male or female, who can afford it physically and financially.
Muslims perform Hajj every year in millions in number. They go there with great love and devotion.
Hajj has a form and a spirit. Its form is to have ihram, perform tawaf (circumambulation of the Kabah), sa`i, throw pebbles at the Jamarat and make a sacrifice of a sheep, goat or camel.
In this, we will share the lessons of hajj with our USA readers.
Hajj is a Ceremony of Love and Devotion to Allah
A Muslim’s relation with Allah is that of deep love, devotion and obedience. We love Allah because He loves us; “He loves them, and they love Him…” (Al-Maidah 5:54)
Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) loved Allah, and Allah took him as a friend (khalil). We read in the Quran: “Allah took Ibrahim as a friend.” (An-Nisa 4:125).
The pilgrimage of Hajj is deeply connected with the story of Prophet Ibrahim and Prophet Ismail. Our faith is deeply rooted in a sense of history.
This is the religion of Allah given to us by His many prophets: Adam, Nuh, Ibrahim, Isma`il and finally Prophet Muhammad PBUH. These were the people who loved Allah, and Allah loved them and made them the guides of humanity. Hajj packages from USA are specially designed to give comfort and a divinely enriching pilgrimage. These Hajj deals include the best flights, hotels and food.
Hajj Gives the Universal Spirit of Islam
People of all races, colors and nationalities go there. They become one people without any class or distinction. They look alike and do the same things. The spirit of Hajj is to foster unity and universal brotherhood and sisterhood among the believers.
Hajj gives us a focus, centre, and Orientation
We have one qiblah, and that is our direction for worship. But we should not have only one qiblah for worship; we should also have unity of purpose and mission in our lives. Muslims should be people with a focus and direction, not confused people or people without any orientation or direction.
Our focus of life is Allah and the House of Allah, the Kabah, on this earth. We have with us Allah’s Book that we must hold fast to together.
Hajj: Lesson of Peace and Harmony
The pilgrims come in peace and spend their time together most peacefully and respectfully. They respect every person and everything. They do not harm anyone or anything.
This is also the spirit of Islam. Islam is a total commitment to care, compassion and kindness. Hajj is the symbol of this commitment, and it must be manifest in our daily lives.
Hajj: Movement, Action and Sacrifice
The pilgrim keeps on moving all the time, with tawaf, sa`i, going to Mina, Arafat, Muzdalifah, Mina again, around the Jamarat and other places. It is a dynamic ceremony, and this is the way a Muslim’s life should be. Motion, action, and sacrifice, these things bring success in this life and salvation in the Hereafter.
I hope those who have gone to Hajj will learn good lessons from this journey, and we here also should keep these lessons in our minds and lives.
Spiritual Transformation
Yet, Hajj is more than these rituals. The faithful hope that it will bring about a deep spiritual transformation, one that will make him or her a better person. If such a change within does not occur, then the Hajj will be merely a physical and material exercise devoid of any spiritual significance.
As all great religions teach, we are more than mere physical creatures in that we possess an essence beyond the material world. All other religions have their own traditional pilgrimage, but in the religion of islam the hajj journey changes the meaning of life.
The Lesson of Humility
The experience of Ḥajj destroys the ego. It is a journey that makes us humble. No matter what we are, and from where we are, we are all equal in front of the Almighty. None of this matters when we are in Mina, walking to the Jamarat, standing before Allah on ʿArafah begging for His Mercy and Forgiveness, and sleeping on the hot ground under the sky in Muzdalifah.
As Americans, a lot of pilgrims are used to a life of convenience. I myself would go out of my way for personal convenience. During Ḥajj, that doesn’t exist. There is no preferential treatment.
Conclusion
Hajj is the time and place to witness these beautiful virtues in practice. One of the best ways to learn goodness is by observing others and appreciating acts of kindness, patience, and devotion. During this sacred journey, pilgrims are encouraged to remain peaceful, respectful, and spiritually focused while making a Powerful Dua for forgiveness, guidance, and acceptance.
Quarrelling creates hatred and conflict, which is why the Quran strictly forbids arguments during Hajj. The Messenger PBUH said, “Whoever carries out the rituals of Hajj without harming another person with his hands or tongue will be forgiven all of his previous sins.”
Hajj is an expensive journey, but it is also a magnificent act of devotion and a deeply spiritual experience. It is often described as a life-changing journey after which a believer returns home spiritually purified, like a newborn free from sins.
