The Hajj pilgrimage

Hajj or Pilgrimage to Makkah is one of the five pillars of Islam and is obligatory on Muslims. Ibn ‘Umar (R.A) said: the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Islam is built upon five (pillars): testifying that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing regular prayer, paying Zakaah, Hajj and fasting Ramadan.” (Bukhaari, 8; Muslim, 16) Hajj literally means ‘to set out for a place’. Islamically however it refers to the annual pilgrimage that Muslims make to Makkah with the intention of performing certain religious rites in accordance with the method prescribed by the Prophet Muhammad (SAAS). Ibn Abbas (R.A) said that The Prophet (SAAS) said: “Whoever wants to go for Hajj, let him hasten to do it, because he may fall ill or some other problems may arise.” (Abu Dawood, 1732) Amr ibn al-Aas (R.A) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (SAAS) said: “Hajj wipes out whatever (sins) came before it.” (Muslim, 121) A Person who performs Hajj purifies himself from sins like the day that he was born. And this is the greatest gift, and the best honor and the highest reward. Those who perform this great spiritual worship by noticing to its secrets and with extreme purity of intention feel its deep effects on their soul until the end of life, and whenever they remember the memories of this spiritual journey and its full of spirituality, happiness and purity they feel a new and fresh soul is being blown in them (this is the teaching and moral effect of Hajj). Hajj, if performed as Islam has ordered and Prophet Abraham (AS) has invited people of the world to do, causes to increase the honor of Muslims and strengthen the basis of religion and causes the unity of the word and power and respect against enemies and announcing the avoidance of polytheists of the world. This great divine assembly which takes place beside the house of Allah gives the best opportunity to Muslims for reviving their powers, and neutralizing the plans of enemies of Islam. But unfortunately, some of Muslims are unaware of political philosophy of Hajj, as they do not reach to the depth of its moral philosophy. They suffice only to the appearances and are unaware of the soul of this great worship.
A politician once commented: “Woe betide Muslims if they do not understand the meaning of Hajj, and woe betide enemies of Islam if Muslims understand the meaning of Hajj!” Hajj and its rites were first ordained by Allah in the time of the Prophet lbrahim [AS] and he was the one who was entrusted by Allah to build the Kaba – the House of Allah – along with his son Ismail [AS] at Makkah. Allah described the Kaba and its building as : “And remember when We showed Ibrahim the site of the [Sacred] House [saying]: Associate not anything [in worship with Me and purify My House for those who circumambulate it [i.e. perform tawaaf] and those who stand up for prayer and those who bow down and make prostration [in prayer etc.].” [Surah Al-Hajj 22:26] After building the Kaba, Prophet Ibrahim (AS) would come to Makkah to perform Hajj every year, and after his death, this practice was continued by his son. However, gradually with the passage of time, both the form and the goal of the Hajj rites were changed.
As idolatry spread throughout Arabia, the Kaba lost its purity and idols were placed inside it. Its walls became covered with poems and paintings, including one of Jesus and his mother Maryam and eventually over 360 idols came to be placed around the Kaba. During the Hajj period itself, the atmosphere around the sacred precincts of the Kaba was like a circus. Men and women would go round the Kaba naked, arguing that they should present themselves before Allah in the same condition they were born. Their prayer became devoid of all sincere remembrance of Allah and was instead reduced to a series of hand clapping, whistling and the blowing of horns. Even the talbiah was distorted by them with the following additions: ‘No one is Your partner except one who is permitted by you. You are his Master and the Master of what he possesses’.
Sacrifices were also made in the name of God. However, the blood of the sacrificed animals was poured onto the walls of the Kaba and the flesh was hung from pillars around the Kaba, in the belief that Allah demanded the flesh and blood of these animals. Singing, drinking, adultery and other acts of immorality was rife amongst the pilgrims and the poetry competitions, which were held, were a major part of the whole Hajj event. In these competitions, poets would praise the bravery and splendor of their own tribesmen and tell exaggerated tales of the cowardice and miserliness of other tribes. Competitions in generosity were also staged where the chief of each tribe would set up huge cauldrons and feed the pilgrims, only so that they could become well-known for their extreme generosity. Thus the people had totally abandoned the teachings of their forefather and leader Prophet Ibrahim (AS).
The House that he had made pure for the worship of Allah alone, had been totally desecrated by the pagans and the rites which he had established were completely distorted by them. This sad state of affairs continued for nearly two and a half thousand years. But then after this long period, the time came for the supplication of Prophet Ibrahim to be answered: “Our Lord! Send amongst them a Messenger of their own, who shall recite unto them your aayaat (verses) and instruct them in the book and the Wisdom and sanctify them. Verily you are the ‘Azeezul-Hakeem [the All-Mighty, the All-Wise], [Surah Al-Baqarah 2:129]’.
Sure enough, a man by the name of Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullaah (SAAS) was born in the very city that Prophet Ibrahim (AS) had made this supplication centuries earlier. For twenty-three years, Prophet Muhammad (SAAS) spread the message of Tawheed [true monotheism] – the same message that Prophet Ibrahim and all the other Prophets came with – and established the law of Allah upon the land. He expended every effort into making the word of Allah supreme and his victory over falsehood culminated in the smashing of the idols inside the Kaba which once again became the universal center for the worshippers of the one True God.
Not only did the Prophet rid the Kaba of all its impurities, but he also reinstated all the rites of Hajj which were established by Allah’s Permission, in the time of Prophet Ibrahim. Specific injunctions in the Quran were revealed in order to eliminate all the false rites which had become rampant in the pre-Islamic period. All indecent and shameful acts were strictly banned in Allah’s statement: “There is to be no lewdness nor wrangles during Hajj.” [Surah al-Baqarah 2:197] Competitions among poets in the exaltations of their forefathers and their tribesmen’s achievements were all stopped. Instead, Allah told them: “And when you have completed your rites [of Hajj] then remember Allah as you remember your forefathers; nay with a more vigorous remembrance.” [Surah al-Baqarah 2:200] Competitions in generosity were also prohibited. Of course, the feeding of the poor pilgrims was still encouraged as this was done during the time of Prophet Ibrahim but Allah commanded that the slaughtering of the animals which was done for this purpose should be done seeking the pleasure of Allah rather than fame and the praise of the people. He said: “So mention the name of Allah over these animals when they are drawn up in lines. Then, when they are drawn on their sides [after the slaughter], eat thereof and feed the beggar who does not ask, and the beggar who asks.”[Surah al-Hajj 22:36].
As for the deplorable practice of spattering blood of the sacrificed animals on the walls of the Kaba and hanging their flesh on alters, then Allah clearly informed them that: “It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah, but it is Taqwaa (piety) from you that reaches Him.” [Surah al-Hajj 22:37] The Prophet (SAAS) also put a stop to the practice of circling the Kaba in a state of nudity and the argument that the pagans put forward to justify this ritual was sharply rebutted in Allah’s question: “Say: Who has forbidden the adornment [i.e. clothes] given by Allah which He has produced for His Slaves?” [Surah al-A’raaf 7:32] Another custom which was prohibited through the Quran was that of setting off for Hajj without taking any provisions for the journey.
In the pre-Islamic period, some people who claimed to be mutawakkiloon (those having complete trust in Allah) would travel to perform Hajj begging for food through the whole journey. They considered this form of behavior a sign of piety and an indication of how much faith they had in Allah. However Allah told mankind that to have sufficient provisions for the journey was one of the preconditions for making Hajj. He said: “And take a provision [with you] for the journey, but the best provision is at-Taqwaa (piety).” [Surah al-Baqarah 2:197] In this way, all the pre-Islamic practices, which were based on ignorance, were abolished and Hajj was once more made a model of piety, fear of Allah, purity, simplicity and austerity. Now, when the pilgrims reach the Kaba, they no longer find the carnivals and the frolic and frivolity that had once occupied the minds of the pilgrims there before.

“And Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) to the House (Ka’bah) is a duty that mankind owes to Allah, those who can afford the expenses (for one’s conveyance, provision and residence).” [Aal ‘Imraan 3:97]

Now, there is the remembrance of Allah at every step and every action and every sacrifice was devoted to Him alone. It was this kind of Hajj that was worthy of the reward of paradise, as the Prophet (SAAS) said: “The reward for an accepted Hajj is nothing less than paradise.” The first thing that makes a Hajj accepted is sincerity and following the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (SAAS) which is the criterion in judging deeds and having them accepted. Allah The Almighty Accepts only the deeds that are offered with full sincerity to Him and that are done to seek His satisfaction. Thus, dear pilgrim, you have to investigate your intention and beware of having any corrupt intention that contradicts sincerity, invalidates the deed and removes the reward, such as ostentation and seeking the praise of people. The Prophet Muhammad (SAAS) performed Hajj on a worn-out saddlebag and velvet that was worth four dirham, then he said: “O Allah! I seek Hajj that is free from ostentation and from seeking reputation.” [Ibn Maajah] Pilgrims should be keen on performing Hajj according to the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (SAAS). This could only be achieved by learning the rituals of Hajj, its obligatory acts, voluntary acts and the characteristics of the Hajj of the Prophet Muhammad (SAAS). The Prophet Muhammad (SAAS) said: “Take your rituals from me as I do not know if I will perform Hajj after this time” [Muslim].
Among the matters that help one perform an accepted Hajj is to be well- prepared before Hajj by repenting sincerely to Allah The Almighty, having lawful sustenance, righteous companions, freeing one’s liability from the rights of people and other things that are mentioned in the ethics of Hajj. Among the signs of the accepted Hajj are: treating people well, having good morals, doing what is good, treating people kindly by saying good words, giving charity, teaching the ignorant, guiding the deviant, enjoining good and forbidding evil. Ibn ‘Umar, May Allah Be Pleased with him, used to say: “Righteousness is something easy as it lies in a cheerful face and nice words.” The Prophet (SAAS) said: “The accepted Hajj has no other reward but Paradise.” [Al-Bukhari] Labbaik Allahumma labbaik… (Here I am present, O’ God, I am present…) This is the chant which the pilgrims say when they are traveling for pilgrimage. May Allah grant us all the ability to visit His House Kaba and perform the Hajj in the manner of the Prophet Muhammad (SAAS). Aameen.

——- (The author a teacher at S K University of Agriculture Sciences & Technology (SKUAST) Srinagar writes regularly on Islamic topics exclusively for “Kashmir Horizon”)