Realizing the Essence and Purpose of Hajj - I

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When a Muslim realizes the essence of Hajj as well as the rationales and secrets behind it, this qualifies him to perform a valid and accepted Hajj. This is similar to humbleness in prayer. A person who has greater humility in prayer, his prayer is more likely to be accepted. The same applies to Hajj. The more a pilgrim is aware of the essence, spirit and rationales behind the Hajj as well as the purposes for which it has been prescribed and, further, he utilizes this to reform his creed and behavior, his Hajj will be more likely to be accepted and greatly rewarded and he will benefit more.

Nevertheless, no one will be able to achieve this unless he qualifies himself by actively seeking the secrets and rationale behind Hajj and reflecting on them. A Hajj pilgrim who does not attempt that ought to worry that his Hajj may amount to no more than a mixture of tourism and tiredness.

Here are some of the most important rationales and purposes behind Hajj that a pilgrim should realize:

1- Attaining piety:

One of the purposes behind Hajj is to attain piety. Piety is firmly and explicitly connected to Hajj in the relevant Quranic verses. Allaah The Exalted Says (what means):

·        {And complete the Hajj and ‘Umrah for Allaah……….. And be pious to Allaah.} [Quran 2: 196]

·        {And take provisions, but indeed, the best provision is piety.} [Quran 2: 197]

2- Firmly establishing and asserting Islamic monotheism in the heart and mind:

Hajj is based on dedicating one's intention to Allaah The Almighty and doing everything only for His Sake. Allaah The Exalted Says (what means):

·        {And complete the Hajj and ‘Umrah for Allaah.}[Quran 2: 196]

·        {So avoid the uncleanliness of idols and avoid false statement, Inclining [only] to Allaah, not associating [anything] with Him….} [Quran 22: 30-31]

Talbiyah which is the slogan of Hajj,  explicitly states dedicating worship to Allaah The Almighty alone: "Labbayka Allaahumma labbayk. Labbayka laa shareeka laka labbayk. Innalhamda wan-n‘imata laka walmulk, laa shareek lak (O Allaah, I answer Your Call, there is no partner to You, to You Alone belong praise, favor and sovereignty, there is no partner to You."

Hajj is also based on compliance to the methodology of the Prophet, , and avoiding polytheism in obedience. To perform any of the Hajj rituals according to one's whims and inclinations is rejected. Rather, it is necessary to follow the example of the Prophet, , and to adhere to his methodology.

3- Honoring the symbols of Allaah and what He deems sacred :

One of the most prominent purposes and rationales behind Hajj is getting  a slave of Allaah used to honor, exalt and love the symbols of Allaah The Almighty and what He deems sacred.  One has to fear violating or going against the forbiddances of Allaah The Almighty. In the course of the Quranic verses relevant to the Hajj, Allaah Says (what means): {That [is so]. And whoever honors the Symbols of Allaah - indeed, it is from the piety of hearts.} [Quran 22: 32]

4- Teaching noble morals and good characteristics:

a- Chastity:

Allaah 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….}[Quran 2: 197] Foreplay is included as well.

b- Restraining anger and abandoning disputing and arguing:

Allaah Says (what means): {and no disputing during Hajj…} [Quran 2: 197] Commenting on the verse, ‘Ataa’ said, "It refers to disputing with your companion until you anger him or he angers you." According to the preponderant view, it means stressing forbiddance of dispraised disputes only, which is arguing and disputing over matters which are useless under Sharee'ah (Islamic legislation).

c- Gentleness, leniency and tranquility:

When the Prophet, , heard people harshly urge and beat camels upon leaving Muzdalifah, he remarked: "O people, be tranquil, because it is not hastiness that indicates righteousness.”

d- Self-denial and mingling with others:

During Hajj, a person denies himself, abandons everything with which distinguishes himself and becomes exactly like all his brothers in dress, saying the Talbiyah, moving from one place to another and acts of worship.

e- Teaching a Muslim how to bear the consequences of one's mistakes:

This clearly appears in the obligatory compensation (Fidyah) when a pilgrim deliberately violates one of the restrictions of Ihraam, stays in the wrong place on ‘Arafah or moves to Muzdalifah before sunset etc.

f- Teaching modesty:

This clearly appears through the unity of all pilgrims in rituals as well as in their experience and feelings. All material differences among pilgrims in terms of language, color or wealth, etc are denied. In the course of Khutbat Al-Wadaa‘ (the Farwell sermon), the Prophet, , said: "O people, [mind that] your Lord is One and your father (i.e Adam) is one. Verily, except by piety, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, a non-Arab has no superiority over an Arab, a red has no superiority over a black, and a black has no superiority over a red."

g- Teaching patience in all its aspects:

During Hajj, a pilgrim curbs his desires and inclinations by abstaining from anything that would violate his state of Ihraam. Furthermore, he abstains from some things which are permissible, when he is not in the state of Ihraam. A pilgrim exposes himself to hardship and exhaustion for the sake of obeying the commands of Allaah The Almighty to perform and complete the rituals of Hajj. This creates incentives within him to abandon acts of disobedience, obey Allaah The Almighty and bear hardship for the sake of pleasing Him even after Hajj is over.

h- Giving and generosity:

This clearly appears when the pilgrim pays the expenses of Hajj.