THE EXPERIENCE OF HAJJ

by Muhammad Majid
Zamzam Group Leader

Every year, millions of Muslims perform the fifth pillar of Islam: Hajj (Pilgrimage to
Makkah). They respond to the call of Allah through His Prophet Ibraheem (Abraham -
peace be upon him).

Behold! We pointed the site to Ibraheem, of the (Sacred) House, (saying): Associate not anything
(in worship) with Me; and sanctify My House for those who compass it round, or stand up, or
bow, or prostrate themselves (therein in prayer). And proclaim the Pilgrimage among mankind:
they will come to you on foot and (mounted) on every camel, lean (on account of journeys)
through deep and distant mountain highways; that they may witness the benefits (provided) for
them, and celebrate the name of Allah, through the days appointed, over the cattle which He has
provided for them (for sacrifice): then eat thereof and feed the distressed ones in want. Al-Hajj:
26-30.

There are many significant lessons to be drawn from the Hajj experience. Among these
is that Hajj recognizes the rich history of monotheism through time; in that Allah has
sent Prophets and Messengers with the identical message of Tawheed (strict and
exclusive monotheism). As Muslims perform their Hajj and do their tawaf around the
Ka`ba (circumambulation around the First House built for the worship of Allah), they
look to the horizon and imagine Ibraheem, Isma`il, and Muhammad (p.b.u.t),
performing their Hajj. Ibraheem (p.b.u.h) is the father of most of the Prophets,
including Jacob, Joseph, Jonah, David, Solomon, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad
(p.b.u.t). The Ancient House symbolizes that Islam was the religion of Ibraheem
(p.b.u.h).

And remember Ibraheem and Isma`il raised the foundations of the House (with this prayer):
"Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us: for You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing. Our
Lord! Make of us Muslims, bowing to Your (Will), and of our progeny a people Muslim, bowing
to Your (Will); And show us our places for the celebration of (due) rites; And turn unto us (in
Mercy); For You are the Oft-Relenting, Most Merciful." Al-Baqarah: 127-128.

The existence of the city of Makkah itself, was the answer of Allah to the Prayer of
Ibraheem (p.b.u.h).

Among the traditions that comprise Hajj are the state of Ihram, tawaf
(circumambulation seven times around the Ka`ba), sa`ee (brisk walk seven times
between the mountains of As-Safa and Al-Marwa), visiting and staying at Arafat and
Muzdalifah, throwing stones at three fixed places at Mina, shaving or trimming the
hair, sacrificing an animal, and more. Each of these have great significance. Ihram
reminds the individual that he/she came to this life naked; powerless, without status,
and wrapped in shrouds. Also, it serves as a reminder of the time of death, when we
will be as we were born; powerless, without status, and enshrouded. Between the
moment of our birth and the moment of our death is the time in which Allah will hold
us accountable, in that we will be questioned for every single deed that we have
committed after attaining the age of puberty. In remembering these moments, we
become humble and more aware of ourselves. The state of Ihram causes the individual
to return to the innocence and purity that was his/her nature. Thus, all pilgrims dress
the same way, so as to eliminate cultural, ethnic, and social class differences.

The tradition of orbiting the Ka`ba seven times signifies the important fact that we are a
part of a massive and vast universe that worships and praises Allah. Allah has revealed
in His Book that everything in His universe praises Him. Were we to consider how the
creation renders worship unto Allah, from the smallest of creation to the largest, we
would observe a pattern of distinct similitude. To explain, within every creature are
millions of atoms, whose nuclei are composed of protons, neutrons, and electrons. The
self-expression of the electron is to orbit the nucleus of the atom along random, yet
consistently spherical paths. Now, let us consider the largest of creations in our solar
system. Moons orbit planets while planets orbit the sun, while the sun itself, orbits
around a central point. This fact was unknown until contemporary scientists
discovered what Allah had revealed more than 1400 years ago.

See you not that Allah merges night into day and He merges day into night; that He has
subjected the sun and the moon (to His Law), each running its course for a term appointed; and
that Allah is well acquainted with all that you do? Luqman: 29

When an individual circuits the Ka`ba, he/she becomes an integral part of the universal
tone that praises Allah as he/she unifies with the rest of creation in worshipping the
Almighty Creator. At the same time, the individual links himself with the believers
throughout history as they remember Ibraheem (p.b.u.h). They become part of a family
of not only millions who perform their Hajj, but of tens of billions of people throughout
history.

The third tradition is Sa`ee (brisk walk seven times between the mountains of As-Safa
and Al-Marwa). Sa`ee was performed by Hajar, the Mother of the Believers. This
symbolizes the struggle of the Mother of Isma`il (Hajar), when she ran between the two
mountains in search of water for her infant. Also, sa`ee is meant to honor motherhood.
In addition, this light running has become a part of Hajj to teach us the lessons of
patience, trusting and relying on Allah, and making the effort of changing our
situations. One cannot stay at home or in the masjid expecting Allah to provide for him
or her, as the followers of Prophet Isa (p.b.u.h) requested a table from Heaven. Rather,
one must implore Allah for His guidance and assistance, then exercise the initiative to
improve one’s condition. Allah could simply have parted the seas for Prophet Musa
(p.b.u.h) without asking him to strike the sea with his staff. Yet Allah commanded
Prophet Musa (p.b.u.h) to do so in order to receive the guidance and help of Allah. One
must exert effort towards those aims. Much in the same way, our Mother Hajar
implored Allah for His assistance, put her trust in Him to answer her call, and then
worked patiently, consistently, and without complaint to receive the help of Allah, by
His mercy.

Behold! Safa and Marwa are among the symbols of Allah. So if those who visit the House in the
season or at other times, should compass them round, it is no sin on them. And if anyone obeys
his own impulse to Good, be sure that Allah is He Who recognizes and knows. Al-Baqarah: 158

Every time that we experience hardship in our lives and make the effort to change our
situation, and hold onto our faith and its principles; Allah will alleviate our distress as
He rewarded Hajar for her steadfastness with the well of Zamzam, which has quenched
the thirst of billions upon billions throughout human history until today.

So verily, with every single difficulty, there is more relief. Verily, with every single difficulty,
there is relief. Al-Inshirah: 5-6

Standing at the Mount of Arafat calls to mind a fascinating memory from our history,
when Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h) made his farewell sermon a few months before he
died. He reminded the Muslims about the principles of human rights, the treatment of
women, racial and ethnic equality, the values of respect, honesty, and guarding each
other’s property, and ultimately, the importance of adhering to the Qur`an and the
Sunnah (the example of Prophet Muhammad). Muslims need to remember this speech
today more than ever. Mount Arafat also represents the Day of Judgment when all the
nations of the earth will stand before Allah without intercessors except as He permits, to
account for the deeds that they have sent forth in this short life. This is perhaps why
surat-ul Hajj begins with the theme of the Day of Judgment. Indeed, one’s Hajj is
incomplete without standing at Mount Arafat. On this day, Allah forgives all previous
sins of the sincere pilgrim who calls upon Allah to restore his/her purity. For those
who are not pilgrims, it is recommended that they fast on the day of Arafat until they
are invited to the House of Allah for the fulfillment of this elevated pillar of Islam.

After Arafat, one proceeds to Muzdalifah to collect stones to prepare oneself for the
following tradition. Collecting the stones at Muzdalifah teaches Muslims to plan well
for the battle against evil, and to be precise and organized before they execute their
plan. They must use material resources (as symbolized by the stones) in order to attack
and effectively uproot evil.

Next is throwing the stones at the three pillars (in Mina) which represent Satan. When
Satan appeared three times to Prophet Ibraheem (p.b.u.h) suggesting to him not to
fulfill the command of Allah of sacrificing his son, he chose to obey the Command of
Allah and resist the temptation of Satan. He was so determined to remove the evil
obstacle, Satan, that he stoned him at three different locations, until Satan gave up any
hope of deviating Prophet Ibraheem (p.b.u.h) from the Straight Path. As the pilgrims
stone these pillars, we must stone the evil within ourselves and the evil within our
communities, using all the tools and mechanisms for the establishment of a better
society. We should not be distracted by the love of materialism, nor attach ourselves to
the life of this world. If Prophet Ibraheem (p.b.u.h), who was Khaleelullah (the Friend
of Allah), was willing to sacrifice his own son, how much will must we exercise to
sacrifice our wealth, time, and ourselves in the cause of Allah?

Next, as we slaughter our animals, we must remember that it is not the blood or the
meat that benefits Allah, but it is that He wants us to attain God-consciousness and
moral uprightness.

It is not their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah: it is your piety that reaches Him: He has
thus made them subject to you, that you may glorify Allah for His guidance to you: and proclaim
the Good News to all who do good. Al-Hajj: 37

The trimming or shaving of the pilgrims’ hair signifies that Muslims must have a
different state of mind and a new attitude upon completing the Hajj, as they proceed to
embark on the rest of their lives. They cut off their past weaknesses, inclinations,
ideologies, and habits, as they totally, without hesitation or embarrassment, submit
themselves to the Sublime Will of Allah, Who invited them to His House in order that
they may become purified.

Hajj builds and unites communities. As Muslims worldwide face the Ka`ba every day
in their salah, they are supposed to feel the concept of global brotherhood and get the
sense of unity on spiritual and actual levels. At the All Dulles Area Muslim Society
(ADAMS) and most of the masajid in the U.S., Muslims comprise a diverse community.
We must join together in building our communities, establishing our masajid, building
our schools, and protecting the Ummah of Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h).

Allah says in Al Qur`an Al Kareem:

And hold fast, all together, by the Rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and be not divided
among yourselves; and remember with gratitude Allah’s favor on you; for you were enemies and
He joined your hearts in love, so that by His Grace, you became brothers; and you were on the
brink of the pit of fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does Allah make His Signs clear to you:
that you may be guided. Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good,
enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong: they are the ones to attain felicity. Al-
Imran: 103-104

In conclusion, we ask Allah to cause us to benefit from the lessons of this tremendous
pillar, and to invite those who have not been there. Everyone who has the means to
perform the Hajj should make his/her intention to do so without delay. Hajj is as
obligatory as all the other pillars in Islam and is rich in lessons, conditioning, and
purification. May Allah sanctify His House and bless those of us who go there to
return, and those of us who have not been there to go, insha Allah.
 The Ka`ba

Abdullah bin Mas`ud and Umar bin al-Khattab (r.a) reported that Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w)
said, “Make the hajj and the umrah follow each other closely, for they remove poverty and sins as
a blacksmith’s bellows remove impurities from iron, gold and silver; and the hajj which is
accepted gets no less a reward than Paradise.” At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa`i.