Hajj, the fifth and
last pillar of Islam, often aptly described as a
journey of a lifetime, is, above all, intended to
be a life-transforming experience. It is an ardent
expression of our love for Allah, a chance to
redeem our sins and come clean, an opportunity to
reconnect with the sources of our faith, and a
chance to experience human brotherhood in action,
while imbibing vital lessons of faith such as
self-surrender, self-sacrifice, and trust in
Allah. The Prophet's words on the spiritual
rewards of hajj are compelling:
1. There is nothing
more important for a prospective haji (pilgrim)
than ensuring the purity of intention while
embarking on this journey of a lifetime in order
to ensure that it serves as a life-transforming
experience. Niyyah means to reexamine one's motive
and purify it of all taints of shirk or
ostentation that may render the entire act as
utterly devoid of any benefit whatsoever. One must
therefore keep one's intention focused on Allah
and pure before undertaking the journey, while at
it, and after returning. The Prophet said,
"Allah accepts only works that are done
solely for Him" (authenticated by Al-Albani).
2. It is equally
important to ensure that the fare and provisions
for the journey are obtained through lawful means.
One must never embark on this journey with
anything less than purest of incomes one can
afford. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon
him) narrated the deplorable case of a person who
undertakes a journey while earning his livelihood
through unlawful means; he raises his hands in
supplication before the Lord crying out,
"Lord!" "But how would Allah answer
his prayer, when (his entire body) is nurtured
through haram?" (At-Tirmidhi).
3. Since the group or
companions we travel with can help either make or
break one's hajj, it is crucial to choose them
carefully. Important considerations for choosing a
good company should be sound knowledge and piety
above everything else. The Prophet (peace and
blessings be upon him) taught us that we stand to
benefit or lose through the companions we keep, as
we tend to imbibe consciously or unconsciously the
traits or qualities of our companions.
4. In
order to ensure that we start the journey with a
clean slate, it is imperative that we take all the
necessary steps for sincere repentance of all our
sins, outward and inward, major and minor, before
embarking on the journey for Hajj. Sincere
repentance involves the threefold steps of feeling
remorse, refraining from sins, and resolving never
to do them again. And, in the case of sins
involving violations of the rights of others, it
is also essential to seek forgiveness of them and
compensate them for hurts or injuries we may have
caused them.
5. Since one never can
tell whether one will return home safe, prior to
the journey, one must write a proper will or
testament and get it documented in compliance with
the laws of the land. Its purpose is twofold: (1)
to ensure that we provide for proper discharging
of our trusts, outstanding obligations, or
liabilities; (2) to leave such instructions for
our heirs that would direct them to right conduct
and behavior.
6. "There is no
good in performing acts of worship without
knowledge," said `Ali, the eminent Companion
and caliph (may Allah be pleased with him). This
applies to salah, zakah, and fasting; it is even
more applicable to Hajj, as some of the issues
relating to it may not be clear even to those who
are otherwise knowledgeable. Therefore, one may do
well in seeking the guidance of a trained scholar.
In addition, in the absence of such guidance, one
must take care to take along a comprehensive book
on both the rituals and inner meanings of Hajj.
For the English speaking, the following are highly
recommended: The Inner Dimensions of Islamic
Worship by Imam Ghazzali, and The Four Pillars by
Sayyid Abul Hasan Ali Nadvi.
7. No less important is
to have a good prayer book handy as a ready
reference to be consulted always. For the English
speaking, I would gladly recommend the inspiring
work Remembrance and Prayer: Way of the Prophet
by
Muhammad Al-Ghazali.
8. It is important to
remember that Hajj is incomplete without constancy
in celebrating the remembrance of Allah (dhikr).
Therefore, one should turn to Allah in
supplications both before and during Hajj
consistently. Reading of the Qur'an is considered as
dhikr par
excellence, except of course when and where there
are specific prayers prescribed by the Prophet
(peace and blessings be upon him).
9. While offering
supplications, one must never be slack in saying
the prescribed du`aa's. It is equally important to
stress that one must never be inhibited in pouring
out one's heart before one's Lord in one's own
language as fervently and ardently as possible in
a true spirit of reverence, hope, and fear.
Shedding tears while doing so is a deeply
rewarding and spiritually enriching experience.
10. One need to be
armed with an endless reservoir of patience,
trusting in the Lord and surrendering to His will.
For it is said that journeying is a sort of
punishment because it may expose one to unforeseen
circumstances and challenges. One must diligently
seek to keep one's cool and never allow one's
emotions or feelings turn offensive or hurtful to
others.
11. While in the state
of consecration of ihram, one must seek diligently
to establish peace with oneself, with Allah, and
fellow humans and creatures. Therefore, the duties
owed towards others in ordinary times assume
greater significance during Hajj. As Imam Ibn
Al-Mubarak said, "We owe three duties towards
others: Preventing harm from them; rendering
active acts of kindness to them; and appearing
before them with a pleasant face." In Hajj,
therefore, one must seize every opportunity to
help others and protect them through words and
deeds.
12. Last but not least
is constant meditation on the perennial lessons of
Hajj, which can be encapsulated in the following
key words: rekindling one's love for Allah;
reconnecting with the sources of one's faith;
imbibing the spirit of utter faith in, surrender
to, and trust in Allah as displayed by Prophet
Ibrahim and his family; imbibing a deep sense of
equality of all people before Allah; constantly
meditating on death and one's journey to Allah;
and, finally, visualizing resurrection and one's
standing before the Lord of all beings for final
reckoning.
May Allah grant us all
a life-transforming experience through Hajj, and
may He make us all worthy of His grace and of
beholding His beautiful face in the next world.
Ameen.
