THE SPIRIT OF HAJJ

Pilgrims from around the world gather to ready themselves for the day of worship in the city of Mecca

Today, Muslims all around the world celebrate the Hajj Festival at a time when the world is torn into various power blocs and has been divided into camps of conflicting ideologies where mutual fear and hatred are dominant. In an era like this, there is a strong desire in the hearts of men to go on pilgrimages to places of worship held holy by them. To visit such places of veneration and be inspired by them becomes the insistent urge and to accomplish it becomes the supreme purpose in life.

To a Muslim however, it is more than that. It becomes an obligatory duty, provided his health and wealth are sound enough to undertake the sacred journey to Mecca. To perform it, he takes his shroud along with him to don him if he dies during the pilgrimage, symbolizing thereby his readiness to die and his complete surrender to the will of the almighty, to sacrifice himself to the call of Allah. 

“Behold. We gave the site to Abraham 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 in prayer”

“And proclaim the pilgrimage among men. They will come to thee on foot and (mounted) on every kind of camel, lean on account of the journey through deep and distant mount highways” (Al Quran, Chapter 22, Verse 26 – 27)

The moving, silent thousands into the threshold of the Ka’ba, bows in prayer at Maqam Ibrahim, sees the majesty and the grace of the Holy Ka’ba, standing as a sentinel to the glory of the Lord for centuries since the time of Nabi Ibrahim, with no other thought than to raise his hands in supplication to the Almighty 

Where then is the heart of a Muslim that will not throb to see the Holy Ka’ba before death? Where then is a Muslim heart that will not yearn to offer prayers within the precincts of Masjid al-Haram in Mecca? Where then is the heart of the faithful that will not dream of the opportunity of paying his deepest respects and conveying his salaams at the revered mausoleum of Nabi Muhammad in Masjidun Nabawi in Medina? Thus, every year, in the month of Dhul Hijjah, from every part of the world, Muslims in their hundreds and thousands converge at the Holy City of Mecca - the City of peace and piety. They discard their comforts, forgetting the cares of the world, to don the white garb with humility (Ihram) be he a prince or a pauper, plebeian or patrician to manifest the equality of man before his Maker – Allah. 

On glancing at the captivating, slender, tall minaret of the Masjid al-Haram as the pilgrim approaches the Ka’ba, tears of ecstasy trickle down his moist eyes. As he joins the moving, silent thousands into the threshold of the Ka’ba, and bows in prayer at Maqam Ibrahim and sees the majesty and the grace of the Holy Ka’ba, cloaked in black and gold, standing as a sentinel to the glory of the Lord for centuries since the time of Nabi Ibrahim, he has no other thought than to raise his hands in supplication to the Almighty, seeking forgiveness for his transgressions in complete surrender. 

All around him, he hears nothing but the refrain of “Labbaik Allahuma Labbaik. La Shareeka Laka Labbaik” (Here I am, Oh Lord in thy presence in submission to thy will. There is nothing to associate with thee in thy worship.) That permeates the air from the lips of thousands circling the Ka’ba – the old and young, the weak and the strong, black, white, brown and yellow, all moving together, man and woman all alike in the spirit of piety and prayer.

Let us pray on this important day for everyone in the world to live with peace and prosperity and respect each other, reminding the sacrifice of Ibrahim for his creator. 

(The writer is the Secretary of Maradana Mosque, Director of the Centre for Islamic Studies, and Board Member of Moors Islamic Cultural Home)