Tuesday, 23 September 2014

The true lessons of Hajj


Hajj, the fifth of Islam’s pillars, is about to begin in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. It is performed in the 12th month of the Islamic calendar. The whole event takes place within a time scale of 5 – 6 days, the last day being optional, to allow those pilgrims who wish, to stay in Mina.

Hajj, the pilgrimage to Makkah to perform devotional duties, is one of the most desired and longed for Islamic practices that the majority of Muslims, whether with means or not, would like to accomplish in their life time.

In common with all other Islamic devotional obligations and practices, Hajj is intended to have a multi-dimensional impact on people’s religious, spiritual, social and moral life.  It provides an economic benefit , whilst offering people  opportunities to broaden their intellectual outlook and to reflect on their current situation.

The Quran describes the event in the Surah Hajj saying: ‘so that they may attend to benefits pertaining to them’: meaning benefits beyond those arising from the performing of the religious obligation of pilgrimage.

Also, the Quran very eloquently draws the attention of pilgrims towards the social and moral developments from Hajj, in this verse of Surah al-Baqarah: ‘Hajj is known months.  Whosoever obligates upon himself to perform Hajj, then let there be no obscenity, disobedience and altercation in Hajj. Whatever goodness you may act upon Allah will know it. And take provision and the best of provision is righteousness. And fear Me O people of understanding’.

Hajj, on the one hand, is a religious duty and one of five pillars of Islam, and if denied one will cease to be a believer. However, on the other hand, it is meant to develop and enhance the believer's   spiritual and social life.

Unfortunately it appears to have little impact on these aspects in many people’s lives. In my own experience I have seen people, although very sincere in their wish to perform the duty, and very devoted, but possessing little or no idea of what Hajj ethics are, or indeed of its possible benefits. It is very easy to recognise how many people confuse the true meanings of Hajj with the performance of its ritual duties.

While it is obviously the case that few people set aside adequate time to prepare themselves, in the full sense, to benefit from all that can be theirs from this blessed journey, it also appears that, to some, it has  become purely an exercise in the performance of a ritual duty. How then can one expect the beautiful outcomes of ‘best provision’, ‘acts of goodness’, ‘benefits’, ‘keeping away from obscenity, disobedience and altercations’, which were described in the above-mentioned verses, to be fulfilled on this blessed journey?

Performance of Hajj needs considerable effort by us, before and during it, to be worthwhile and to release its immense benefits into our lives. It should be a life changing journey, a journey which teaches us hundreds of valuable lessons; lessons from which we must learn and incorporate the results into our everyday existence.

Our Prophet Mohammad, Peace and Mercy of Allah be upon him, performed only one Hajj in his lifetime, due to the circumstances of his time.  Hajj is an obligation which is to be observed once in our lifetime. Many people  perform multiple Hajj (and Umrah as well) but, because of their lack of preparation or lack of understanding, fail to see a  change in the spiritual and moral aspects of their lives.

On the occasion of that one Hajj, the prophet delivered a beautiful sermon from the top of the mount ‘Al-Rahmah’. In my opinion, the highlights of that sermon, as it was given on the occasion of Hajj, needs to be refreshed in the minds of all pilgrims. The sermon also needs to be repeated and explained in Friday sermons in the months of Hajj in all mosques around the world. There were also many other sermons delivered by the Prophet in places such as Mina.

Highlights from Prophet’s sermons:

What stands out in the Prophet’s sermons was his obvious emphasis on the sacredness of people’s lives, their property and honour. He spoke time and again saying: 'O people! Do you know what month are you in? what day is today? And what piece of land you are on? They replied: in a sacred month, in a sacred day and in the sacred land'. The Prophet then said: 'indeed your blood, your properties and your honour are as sacred upon you as the sacredness of this day, this month and this land till you meet your Lord'.

The Prophet further said: ‘do not turn out after me disbelievers  by hitting the necks of each other’.
He strenuously told people not to commit ‘Zulm’ or oppression or to wrong others in any way.
He forbade all matters belonging to the era of Ignorance, including claims of blood revenge and claims of usury and interest taken on in the era of Ignorance as well.

The Prophet reminded men to take care of women for God sake and that women have rights on them.
The Prophet reminded people that he left two things for their guidance: the Book of Allah and his Sunnah (accounts of his life). The prophet said that as long as they held fast to these two they would never go astray in their lives.

 If we Muslims want to build the future of this Ummah we need to pay heed to these last reminders and the guidance given to us by our Prophet Mohammad, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him, while we try to perform the rituals of Hajj.

It was on the occasion of this Hajj that Allah completed His Revelation of the Quran to the Prophet. This important symbolism must live on in the minds of Muslims and reflect on its significance. Part of the verses that were revealed on this occasion announced: ‘this day We have completed for you your religion (Deen), and accomplished on you My Favours, and (for ever) have accepted Islam as your religion’.


A lot needs to be reflected on in the months of Hajj both by both the pilgrims and by Muslims worldwide. We need to re-learn the overarching message of our beautiful religion so that our lives ultimately improve and we can come to enjoy the pleasure of our spirituality.

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