Hajj 2020: downsizing of hajj

The date of hajj 2020 is getting ever closer, but this year we face an unusual situation for hajj and pilgrims. Potential pilgrims were, as usual, excited and waiting to fulfil their fifth pillar of Islam. It is a spiritually emotional occasion; a lifetime journey, taken for Allah, alone, which binds us with a spiritual attachment to our destiny.

However, the devastating effects of coronavirus, Covid-19, have turned the world upside down. The world ‘s affairs seem to have come to a grinding halt. The resultant lack of routine in people’s lives and its negative impact on our thinking, may also have created cynicism or despair in our minds.

As a result of the Corona virus epidemic many world governments have imposed strict measures in their efforts to minimise any further spread of the virus. Social distancing has been one of the required measures and has, in some countries, been strictly enforced. In the Muslim world, this has impacted heavily on the five congregational daily prayers, Friday congregations and other such activities, such as night prayers in Ramadan or Eid salaah; all of which are extremely important activities in a Muslim’s spiritual life. Muslims are still waiting for their mosques to be reopened and their religious, spiritual and their social lives, to restart.

Hajj was always in the back of Muslims’ minds. People wondered whether Hajj would be performed this year or not. Most of us thought it was unlikely, at least on any big scale, despite it being an international event.

This was partly due to the required social distancing between people, but also due to the fact that international flights have been brought to a near halt. Strict measures taken by different countries, to stop the spread of Covid-19 through the movement of people, meant people would not be able to travel internationally to any destination. As a result, flights were not organised and any flight that was would be many times more costly, even if available.

The social distancing rules meant less people in a wider space which would make it impossible to accommodate any large numbers of people and control them in one place.

In the wake of this difficult situation, the Saudi Government took, after much long and hard thought, a wise decision; not to hold the hajj this year for international pilgrims. Instead, the decision was taken to organise the hajj on a smaller level and only for pilgrims from within Saudi Arabia, drawn from both the expatriate Muslim communities and Saudi citizens. This decision has been well received, widely appreciated and supported wholeheartedly by Muslim communities all over the world.

Islam is a live religion and serves its communities in their changing situations accordingly through a process call Ijtihaad; finding a current solution to a relevant problem through a process of applying the spirit of religious texts and the target purpose of its teachings.

So, hajj 2020 has not been cancelled. Instead, its spirit has been accommodated and it is being performed on a smaller scale, which is nearly as good as being performed on a larger international level.

Islam has a very important rule in the form of a saying of the Prophet Mohammad, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him. The Prophet said: ‘Allah loves that His allowances were taken and applied as He loves His obligations were performed’.

We find, in Islamic teachings, so many allowances, even in the matters of religious obligations. For example, when people are on journey, they are allowed to shorten their prayers (Salaah) from four Rakaah to two Rakaah. In difficult situations, Muslims are allowed to combine certain daily prayers in order to avoid certain difficulties.

Women are allowed not to offer their salaah during their monthly cycles and to make up for any missed prayers afterwards. Men and women are allowed not to fast during extended travel or, if they are ill, until they get better. In Islam, we have numerous other examples that show Islamic teachings as being pragmatic and applied in accordance to the situation at the time.

The Quran offers certain guidance in this regards too. It says in the Surah 2 (Al-Baqarah) Verse 286: ‘Allah does not lay a responsibility (obligation) on anyone beyond his capacity.’

This guiding rule exists in the Quran in many different forms and seems to be the spirit of divine teachings.

Saving life has precedence in Islam over all other considerations such as the consumption of what is considered haram if it saves life. Because of the possible or potential infection of Coronavirus, the downsizing of hajj this year will help in the saving of many lives,

It is estimated that, throughout Islamic history and for many reasons, there have been more than 40 occasions, when hajj was either downsized or was not performed at all. In the light of this, the Saudi Arabian government’s wise decision to avoid the infectious viral disease of Covid-19, makes very good sense.

Hajj demonstrates the majesty of Islamic teachings and sends a powerful message of Islam towards humanity and towards their Creator the Almighty, Allah. The powerful Khutbah (sermon) given by the Prophet Mohammad, during his farewell hajj, reminds us all of the ever binding obligations towards Allah and humanity on each occasion of hajj every year.

The downsizing of hajj this year, by the Saudi Government, does not mean its purpose has less value or that we pay less attention to the spirit of its teachings. Hajj will return and continue in all its majestic appearance and continue to send a powerful message by our performance of its spiritual activities. We look forward to next year and pray to Allah, the Almighty, to remove the epidemic of Covid-19 or any other such viral diseases from humanity and that the world regains its health and full glory of activities.