Hajj
Source: Muslims of Calgary
Literary speaking, Hajj or pilgrimage denotes a journey, especially a long one, made to some sacred place as an act of religious devotion.
Obligatory Self Jihad
Islam teaches its followers to undergo various types of training to attain self-control and self-restrain, among which is performing Hajj. Moreover, Allah made Hajj obligatory on capable Muslims, as He says in the Qur`an;
(And hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) to the House (Ka`bah) is a duty that mankind owes to God, those who can afford the expenses (for one`s conveyance, provision and residence)) (Aal `Imran 3:97)
This act of worship requires sacrifices from a Muslim`s money, time, and effort, Almighty Allah says;
(And proclaim to humankind the hajj (pilgrimage). They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel, they will come from every deep and distant (wide) mountain highway (to perform hajj)) (Al-Hajj 22:27)
Indeed, performing Hajj is an act of positive struggle. Lady`Aishah, the mother of believers, narrated the following hadith: "The Prophet was asked by his wives about Jihad and he replied: "The best Jihad (for you, women) is (the performance of) Hajj." (Al-Bukhari)
Like all acts of worship, there are sublime aims behind Hajj, among them is to elevate Muslims` character and refine their behavior. Allah the Wise says,
(For Hajj are the months well known. If any one undertakes that duty therein, let there be no obscenity, nor wickedness, nor wrangling in the Hajj) (Al-Baqarah 2:197)
These teachings go against the inclinations of a person`s lower self; however, if a Muslim succeeds in behaving appropriately, then the aim is achieved. This directly leads to increasing one`s inner peace, and consequently peace with others.
Peaceful Human Diversity
During the Hajj season, more than three million people gather in the same place, wear the same clothing, and perform the same rites. No one feels special or superior that day, as all pilgrims are equal.
During Hajj rituals, pilgrims meet fellow Muslims, men and women, rich and poor, black and white, elderly and young, and people of high and low social status. This unique situation helps spread among them the feeling of peace, as there is no room for arrogance, pride, nor feeling superiority; elements that go against peace and stability.
Here is an indicative story related to this meaning. Ibn Kathir mentioned in his book Al-Bedayah Wa An-Nihayah a narration that a man called Jabalah, an Arab Christian king, who embraced Islam in the time of `Umar ibn Al-Khattab, came to Makkah to perform Hajj. While walking, a fellow Muslim stepped mistakenly on Jabala`s long clothes, so Jabalah slapped the man on the face smashing his nose. The man went to the just caliph `Umar ibn Al-Khattab who judged that either the man forgives Jabalah or Jabalah would be punished with the same act. Filled with pride and arrogance, King Jabalah refused to be treated on equal footing with a layman. He asked the caliph to wait until next day, and during that time he ran away leaving the city, and Islam all together, and returned to Christianity.
Indeed Hajj stands firm against that fatal trait of arrogance which is a threat to people`s peaceful co-existence.
Encouraging Rewards
Based on the fact that performing Hajj needs a high level of spiritual struggle, many Prophetic sayings urge Muslims to perform it, promising the greatest of rewards, i.e., forgiveness of sins and Paradise in the herafter.
As narrated by Abu Hurairah: "The Prophet said: "Whoever performs Hajj to this Ka`bah and does not approach his wife for sexual relations nor commit sins (while performing Hajj), he will return as sinless as a new-born child, (just delivered by his mother)." (Al-Bukhari)
Also narrated Abu Hurairah: "Allah`s Apostle said, "(The performance of) `Umrah is an expiation for the sins committed (between it and the previous one). And the reward of Hajj Mabrur (the one accepted by Allah) is nothing but Paradise." (Al-Bukhari)
Attaining peace and serenity within one`s self and with others requires overcoming negative desires within human beings. Arrogance and pride are among the main factors of conflict among people, and Hajj comes as a wonderful intensive training course that cures these negative traits, as people during and after Hajj feel and live the meaning of equality and humbleness.
May Allah shower us with the blessing of performing Hajj, and grant us tranquility, serenity, and peace.
Benefits of Dhul-Hijjah Days
Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days.” The people asked, “Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah?” He said,
“Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah, except in the case of a man who went out, giving himself and his wealth up for the cause (of Allah), and came back with nothing.” (Al-Bukhari)
The first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah have been singled out especially for great merits and excellences like no other days in the Islamic calendar. Allah in His infinite wisdom and mercy has chosen to dispense infinite spiritual blessing and rewards. Thanks to the high status these days enjoy, Allah has made them worthy of making an oath by them, when He says
{By the Daybreak, by the Ten Nights} (Al-Fajr 89:1–2).
According to some Qur’an commentators or mufassirun, the ten nights mentioned here are none other than the first ten nights of Dhul-Hijjah; others, however, hold the view that these nights specifically refer to the last ten nights of Ramadan. Anyhow, no one denies the fact that the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah possess tremendous blessings and excellence. This has been confirmed by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) who is reported to have said,
“There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days.”
Based on this and similar traditions, scholars have stressed that the days and nights of Dhul-Hijjah must be set aside for intensive dedication to worship, increased preoccupation with virtuous acts, and contemplation.
Virtue and contemplation go hand in hand in Islam. Works that are especially worthy of mentioning include reading the Qur’an; making dhikr and du`aa’; performing supererogatory prayers; sending benedictions on the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him); rendering acts of kindness and compassion; visiting the sick; counseling what is good and forbidding what is wrong; bringing peace, reconciliation, and harmony among people; helping those who are in distress or need, and so on. While all of these works are to be active concerns of all Muslims every single day of their life, these must certainly be multiplied in these days more than any other time.
Fasting is especially mentioned as a most meritorious act of devotion to be performed in the first nine days of Dhul-Hijjah; this is true of those who are not performing Hajj. According to some traditions, by fasting these days, one is accorded a tremendous opportunity to gain repentance and forgiveness. If, however, a person cannot afford to fast all nine days, he may at least fast the ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah, which is known as the Day of `Arafah.
However, it is also worth mentioning that while fasting the first nine days of Dhul-Hijjah is recommended, it is forbidden to fast during the days of the `Eid. This prohibition is not limited to the tenth of Dhul-Hijjah; rather it extends also to the eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth, for all of these are days of festivities and celebrations.
Finally, it is perhaps worth mentioning that the special merits and excellences associated with the days of Dhul-Hijjah are in no small measure due to the fact that they coincide with the performance of the greatest rites of Hajj.
The foremost days of Hajj are the following: the day of tarwiyah, which falls on Dhul-Hijjah 8 and is the day the pilgrims resume ihram and proceed to Mina; the day of `Arafah, which is on the ninth, the day of the great ritual of standing on the plain of `Arafah; and the day of nahr, which falls on the tenth and is the day of sacrifice and stoning the Jamarat.
The fact that the pilgrims are gathering in the sacred sites to perform the greatest rites of Hajj is itself a most significant event; it is, therefore, becoming of those who are not pilgrims to show spiritual and emotional solidarity with the pilgrims.
Therefore, as the pilgrims are engaged in performing the great rites of Hajj, Muslims wherever they are, are also encouraged to partake something of the great spiritual feast and experience by performing such acts of virtue and devotion as they are capable of.
May Allah the Most Exalted and Glorious expose us to the wisdom of these rites and bless us all to participate in them with our whole bodies, minds, and souls. Ameen.
By: Sheikh Ahmad Kutty. A Senior Lecturer and an Islamic Scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.