Hajj is both, individual as well as collective Ibada, worship which purifies the souls of pilgrims of sins and make them better human beings. Travel, even globe-trotting, has become easy in our time. People travel for a variety of reasons. Some do so out of needs – business, meeting relatives, attending conferences etc—while others travel for fun and sight – seeing. There is always one or another worldly purpose behind the journeys people undertake. Hajj, on the other hand, is a journey which the people undertake for the pleasure of Allah only. Hajj is indeed a unique spiritual experience. From the moment a person plans/intends to perform the pilgrimage, he begins to feel attached with Allah. There is no compulsion on a Muslim as to when he/she should perform the holy pilgrimage. He/she has to decide the year of fulfilling this divine obligation. The urge to perform Hajj, therefore, comes from within the prospective pilgrim without any outside pressure. This urge is naturally spiritual in that it may spring up only when he/she feels the need to purify his/her soul. Such a spiritual experience or feeling naturally compels people to behave piously from the moment they decide to go on holy pilgrimage.
A sea change is seen in his personal conduct making him morally upright, honest in dealings and sincerely devoted in prayers. The decision to go on the holy pilgrimage, if it is indeed spiritual and sincere, shows its impact immediately and transforms the personality of the prospective pilgrims from within. Hajj is a demanding Ibadah. The pilgrim has to undertake either a short or long journey depending on his/her geographical location from Arabia. Understandably a good deal of physical and mental energy is spent in such adventures. It also requires to spend your hard-earned money for bearing the expenses of travel to and stay in Makkah. You do all these for no worldly gains but only to seek the pleasure of Allah. And you know how Allah is pleased with you. That you must obey and worship Him Alone and be good to fellow human beings. If this goal is not achieved, then all the sacrifices of time, energy and money would go in vain. A Hadith says that Hajj purifies a man of sins like a newly-born infant. Some people have unfortunately mistaken this Hadith to mean that the holy pilgrimage ensures one’s entry into paradise. The fact is that Haj purifies only those people of the previous sins who sincerely seek God’s pleasure and make a sincere pledge to lead a pious life thereafter. One must not backslide into wrong-doings after the Hajj. Hajj is Ibadah as well as sacrifice. Some of the sacrifices the pilgrims make have already been pointed out. There are other sacrifices which every pilgrim makes for his/her spiritual purification. He/she abandons many things during the Hajj which otherwise are Halal (permissible) for him/her.
This self discipline comes from within and helps the pilgrims in becoming better human beings, people who love God and all His creatures and desist from harming any of them, physically, spiritually or mentally. This is the way a pilgrim is indeed made free of sin.Thus a pilgrim’s intention and actions are important. His/her intention to go on pilgrimage has to be well-intended and must be performed to seek the pleasure of Allah. Good intention must lead to good actions and deeds during and after the Hajj. It is not enough that a pilgrim prays regularly, pays the poor due, fasts and does Zikr (remembrance of God) in many other ways while performing the Hajj. He/she is also required to keep on fulfilling the divine obligations after the Hajj as well to remain free of sin. This is the purpose for which the Hajj ought to be performed and this the way life should continue after it. Hajj, being a worship, provides an opportunity to please Allah and as sacrifice – of time, energy and money – it disciplines the pilgrim’s worldly life. One must keep in mind that only life lived piously pleases Allah and opens the gateway to paradise. And this exactly is the purpose and message of Hajj.
1 comment:
My point of disagreement is with those well-off Muslims who undertake Hajj repeatedly. No doubt, Hajj sanctify, elevates spiritually, etc. But can't good spirited Muslims come forward to assist the members of the community who are afflicted in various ways due to lack of monetary support. I have come across some juristic remarks which lay down the fact that while offering the Hajj first time is obligatory for the persons of means (who have enough savings to meet out the immediate financial obligations on account of his family)and there is no other alternative to this, the voluntary acts of Hajj may be substituted with other virtuous acts like getting some needy girl married, financially helping the sick, supporting the education of destitute, etc which are sure to earn rewards from God.
Post a Comment