Hajj is considered an essential pillar in Islam, and a normal Muslim must perform it at least once in his or her life. It is an act by which one seeks to expiate his or her sins in the past and, as a result, sets a new beginning dear to God. Many pilgrims have achieved increased religious faith in the process of Hajj, with women coming back and adopting the Islamic headscarf called hijab. Despite its physical rigours, many participants, who even use walking canes or crutches, insist on using their feet and walking all the way.
Although some travel on the expenses of a sponsored journey for those unable to afford it, sometimes through their funds, others save for a whole lifetime and become social outcasts in their countries just to make this holy journey. Some end up travelling thousands of miles on foot, and it takes months on end to reach Saudi Arabia. Muslims of the UK also have access to Umrah package from UK, that provide a schedule of this extremely essential biblical journey, showing that this kind of spiritual experience can be both enriching and within reach. This article dissuades the significance of Haj for Muslims.
History Of Hajj:
The history of Hajj starts with the story of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) who was put through the great trial of leaving his family, especially his wife Hajra (AS) and infant son Isma’il (AS) in the barren desert of Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Ibrahim (AS) left the two of them in the desert as per Allah’s (SWT) orders with very little food and water. Soon they had run out of. All she could do was flee in crisis and desperation between the nearby hills of Safa and Marwa, searching for water.
Seven times Hajra (AS) ran between the hills and failed to find water of success. At this point, Isma’il (AS) wept due to thirst, and according to narrations, stomped the ground under him with his heel. Of course, it was Allah’s will, a miraculous spring of water, gushed from that point, which in turn helped Hajra (AS) quench both of their thirst. This spring is today known as the well of Zamzam. She would then sell the water to the occasional passersby who rewarded her with human essentials like food that in turn ensured their survival in this harsh climate.  Â
Years passed by and Allah SWT asked the Prophet Ibrahim to go back to his family. When he went back to his family, he was utterly surprised to see the change in the whole scenario. He found a completely changed society that surrounded the well of Zamzam. Being asked once again by Allah, Ibrahim and Ismail constructed Kaaba, the house of worship which kept being the centre of the Hajj pilgrimage. These events form the foundation of the rituals performed during Hajj.
Pilgrims re-enact her search for water in the Sa’i, running between Safa and Marwa, and honour the traditions of sacrifice set by Prophet Ibrahim (as) in other rituals. The Zamzam well, to this day, continues to render waters to millions of pilgrims annually, giving life to a constant remembrance of Allah’s mercy and a reminder that a legacy of faithfulness and obedience to Ibrahim and his family would never be forgotten.
Importance of Hajj and Umrah:
When Muslims make the intention and proceed for Hajj, they are reminded that this is a unique call from Allah SWT to His holy house, the Kaaba. This unique journey is filled with brotherly unity, and equality in the congregation with the rest of the Muslims around the world. The Quran and Hadith present the significance of Hajj and Umrah. In Surah Al-Hajj, we are commanded to perform Hajj and Umrah for the sake of Allah.
It is stated that Hajj is of tremendous spiritual value: it is believed that whoever shall come with a pure heart shall return home, having been cleansed of the sins of a lifetime. That pilgrimage is symbolic of positivity and kindness. Further, Hajj is but an imitation of the maximum trial and sacrifice that Prophet Ibrahim (AS) did at the will of Allah SWT; hence, it is the highest honour for any Muslim.
Spiritual Revival in Hajj:
According to the Prophet SAW mentioned in Sahih-al-Bukhari, whenever a believer returns to his family after he has performed Hajj, he will be considered as clean, free from sin, as the day when he was born. In other words, Hajj purifies a man and puts him back into his natural, pure state. Indeed, this saying corresponds to another Prophet’s saying that everyone is born in the state of his pure nature and only his environment conditions him and changes his nature. “When performed with the proper spirit,” he said, “the Hajj is supposed to make one revert to one’s natural, clean self”. Again, this change is not supernormal but is rather intellectual and intentional. This feat is possible through a process that he termed de-conditioning.
Hajj makes the worshiper aware of the environmental conditioning affecting their life. It makes the need to get rid of such influences and go back to one’s God-given pure nature more pronounced. It makes this de-conditioning process possible. It does work like a course that eliminates environmental conditioning in a person and helps them rediscover their original, untainted nature. In Hajj, by undergoing all these rites consciously, a believer is born afresh, washed out from his past influences and into his real self, the way Allah wishes him to be. It is this amazing expedition which not only washes the spirit but also teaches the person to remain in touch with his very pure, basic self. Visit 1st-street for more informative articles.
