Hajj - A spiritual Journey to meet the Creator.
"Lo! The first Sanctuary appointed for mankind was that at Mecca, a blessed place, guidance to the peoples; wherein are plain memorials of God’s guidance; the place where Abraham stood up to pray; and whosoever entereth it is safe. And Pilgrimage to the House is a duty unto God for mankind, for him who can find a way thither. As for him who disbelieveth, let him know that lo! God is Independent of all creatures." (3:96-97) The Holy Quran.
Thomas Abercrombie, a convert to Islam and a writer and photographer for National Geographic Magazine, performed the hajj in the 1970's and described the sense of unity and harmony pilgrims feel during the circling: "Seven times we circled the shrine," he wrote, "repeating the ritual devotions in Arabic: 'Lord God, from such a distant land I have come unto Thee.... Grant me shelter under Thy throne.' Caught up in the whirling scene, lifted by the poetry of the prayers, we orbited God's house in accord with the atoms, in harmony with the planets."
For the past 1400 years, since the final pilgrimage was made by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), Muslims have returned yearly to Mecca to perform the same ritual pilgrimage. In the Qur’an it says:
At some point during the lifetime of every Muslim man and woman, a religious pilgrimage to Mecca must be performed. This pilgrimage is called Hajj and it is the fifth pillar of Islam. Every year two million Muslims who are financially and physically able, gather together in Mecca to perform Hajj.
Hajj is the largest religious gathering in the world, drawing Muslims from over one hundred nations. During Hajj several ceremonies are performed that are symbolic of the teachings of Islam and date back to the trials of Prophet Abraham and his family. The pilgrimage lasts one week and the end is marked with a celebration called Eid ul-Adha or Festival of Sacrifice, which will occur this year on 11th January. Eid ul-Adha is a commemoration of Prophet Abraham’s obedience to God when directed to sacrifice his own son. During Eid ul-Adha, prayers are performed, social gatherings are held, children are given gifts, and food is donated to the needy.
Many pilgrims share the same powerful emotions upon returning from their Hajj journey. Haj is a unique spiritual experience, the experience of drawing closer and closer to Allah (SWT) alone. The atmosphere in this journey was full of the spirit of Allah. The glory of Allah is felt in everyone’s heart, mind and in senses.
A distinctive feature of the Islamic pilgrimage is that all male pilgrims are clothed in two white cloths, called Ihram in Arabic (women are dressed in simple clothes). Clothed in the Ihram, all Muslims are united together as one in the Ummah or community. All are equal before God, despite the poor or affluent lives, or level of social class, that pilgrims may have left behind. In this sense, a person of royalty is no higher than a simple wage earner. Here all mankind is equal and one before God. When wearing the same apparel, Ihram, the pilgrims experience the unique brotherhood and simplicity of Islam. In the state of Ihram, the pilgrims bury their individuality and personalities. Hajj eliminates race and class distinction. It spreads the absolute certainty of the oneness of human life.
Sacrifice is symbolized in many ways during Hajj. Not only does Hajj symbolize the sacrifice that Prophet Abraham was willing to make at God’s request, but also the sacrifices of Muslims during their lifetime. It can signify the sacrifice many Muslims have made in leaving behind their jobs, families, and lives, to make their journey to Hajj. In a broader sense, it also symbolizes the daily personal sacrifices that human beings need to make within themselves to be good Muslims and to do good deeds by following the teachings of the Prophet and the word of God. Hajj symbolizes a total submission, victory of faith over temptation, human’s compulsive effort to show his devotion to his Creator and Sustainer.
Many who embark on the Hajj journey return in what many would describe as a life-altering spiritual experience. The Hajj journey impacts their life style, acts and interacting, and the way of thinking seeking forgiveness from Him, how to fight with temptations, how to sacrifice for the pleasure of Allah and finally… to establish the contact with the roots of the Islamic Faith.
The greatest of rewards are promised to the Muslim who performs Hajj correctly - complete forgiveness for all previous sins and a return to a state of spiritual purity like a newborn. The Hajj is not a journey of going; it is a journey of returning to the source….. Allah. The Source of Everything.
Husseinali Datoo. Editor Federation Samachar
Federation Samachar wishes you all EID MUBARAK.