The significance of Haj

Al Haj M. Fowzul Aleem Farook

“Labbaik! Allahumma Labbaik, La Shareekalaka! Innal Hamdu Wal Ne’matha Laka Wal Mulk La Shareeka Lak” (I stand up for thy service, O Allah I stand up! There is no partner with thee! I stand up! Verily thine is the praise, the blessing and the kingdom! There is no partner with thee).

This is how the pilgrims glorify the Creator Allahusbhanawathala when approaching the Holy Ka’aba for the first time in their life. At this, Almighty Allah remarks to the Angels: Look at my servants, they have come towards me, disheveled and scattered, while their bodies and clothes are covered with the dust of long journeys. Oh, my Angels, I take you to witness that I have forgiven their sins. The Angels will say, “O Allah among them there is an evil man.” At this Allah will reply, “I have forgiven them all.” How fortunate Hajees are to get huge rewards for their good deeds from the benevolent Creator Almighty Allah.

Peaceful exit

Pilgrims undertake the pilgrimage to Mecca to perform Haj barely two months after purifying themselves from worldly desires and unhealthy habits by fulfilling the obligatory fasting as Almighty Allah commanded in the Holy Quran: “pilgrimage to the House of Allah is a duty man owes to Allah - upon those who can afford the journey.”

When Hajees set out in the path of Allah they are reminded that they prepare themselves for peaceful exit from this world. To perform Haj, Hajees leave behind their much loved property, intimate friends, blood relations, kith and kin and further their cherished motherland for a short period. Pilgrims realize there will come a time when they have to leave everything mentioned above suddenly, forever.

After reaching the Holy City, it is most heartening to see in the midst of the desert of Mecca, the Holy Ka’aba where pilgrims make Tawaf (circuits) seven times reciting, “O Allah! I beg of thee forgiveness and peace in this world and the next. O, Lord, give us good in this world and good in the hereafter and save us from the torment of the fire.”

Kings and laymen

The noteworthy feature in Haj is that pilgrims all wear the same simple plain white unsewn cloth and live in the same way. The white cloth the Hajees wear is unique in the sense that it does not differentiate between kings and laymen, the powerful and the weak.

The distinctions of rank and colour, wealth and nationality disappear. Those who converge in their thousands, assume one aspect and one attitude before the Master. The true love of Allah becomes a reality and the Hajees are imbued with immense love of the Supreme Being. Haj leaves a deep and everlasting impact upon one who performs it. Most of the religious rites pilgrims perform are that of Prophet Ibrahim, his wife Hajara and their son Ismail. This gives the faithful an insight into how a family at a time of tribulation was united by obeying the Lord of the Universe ‘Rabbil Alameen.’

Supreme power

To honour the Prophet Ibrahim, and his family till doomsday, Almighty Allah has commanded the Hajees to exercise virtuous acts like running seven times between the hillocks known as Al Safa Al Marwa.

Hajara Alaihissalam ran in search of water in the barren desert to quench the thirst of her baby Ismail. She was astonished to see bubbling spring where baby Ismail lay and today every pilgrim drinks, bathes, and washes their ihram clothes from this miraculous well of Zam Zam. It is also believed that Prophet Muhammed had said that Zam Zam was a cure for any disease. This famous well of Zam Zam which was rebuilt some years ago has been providing water to the millions of Hajees from the time of Prophet Ibrahim 5,000 years ago, without receding. This proves the Almighty Allah’s supreme power over his creations.

Soon after leaving Mecca, pilgrims go to Medina, the City of the Prophet Mohammed. According to Anas the prophet said ‘O, Allah bestow on Medina twice the blessings you bestow on Mecca’. Once the Hajees reach the entrance of Medina the green dome of the Prophet’s Mosque comes into sight. Hajees spend more than eight days in the Prophet’s town and have the opportunity to visit various historic sites and pray for those souls whose sacrifices 1,432 years ago made us mould our life according to the teaching of Islam.

While Muslims in Sri Lanka and the rest of the world celebrate Haj festival as usual in Mecca, Sri Lankan Hajees will be busy along with Hajees from all parts of the world fulfilling the Haj rites in places like Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifa.

At Arafat, pilgrims make supplication (dua) recite Holy Quran, deliver sermons and Dawa and earnestly seek the blessings of Allah and his forgiveness. Like last year, this time too Sri Lankan pilgrims will devote more time for supplication to bestow peace and happiness to our motherland in the House of Allah Ka’apa.