Reflections on Hajj, Sacred Mosque, Farewell Pilgrimage
What is the
connection between Islam and this Sacred Mosque? And why is every capable
person required to set out for this House, visiting it with reverence?
In reality,
there are several links that give the pilgrimage to the House its great status
and produce its profound effects. The Sacred Mosque is the first place of
worship established on earth for the worship of Allah after the destruction of
idols and the collapse of their false sanctity. Its construction upon the ruins
of a vanished paganism stands as a clear sign of the triumph of monotheism and
its banner.
Its builders
were two noble prophets. One of them was cast into the fire as punishment for
rejecting idol worship—Abraham, peace be upon him, who said:
“I have turned my face towards the One Who has
originated the heavens and the earth—being upright—and I am not one of the
polytheists. And his people argued with him. He responded, ‘Are you arguing
with me about Allah, while He has guided me?’” (Al-An`am 6:79-80)
The other was
Ishmael, who submitted himself to sacrifice when his father told him he had
been commanded to slaughter him:
“He replied, ‘O my dear father! Do as you are
commanded. Allah willing, you will find me steadfast.’” (As-Saffat
37:102)
These two men,
utterly devoted to Allah alone, were the ones who undertook the construction of
the mosque—known as the Kaaba—so that it might become a place to which
believers return, praying therein. The prominence of this mosque is therefore
self-evident.
Moreover, the
Muslim nation itself is the result of a supplication answered during this
construction:
“And ˹remember˺ when Abraham raised the foundation of
the House with Ishmael, ˹both praying,˺ ‘Our Lord! Accept ˹this˺ from us. You are indeed the
All-Hearing, All-Knowing. Our Lord! Make us both ˹fully˺ submit to You and from our
descendants a nation that will submit to You. Show us our rituals, and turn to
us in grace. You are truly the Accepter of Repentance, Most Merciful. Our Lord!
Raise from among them a messenger who will recite to them Your revelations,
teach them the Book and wisdom, and purify them. Indeed, You ˹alone˺ are the Almighty, All-Wise.’” (Al-Baqarah 2:127-129)
Qiblah
and Unity
This is a
memory worthy of honor and revival. Perhaps among the ways of showing gratitude
to Allah is to honor a mosque whose construction was accompanied by such
prayers for generations yet unborn. Who knows? Perhaps our own guidance to
Allah is part of the blessing of that accepted supplication.
Furthermore,
prayer—the foremost of physical acts of worship—is connected to this ancient
House. It is self-evident that when a Muslim stands, bows, or prostrates, he
knows he is before Allah, the Lord of the Easts and the Wests. It is also
evident that his direction is not sought for its own sake, nor is any physical
direction inherently sacred.
Yet Allah
willed to direct the entire ummah toward a single qiblah, uniting
mosques across the continents with the first place of worship established on
earth. In this, the Muslim nation is connected to its forefather Abraham,
declaring that through this connection it remains aligned with the foundations
of earlier prophethood. It is not Islam that has deviated, but rather those who
fell into association and corruption among those who earned wrath or went
astray.
Thus, the Quran
states:
“Wherever you are ˹O Prophet˺, turn your face towards the Sacred
Mosque. This is certainly the truth from your Lord. And Allah is never unaware
of what you ˹all˺ do. Wherever you are ˹O Prophet˺, turn your face towards the Sacred
Mosque. And wherever you ˹believers˺ are, face towards it, so that people
will have no argument against you, except the wrongdoers among them. Do not
fear them; fear Me, so that I may ˹continue to˺ perfect My favor upon you and so you
may be ˹rightly˺ guided.” (Al-Baqarah 2:149-150)
Hajj: A
Journey of Worship, Memory, and Renewal
Because of
these historical and spiritual connections, Allah has made it obligatory for
every capable Muslim to visit the Sacred Mosque once in a lifetime. He has
prescribed for this visit refined rituals centered on strengthening certainty
and nurturing sincerity toward the Lord of all worlds.
The words
proclaimed by the pilgrim as he sets out toward the House overflow with this
profound meaning: “Here I am, O Allah, here I am. Here I am, You have no
partner, here I am…”
This
declaration is as though it answers a call whose echo has never faded across
the centuries—the call Allah revealed to Abraham:
“And ˹remember˺ when We assigned to Abraham the site of
the House, ˹saying,˺ “Do not associate anything with Me ˹in worship˺ and purify My House for those who
circle ˹the
Ka’bah˺,
stand ˹in
prayer˺,
and bow and prostrate themselves. Call ˹all˺ people to the pilgrimage.1 They will
come to you on foot and on every lean camel from every distant path.’” (Al-Hajj 22:26-27)
Indeed, people
come raising their voices with this response, joined by all creation that
glorifies Allah. It is as though existence itself, in these remote and barren
lands, suddenly transforms into a vast demonstration whose only chant is
remembrance, gratitude, praise, and glorification.
It is reported:
“No one proclaims the talbiyah except that everything to his right and
left—stones, trees, and earth—joins him in it, until the earth is filled from
here to there on his right and left.”
The days of
pilgrimage are entirely a season of worship, detachment, turning toward Allah,
and constant remembrance of Him.
“Commitment to˺ pilgrimage is made in appointed
months. Whoever commits to ˹performing˺ pilgrimage, let them stay away from
intimate relations, foul language, and arguments during pilgrimage. Whatever
good you do, Allah ˹fully˺
knows of it. Take ˹necessary˺ provisions ˹for the journey˺—surely
the best provision is righteousness. And be mindful of Me, O people
of reason!” (Al-Baqarah 2:197)
The rituals of
pilgrimage are not complicated. They consist of the great gathering at ‘Arafah
on the ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah until after sunset, followed by
circumambulation around the Ancient House.
These are the
essential pillars for one who intends pilgrimage. There are also lighter or
recommended acts, such as greeting the House with circumambulation upon arrival
in Mecca, stoning the pillars, and walking between Safa and Marwah.
Some people try
to portray the rituals of pilgrimage as burdensome and difficult, but this is a
mistake. Pilgrimage is a spiritually uplifting journey, a noble emotional
experience. Allah prescribed it as a spiritual charge alongside the
intellectual foundation of Islam—a charge that surrounds faith with memories
and emotions.
Since the
beginning of pilgrimage in Islam, its season has also been a platform for
addressing major issues and guiding the ummah.
During the pilgrimage in the ninth year after migration, the annulment of
treaties with the polytheists was proclaimed—treaties that had been honored
only by the Muslims, while the stronger polytheists repeatedly violated them.
Thus, Allah declared disassociation from those who broke their covenants and
warned them of consequences in this life and the next.
During the
Farewell Pilgrimage, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) delivered a universal address before the vast crowds
gathered with him—an address unmatched in its principles and noble in its aims.
It stands as a truthful record of human rights and the dignity of nations.
Pilgrimage
should remain the greatest gathering of Muslims and their supreme place of
return. Its time and place should continue to be the appointed meeting for
monotheists coming from every direction, remembering Allah and casting away the
devil.
Read Also:
-
Why Hajj is Obligatory Only Once in a Lifetime?
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The Source: The
book “This Is Our Religion.”
