Reflecting On Hajj
O Hujjaaj, May I ask ?
Drop in the Ocean
The Hajj is that largest annual Convention of Faith where millions of Muslims gather in the holy land,
merging as streams of devotees from every corner of the earth to become part of the sea of Believers swirling
in spiritually dancing waves around the Ka'bah in tawaaf. Each individual pilgrim, a drop in that ocean;
a drop that always yearns to be part of that ocean. An ocean that knows no race, no language, no colour, no gender,
nor time. All praise is due to Allah for making this unique, international gathering of hajj an inexhaustible
source for spiritual rejuvenation and as a perennial re-affirmation of faith.
Beyond the Ritual
The performance of prescribed rites, at specified times, at particular places in a recommended manner is aimed
at reflecting a wholesome demonstration of Muslim fraternity. It acquaints the pilgrim with the historic, spiritual
and physical environment of Adam and Hawa, of Ibrahim, Isma'il and Hajirah and of the final messenger of Allah
(peace be upon all of them). By re-enacting some of the fundamental aspects of the best of our history (Hajirah's
running in search for water, Prophet Ibrahim's preparedness to sacrifice his willing and obedient son or his pelting
of the shaytaan), all these identifies us with the best of our past and the lessons we need to learn from our
great legacy.
O HUJJAAJ! You have visited the "house of Allah" in Makkah,
that city which is dearest to Allah, that city where the greatest of all creation was born, where he lived, where
he received revelation, where he preached his message, where he was mocked and ostracized; that city which he was
forced to leave and on the occasion of leaving he said;
"I swear by Allah, O Makkah, you are the best of cities and most loved city on earth by Allah; if I was not
made to leave you I would never have left." That very city which he returned to 8 years later with an army
of 120 000 and yet forgave his persecutors.
O HUJJAAJ! When you walked through the streets of Makkah,
did you recall the torments and hardship our Prophet had to go through to deliver Allah's message? Did you look
at the hills and wonder where he shepherded the sheep of the rich Makkans as a teenager? Did you look towards Jabal
an-Noor and consider how the Prophet sought solitude in those hills until he received revelation from Allah?
O HUJJAAJ! When you removed your designer clothes and put on your ihraam,
did you also cast of your arrogance, racism and chauvinism ? When you made tawaaf did you truly feel part of that
ocean of faithful going in waves around the ka'bah? Did you consider the majesty of the One Allah and realize that
you too are part of the infinity of zeroes that is totally dependant on Him? When you prayed at the station of Ibrahim
(maqame-Ibrahim) did you wonder about his status, impact and influence on world history? When you ran between
the hills of Safaa and Marwah, did you realize that you were re-enacting the running of a slave woman (Hajirah) whose
selfless search for water for her son was considered worthy enough by Allah to be incorporated as part of the hajj?
When you drank of Zam-zam did you reflect on how this once water served to quench the thirst of baby Isma'il who was
later to become the forefather of our Prophet (pbut)?