Hajj: Leaving Worldly Matters and Preparing for the Hereafter
After making the intention of entering into the holy rite of Hajj, a pilgrim takes off worldly pleasures the moment he takes off his clothes and wears the Ihram clothing. He/she resembles the angels in shunning desires and ornaments, and dedicating themselves for worshipping Allah, their Lord. Just as a pilgrim casts off his everyday clothes, he/she should cast off sins and seek refuge in Allah.
During this holy rite, people become as equal as the spikes of a comb in the sense that there is no difference between a white man and a black man. A pilgrim answers the call of the truth: "And proclaim the Pilgrimage among men: they will come to thee on foot and (mounted) on every kind of camel, lean on account of journeys through deep and distant mountain highways;" {Al-Hajj, 27} by chanting Talbiyah (“Labbayka Allahumma labbayk (Here I am, O Allah, here I am)." By doing so, he/she seeks the mercy and bounty of Allah to be admitted into Paradise and spared Hellfire.
Hajj isn`t a journey for seeing sights and discovering places. Rather, it is about seeking the pleasure of Allah and coming closer to Him. The moment a pilgrim takes off his/her clothes, he/she knows that Allah looks at the hearts and intentions, not the form or appearance. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Allah does not look at your figures, nor at your attire but He looks at your hearts and accomplishments".[Muslim].
The heart casting off worldly concerns is what is required in this sacred journey of Hajj and this is the gist of the supplication of Our Father Ibrahim, which reads: "So fill the hearts of some among men with love towards them, and feed them with fruits: so that they may give thanks." {Ibrahim, 37}. During this journey, a pilgrim leaves his/her homeland and family, races to Mecca to which his/her heart yearns, and escapes to Allah seeking His forgiveness.
Once a pilgrim arrives in Mecca, it welcomes him/her warmly. On Seeing the Ka’abah for the first time, he/she says the Du`a: "O Allah! Increase this House in honor and reverence and nobility and awe, and increase those who honor and revere it as pilgrims for Hajj and Umrah in nobility and goodness and status and righteousness."
Next, a pilgrim makes the Tawaf of arrival, like a mother hugging her long gone children. During this Tawaf (Circumambulation around the Kabah), he/she makes the Du`a: "O Allah! This House is Yours, this Haram is Yours….."
Then, pilgrims go to perform Sa`ee ( the act of Sa'ee refers to the ritual of walking or running between the two hills of Safa and Marwa) with sincere hearts putting their trust in Allah and remember the words of Hajar who said: "Allah won`t cause us to be lost."
They perform Sa`ee and ask their Lord for forgiveness and mercy. They keep repeating this seeking to please Allah the Almighty and win Jannah. Allah says {What means}: "And there are others who say, 'Our Lord, give to us in this world good, and good in the Hereafter, and guard us against the chastisement of the Fire'." {Al-Baqarah, 201}.
After that, pilgrims gather in the plain of Arafah the land of the mercies of Allah." the day when neither wealth nor children will avail, except him who comes to God with a heart that is sound." {Al-Shu`ara`, 88-89}. Indeed, on that day nothing avails but coming to Allah with a sound heart.
And all perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds.
