Sustaining spirituality of Hajj

“Whoever performs hajj for the sake of pleasing Allah, and therein utters no word of evil, nor commits any evil deed, shall return from it free from sin as the day on which his mother gave birth to him.” (Al-Bukhari, Muslim) With the last Hajj (Hijri 1436) exercise over and pilgrims back home, it is […]

“Whoever performs hajj for the sake of pleasing Allah, and therein utters no word of evil, nor commits any evil deed, shall return from it free from sin as the day on which his mother gave birth to him.” (Al-Bukhari, Muslim)
With the last Hajj (Hijri 1436) exercise over and pilgrims back home, it is well to draw the attention of the haji, who are witnesses of the imprints left by those who sacrificed everything they had in submission and obedience to Allah, to the need to sustain the spirituality that the Hajj rites and sites, indeed the overall exercise, has aroused in them.
High religious attachment is evoked in the pilgrim with the circumambulation of the Ka`aba (Tawaf), performing Sa’i (Safa-Marwa); praying within and outside the Majidil Haram and Masjid Al-Nabawi; the visitations to the many spiritually inspiring sites – Uhudu, al-Baqi, Cave of Hira, Jabal ar-Rahma (Mount Arafat), among others. These hold great blessing and offer immense lessons for the pilgrim which he must hold unto with every ounce of his strength, power and ability, during and after the Hajj.
The Prophet (SAW) says: “The performers of hajj and ‘umrah are deputations of Allah. If they call Him, He answers them; and if they seek His forgiveness, He forgives them.” (Ibn Mājah)
He also said: “There is no reward for an accepted Hajj except Jannah.” (Al-Bukhārī, Muslim)
The performer of Hajj becomes so pure that even that person is forgiven for whom he seeks forgiveness.
The Prophet (SAW) said: “When you meet a haji (on his way home), then greet him, shake hands with him and ask him to beg forgiveness of Allah on your behalf before he enters his home, for his prayer for forgiveness is accepted since he is forgiven by Allah.” (Ahmad)
These are few among the many virtues of Hajj, the 5th pillar of Islam, mentioned by the Prophet (SAW) and he encouraged the ummah to fulfil this obligation.
The haji should therefore be thankful and sincerely grateful to Allah (SWT) for allowing him to perform Hajj and, most importantly follow this up with a firm resolution and commitment to sustain this renewed spiritual bond for life.
Allah Ta’ala says: “And remember your Lord caused to be declared (publicly): If you are grateful. I will add more (favours) unto you. But if you show ingratitude, truly my punishment is terrible indeed.”
Abu Hurairah narrates: The Prophet was asked, “What deed is the best?” He said, “Iman in Allah and His Messenger.” “Then what?” “Jihad in the sake of Allah.” “Then what?” “Hajj Mabroor, a Hajj accepted by Allah (SWT).”
Abu Sha’thaa’ (one of the pious successors) said, “I contemplated the good deeds that a person does. I found that salat as well as fasting are a jihad of the body; and that sadaqa is a jihad of someone’s wealth. But Hajj is a jihad of both body and wealth.” Hajj is the greatest jihad.
Hajj is therefore one of the greatest deeds one can accomplish in his or her lifetime and those fortunate to attain it should cling to it for life even as they resolutely nurse the hope and intention to performing it again and again. A Muslim is rewarded for his/her good intentions, even if he is not able to perform them.
The scholars say the sign that Allah (SWT) has accepted your Hajj is apparent, if not palpable; it the change you feel within yourself and which shows in your manner. If you feel in your heart a strong will to do good things and to avoid everything bad, you should thank Allah for His acceptance and try your best to remain so, but if you feel attracted to evil and sin, you should repent and seek Allah’s help to remain pious and Allah is conscious.
If we are sincere in our effort to be pious and in seeking Allah’s help, Allah will certainly help us. We seek Allah’s help and guidance in all our endeavours.