Alhamdulillah, I and some of the brothers and sisters from our community were blessed to go for Hajj this year. As we know, on an average, between 2.5 to 3 million Muslims make this journey every year to Mecca. They come from all over the world and gather at the same place, at the same time, for the same reason—to fulfill an obligation of their faith. There are many takeaways from this physical, spiritual, and emotional journey.
We were there in Mecca because Allah willed us to be there, He wanted us to perform Hajj this year. Alhamdulillah, all praises are due to Allah. There are not many words that can accurately describe the feelings a Muslim experiences when traveling to the holy land of Mecca, home to the mosque known as Masjid al-Haram that contains the Ka’bah.
To reflect on this fact is really quite humbling. Despite all our shortcomings and pitfalls, despite all our past mistakes and disobedience to Allah, He still invited us to His house – the Ka’bah. The tradition has it that the Ka’bah was originally built by Prophet Adam (AS) and was rebuilt by Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and his eldest son Prophet Isma’il (AS), nearly four thousand years ago.
Allah (SWT) invited us to the Holy Land to fulfill the rites of Hajj and ultimately reap the reward of returning home with our sins forgiven insha’Allah. And what did we do to deserve such an immense reward? Looking back, whatever sacrifices the pilgrims make in terms of physical exertion, spending money, and in terms of any discomfort faced during the journey, all that is nothing compared to the reward that is promised. This exchange beautifully illustrates Allah’s mercy, Allah’s pardoning, and Allah’s love for His servants.
As we go around the Ka’bah or make Tawaf (circumambulations), we know that we are walking in the same space in which the Prophet (SAW) and his companions walked. As we walk and run between Safa and Marwah, the two hillocks in the northeast of Ka’bah, we know these are the same hills where Hagar (AS) ran to search for water for her baby son – Isma’il. As we drink from Zamzam, we know it is the same well that sprang up in the middle of the desert so Hagar and Isma’il could drink from it.
One of the beautiful observations etched in our memory includes listening to the adhan summoning Muslims to come to Masjid Al Haram for prayer. Muslim men, women and children would converge and walk toward Masjid Al-Haram to congregate in its precincts to perform Salat.
In Madinah, the mere sight of Al-Masjid Al-Nabawi drew our attention to the history of Islam. The sensational and breath-taking feelings, and awe-inspiring moments of visiting the Rawdha seem to be embedded in our memories. In Madinah we also visited historical sites and Masajid, including Masjid Qiblatain and Masjid Quba. Masjid Quba is the first Masjid built by the Prophet (SAW) in Madinah. We also went to Mount Uhud and prayed for the martyrs who had died during the Battle of Uhud. The cemetery of the martyrs of Uhud is located to the north of a small red mountain known as Mount Rumah (mountain of the archers), a name given to it because Prophet Muhammad (SAW) had positioned fifty archers on it under the command of Abdullah bin Zubair. The Muslim army prevailed and defeated the Mushrikeen at first, prompting some archers to leave their position for the booty, resulting in the Mushrikeen approaching from behind and attacking the Muslims, forcing many companions to run up mount Rumah, which resulted in the martyrdom of many companions.
We saw a Dates Store located near Masjid Quba where many types of dates were available for purchase; dates with different colors, textures, sizes, softness and taste.
On 5th of Dhul Hijjah, we went from Madinah to Mecca. We got into our Ihram clothing in the hotel in Madinah; but made the niyyah for getting into the state of Ihram in Dhul Hulifah, also known as Bair Ali or Abyar Ali. From thereon, we began to chant the Talabiyyah (Labbayk….). The first thing we did after reaching Mecca was to check in at the hotel. After refreshing ourselves, we proceeded to the Haram and performed Umrah. Thereafter, we came out of the state of Ihram, and got into it once again on the 8th of Dhul Hijjah. We proceeded to Mina and prayed zuhr, asr, magrib, isha and fajr of the next day. On 9th Dhul Hijjah went to Arafat; performed Wuquf (standing and praying) and sought Allah’s forgiveness. Any troubles with the heat, long lines for bathrooms, or any other issues faced while there, became so insignificant when compared with the vastness of what is received—essentially, a newer, purer life.
If one is looking for an embodiment of universal human quality and brotherhood in the service of the one God, it is here at Arafat. It is here that the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) proclaimed the equality of mankind, justice and freedom for all in an eloquent Human Rights manifesto during his farewell Hajj: Among many other gems of advice, he said: ‘All mankind is from Adam and Eve. An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab. A white has no superiority over a black nor does a black have any superiority over a white person, except by piety and good deeds.’ He emphasized women’s rights and demanded that husbands treat their wives with respect, kindness and gentleness and that abusing and chastising a wife is immoral. He declared economic exploitation (usury) that makes rich richer and the poor poorer as forbidden.
At sundown, we proceeded for Muzdalifah, where we prayed Salat ul Maghrib and Salat ul Isha combined, and collected pebbles for the Jamarat. The stay at Muzdalifah was a very humbling experience: sleeping in the desert under the open sky.
On 10th of Dhul Hijjah (Yawm un Nahar – Eid al Adha), we left Muzdalifah for Mina camp and prayed Fajr in the camp, Then went to Jamaraat to pelt the big Jamaraat with 7 stones. Then we did the Tawaf al Ifadah and after that did the halaq i.e., the brothers got their hair cut or shaved. Sisters just clipped their hair as required. By this time our sacrificial animals had been slaughtered, as we were told. We took shower in the hotel, and were in a state of tahallul, which means that we were out of the state of Ihram except that there was still a restriction on intimate spousal relationship that had to be observed till the 12th of Dhul Hijjah. The next two days we pelted all three Jamaraat, with 7 stones each. Thus 49 stones were used in the ritual of stoning the devil. Alhamdulillah, we completed all the rites (manasik) of Hajj and before leaving Mecca performed the Farewell Tawaf or the Tawaaf Al Wadaa.
May Allah (SWT) accept the Hajj of all the Hujjaj; accept their tawaf, their sa’y, their sacrifice, their rukoos and sujood, and their dua’s. May Allah (SWT) forgive our sins and help us to turn to Him. Allahumma Ameen.
