By: Nawab Mohammed Yusuf Ali Khan
Anwar came to the mosque along with two of his friends. They had planned to go on a Hajj pilgrimage and had come to seek Baba’s blessings. Sai Baba nodded and blessed them for a safe pilgrimage. Baba asked the devotees to describe the significance of Hajj.
Bade Baba started speaking. He said that Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca, is a profound act of worship in Islam. It is obligatory only for those in good health and who can afford the journey. Those who are indigent, sick, or disabled are excused from this duty.
To perform Hajj, a pilgrim leaves their home and travels to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. Upon entering Mecca, the pilgrim first goes to the Kaaba to perform the Tawaf, which is the circumambulation of the Kaaba. Next, the pilgrim performs Sa’i, a brisk walk between the two hillocks of Safa and Marwa. The rites also include a halt at the plain of Arafat, where pilgrims stand in prayer and reflection. Additionally, pilgrims cast stones at a pillar in Mina, symbolically stoning Satan. The culmination of these rituals is the sacrifice of an animal. The essential rituals of Hajj are performed during the calendar month of Dhul Hijjah, the twelfth month of the Islamic lunar calendar.
What is Hajj? It is a journey undertaken to seek God. It is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, in addition to the profession of faith, prayer, almsgiving, and fasting. It involves spending time and wealth to reach those places associated with the memories of God and His true servants. All the rituals of Hajj are a practical demonstration that a person is striving for God, centering his life around Him.
Hajj is akin to visiting the Almighty. It represents the highest form of nearness to one’s Lord during worldly life. If other acts of worship are reminders of God, Hajj reaches directly to God.
Hajj has always held extraordinary significance among Islamic acts of worship. In one hadith, it is referred to as the most virtuous act of worship. It encompasses all acts of worship and invigorates all of them. However, its true importance lies in its spiritual essence, not merely in the external rituals and ceremonies.
In other words, Hajj is not just about going to the sacred land, performing certain rituals, and returning. Regarding the essence of Hajj, the Quran states: The pilgrimage is in the appointed months. Whoever intends to perform it during them must abstain from indecent speech, wicked conduct, and quarreling while on the pilgrimage. Whatever good you may do, God is aware of it. Make provision for yourselves – but surely, the best of all provision is God-consciousness. “Always be mindful of Me, you that are endowed with understanding. (2:197)”
What are the precautions one should follow?
Whenever a few people gather or live together, some grievances inevitably arise. This situation manifests on a much larger scale during Hajj as people of various kinds gather in vast numbers at a single location. Consequently, during Hajj, people frequently cause discomfort to each other.
If individuals start quarreling over personal grievances, the spirit of worship would be lost, and the purpose of Hajj would not be fulfilled. Therefore, quarreling and losing one’s temper are strictly prohibited during Hajj.
This prohibition makes Hajj a means of training for a significant aspect of life. Just as fighting nullifies Hajj, it also distances a believer’s ordinary life from Islam.
Sai Maharaj appreciated Badhe Baba’s explanation of the Hajj pilgrimage. Anwar and friends left for the Hajj pilgrimage.
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