Hajj – A Journey of Love

Fajr Reminders - Mahmood Habib Masjid and Islamic Center

He was Khaleelullah. And Allahﷻ loved him, so He tested him. In each test, by the help of Allahﷻ, he proved true to his Covenant with Allahﷻ. So, Allahﷻ gave him the job of building His House, the Ka’aba. Allahﷻ said: وَإِذْ بَوَّأْنَا لِإِبْرَٰهِيمَ مَكَانَ ٱلْبَيْتِ أَن لَّا تُشْرِكْ بِى شَيْـًٔا وَطَهِّرْ بَيْتِىَ لِلطَّآئِفِينَ وَٱلْقَآئِمِينَ وَٱلرُّكَّعِ ٱلسُّجُودِ وَأَذِّن فِى ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلْحَجِّ يَأْتُوكَ رِجَالًا وَعَلَىٰ كُلِّ ضَامِرٍ يَأْتِينَ مِن كُلِّ فَجٍّ عَمِيقٍ لِّيَشْهَدُوا۟ مَنَـٰفِعَ لَهُمْ وَيَذْكُرُوا۟ ٱسْمَ ٱللَّهِ فِىٓ أَيَّامٍ مَّعْلُومَـٰتٍ عَلَىٰ مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّنۢ بَهِيمَةِ ٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ فَكُلُوا۟ مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا۟ ٱلْبَآئِسَ ٱلْفَقِيرَ Hajj 22: 26-7 And ˹remember˺ when We assigned to Ibrahim the site of the House, ˹saying˺ “Do not associate anything with Me ˹in worship˺ and purify My House for those who circle ˹the Ka’bah˺, stand ˹in prayer˺, and bow and prostrate themselves. Call ˹all˺ people to the pilgrimage. They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel from every distant path. So, they may obtain the benefits ˹in store˺ for them and pronounce the Name of Allah on appointed days over the sacrificial animals He has provided for them. So, eat their meat and feed the destitute (poor). The Hajj is the story of Ibrahim (AS) and his family and the tests that they faced and passed. Allahﷻ loved this so much that He made their actions, the rites of the greatest act of worship, the reward for which is total forgiveness. Allahﷻ made Hajj Fardh on all those who can afford it. إِنَّ أَوَّلَ بَيْتٍ وُضِعَ لِلنَّاسِ لَلَّذِى بِبَكَّةَ مُبَارَكًا وَهُدًى لِّلْعَـٰلَمِينَ فِيهِ ءَايَـٰتٌۢ بَيِّنَـٰتٌ مَّقَامُ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَمَن دَخَلَهُۥ كَانَ ءَامِنًا وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ حِجُّ ٱلْبَيْتِ مَنِ ٱسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَنِىٌّ عَنِ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ A’al Imraan 3: 96-97 Surely the first House ˹of worship˺ established for humanity is the one at Makkah—a blessed sanctuary and a guide for ˹all˺ people. In it are clear signs and the standing-place of Ibrahim. Whoever enters it should be safe. Pilgrimage to this House is an obligation by Allah upon whoever is able among the people. And whoever disbelieves, then surely Allah is not in need of ˹His˺ creation. The reciting of Talbiya declares that we are ready to obey Allahﷻ without question, because we know Allahﷻ and love Him over anyone else. Then we don the Ihram. Men in two pieces of unstitched cloth, nothing else, to remind ourselves of our reality and how we will be dressed when we leave this world. Shorn of all our worldly symbols of wealth and status. This reminds us of the true brotherhood of faith in which the single adhesive is our connection with Allahﷻ. Everyone reciting the same Talbiya, everyone making the same declaration, everyone seeking the same goal, the Ridha of Allahﷻ. True brotherhood that transcends all boundaries of color, race, tribe, and social rank. It reminds us of how we will be gathered before Allahﷻ on a Day where everyone will get justice. We ask Allahﷻ for Mercy. Then we go to the next stage of making Tawaf of the Ka’aba and praying in the place of Ibrahim (AS) which Allahﷻ made a place of worship. We follow in the footsteps of our mother, Hajar (AS), the wife of Ibrahim (AS) and emulate her actions of climbing the two hills of Safa and Marwa and running between them in the valley. She did it because she was looking for help for herself and her infant son. We do it because she did it. The actions of one woman became the rituals of worship, performed by every Haaji of every race, from every part of the world for five thousand years; by all the Prophets and Messengers, including Rasoolullahﷺ. These actions demonstrate the essence of Tawakkul of Hajar (AS). That Tawakkul doesn’t mean to do nothing and wait for victory. It means to make effort but to rely on Allahﷻ for the result. Our arms and legs and back are tired but the heart is at peace.