THE JOURNEY OF A LIFETIME

Extracts from “Hajj” by Ayatollah Mohsin Qara'ati

� و�م�ن ك�ف�ر� ف�إ�ن� الل�ه� غ�ن�ي ع�ن� الع�ال�م�ين� �٣:٩٧و�ل�ل�ه� ع�ل�ى الن�اس� ح�ج& الب�يت� م�ن� است�ط�اع� إ�ل�يه� س�ب�يل

In it are Signs Manifest; (for example), the Station of Abraham; whoever enters it attains security;

Pilgrimage thereto is a duty men owe to Allah,- those who can afford the journey; but if any deny

faith, Allah stands not in need of any of His creatures.

The importance of Hajj

الحج رياضة نفساني1ةHajj is self-building and exercise,

وعبادة: بدني1ةBeing patient through the difficulties, pain,

hunger, thirst, even the body is ready to perform its duty towards Allah,

وجودي1ة و عدمي1ةSalah is an action that has to be

“performed”,Fasting is an action in which one has to

“refrain” from many actions...In Hajj, there are actions to be “performed”

as well as actions to be “refrained” from.

The importance of Hajj

Therefore, Hajj is like Khums and Zakat where possessions have to be given,

It is like Fasting in which a lot is forbidden,It is similar to Salah in terms of performing

certain actions,And it is like Jehad, involving pain and

difficulty.

The importance of Hajj

Hajj is a sign of تعب1د (He is our Master, we are his servants),

And تعب1د is a sign of Obedience to the Almighty.

Imam Ali (a.s) :

كفي بي فخرا أن أكون لك عبدا

It is enough pride for me, that I am your servant.

The importance of Hajj

In obedience to Allah SWT, we go for Hajj.

First, we leave our possessions behind, then our homes, then our street, then our city, our

country. Near Makkah, we have to remove all our

clothes, shoes, even hats.We then have to keep away from paying attention to our hair, appearance, perfume,

jewelery, and spouse.

Nothing matters to us, except Allah SWT.

The importance of Hajj

Hajj is a test!

Imam Sadiq (a.s) : Allah could have placed the Ka'abah in a different place, where the weather would be pleasant; but the reason

it is in such a hot place, far from the seas and forests, is because it is a form of a test

for everyone, until the ones who “proclaim” they have the true Faith, are separated

from the Pious.

The importance of Hajj

Makkah is where the Prophets of Allah lived, prayed, and called people towards the true

religion. Makkah is the Qiblah of the ones who pray,

throughout history. The trip to Hajj, is soaring and migrating towards Allah SWT, it is leaving everything behind to cleanse ourselves from impurity.

The importance of Hajj

When a person removes all his clothing, and wraps himself up in 2 pieces of plain white cloth, it reminds him of his birth, where he was born naked and wrapped in a white cloth; as well as reminds him of his definite

death, and how he might look.

The importance of Hajj

Imam Ali (a.s) :

ولكن1 ا يختبر عباده بانواع الش1داءدو يتعب1دهم بأنواع المجاهدو يبتليهم بضروب المكاره

But Allah tries His creatures by means of different troubles,

Wants them to render worship through hardship, And involves them in distresses,

The importance of Hajj

إخراجا للت1كب1ر من قلوبهم و إسكانا للت1ذل1ل في نفوسهم

In order to extract out vanity from their hearts, to settle down humbleness in their spirits.

[Nahj al Balagha, Sermon 192]

The importance of Hajj

Yes, in order to meet the Almighty, all those tight, colorful clothes, with collars and

buttons that create pride and difference in status, and separate “me” from “him”, have

to be removed.

Now, I am facing the Ka'bah, and my back is to everything else.

A person facing the “Unlimited” should not be bound by “limited” things such as shoes.

The importance of Hajj

A “Haaji” must think to himself: “Where have I come?”

Makkah is where Jibraeel and the angels used to descend upon.

It is the Qiblah of the Muslims. It is where H.Ibrahim was the builder, and

H.Ismail his helper. It is where the Prophet, along with H.Khadija

and Imam Ali recited a 3-person Jama'ah. It is where “I” pledge allegiance to Allah,

and I place my feet on the place where the Awliya of Allah used to place their feet.

The importance of Hajj

The Attraction of Ka'bahHow is it that when a person first sees the Ka'bah

is dumbstruck, his eyes water and his forehead fills with sweat...

As Imam Ali(a.s.) says: و يألهون اليه ولوه الحمام

Just like pigeons go towards spring water.

Sometimes it feels as though, here, no one knows anyone else, everyone is worried only about themselves...it creates a picture of what the

Day of Judgment would be like.

The importance of Hajj

Pilgrims sometimes feel helpless and lost in their own country but when they are in the midst of a sea of pious people, they feel a

certain serenity in their hearts.

Imam Baqir (a.s) : الحج تسكين القلوب

Hajj comforts the hearts.

The importance of Hajj

HAJJ: STRENGTHENS AND IMPROVES FAITH

Imam Zainul Abideen (a.s) :“Perform Hajj because, in addition to

increasing sustenance, improving health and providing life-security, it is also a means

to improve one's faith.”

The importance of Hajj

- Just as he sees thousands responding to the call of H.Ibrahim,

- Just as he sees all threats against Islam and the Prophet neutralized,

- Just as he enters into simplicity from the materialistic world,

- Just as he realizes the strength of the Muslims,- Just as he forgives one and all for the sake of

Hajj,- Just as he separates himself from what he loves

and is attached to

The importance of Hajj

- Just as he realises he is the guest of Allah and people now look at him differently

- Just as he feels he has been blessed by Allah's Mercy and Forgiveness,

- Just as he sees the grave of the Prophet and Imams and shows his love for them,

- And just being in the special clothing, on a blessed and pure land, develops inner peace and spirituality...which strengthens his FAITH.

The importance of Hajj

HAJJ: FREEDOM FROM SINS

و فرار اليه من ذنوبك و به قبول توبتك

It is narrated that all sins of a Haaji are forgiven after the sunset of the Day of

Arafah,To the extent that if a person so much as doubts as to whether some of his sins have not yet been forgiven, this in itself is a sin.

The importance of Hajj

HAJJ: STRENGTHENS THE MUSLIM UMMAH

Imam Sadiq (a.s):ل يزال الد1ين قاءما ما قامت الكعبة

As long as the Ka'bah stands firm, the religion will remain firm.

The importance of Hajj

- Ka'bah is the focal point for calling people towards the truth

- Imam Hussain (a.s) before moving towards Karbala informed people of the mission

during Hajj.

- It is the first mosque for Muslims [ان1 او1ل بيت وضع للناس للذي ببك1ة مباركة]

- It is Ateeq, free from ownership

- It is free from dangers [الم تر كيف فعل رب1ك بأصحاب الفيل]

- Just looking at the Ka'bah is considered worship!

- Ka'bah is like a mother who has all her children gathered around her, all equal in

her eyes, giving them protection.

The importance of Hajj

Makkah : A place of security

و�إ�ذ ج�ع�لن�ا الب�يت� م�ث�اب�ة� ل_لن�اس� و�أ�من�ا

Remember We made the House a place of assembly for men and a place of safety

[2:125]

ف�ل� ر�ف�ث� و�ل� فbسbوق� و�ل� ج�د�ال� ف�ي الح�ج_

Let there be no obscenity, nor wickedness, nor wrangling in the Hajj [2:197]

The importance of Hajj

This safety is due to the Dua of H.Ibrahim, telling Allah :

ر�ب_ اجع�ل ه�eذ�ا ب�ل�د�ا آم�ن�ا

My Lord, make this a city of Peace [2:126]

We need a city of Peace, when we look at the world filled with problems, quarrels, ignorance.

And it is narrated that travelers to Makkah are not allowed to bring weapons into the city,

and this will remain so until the Day of Resurrection.

The importance of Hajj

Hajj : Ensures a person from poverty

Prophet SAW :

حج1وا تستغنواGo for Hajj, in order to be independent.

تت1سع أرزاقكمHajj increases ones RIZQ (sustenance)

الحج ينفي الفقرHajj removes poverty.

The importance of Hajj

Due to the importance and value of Hajj, we have to struggle to get the opportunity.

Imam Sajjad (a.s) used to pray for the opportunity of going for Hajj, months before Dhil Hajj; every single day of Ramadhan, after his Salaah, he

used to ask Allah to grant him Hajj for that year.

We are fortunate enough to have all the facilities to get to Makkah with the least trouble; Imam Sajjad went for Hajj many a time on foot, from

Madinah to Makkah, taking twenty days.

The importance of Hajj

Our Hajj even affects others, such is its value.

Imam Sadiq (a.s) :ان1 الحاج1 ليشفع في ولده واهله و جيرانه

Whosoever goes for Hajj, can be the cause for “Shafa'ah” or intercession on behalf of

his children, family and neighbors.

The importance of Hajj

Not only that, but look at the position it can elevate us to:

من حج1 هنا البيت صادقة و نفقة طي1بة اجعله في الرفيق العلي مع الن1بي1ين و الصد1يقين و الش1هداء والصالحين

Whosoever performs Hajj with a sincere intention, and money that is Halaal, he shall be with the Prophets and Martyrs and the

Righteous ones on the Day of Judgement.

The importance of Hajj

Another tradition states:

يدخل علي المي1ت في قبره الص1لة و الص1وم والحج1 والصدقة والعتق

Every one of your Salah, Fasting, HAJJ, Sadaqah and freeing a slave, will enter in the form of a beautiful face in the grave.

The importance of Hajj

Whoever wants the best of both worlds, should be thinking about Makkah, as Imam

Ali states:

من أراد الد1نيا و الخرة فليأم1 هذا البيت

The importance of Hajj

- It is where H.Adam has been more than a 1000 times

- It is where H.Sulaiman came with his entire army

- It is a house in which the unbelievers are not allowed to near [ان1ما المشركون نجس]

- It is a place where, due to its greatness, the eating is like fasting (according to Ahadith)

- It is the point where the ones on the earth are similar to the ones in the Heavens.

The importance of Hajj

We have to make sure our intention is pure,Our minds focused,

Our hearts prepared.

The importance of Hajj

The purity of intention is so vital; our Hajj has to be for Allah only, not for achieving a status in the

society, or considering it a holiday.The Prophet, on his last Hajj, said the following about the goal of Hajj, whilst holding on to the

Ka'bah:

[يحج1 أغنياء ام1تي للن1زهة]The rich ones will go for Hajj as a holiday,

[ويحج1 أوساطها للت1جارة]The middle-class people will go for trade,

[ويحج1 فقراءهم للر1ياء والس1معة]And the poor will want to attain a status, show-off.

The importance of Hajj

Imam al-Sadiq:

الحج1 حج1ان : حج1 للة و حج1 للناس ، فمن حج1 للة كان ثوابه علي اللة الجن1ة و من حج1 لناس كان ثوابه علي الناس يوم القيامة

There are 2 types of Hajj : Hajj for Allah, and Hajj for the sake of people. Whosoever performs Hajj for Allah, his reward of “Jannah” is with Allah, and whosoever performs Hajj for the

sake of pleasing people, his reward will be with those people on the Day of Judgement.

The importance of Hajj

We ask Allah for his Help, in purifying our intention for this Hajj that we have been

blessed with, by this Dua that the Ma'soomeen used to recite:

اللهم طه1ر قلبي من الش1رك و عملي من الر1ياء و لساني من الكذب و عيني من الخيانة

O Allah! Purify my heart from Shirk, my actions from Riya, my tongue from lying, and my eye

from transgression.

The importance of Hajj

التماس دعاء