[This is the concluding part of this article. The first part of this article appeared in Issue No. 16 of Radiance Viewsweekly dated 19-25 July 2020]
Hajj being fundamentally a form of Ibadah is one of the important Pillars of Islamic way of life. It is performed just after two months of Ramadan. In the month of Ramadan we renew our consciousness of obedience and dedication to Allah at both individual and social levels. After this concentrated period of Ramadan and fasting people plan to go for Hajj to further renew and develop their commitment to human unity and universality.
People perform every act of Hajj with the sense of Ibadah and obedience and gratitude to Allah Who created everything of this world for our use and benefit and also made them subservient to us. If the entire universe is not made subservient to us, it was not possible for us to make successful achievements in the areas of science and technology. It became feasible for the humanity because Allah granted us ability to explain them.
People are unable to perform Hajj this year. This is disappointment for many who had planned to perform it. The government of Saudi Arabia is not allowing people from other countries to go for Hajj. This decision may be right or wrong, it may be controversial for some but at a time when we all are facing and suffering from the problems of Covid-19 and low economic growth I think we should avoid this controversy and focus on the spirit and benefits of Hajj without of course going for Hajj.
BENEFITS OF HAJJ
There are two dimensions of benefits from Hajj. First, increasing our commitment, sense of sacrifice, righteousness, love and fear of Allah. And the consciousness of being an integral part of a bloodless brotherhood embracing all people from all over the world for a noble cause. These spiritual benefits can be achieved, improved and developed even without going to Hajj.
SINCERITY, PURITY OF INTENTION AND SACRIFICE
We all do everything sincerely as we do understand sincerity and purity of intension is very important. Hajj is the manifestation of purity of intension of people who go for Hajj, leaving families behind only for the sake of Allah. Hajj is related to Prophet Ibrahim and Prophet Ismael, their obedience and sacrifices. During Hajj we leave everything behind, our family, job, business and all other activities and fully concentrate on our commitment to Allah. We improve our sense of mission and dedication to Allah. We tolerate every difficulty and hardship and spend money and time and go for Hajj to prove that nothing is important in our life except the obedience to Allah. Hence, we are bound our best to obey in each and every dimension and occasion in our life. Our whole life, individual and collective, needs to be regulated in accordance with the teachings of Allah.
We are directed to purify our mind, soul, feelings, dreams, desires everything and be ready to scarify time, money and energy for the sake of Allah by way of implementing the teachings of Allah in our individual and collective life. Our family, children, relatives, and friends everyone must be tied to obedience to Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be to him). We read the Qur’an during Hajj. Now we have a better time, as we are not travelling for Hajj, to read and understand the Qur’an. If we do this, definitely we would get reward from Allah even without going for Hajj.
HAJJ IS THE MANIFESTATION OF UNITY OF HUMANITY
Secondly, Hajj is an international, inter-territorial, inter-racial gathering of people, black, white, brown and red. During Hajj we all in fact declare that no one is superior and no one is inferior except those who have righteous life and a very close adherence to Allah. It is a practical declaration of human dignity, equality and mutual respect for others. It creates a sense of unity and belonging to all crossing the boundaries and barriers of race, colour, language and ethnicity. Apart from these benefits, the Hajj provides opportunities to develop strong bond of social responsibilities and political awareness, a powerful focal point for human unity reducing the racial and national particularisms without losing their diversity. It promotes a real commitment to unity with diversity. Today we can use social media to promote and strengthen a kind of spiritual brotherhood which stands against exploitations of weak people. The ongoing conflicts between so-called Muslim nations must be avoided and eliminated. This year’s economic benefits should be sacrificed wholeheartedly. I hope Allah will provide substitute to it. Through the Prophet Muhammad humanity was reminded to the benefits of Hajj. It was said in the Qur’an: “…and publicly proclaim Hajj for all people so that they come to you… from every corner of the world to witness the benefits in store for them, and pronounce the name of Allah.” [22: 27-28]
It must create a sense of oneness of humanity and Ummah. We are unable to go for Hajj but we are definitely capable to nurture all the above-mentioned qualities among ourselves. If we do not find in ourselves the feelings and commitment to humanity and Ummah, it means we do not benefit from Hajj. Hajj is the source for unity and universality of people.
FIGHT AGAINST SHAITAN AND SHAITANIC FORCES
During Hajj symbolically we throw stones on Shaitan but in our practical life we must remember him and his strategies and must defeat him. Greediness, lust for power and money, misuse of power, negligence from our duties, ignoring needy people in society, creating problems to weak and poor people, increase in corruption all these are Shaitanic strategies and qualities. We can fight against all these immoral traits without going to Hajj and throwing stones at Shaitan. We must consciously eradicate all the bad habits and avoid wrong doings if we wish to get the reward of Hajj.
INCREASE IN CHARITY
For Hajj we spend our money and perform journey for the sake of Allah’s pleasure. As we know we are unable to perform Hajj this year but we can increase our charities and spend time, energy and money for the needy. Thousands and thousands of people have lost their jobs and businesses and millions of workers and refugees around the world are in need of our help. Those who have money but are unable to perform Hajj this year for them there is a great opportunity to get the pleasure of Allah by way of spending their money willingly to help the needy. Due to Covid-19 thousands of families are suffering from lack of food, lack of health facilities, and lack of education fees for their children everywhere in the world especially in the so-called third world countries. It is an excellent chance for Muslims to get reward from Allah. All Muslims who plan for Hajj and those who did not must come forward to spend money for the sake of Allah. At a time when people plan to make more money by exploiting Covid-19 situation, Muslims must set the example of charities and sacrifices. I am sure without going for Hajj they all would get excellent reward from Allah.
SERVICE TO HUMANITY
We are not going to spend this year our time away from our families and relatives for Hajj but we can use our time, energy and money for the wellbeing of people. The focus of all teachings and ibadath of Islam are directed towards service to people. Muslims around the world should develop mechanism and network at a large scale to serve humanity selflessly only for the sake of Allah. Hajj has the capacity to forge a living, purposeful and selfless contact among people of the world imparting a new sense of life of sacrifice for the sake of others. Allah said in the Qur’an:
“Allah has appointed the Kabah, the Sacred House, as a means of support for [the collective life of] people, and has caused the holy month [of Hajj], and the animals of sacrificial offering and their distinguishing collars to assist therein.” [5: 97]
In the changing circumstances of the world wherein people are misguided for hate and Islamophobia, it is imperative for all the Muslims of the world to strengthen their personal bond of relationship with all people around them irrespective of faith, ideology, ethnic and racial differences. The biggest lesson of Hajj today for everyone is to realise the importance of human beings, their rights, dignity and life. Millions of people around the world are suffering from hundreds of problems and miseries especially from Covid-19 pandemic. The Muslim Ummah is capable with manpower and other resources to liberate people from their miserable conditions. This should not remain as a desire and dream of Muslims but it must turn into a genuine commitment to humanity. The Hajj, Salat and Saum all ibadath relate us with people and ask us to serve them without any discrimination. All the people of the world belong to the family of the Prophet Adam and Eve. This is the truth and reality of people. How Muslims would develop their good relationship with people around them is the biggest question for them. All Muslims especially those who love to perform Hajj are addressed to answer practically this question. Millions and millions of people do not understand what is Islam, who is the Prophet Muhammad and what is the Qur’an as well as the nature of their relationship with all of them. They do not know that Muslims stand together to serve them, to reduce their burdens and to guide them to the Right Path of culture, civilization and development. It is our duty, as Muslims, to love people and educate them about Allah, Islam, the Prophet Muhammad and the Qur’an as the SAVIOURS of Humanity. (Concluded)
[Professor Dr Muhammad Mumtaz Ali teaches at Department of Usuluddin and Comparative Religion, Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia. [email protected]]