Source: Real & Wonderful Stories, compiled by: Abdurahim bin Mizhir Almalki
Introduction
The Islamic pilgrimage (hajj) is the religious high point of a Muslim’s life and an event that every Muslim dreams of undertaking. Umrah, the lesser pilgrimage, can be undertaken at any time of the year; Hajj, however, is both time and location specific, as it is performed (only) during a five-day period from the ninth through the thirteenth of Dhu Al-Hijjah, the twelfth month of the Muslim lunar calendar, and of course only performed at the geographical location including Makkah, the holy Kaaba and grand mosque, and some specific surrounding spots at which specific rituals are to be performed at specified times.
Performing these rituals, known as the Hajj, is the fifth pillar of Islam and the most significant manifestation of Islamic faith and unity. Undertaking the Hajj at least once is a duty for Muslims who are physically and financially able to make the journey to Makkah. The emphasis on financial ability is meant to ensure that a Muslim takes care of his family first. The requirement that a Muslim be healthy and physically capable of undertaking the pilgrimage is intended to exempt those who cannot endure the rigors of extended travel. If, however, these conditions are not met during the lifetime of a Muslim, then the burden of necessity to perform it (hajj) is released from that individual, and Allah knows best.
In the not-so-distant past, and as late as the early decades of last century, few people were able to “make their way” to Makkah for the pilgrimage. This was because of the hardships encountered, the length of time the journey took and the expense associated with it, including the additional financial burden of the one partaking the journey to be missing from his/her homeland and source of income for the period it would take. Pilgrims coming from the far corners of the Islamic world sometimes dedicated a year or more to the journey, and many perished during it due in part to the lack of facilities on the routes to Makkah and also in the city itself.
Tradition and Customs
Since ages long past, it has been the tradition and customs of the inhabitants of Makkah and surrounding region to voluntarily offer assistance to the incoming pilgrims to try to ease their way. This evolved by means of serving drinking water and dates and other foods to the pilgrims as well as assisting with giving directions, advice and any other assistance the pilgrims needed on their journey and while in residence at the pilgrimage sites.
The circumstances of the Hajj began to improve during the time of King Abdul Aziz Ibn Abdul Rahman Al-Saud, the founder of the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Major programs were introduced to ensure the security and safety of the pilgrims, as well as their well-being and comfort. Steps were also taken to establish facilities and services aimed at improving housing, health care, sanitation and transportation.
Today, though the rituals at the holy sites in and near Makkah have remained unchanged from the time of the Prophet, the setting for the pilgrimage and the facilities available to the pilgrims are a far cry from those that existed at any time in history. Hardship was once expected and endured as part of the pilgrimage, and Muslims who embarked on this undertaking traditionally assigned a relative or trusted member of the community as the executor of their wills in case they did not return from the journey.
Muslims today undertake the pilgrimage in ease, receive a warm welcome on their arrival in Saudi Arabia, and are provided with the most modern facilities and efficient services possible. Without the distractions that their forebears had to contend with, today’s pilgrims are free to focus solely on the spiritual aspect of the Hajj.
This is compounded with the growing trend worldwide of local agencies and organizations in nearly every Muslim community of the world, to provide logistical and spiritual guidance to the pilgrims from their regions, emanating in the forms of guided tours, local training and preparation, and assistance in the reservations for travel and accommodations as well as food for their journey from beginning till return to their homeland.
Welcoming the Guests of Allah
The inhabitants of Arabia have evolved now into the local population governed by the Al-Saud family – the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. One of the major and most universally reflecting responsibilities that the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has embarked upon and develops and improves upon yearly, is the manner and method of greeting and welcoming the Guests of Allah who embark upon the annual pilgrimage (haj).
The monumental task that they have taken on willingly and without any pressure from any other entity is that of organizing the magnificently large gathering (which is truly without comparison to any other gathering worldwide), providing and overseeing the housing for these Guests of Allah, feeding them and assuring all of their physical and health needs are taken care of, as well as of course regulating and tracking all those coming and going. This also entails the necessity of travel and transfer from point to point during the days and nights of the event.
Saudi Arabia regards it as a privilege to serve the pilgrims and commits substantial labor and financial investments to ensure a smooth and proper implementation of the pilgrimage. In the last forty years, it has allocated billions of dollars towards enlarging the Holy Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, besides creating modern transport facilities, accommodations, and other amenities and services for the pilgrims.
The mere establishment of these facilities does not guarantee a successful Hajj. The Kingdom has implemented a vast organization under the supervision of the Supreme Hajj Committee, which directly reports to the King, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques who traditionally stays in Makkah during the pilgrimage. The committee aims to coordinate the efforts of various government ministries and agencies to avoid any overlap. Each organization takes charge of projects within its own field of expertise. For instance, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance produces special booklets in numerous languages about the Hajj rituals to be distributed among the pilgrims. The Ministry of Health oversees medical services while the Ministry of Information welcomes journalists and media personnel from other countries to cover the pilgrimage, and at the same time arranges for the live transmission of the rituals via satellite to the world.
The process of preparing for the annual pilgrimage usually begins right after the previous one ends and includes assessing different programs and taking corrective measures to enhance any service that is considered unsatisfactory. After finalizing the plans for the upcoming Hajj, they are forwarded to the relevant government body, which promptly initiates their execution. The committee monitors the advancement of these plans throughout the year and scrutinizes the project a few weeks before the pilgrimage begins to ensure that everything is in place.
Welcoming the Guests of Allah
The Hajj is considered the spiritual climax of a Muslim’s life, providing a deep comprehension of their relationship with God and their place in the world. It not only assures a believer that they have completed the fifth pillar of Islam and followed the footsteps of the Prophet but also instills a sense of belonging to the ummah, a global nation of over one billion Muslims. As the pilgrim arrives in the Kingdom, they shed their identity and stand among a massive crowd of people in Ihram, a simple and white attire for both men and women. In this state, no one’s social or economic status or national origin can be determined based on their clothes. The pilgrim realizes that they are simply a Muslim, and their focus shifts to the faces of the people around them, representing a diverse range of races and nationalities from around the world. As they spend days and weeks together in the Kingdom, performing the Hajj, the pilgrims develop a sense of understanding and trust in strangers simply due to their shared experience.
Malcom X and Muhammad Ali, both famous Americans who converted to Islam and first joined the then labeled “Nation of Islam”, found the true Islam and the nature of international brotherhood when they attended the pilgrimage (Haj), and witnessed first-hand how it matters not the color of the skin or the language spoken or the station of social or economic status or the profession or the educational level – that all of mankind are equal – none better than another other than in sincere piety – something which only Allah can know and judge.
The Pilgrims Arrive in Makkah
Prior to reaching Makkah, the pilgrims have already put on Ihram or they may change their clothes at Miqat, where special facilities are available for this purpose. By wearing Ihram, the pilgrim enters a state of spirituality and purity.Traveling from Jeddah to Makkah via the modern superhighway, pilgrims board one of the 15,000 buses assigned to the Hajj. This vast fleet of vehicles approaches Mina, which is located about four miles to the northwest of Makkah. The majority of the pilgrims are housed in air-conditioned tents that spread across the Mina Valley. Walking through this immense city that is only used for a few days each year, the pilgrim is struck by the orderliness of the place. Food is cooked in hundreds of kitchens spread throughout Mina and distributed among the tents. Thousands of fountains and wash areas are situated throughout the tent city. There are also hundreds of medical clinics that supplement the hospitals in Makkah and Arafat. Security personnel and traffic police assist and guide pilgrims. Despite the clear signs and numbered rows, some pilgrims, especially the elderly, may get lost and require assistance in locating their tents or groups. Telephone banks are available in all the pilgrimage sites, enabling pilgrims to make direct international calls.
Haj – the Journey of a Lifetime
During the Hajj, which is the largest annual gathering of people on Earth, harmony and cooperation prevail among the pilgrims without any conflicts or quarrels. The pilgrims are encouraged to be courteous and assist one another. The pilgrimage exudes an atmosphere of peace, tranquility, and devotion, which permeates the entire experience.
At the end of the Hajj, the pilgrim feels profoundly changed by the spiritual journey. They take pride in having accomplished a ritual devoted to God and belonging to a vast community of people who share the same religious beliefs. Additionally, they acquire a sense of modesty, inner peace, fraternity, and resilience that endures for a lifetime.
The Haj is, apart from other considerations, a commemoration. It is a commemoration of a life among lives, a family among families, an event among events, and a sacrifice among sacrifices. It is a culmination of commemorations, beginning with the commemoration of the tests Abraham endured and proved worthy of. It is a commemoration of the trials that his wife Hajar faced and met with adversity, perseverence and turning to Allah with penance in seeking forgiveness. It is a commemoration of the unity of mankind in our universal need for the mercy and guidance of our Creator.
The highest message of the Haj, therefore, is of the need for believers to be constantly ready to sacrifice even their most prized possessions in the cause of conforming to God’s commands, should the need ever arise.