Hajj, - Spiritual Advice for Hajj

Allahسبحانه وتعالىsays in the Holy Qur'an:
الْحَجُّ أَشْهُرٌ مَّعْلُومَاتٌ فَمَن فَرَضَ فِيهِنَّ الْحَجَّ فَلاَ
رَفَثَ وَلاَ فُسُوقَ وَلاَ جِدَالَ فِي الْحَجِّ وَمَا تَفْعَلُواْ مِنْ
خَيْرٍ يَعْلَمْهُ اللّهُ وَتَزَوَّدُواْ فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ الزَّادِ التَّقْوَى
وَاتَّقُونِ يَا أُوْلِي الأَلْبَابِ
The season of Pilgrimage is the months known; wherefore whosoever
ordaineth unto himself the pilgrimage therein, there is no lewdness
nor wickedness nor wrangling during the pilgrimage, and whatsoever of
good ye do, Allah shall know it. And take provision for the journey,
for verily the best provision is abstainment; and fear Me, O men of
understanding!
[al Baqarah 2/197]
In the verse related to Hajj, the need to performtawaaf(ritual walk
around the Holy Ka'ba),sa'ee(ritual walk between the hills of Safa and
Marwa), stoning of the shayaateen are not mentioned, rather
Allahسبحانه وتعالىmentions the need to abstain from 3 acts :
1. Lewd talk
This means any talk which is rude, indecent, offensive or vulgar. To
speak in such a manner violates the sanctity of Hajj. It does not
befit a Muslimto speak in a lewd manner – it only suggests a filthy
heart and mind. This prohibition during Hajj also includes speaking of
conjugal relations between husband and wife which under normal
circumstances would be permissible.
2. Sinning
This includes any act of disobedience to Allahسبحانه وتعالىespecially
not lowering one's gaze. During Hajj, being such a large gathering of
men and women, the need to lower one's gaze becomes all the more
important. Not lowering one's gaze not only destroys the sanctity of
Hajj, but one's attention is diverted from Allahسبحانه وتعالىto the
creation. Nothing is achieved by the stray gaze – it is an arrow which
only returns to pierce one's own heart.
3. Arguing
The Hajj journey makes the most patient and forbearing of people
irritable because one's sleeping and eating patterns are disrupted. In
such a state and in such a large gathering of people one may be easily
provoked and get into an argument. At such times one should exercise
patience and self-discipline and remind himself by saying 'I am in
Hajj' i.e. I am in a sanctified state.
These 3 sins reflect the 3 categories of sins a Muslim should avoid
throughout his life i.e.
• Sins of the tongue
• Sins of the flesh
• Sins against fellow Muslims
During Hajj these 3 sins are especially dangerous yet so easy to
commit. If a person engages in any of these there is a great danger
that all of the reward for Hajj will be destroyed. As well as
fulfilling all the rites and rituals of Hajj, it is necessary to
refrain from the above sins for an accepted Hajj.