Hajj & Umrah, - That is Hajj; travel and journey, and movement, Tawaaf and Sa‘y in which one walks fast and then walks slowly, to the extent that the Messenger of Allah, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, took from Tawaaf a means to terrorize the polytheists and show the strength of the Muslims during the compensatory ‘Umrah. The people of Makkah were looking at the Muslims, thinking them to be weak and weary. On that the Messenger of Allah, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said to his Companions, May Allah Be Pleased with them, while they were performing Tawaaf:"May Allah Bestow mercy upon anyone who shows them his strength today."Then, he rushed to perform Tawaaf and the Muslims followed him. The perfect sport-related wisdom of Hajj is that it comes in all seasons of the year; sometimes in summer, sometimes in winter, and sometimes in between them, due to its dependence on the lunar month system, so that the Muslim would get accustomed to working and striving at any time, careless about the turning of seasons and changes in atmosphere, and to accustom himself to orderliness, where some rituals of Hajj are governed by a particular time, like standing at ‘Arafah, departure to Muzdalifah, throwing the pebbles, and so on. Allah Almighty Says )what means(:}Indeed, Allah Loves those who fight in His cause in a row as though they are a ]single[ structure joined firmly.{]Quran 61:4[ Is Hajj, with this wisdom given to it, not worthy of the care of educators, sportsmen, and those who like their nation to be strong, enthusiastic, brave and honored? To Allah belongs honor, and to His Messenger and the believers. If people are overwhelmed by materialism and they worship it other than Allah, and are engaged in the worldly adornments from beneficial production in life, they should reflect on Hajj, which directs materialism to be in the service of truth, and follows, along with the people, the way of justice. So, let them take from the world a lawful and permissible share, with which they would be happy in the world and the Hereafter; and make their aspiration for the afterlife stimulate them to regard with slightness this life's adornment; and be as keen on the dignity of their Ummah as they are on their pleasures and desires. It is not unlawful to be rich or a ruler with authority; what is unlawful is to transgress with one's wealth and tyrannize with one's authority. To those who think that taking provisions and practicing trade in Hajj contradict the confidence in Allah and reduce the reward of Hajj, Allah Almighty Says )what means(:}And take provisions, but indeed, the best provision is fear of Allah . And fear Me, O you of understanding. There is no blame upon you for seeking bounty from your Lord ]during Hajj[.{]Quran 2:197-198[ Does this point not entail the thinking of economists? Islam is not satisfied with establishing theories or calling to the truth; it always puts the theoretical word into practice. When it called to mutual accord, recognition and cooperation, it, at the same time, made the assembly of prayers a means to recognition, Jumu‘ah and both ‘Eeds binding upon the inhabitants of the same town, and Hajj obligatory to be the conference of all Islamic countries. Why does Makkah not become the headquarters of the pact of Muslim nations, as Geneva is the headquarters of the pact of the Western nations? Verily, chaos has become public in our houses, communities and conferences so much that we are tired of that. Of course, we are living at a time when there is dire need for an urgent remedy and curative medicine, to put an end to that chaos, and change our state from destructive chaos to a long-life prevailing system, from dividing riot to uniting calmness. This remedy seems evident to us in this great obligatory duty of Hajj. In addition to the religious unity which leads to unity and constancy, when the pilgrims put on the same uniform in their Ihram, perform Tawaaf at the same time, respond to the Call of their Lord at the same time and with the same supplications, there is also a practical lesson which invites to orderliness, arrangement and punctuality. When our deeds, houses and societies are governed by orderliness and arrangement, they would produce the expected benefit, and we would be in the best state possible, by virtue of reviving the rite of Hajj in ourselves. Beside facilitating and paving all possible ways for the comfort of pilgrims, security and reassurance about souls and property had the strongest influence on the increasing number of pilgrims year after year. What we hear of stories and tales from the pilgrims, and read in our magazines and journals about the comprehensive security and reassurance in this safe country instills, within us, the belief that it is unique in this element, of which the other Eastern and Western countries are deprived. That state is not strange for a country which has relied on the Islamic religion, taken its fundamental reference from it, and enforced its correct teachings; it is not strange for it to be an enlightening lamp to guide those astray and far from the straight path to follow and imitate it. We supplicate Allah Almighty to Cover its beloved king with mercy from Himself.

The days of Hajj passed, its rituals are over and most of the pilgrims returned home, carrying the memories of their journey to the House of Allah Almighty. However, if the rituals of Hajj are over, its benefits and objectives are not and will never come to an end.
A Christian missionary once said:
Islam will remain the strong rock that will destroy the ships of Christian missionary activities as long as it has such strong pillars: the Quran, Friday gathering and the conference of Hajj.
If this is how the enemies of the Muslims understand the objectives of Hajj and the great role that it can play in the nation of Islam, then how do Muslims themselves find Hajj? What are the benefits that one can have during the anniversary of Hajj? What are the lessons that the Ummah can draw from Hajj? Is Hajj composed of just rituals that are to be fulfilled, rites, supplications and invocations that are to be performed, or is it something greater than that?
Allah Almighty, Whose wisdom is great and sublime, can never Prescribe nor Impose something unless it has numerous benefits and wisdom that no one’s knowledge can comprehend except Him, The Exalted, regardless of who comprehends or does not comprehend this.
The nation of Islam in its times of difficulty and weakness needs – or rather, it is in dire need of it – to thoughtfully contemplate, learn and analyze every objective of the rituals of Islam, and Hajj is one of them. In this way, it will draw lessons, renew determination, and correct the direction and intention so that it may adhere firmly to this religion and strive hard for its superiority, fighting whoever averts from its way and stands against it.
The obligation of Hajj is great in its rituals, sublime in its characteristics, noble in its fruits, magnificent in its benefits and wonderful in its effects. It has uncountable benefits and interests. Rather, Hajj includes the noblest objectives, the greatest wisdom and extraordinary benefits. Allah Almighty Has Pointed out such benefits and objectives in simple words, Saying )what means(:}And proclaim to the people the Hajj ]pilgrimage[; they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every distant pass. That they may witness benefits for themselves.{]Quran 22: 27-28[ Ibn ‘Abbaas, May Allah Be Pleased with him, said, “The benefits of the worldly life and the Hereafter.”
Raising the banner of Tawheed )Islamic monotheism( high:
One of the greatest and foremost objectives of Hajj is raising the banner of Tawheed high and reviving its characteristics that have perished. This is the most important and clear objective of the journey of Hajj. It accompanies it from the very beginning through dedicating one's intention to Allah Almighty, Alone, and raising the voice with Talbiyah to the very end with the last time of throwing the pebbles during the last Days of At-Tashreeq, which is the last of the rituals of Hajj that the pilgrim does before performing Tawaaf Al-Wadaa‘, leaving Makkah to go home.
The people of the pre-Islamic era and Quraysh used to say Talbiyah and associate partners with Allah Almighty in Talbiyah, saying:
Labbayka Allahumma labbayk. Labbayka la shareeka laka Illa Shareek Huwa Lak, Tamlikuhu wama Malak )I respond to Your call, I respond to Your call, You Have no partner except the partner that You Have, You Own Him and whatever he owns(.
However, when the Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, came, he taught his Ummah pure Tawheed through the great beautiful Talbiyah:
Labbayka Allahumma labbayk, Labbayka la shareeka laka labbayk, Innal hamda wan-ni‘amata laka wal mulk, la shareeka lak )I respond to Your call, O Allah here I come, In response to Your call, You Have no partner, I respond to Your call. All the praises and blessings are for You, All the sovereignty is for You, And You Have no partners with You(.
This Talbiyah indicates sincere devotion and repentance, Tawheed without associating partners and sincerity that is free of showing off. Actually, every act that does not have sincerity lacks blessings and will not be accepted. The Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said that Allah Almighty Says:
He who does something for someone else’s sake as well as Mine will have that action renounced by Me to him whom he associated with Me and I Will Disassociate Myself from him.
Therefore, the first lesson that the pilgrim and the Ummah as a whole should learn perfectly from the lessons of Hajj is that of Tawheed and repenting to Allah Almighty again at a time when people have started to worship many different gods and deities and sound faith has disappeared in the hearts of its people exactly as the embroideries of a garment do. People have given up worshiping Allah Almighty to worship others than Him such as supplicating the dead, believing in the Awliyaa’, ascribing worship, presents and vows to the graves, seeking a child for a barren woman from them, seeking a husband for a young woman that stayed a long time in the house of her father unmarried, seeking a cure for the ill or the return of the absent.
Still there is another category of people who worship others than Allah Almighty, seek support, help and provision from them, making them their refuge and safety, believing that they are more powerful than Allah Almighty. When any harm afflicts them, their hearts call upon and turn to their deities other than Allah Almighty, unlike what the polytheists used to do. Allah Almighty Says )what means(:
•}And when adversity touches man, he calls upon his Lord, turning to Him ]alone[{]Quran 39: 8[
•}And when waves come over them like canopies, they supplicate Allah, sincere to Him in religion. But when He Delivers them to the land, there are ]some[ of them who are moderate ]in faith[.{]Quran 31: 32[
As for people nowadays, if adversity touches them, they turn to the gods of the earth. They depend upon them; call upon them; supplicate them; seek help and support from them; and present sacrifices for them, even if the sacrifice is to slaughter Tawheed and sound faith.
Not to mention worshiping desires, property, wives, children and the like. Hajj comes to change all such things. It comes to destroy the throne of Shirk and establish the tower of Tawheed on its ruins: Labbayka Allahumma labbayk, Labbayka la shareeka laka labbayk, Innal hamda wan-ni‘amata laka wal mulk, la shareeka lak. You the Almighty Are The True God and True Deity. There is no Lord except You. There is no god other than You. Here I come in response to Your call, truly in devotion and slav¬ery.
Adhering firmly to the footsteps of the Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam:
Amongst the lessons of Hajj is that the Ummah has to learn, remember and comprehend – rather, it has to have firm conviction – that there is no sublimity, success, prosperity nor guidance except through adhering to and following the way of the Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. To adhere firmly to the footsteps of the Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, means that one should adhere to his guidance regarding belief, actions, conduct, manners, rulings and accepting his judgments.
Hajj is a wonderful lesson in this regard. It is practical practice that the pilgrim will do and the whole Ummah will witness. It has specific rituals and magnificent order that all pilgrims do at the same time and place. The Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, has explained this issue while saying when performing every ritual of Hajj:“Learn from me your rituals )of Hajj and ‘Umrah(.”
Therefore, Ibn ‘Abbaas, May Allah Be Pleased with him, said, “Perform Hajj in the same way the Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, did and never say this is a Sunnah and this is obligatory.”
This matter is not confined to Hajj only, but rather it is to be done in all the different walks of life. Everyone has to obey the Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and follow his guidance, otherwise, doom and abyss will be his fate. Allah Almighty Says )what means(:}But no, by your Lord, they will not ]truly[ believe until they make you, ]O Muhammad[, judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves and then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have judged and submit in ]full, willing[ submission. {]Quran 4: 65[