Sublime Benefits and Objectives of Hajj - II

4- Reinforcing Islamic brotherhood and solidarity:
Hajjis rather like an international annual public and formal
conference. Unlike other acts of worship, it provides a live, direct
and bright reality in terms of useful moral values on the human level.
This is achieved through the meeting of the masses of pilgrims in a
harmonious way that symbolizes and represents Muslims in the different
regions of the world. They get to know each other, unite, exchange
opinions and organize their affairs in spite of the differences in
their colors, homelands, languages, levels and life styles, realizing
the verse in which Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}And indeed
this, your religion, is one religion, and I am your Lord, so fear
Me.{]Quran 23:52[
Moreover, this scene reminds the soul of past memories and urges one
to study it and deduce lessons therefrom in order to head towards a
promising future when Muslims achieve for themselves, their countries
and their coming generations more security, dignity, pride, growth and
prosperity.
The season ofHajjis considered an excellent opportunity for the Muslim
masses to achieve greater cooperation and solidarity in order to unify
their ranks in the face of contemporary challenges, regardless of
their different appearances and manners.
5- Getting used to self-restraint and discipline:
Pilgrims practice self-restraint and discipline when they abandon the
adornment of the life of this world and assumeIhraam. They abstain
from shaving hair, cutting nails, using perfumes and such other acts
that are known to be forbidden duringIhraam. All this is performed for
the sake of Allaah The Almighty, in compliance with His orders and
hoping to attain His pleasure and reward and to draw closer to Him.
At-Tabaraani narrated inAl-Kabeerthat the Prophet,, said:"Allaah
boasts about the people of 'Arafaat to the Angels, and Says: 'Look at
My slaves, they have come to Me, shaggy and dusty, they have come from
every deep valley. So, bear witness that I have answered their
supplication, accepted their intercession and granted mercy to the
negligent among them for the sake of the benevolent ones.'"
6-Hajjis a real mirror of human equality and a preview of the
gathering of people on the Day of Judgment:
InHajj, the meanings and manifestations of human equality among the
masses of people appear clearly. They are all in a state ofIhraamand
in one place; they gather at the same time and wait to perform the
same rituals in sequence. All of them are equal, like the teeth of a
comb. There is no difference between the rich and the poor, the old
and the young. They are all wearing similar simple white pieces of
cloth, which symbolize the oneness of human creation, and that Islam
holds all races and peoples as equal, for they are the same in the
sight of Allaah The Almighty. In addition, through these scenes,
images that stand for the Last Day are evoked in the human soul – the
day when people are gathered to the Lord of the Worlds barefoot and
naked, and no person is favored over others except by their piety and
good deeds.
Islam intended to achieve all the above-mentioned benefits and
purposes. The need for them is renewed with the passage of time and
the development of civilization.
However, there are landmarks and practices that pilgrims should not
forget or be lenient therewith. These include:
1- Sincerity of intention to Allaah The Almighty, remembering His
greatness in all the states and times, honoring the symbols of Allaah
The Almighty, engaging in remembering, glorifying,
recitingTalbiyah)saying,"Labbayk Allaahumma Labbayk")O Allaah, I
hasten to You("( and supplicating Him, for this proves the
truthfulness of souls and the piety of hearts. Allaah The Exalted Says
)what means(:}That ]is so[. And whoever honors the symbols of Allaah -
indeed, it is from the piety of hearts.{]Quran 22:32[
2- Kind treatment to all other pilgrims, gentleness in dealing with
them, favoring them over oneself, hastening to offer them assistance
and advising them, being tolerant of them, having patience with them
and avoiding showing anger at their errors and pointing out their
mistakes in a rude manner.
3- Investing all one's time in goodness, righteousness, kindness and
obedience and not wasting it in that which does not benefit so that
the pilgrim does not waste his effort, make mistakes and lose his
rewards.
4- Avoiding actions that abuse the sanctity ofHajj, its place and time
and violate its status. This entails keeping away from practices that
hurt Muslims or cause harm to them, maintain public and private
utilities, observing cleanliness, avoiding throwing dirt and garbage
in the streets and places where pilgrims gather, avoiding crowds,
keeping away from exhausting and tiring oneself as well as avoiding
sitting on roads and yards and exposing others to harm.
The government of Saudi Arabia has undoubtedly exerted costly and
strenuous efforts to maintain the safety of the pilgrims, insure
services for them, provide them with comfort, and achieve their
interests. This is all so they can perform their rituals easily and
return to their homelands and families secure, assured, happy and
optimistic with theHadeethin which the Prophet,says:"The accepted Hajj
has no reward other than Paradise."]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[ )The
acceptedHajjis that which does not include any sin or act of
disobedience(