An introduction to Hajj

If one looks at the early days of Islam, one can see only those people who were contented with dry bread, which they would get after many days of starvation, and patched up clothes.  Their true beliefs had shown the eternal pleasures (of the hereafter) to their longing hearts again and again and had strengthened and enthused their hearts to such an extent that even the most difficult stages of the denial of the Self (Nafs) was as pleasurable to them as a separated lover meeting the beloved.

 

Even if some affluent folk are seen, they will be of the kind that they consider sacrificing their wealth and honor and even their life for Allah and His Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) as a means of gaining that priceless bounty.  From the time they had stepped onto this path, neither did any apprehensions of poverty trouble them nor did any misgivings about their own life affect their brisk pace.  In spite of all this, these (rich) people considered poverty (Faqr) to be so valuable that they would strive to attain it by spending their wealth without any hesitation.

 

Just have a look at the 4 Rashidun Caliphs.  With what love did they embrace poverty in spite of being the chiefs of such an empire that other great kings would bow before it!!

 

Does any Muslim have any doubt about their intelligence?  No.  Never.  In fact, I would claim that a person from any religion or creed, having even a minimal intelligence will surely accept their consummate intelligence and wisdom.  The reason is that with their intelligence and understanding, in less than the time taken for a boy to mature, less than 30 years, they fixed the standards of Islam from the east to the west.

 

That they had preferred poverty was also the result of their consummate intelligence, which had made them so strong.  This is because it was clearly understood that worldly wealth and luxury make a person weak and fragile and don’t leave a man fit enough to bear those difficulties which are to be faced in the path of Allah Most High.  The more affluence and social contacts a person has, the more will the nature of that person become feeble and tender.  It is as if contact with everything is such a strong prison that it does not allow a human being to strive towards something.  If one searches for examples for this in the annals of history, one will surely find numerous examples.

 

If we look at the Muslims of our times, then surely we will not need any other proof for this.  Wherever we turn our gaze to, we see only those people who are stuck in their worldly relations so much that they don’t even think about performing Hajj and visiting the blessed grave of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)!  In spite of the fact that it is a great article of Islam.  There is so much ease in that it is enough if it is performed only once in a lifetime.

 

Even if the love of one’s faith endears anyone to the idea (of performing Hajj), then those worldly contacts work like an unbreakable prison, which don’t allow that person to leave.  Even if some bravely shrugs off these and starts the journey, his (or her) heart remains entrenched in his wealth, property and relations.  The path is being traversed but the heart remains inert and motionless.  The love for the wealth remains the same.  The only difference being that earlier it was inclined towards only one thing (i.e. wealth) and now it is divided (between wealth and the Hajj).

 

In such a state, if some calamity strikes the wealth and some of it is lost in some way, then who can control the heart?  Now the heart will surely side with the wealth.  That’s why (after that) whenever Hajj or the Arabia is mentioned, they will think about the wealth they lost….

 

[Excerpted from Maqasid Ul Islam, Vol. 4]