Difficulties of Hajj should be borne with patience

Allah Most High says in the Holy Quran:

 

And We will most certainly test you somewhat by means of fear and hunger and certain loss of wealth and lives and fruits. And, (O Beloved,) give glad tidings to those who observe patience.  Surah Baqarah (2:155)

 

In the journey of Hajj, one often faces difficulties.  However, those people who patiently bear them with the thought that they are journeying on the path of Allah Most High, they become worthy of such honors, accolades and the Mercy of Allah that there is no limit to it.  What can be more than that Allah Most High Himself praises them that these are the people who are on the right path!

 

Now it should be considered that these people face slight difficulties, that too accidentally, and they raise such a hue and cry that it affects others who want to go as well.  How much will this be displeasing to Allah Most High and His Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)!  It will not be astonishing if the sin of all those people who listen to them and remain bereft of Hajj and visiting the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is written in account of these very people.

 

These people haven’t given much thought to the fact that they have received many bounties through Islam and there are expectations for future benefits as well.  If they have to part with some of their wealth, which is much lesser than what they have wasted with their own hands or has been laid waste in some calamities, then what problem lies therein?  Even that wealth (which one has to part with) will not be without any recompense.  Indeed, one will get the best compensation for it.

 

Thus, it is mentioned in a rigorously authenticated Hadith which has been related by Mundhiri (May Allah shower His Mercy on him), that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  The more hardships and difficulties one faces in this path, the more will be the reward.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) also said:  If 1 Dirham (i.e. 1 unit of whatever currency) is spent in this regard the reward will equal to what one gets for spending 10,00,000 Dirham.

 

If one loses some wealth in this path, then one should include that in the expenses of the journey and get the reward of patience (Sabr) as well, which has been promised in the Holy Quran.

 

Now, if those who hear these complaints (want to) enquire just about the number of people in this journey and the number of those who are robbed and the manner of the robbery, whether they are robbed en masse or the robbers find someone negligent and carry away something so that one can understand whether the danger is actual or idle speculation, in spite of the less numbers, millions of people who have performed Hajj can be found in India.

 

From them, one can learn that millions of people congregate in Hijaz every year.  At the most 40, 50 people are robbed and maximum 5 to 7 people are martyred.  Every year, one meets many Hajjis and no one relates something of this sort which has happened to them personally.  Everyone says that they heard or saw this.

 

[Excerpted from Maqasid Ul Islam, Vol. 4]