Hajj is the fifth Pillar of Islam and another
form of worship. It is an annual pilgrimage to
the holy sites in Mecca which each adult
Muslim, who can afford it, has to perform once
in life time. Apart from the financial aspect,
the ability to afford the pilgrimage also
means that one is able to travel and perform
the Hajj in peace.
Muslims perform Hajj in order to visit for
themselves the holy sites where their faith
started. More importantly it is a pilgrimage
to the Ka'aba, which we believe is the first
place of worship ever built on this earth,
Muslims thus refer to it as House of God. The
ceremony of Hajj is also symbolic of the Unity
of God; all Muslims gather from four corners
of the earth in one spot at an appointed time
and worship God. There are no difficulties to
perform Hajj apart from the obvious financial
commitment in order to travel to Mecca. That
is the reason why, strictly speaking, Hajj is
only obligatory to those who have fulfilled
all their worldly needs and have no pressing
commitments left and indeed can afford the
passage to Mecca.
It
is a Muslim belief that God is everywhere and
He answers those who truly seek Him. In this
respect indeed going to a particular place to
seek the pleasure and nearness to God is not
the issue. However, it is the physical
presence of being in the holiest of the holy
places for the Muslim faith and indeed the
congregational worship with millions of other
fellow Muslims that leaves an indelible mark
on the spiritual life of a person. It is a
most supreme form of worship and is most
desirable to God.
During Hajj, the person who intends to perform
it is required to travel to Mecca during the
prescribed days and observe all the rites and
ceremonies. During Hajj Muslims from all
corners of the world gather in Mecca and
perform the rites of Hajj and thus strengthen
the bond of Muslim unity.
During Hajj each place brings to mind some
event of the blessed life of the Holy Prophet
(peace and blessings on him). It refreshes the
memory of the supreme sacrifices made by the
Holy Prophet (peace and blessings on him) for
the sake of Islam.
