by Faeezah Adams
As humans we are beings of feeling, don’t you think? And there is no doubt the heart is the seat of human feeling and because of this we can also say that it is where spirituality starts. If we aspire to any kind of advancement we have to look toward nourishing the heart. It’s no small wonder then that Rasulullah ﷺ said, “…Beware! There is a piece of flesh in the body if it becomes good (reformed) the whole body becomes good but if it gets spoilt the whole body gets spoilt and that is the heart.”
We start with self-reflection. Why Hajj? Why me? Why not later? What do I hope to achieve? What comes after? Ask yourself what makes you different from the millions of people Allah has invited before you? With these 3 tips you will, Bi’idnillah, be better prepared for the ultimate journey of the heart.
1) Actively purify your intention
As with all acts of worship, purity of intention is very important. When we constantly remind ourselves of the reason for our actions we subconsciously motivate ourselves to reach our end goal in the best way. As an obligation for those who can afford and an important command of Allah one can capitalize on Ibadah remembering that the reward in the Haramain is multiplied up to 100000 times!
You also need to remind yourself that Hajj is the best deed after Jihad for the sake of Allah! And a Jihad it will be as well. It is expected of the one who undertakes Hajj to give up many comforts, don the clothing of submission (Ihram) and exert themselves physically and spiritually in the worship of Allah (SWT). This pilgrimage breaks down all prejudices and transcends barriers of culture, race, and status. Millions of Muslims measured upon one criterion alone: the state of the heart and its connection to Allah. As Muhammad ﷺ has said: “Verily Allah does not look to your bodies nor to your faces but He looks to your hearts,” as he pointed towards the heart with his fingers. Remember that Hajj is a celebration of Tawheed and a step towards righteousness.
2) Prepare yourself practically for this journey
As a traveler you should pack light, taking only what you need. One is making a move toward investing in the Aakhirah so the Dunya should be the least of your concern. Your greatest concern is your ibadah and seeing as dua is the essence of worship and that “Hajj is Arafat” it is only fitting to make sure you have a dua list! Hajj is a beautiful and practical demonstration of universal brotherhood! Millions of brothers and sisters making dua for one another and for the Ummah. Reflect on being part of this brotherhood. While reflecting on the magnificence of Hajj please do take cognizance of your surroundings and your actions. While good deeds are rewarded extravagantly by Allah’s grace what would happen if one sins! As a general rule, we should fear sin and never trivialize it.
3) Refresh your knowledge
It goes without saying that one should familiarise oneself on the rites of Hajj, its technical implications are just as important as the spiritual. Fiqh matters aside, Hajj is a succession of beautiful places to visit and things one must see and do. Brush up on Islamic History and lay the foundation that will be your connection to Allah. Learn about the legacy of Ibrahim (as). Who built the Ka’bah? Why do we pelt the jamarat? What is the story behind As Sa’ee? If Hajj is the ultimate reminder to submit ourselves to Allah without question and obey Allah’s orders, which actions will bring us closer to success?
We ask Allah to accept the efforts of those embarking on this journey and to make us of those who follow the sunnah of Rasulullah ﷺ and emulate the legacy of Ibrahim (as).
“When his Lord said to him, ‘Submit’, he said ‘I have submitted [in Islam] to the Lord of the worlds’.” Al Quran- {2:231}
