Hajj: a journey to Allah’s central abode

By: Salam Al-Attar

In the human body the central port in control of pumping the blood is none other than the heart.  Oxygen-deprived blood returns to the heart, whereby it is directed to the lungs for oxygenation, is routed towards the heart again and is finally pumped back to the body in an attempt to sustain the activity of this flesh-encapsulated chemical factory.

With the fast approaching season of Islamic pilgrimage (Hajj) one cannot help but ponder how this seemingly plain and simplistic ritual somewhat parallels the physical phenomena described above.

    Like the deoxygenated blood returning to the central bodily organ that we call “the heart”, Muslim pilgrims embark on a journey to the central house of worship, which Allah the Almighty chose to be in the land of Mecca, Saudi Arabia;  the cubical edifice known as “the Ka’ba.”  During the season of pilgrimage, which takes place in the twelfth lunar month of Dhul Hijjah, Muslims undergo their spiritual “oxygenation” by completing the pilgrimage process.  In the last step of that process which begins at the Ka’ba, they return for their final visit to this very House of God (Baitullaah).  At that point, God-willing, Muslims are ready to be “pumped” back to their countries of origin where they can resume their roles in society. Similar to the revitalization of an organ upon the nourishment of oxygen-full blood returning to it, the pilgrims’ return home is happily welcomed by all, for their obtained bounties during pilgrimage are shared by their fellow Muslims prior to and during the festive times of Eid al-Adha.

Figure 1. Comparative illustration between blood circulation in the human body and migration pattern to and from Mecca at the time of Pilgrimage.  Blue arrows on the globe represent the migration to the Ka’ba (black cube) by prospective pilgrims. The call out box outlines the rites of pilgrimage that take place in Mecca. Red arrows on the globe represent the migration of pilgrims back to their countries of origin. (Note: the diagram of Hajj rites is a diagrammatic representation portraying the major rites of pilgrimage, whose listed details may not be encompassing of all schools of thought.  Depending on the school of thought being followed, there are some minor differences in rulings, order of steps, as well as selection of supplications and conducted Prophetic recommendations).

   The rites of Hajj include circling the Ka'ba seven times (Tawaf), and going seven times between the mountains of Safa and Marwa (Sa’y). Then the pilgrims stand together on the wide plain of Arafat and join in collective prayer for God's forgiveness, in what is often viewed as a preview of the Last Judgment (see figure for complete list).

The journey to Mecca and performance of pilgrimage is a unifying experience for Muslims, physically and spiritually. During Hajj, one witnesses the coming together of over 2 million Muslims from all walks of life, the educated and the illiterate, the dark-skinned and  the lighter-toned, the wealthy and the poor, and the list goes one.  Furthermore, people of all walks of life, join together for a collective spiritual cleansing and revitalization.

With this unification, comes yet another form of unity; that of various facets of Islamic history which revolve around this Ancient House (Baitul-Ateeq; another Arabic name for the Ka’ba). 

   Seeing the Ka’ba at first reminds one of Prophets Ibrahim and Ismail (pbut) as they worked to revive the foundations of the first house of God established by the father of humanity, our first Prophet Adam (pbuh).  As the Muslims make their ritual Tawaf they come across the Black Stone, stationed in the East corner of the Ka’ba.  Seeing this stone brings to memory yet another historical event, that of our holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).  It was during that time when the four major tribes of Quraish participated in the rebuilding of the Ka’ba (after it was damaged by a flash flood) and entered into an argument over which tribe would have the honor of placing the stone back in place.  The leaders of the tribes agreed to appoint the next person to enter the Ka’ba as an arbitrator on that issue.  Shortly thereafter, The Truthful and Trustworthy (Al-Saadiq Al-Amin) makes an appearance at the Ka’ba.  Muhammad (pbuh) who was not yet a prophet at the time, brought the dispute to an end by the brilliant solution of placing the black stone on his garment and having the leader of each tribe hold a different corner of the garment while he pushed the stone back in place.

“Here I am, Oh God, at Your command!
Here I am at Your command!
You are without associate!
Here I am at Your command!
To You are all praise, grace and dominion!
You are without associate!”…

  Surrounded by a mass of people clothed in a simple white cloth and unanimously engaged in prayer, every Muslim pilgrim reminds themselves of their mission in life and their relationship with Allah (swt) as they circle the Ka’ba and repeat these words.  Looking around oneself and at the magnificent structure of the Ka’ba, it is difficult to imagine how in this place and inside this very cubical building the birth of a special baby took place.  A baby who grew to be the first male to accept the call of Muhammad Al-Mustafa to Submission, the warrior whose Thul-Fiqar cared for over 40% of the opposing casualties in the Battle of Badr, and the fourth elected Khalifa and Imam of the Muslim Ummah, Prince of the Believers Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.).

The excitement of the pilgrimage experience and revival of historical events continues as pilgrims move on to pace between the mounts of Al-Safa and Al-Marwa.  Going back and forth for seven times commemorates the hardship of Hajar (pbuh), wife of Ibrahim (pbuh), as she ran back and forth between those two mounts in the scorching heat of the desert sun seeking water for her thirsty baby.  All the while, baby Ismail, driven by a divine instinct, continued his kicking into the sand until the big moment of relief came to his mother’s eyes upon witnessing the miraculous spring of Zamzam water from the ground.  Located about 15 meters east of the Ka’ba, this blessed Zamzam water well continues to quench the thirst of pilgrims to this very day.

Figure 2. The Ka’ba (left) at the time of prayer and mount Arafat (right).

 “Islam means that you openly state that there is no deity worth worshiping except Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; establish the prayer, pay Zakat; fast during the month of Ramadhan and offer the Hajj to the House of Allah if one is capable.” (Muslim, No: 8)

So proclaimed our beloved Messenger (pbuh), and truthfully so, in defining the state of submission to Allah (swt).  As the crowd of pilgrims hurry to complete their last pillar of Islam, they gather at what is perhaps the most historical location for all of humanity, mount Arafat.  This very mount, the legend claims,  hosted the reunion of Prophet Adam and Hawwa (Eve) after they descended from heaven, “Arafat” from the Arabic word meaning “to get to know.”  Pilgrims join one another towards the end of the pilgrimage journey in seeking forgiveness from Allah (swt), collectively, in acknowledgement of their previous committed sins and seeking of refuge to Allah (swt) for protection from evil instincts and forces in days to come.

  After standing on Arafat, the final visit to the Ka’ba is perhaps the most spiritually inspiring and revitalizing experience.   Glory be to You and You alone O Allah… How millions of people come to this holy house of Yours in Your remembrance, while countless others direct their prayers to this same location; a place which once housed the largest selection of idols for worshipping those other than You O Allah. Truly, You are the All-Wise, the All-Mighty and All-Knowing of all that passed and that which is yet to take place.

Our sincerest prayers and wishes go to our dear brothers and sisters planning to fulfill the important pillar of Hajj this year. We wish you a safe journey to The House of Allah and a successful pilgrimage by His grace and will. 

The stages of performing the Haj can be summarised as follows: