15m Umrah pilgrims expected

saudigazette.com.sa

15m Umrah pilgrims expected

MAKKAH — As many as 1,511 hotels in Makkah with a total of 219,350 rooms have completed preparations to receive up to 15 million pilgrims expected to arrive during the current Umrah season, which began in mid-November. The Umrah season will continue until July 7, 2017.

Sources in the hospitality sector expects the number of Umrah pilgrims this year to increase by 3 million over the past season.

In addition to the hotels, there are 852 licensed buildings and furnished apartments in Makkah with a total of 36,456 rooms to accommodate the pilgrims.

The sources said hotel reservations during the first days of the season reached about 85 percent especially in the central area around the Grand Mosque as well as in the districts of Jarwal, Kudai, Al-Aziziyah and Al-Rawdah, which are not far from the mosque.

Riza Shalabi, a reservation clerk in one of the hotels in the central area, said the bookings of the internal rooms reached about 90 percent while they were about 80 percent for rooms overlooking the plazas of the Grand Mosque.

He said the price for single rooms stood at SR350-SR450 per night, almost unchanged from last year. The prices per night for royal suites overlooking the Grand Mosque ranged from SR1,100 to SR1,300, breakfast and dinner included.

Abdul Rahman Al-Amri, a reservation clerk in another hotel, said the pilgrims start making bookings online about 45 days before the advent of the Umrah season.

He said the early reservations were made by Umrah pilgrims from the Kingdom and the GCC countries, who represent about 35 to 45 percent of all pilgrims.

Amri said the occupancy rate in his hotel has reached about 95 percent and added that the price of a room per night is SR650-SR700, including breakfast.

Hussain Salem, a reservation clerk in one of the five-star hotels in the central area, said their price of a royal suite per night is SR2,500 while the price of a single room is SR1,000.

He said the occupancy in his hotel has reached 100 percent and 75 percent of the bills have been paid in advance.

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Source: saudigazette.com.sa

Honesty The Characteristic of A Muslim

saudigazette.com.sa

Honesty The Characteristic of A Muslim

Honesty is the greatest moral virtue. From honesty springs forth many of the most noble of human qualities and characteristics.

Truthfulness and honesty are two characteristics without which a man can not claim himself to be a true Muslim.

Honesty is an extensive term that covers a wide range of meanings. It covers telling the truth, sincerity in work, carrying out duties, fulfilling one’s word, and making fair and objective judgments and decisions. Honesty also means doing the right thing in the right way at the right time.

Honesty means saying and acting truthfully in all times, matters, and conditions. Honesty means giving the right guidance to the person who needs it.

Islam orders us as Muslims to be honest to others and ourselves. A Muslim is ordered by Allah to be honest in his words and deeds, in private and public.

Being honest and truthful to oneself is implied by obeying Allah’s law. Being truthful with others means saying the truth and being honest in all dealings including the realm of trade and business, purchasing, education, learning, communication, and marriage. A true Muslim is the one who could be distinguished by his essential characteristics of honesty and truthfulness.

Honesty in Islam consolidates the notions of truthfulness and dependability, and it lives in all human words, thoughts, relations, and actions.

“O you who have believed fear Allah and be with those who are true.” [Chapter 9 verse119]

Ibn Katheer, the renowned scholar of the meanings of the Holy Qur’an illustrated the significance of this verse. He was reported to have said, “Being truthful and sticking to truthfulness implies you will be among the people of the truth and be safeguarded from calamity and that it will make a way out for you from your tribulations.”

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the best example for all Muslims at all times and in all situations. He was a flawless case of honesty in Islam and before his prophethood, people of Makkah named the Prophet (peace be upon him) as the honest and truthful (Al-Amin and As-Sadiq).

Even Abu Sufyan, an adversary of the Prophet (peace be upon him) in the beginning of the Prophet’s call, admitted the prophet’s honesty. When the Prophet (peace be upon him) sent a letter to Heraclius the Emperor of Byzantium welcoming him to Islam, Heraclius sent for Abu Sufyan to ask about Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) and what this prophet was calling the people to.

Aby Sufyan said, “He never tells lies or deceives others. He invites the people to love Allah Alone and he advises us to fear Allah, and he calls the people to honesty and abstinence”.

It is of the mannerism of the high path of Islam to be honest when one speaks. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Honesty certainly leads to goodness, and goodness leads to paradise. Truly, a man keeps speaking the truth until he is inscribed as being true through and through. And lying leads to going wrong, and going wrong leads to hell. Truly, a man lies and lies until he is inscribed as being a liar through and through” (Bukhari and Muslim).

Fasting is one way that Muslims practice their honesty with their Lord and with themselves. A fasting Muslim does not allow a drop of water to go into his mouth because he has learned to be honest.

It is also obligatory for us to be honest in making and keeping promises. Being punctual and not to waste is another instance of honesty. Punctuality at school, at work, or at an agreed meeting is part of our honesty with ourselves and other people. Honesty fosters constructive courage, which is doing what you know you want or need to do, despite your fear.

Being honest with yourself and with others shows how much you really care and demonstrates self-respect and respect for others.

 Honesty fosters a connection and can bring people closer in their interactions.

Honesty attracts honesty. If honesty becomes an unconscious habit, one becomes magnetized to other honest people.

One can dig himself deeper into a hole with lies and deceit, however being honest keeps you out of trouble, guides one always in the right track especially when one fears the anticipated consequences.

 Honesty, is an essential characteristic of a Muslim, includes being truthful towards Allah by worshipping Him sincerely; being truthful to oneself, by adhering to Allah’s laws; and being truthful with others by speaking the truth and being honest in all dealings. Thus, a person should be the same on the inside as he is on the outside.

A true Islamic society is based upon honesty and justice, and is intolerant of dishonesty in all its various forms. 

A Muslim seeking to please Allah and follow the path of righteousness should be aware of the dangers of deceit and dishonesty.  However, equally he should know that Allah is all Merciful, willing to forgive even the gravest sins for those who strive for His sake.  Honesty is very important in the life of a believer.

“Honesty descended from the Heavens and settled in the roots of the hearts of men (faithful believers), and then the Quran was revealed and the people read the Quran, (and learnt it from it) and also learnt from the sayings and traditions.  Both the Qur’an and the traditions strengthened their honesty.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)

So, Islam instructs the Muslim to be honest and trains him to be so. The outcome is a healthy self and a healthy social atmosphere that leads to the happiness of both the individual and the community.

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Source: saudigazette.com.sa

No backing off on Umrah fee, says Saudi Ministry of Haj

arabnews.com

No backing off on Umrah fee, says Saudi Ministry of Haj

JEDDAH: The Ministry of Haj and Umrah have denied rumors published in the Pakistani media and spread on social media that the ministry removed Umrah fees that were placed by the Kingdom on the second or additional Umrah visits.

New amendments were introduced to visa fees in Saudi Arabia at the beginning of 1438, when the government announced that the fees are fully paid by the Saudi government for all first-time pilgrims coming for either Haj or Umrah. The first entry of Haj and Umrah pilgrims will be free, but for the second and subsequent entries, they will be charged SR2,000.

Usama Khan, from the Ministry of Haj, Call and Guidance information center, confirmed to Arab News that no such information or announcement was made by the Ministry of Haj and Umrah that they removed the SR2,000 fee, and that whatever was published in the Pakistani media and on social media is false news or rumors.

Tahir Mahmood, chief executive of Global Haj and Umrah Private Service Ltd. from Pakistan also confirmed to Arab News that there has been no such instruction or announcement made by the Saudi Ministry of Haj and Umrah that the Umrah fees have been abolished.

On inquiry of the news published in the Pakistani media and spread on social media about the removal of Umrah fees, he said that it was not from an authentic source and was a rumor. However the Pakistani public are requesting that the Kingdom and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman remove the extra charges, because a number of Pakistani families and people who want to come for Umrah would not be able to make it because of the fee.

“Many people from Pakistan will not be able to make their Umrah trip because they don’t have enough funds to pay this extra charges of SR2,000. It’s a request from the Pakistani people to the Kingdom to remove these charges so they can make their journey to perform Umrah,” he said.

The Pakistan Umrah Agent Association urged people not to spread rumors on social media, since there has been no announcement made by the Ministry of Haj and Umrah on the removal of Umrah fees.

According to the information, the news was published in Pakistani media and rumors were spread on social media that after boycott of Egypt on Umrah fees, the Ministry of Haj and Umrah removed the extra SR2,000 fees from the second or additional Umrah visits, and that the Saudi government informed their embassies in all countries about this, which was totally false, confirmed the Pakistan Umrah Agent Association.

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Source: arabnews.com

The Robert Davila story: “My journey to embracing Islam”

The Robert Davila story: “My journey to embracing Islam”

Robert Davila is one of those people who inspire us with their ability to overcome adversity. Robert was born in September 1980 in Bridgeport, Texas.  He grew up and graduated from Bridgeport High school in 2000. Growing up, Robert was not religious, leading a life of instability and loss.

At just 20 years old, Robert’s life changed forever.   In 2001, in Decatur Texas, Robert was involved in a car accident.  When he woke up at the hospital, he found himself unable to move. The accident left Robert paralyzed from the neck down.  The doctors’ diagnosed him as quadriplegic, and was told he will never eat, drink, breathe on his own, or walk again. 

At first, Robert was only able to eat and drink through a tube in his nose.  Soon he started training himself to chew food, and was finally successful.  He regained his ability to chew his food and swallow.

Robert has since resided at The Longmeadow Care Center in Justin, Texas.  He became best friends with his roommate, Mark.  Robert and Mark talked about many things including religion. In 2004, Mark died due to complications in his condition.  That was devastating to Robert.

When Mark died, Mark’s sister gave Robert his big cross and Robert asked for the cross to be hung above his bed as a reminder of his best friend and God.  Being paralyzed for several years, and with the loss of his best friend, Robert decided to seek help from God. He didn’t know which way to turn. All his family members are devout Christians, and so was Mark.

Robert started reading about different religions; Christianity, Buddhism, and more, until he read about Islam.  Islam was the only religion that made sense to him.  He read the story of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), read the Qur’an translation, and Hadeeth, sayings and traditions of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

In September 2011, 10 years after the accident, Robert had a dream that changed his life. 

Robert said, “I went to sleep and it was so real.  I was in the middle of the dessert; I saw hills and winds blowing the sand in all directions.  At a distance, I saw a man, about 5’ 11” surrounded by other men listening to his speech. He was doing hand gestures.  The moment I looked at the man, I knew it was Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).  The Prophet pointed at my cross and said, “Look at the Prophet Jesus, he eats food like us, he walks like us, he even uses the restroom like us. He’s human not God.”

Robert suddenly woke up from his dream, and unconsciously said, “I bear witness that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is His messenger.”

At that time in his life, Robert had never seen or been to a mosque, had never communicated with Muslims, and had never held the Qur’an.

After his dream, Robert Davila converted to Islam, and he dedicated much time to reading the Qur’an and studying the religion.  After three years of embracing Islam, Robert has become an inspiration to many Muslims living in America and across the globe.

Source: saudigazette.com.sa

30% of Mina tent floors covered with ceramic tiles

 

saudigazette.com.sa

30% of Mina tent floors covered with ceramic tiles

MAKKAH — The floors of the tents in Mina will be covered with ceramic tiles under a three-year project which began before the beginning of last year’s Haj season.

So far about 30 percent of the floors have been covered with ceramic tiles under contracts being financed by the Public Investment Fund of the Finance Ministry.

The first phase of the project covered locations specified for external pilgrims. The locations included the Jamarat area, the Wadi (valley), Al-Shuabateen and east of Mina sector.

Sources said the project has been assigned to two national companies responsible for the maintenance of the holy sites.

The two companies will install ceramic tiles in an area of 120,000 square meters.
Prior to last Haj season, 30% of the old air conditioners in the tents at Mina were upgraded.

The tents, which measure 8 meters by 8 meters, were permanently constructed by the Saudi government in the 1990 and were upgraded in 1997 to be fireproof.

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Source: saudigazette.com.sa

More than 707,000 pilgrims visit Madinah

saudigazette.com.sa

More than 707,000 pilgrims visit Madinah

MADINAH — A total of 707,685 pilgrims visited Madinah since the start of the Haj season until Monday, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Tuesday quoting a statistical report of the Private Establishment of Guides.

As many as 592,514 pilgrims have already left for Makkah while 115,094 are still present in the Prophet’s city. As many as 114,000 pilgrims will be sent to Makkah Wednesday.

According to the statistics, 10,956 contracts were signed by various departments to accommodate the visiting pilgrims in 590 hotels and furnished apartments.

It said 67 pilgrims are presently confined to hospitals for medical treatment.

Source: saudigazette.com.sa

Follow the Idol Breaker

Follow the Idol Breaker

One of the rituals of Hajj is the throwing of pebbles at the three pillars of temptation that symbolizes Satan, when he tried to dissuade Prophet Ibrahim from carrying out the command of God.

The pile of broken umbrellas, huge rocks, and of course, rubber slip-ons of all hue piled around the pillars of temptation tell more than a story. The minor story of course is that some people come to Hajj unprepared and thus unaware what to hurl at Satan. The major story is that why only small pebbles are needed. The questions, what to hurl and why only small pebbles are closely connected.

The completion of the rites of Hajj, as we know them, was executed by Prophet Muhammad after he removed all idols from the Kabah. The objects that needed major demolition equipment had been done away and what now remain are fresh idols that keep cropping up at all times. The need for heavy demolition equipment does exist, but the heavy-duty stuff that needs to be removed are not big rocks of idols, but the rocks of corruption, greed, power, vanity and self-indulgence. The equipment needed to remove these rocks, are sincere doses of God Consciousness (Taqwa).

Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), perhaps, the foremost idol breaker, launched a mission against idolatry when it was the absolute norm – he stood firm against the tide of idol worship and challenged this deep-rooted social norm. Today, we live amidst a tide of idols, however, these idols, although man-made like their predecessors, enjoy a form that is far more deceptive than the word idol usually conjures up for us. The modern day idols of the love for power or recognition is taking many forms, and most often these idols in the guise of current-day social norm are not only hurtful to the individual but indeed the community.

Prophet Ibrahim was confronted by the same psychological and emotional challenges that confront us: making and worshipping idols was the norm, and in his case the family’s livelihood too. This is where his greatness lies that he was able to break from these barriers and demolish the idols. Yes, there was opposition, but none from within him. He felt no fear, no hesitancy in undoing his family’s source of income. He was driven by a desire to break the shekels of idolatry and establish the worship of One true God.

The jihad (struggle) of Prophet Ibrahim is as relevant for us today, as it was thousands of years ago. Today, although it seems that no physical idols need be broken, but many idols confront us: there are still billions who are worshipping man-made idols, there are many who, drunk with power, are devastating human rights at will, and above all human beings live with false notions of wealth.

The popular ditty goes: "What a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive." Humanity is held in deception and awaiting Muslims to break psychological and emotional idols and free themselves and the rest from this temporal world.

Source: islamicity.org

The quest for true happiness

The quest for true happiness

HAPPINESS is the ultimate goal in life for almost all of us. It is the motive behind every action that is taken in this world.

People eat, shop, study, work, marry or sometimes fall into forbidden relationships, go on vacations, throw lavish parties and sometimes go to weird, forbidden extremes just for the pursuit of happiness and delight. Eventually, there comes a time when they realize that these feelings are short-lived, temporary and bound to end at some point. So the question that arises is; what is it that gives one the feeling of everlasting happiness? What is it that would tend to make the heart content and at ease despite the day to day tests and hardships that life throws our way?

Simply put, true happiness is in realizing the purpose for which we were created. It is in worshipping the One who created us, that gives the hearts contentment and delight. It is in doing every action with the sole intention of gaining Allah’s pleasure, avoiding His Anger while following in the footsteps of His beloved Messenger (peace be upon him).

Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim, said, “In the heart are disorders that cannot be remedied except by responding to Allah. In it is a desolate feeling that cannot be removed except by intimacy with Him in solitude. In it is sadness which will not leave except by happiness of knowing Him and truthfulness in his dealings. In it is anxiety that is not made tranquil except by gathering for His sake and fleeing to Him from His punishment. In it is a fire of regret which cannot be extinguished except by satisfaction with His commands, prohibitions, and decrees, and embracing patience with that until the time he meets Him. In it is a strong desire that will not cease until He is the only one who is sought. In it is a void that cannot be filled except by His love, turning to Him, always remembering Him, and being sincere to Him. Were a person to be given the entire world and everything in it, that would never fill the void.” (Madarij Al-Salikeen)

No doubt, this is the only reason our hearts are so much at peace and our souls so exuberant during Ramadan. It is because we spend the whole month busy in doing what we were created to do! We feel happy despite staying without food and water all day and despite exerting ourselves for extra prayer and worship.

We can actually maintain this state of peace and contentment throughout the year if we persist in continuing all the good acts that we do during Ramadan. The Creator and Master of everything that exists says in His Glorious Book: “Those who believe, and whose hearts find contentment in the remembrance of Allah: for without doubt in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find contentment.” (Qur’an 13:28)

The contentment and openness of the heart are aspects of happiness which are achieved through keeping up the remembrance of Allah and through following the teachings of the Qur’an. It is something that instills happiness in us not just during the moments in which it is done but also later on. This is because; every type of pleasure is enjoyed only once, except for (the acts of) worship, which is enjoyed three times: when you do it, when you remember it, and when you are given the reward for it. (Abd-Allah ibn Wahb)

Allah tells us in more than one place in the Qur’an that the faces of the ones who believed and did righteous acts for His sake will be glowing with happiness and delight. He says: “(Some) faces, that Day, will be bright — Laughing, rejoicing at good news (of reward and Jannah).” (Qur’an 80:38-39).

“Faces, that Day, will show pleasure. With their effort (they are) satisfied. In an elevated garden (Jannah)…” (Qur’an 88:9-11)

As believers we need to know and have strong belief in the fact that life will not be a bed of roses for long and that we will be tested and tried till we reach our graves. If we look at the people around us, we will see people who are being tested in one way or the other. It will be either by missing out on something that they like, or going through that which they dislike.

Ibn Mas’ood (may Allah be pleased with him) rightly said: For every moment of joy there is a moment of sorrow, and no house is filled with joy but it will be filled with sorrow.

Beautiful is the dua that the Prophet (peace be upon him) taught us. He said, “If any Muslim is afflicted with distress and makes this dua, then his supplication will be answered: ‘O Allah, I am your servant, the son of your servant, the son of your maidservant. My forelock is in your hand, your command concerning me prevails, and your decision concerning me is just. I call upon you by every one of the beautiful names with which you have described yourself, or which you have revealed in your Book, or you have taught to anyone of your creatures, or which you have chosen to keep in the knowledge of the unseen with you, to make the Qur’an the delight of my heart, the light of my chest, the remover of my sadness and dispeller of my anxiety.’”

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “If he says this, Allah will remove his affliction and replace it with joy and happiness.” His They said, “O Messenger of Allah, should we not learn it?” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Yes, whoever hears it should know it.” (Ahmad 3704)

Lastly, we need to understand is that happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute doing good for the sake of Allah, it is in being grateful for whatever we have and in utilizing it all in being of service to the creation of Allah. May Allah grant us the happiness of this world and the next. Ameen.

Source: arabnews.com

How to enhance faith after the performance of Hajj

How to enhance faith after the performance of Hajj

Those whom the Almighty has favored to perform Hajj and Umrah should be thankful to Him for he has chosen them among His servants to perform these acts of worship, and they should implore and make Dua'a (Supplications) so that their good deeds be accepted. Being able to perform Hajj and Umrah is a great favor that deserves gratitude.

Moreover, Pilgrims who accomplished Hajj and Umrah should keep their minds and souls attached to Allah, remembering Him constantly because He says : So when you have accomplished your Manasik , remember Allah as you remember your forefathers or with a far more remembrance. (Al-Baqarah 200)

The performance of Hajj and Umrah, as Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said in the hadeeth, purifies sins and makes a person like a newborn and thus closer to the Almighty. It is therefore important for pilgrims to do their best to preserve this state of purity as best they can. They should be consistent in remembering the Almighty and remain steadfast in performing the prayer and the other required religious duties.

Furthermore, they should keep reading the holy Quran on a daily basis  and occupy their time by doing good deeds and keep company with righteous Muslims. After accomplishing Islam's fifth pillar, pilgrims should pray to the Almighty to make their hearts steadfast in obeying Him and following His prescriptions and orders.

Those who were favored to perform Hajj and Umrah should equally stay away from Haraam (forbidden) and carry the noble message of Islam by inviting Muslims to do good deeds and increasing the number of their good deeds too.

Source: go-makkah.com

 

Universal Lessons of Hajj

Universal Lessons of Hajj

Millions of pilgrims from all over the world will be converging on Mecca in the coming days. They will retrace the footsteps of millions who have made the spiritual journey to the valley of Mecca since the time of Adam.

Hajj literally means, “to continuously strive to reach one’s goal.” It is the last of the five pillars of Islam (the others include a declaration of faith in one God, five daily prayers, offering regular charity, and fasting during the month of Ramadan). Pilgrimage is a once-in-a-lifetime obligation for those who have the physical and financial ability to undertake the journey.

The Hajj is essentially a re-enactment of the rituals of the great prophets and teachers of faith. Pilgrims symbolically relive the experience of exile and atonement undergone by Adam and Eve after they were expelled from Heaven, wandered the earth, met again and sought forgiveness in the valley of Mecca. They also retrace the frantic footsteps of the wife of Abraham, Hagar, as she ran between the hills of Safa and Marwa searching for water for her thirsty baby (which according to Muslim tradition, God answered with the well of Zam Zam). Lastly, the pilgrims also commemorate the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son for the sake of God. God later substituted a ram in place of his son.

Yet, the Hajj is more than these elaborate rituals. The faithful hope that it will bring about a deep spiritual transformation, one that will make him or her a better person. If such a change within does not occur, then the Hajj was merely a physical and material exercise devoid of any spiritual significance.

 As all great religions teach, we are more than mere physical creatures in that we possess an essence beyond the material world. Indeed, this is why all great religions have a tradition of pilgrimage. In the Islamic tradition, Hajj encapsulates this spiritual journey toward this essence. The current state of affairs — both within and outside the Muslim world — greatly increases the relevance of some of the spiritual and universal messages inherent in the Hajj.

As Islamic scholar Ebrahim Moosa asks rhetorically: “after paying homage to the two women Eve and Hagar in the rites of pilgrimage, how can some Muslims still violate the rights and dignity of women in the name of Islam? Is this not a contradiction?”

Indeed, the Qur’an teaches: “I shall not lose sight of the labor of any of you who labors in my way, be it man or woman; each of you is equal to the other.” (3:195)

Clearly, the white sea of men and women side by side performing tawaf (circling) around the Ka’aba (the stone building Muslims believe was originally built by Adam and rebuilt by Abraham and his son Ishmael) should lay to rest any claim that Islam — as opposed to some Muslims — degrades women. The fact that millions of Muslims transcending geographical, linguistic, level of practice, cultural, ethnic, color, economic and social barriers converge in unison on Mecca, attests to the universality of the Hajj. It plants the seed to celebrate the diversity of our common humanity. Pilgrims return home enriched by this more pluralistic and holistic outlook and with a new appreciation for their own origins. One of the most celebrated Western Hajjis (one who has completed the Hajj) is none other than African-Ameican civil rights leader El-Hajj Malik El-Shabbaz, more commonly known as Malcolm X. The man profoundly reassessed his previous views during the Hajj. This transformation, of course, sealed his break with the Black nationalist movement of the Nation of Islam.

Contrary to the teachings of the Nation, he concluded that Islam encompassed all of humanity and transcended race and culture. Malcolm X later said, “In my 39 years on this Earth, the holy city of Mecca had been the first time I had ever stood before the Creator of all and felt like a complete human.”

In Mecca, he discovered himself mixing with, “fellow Muslims, whose eyes were the bluest of blue, whose hair was the blondest of blond, and whose skin was whitest of white.” Malcolm X was so inspired by what he witnessed, that, in letters to friends and relatives, he wrote, “America needs to understand Islam, because this is the one religion that erases from its society the race problem.”

Upon returning to America, he embarked on a mission to enlighten both blacks and whites with his new views. Malcolm X understood that in order to truly learn from the Hajj, its inherent spiritual lessons must extend beyond the fraternal ties of Muslims to forging a common humanity with others.

In fact, as part of the spiritual experience, the pilgrimage links people across religions through a past shared by several Abrahamic traditions. This combined with the Islamic teaching of the common origin of humanity holds out much hope. Indeed, the Qur’an teaches: “We created you from a single pair of a male and female (Adam and Eve), and made you into nations and tribes that ye may know each other and not that you might despise each other. The most honored of you in the sight of God is the most righteous of you” (Al-Hujurat: 13). This is a great celebration of the differences and at the same time unity of all of humanity.

Another essential spiritual message of the Hajj is one of humility to God and His supremacy and control over all that we know. The multitude of people and their inner beliefs and practices are all to be judged by God and God alone in His infinite wisdom and full knowledge. Indeed, as the Qur’an insists, “Let there be no compulsion in matters of faith, truth stands out clear from error.” (2: 256) The result of a successful Hajj is a rich inner peace, which is manifested outwardly in the values of justice, honesty, respect, generosity, kindness, forgiveness, mercy and empathy. And it is these values – all attributes of God almighty — that are indispensable to us all if we are just to get along in this world.

Source: whyislam.org

A new life after Hajj

A new life after Hajj

Undoubtedly, Hajj is best opportunity to wash one’s sins away and refine the soul. He / She who performs Hajj is supposed to be a model for others to be followed.

In fact,  those whom the Almighty favored to perform Hajj should be thankful to Allah and incessantly keep imploring and beseeching Him to accept their good deeds. This is crucial, for it reflects their belief that being so favored by the Almighty to accomplish Islam's fifth pillar is a favor that deserves gratitude and thank to Allah.

After returning from the holt places, the pilgrims should keep their mind and souls attached to the Almighty, remembering Him constantly for He says: So when you have accomplished your Manasik , remember Allah as you remember your forefathers or with a far more remembrance. (Al-Baqarah , 200)
He/ She who performed Hajj should be very keen to avoid evil and shameful deeds especially after Allah has forgiven all his previous sins, as a reward of performing Hajj for  “The reward of Hajj Mabrur (the one accepted by Allah) is nothing but Paradise.” (Reported by Muslim).

Upon returning home, the pilgrims should be conscious of Allah when performing all what Allah has instructed them to do of the other worships such as Salah (Prayers), Zakah, Fasting Ramadan, dutifulness to his parents, visiting kith and kin, being charitable and benevolent to Allah’s creatures, and the like of what the Muslim should do.

Hajj is considered as a blessing, the more it entails responsibility on which man will be asked concerning on the Day of Judgment in case the pilgrim misbehaves after returning from Hajj. Almighty Allah says, : Verily, Allah enjoins Al-'Adl (i.e. justice and worshipping none but Allah Alone - Islamic Monotheism) and Al-Ihsan [i.e. to be patient in performing your duties to Allah, totally for Allah's sake and in accordance with the Sunnah (legal ways) of the Prophet in a perfect manner], and giving (help) to kith and kin (o.e. all that Allah has ordered you to give them e.g., wealth, visiting, looking after them, or any other kind of help), and forbids Al-Fahsha' (i.e all evil deeds, e.g. illegal sexual acts, disobedience of parents, polytheism, to tell lies, to give false witness, to kill a life without right), and Al-Munkar (i.e all that is prohibited by Islamic law: polytheism of every kind, disbelief and every kind of evil deeds), and Al-Baghy (i.e. all kinds of oppression). He admonishes you, that you may take heed. (An-Nahl: 90)

Hajj is an obligation once in lifetime. Therefore, the pilgrim should take that as a golden opportunity which he/she will make use of for the rest of his/her life. He/she should keep remembering the holy places and all the rituals of Hajj for it will strengthen his faith and devotion to the Almighty.

Source: go-makkah.com