Quranic Foundation of Hajj
The Almighty said: “And proclaim to the people the Hajj [pilgrimage]; they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every distant pass.” (Al-Hajj: 27)
1. The Call of Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim) and the Origins of Hajj
Discover the profound spiritual secrets of Hajj and the eternal wisdom of Hajj through this historic call. The caller of Hajj proclaimed by the command of Allah—exalted is His wisdom and immense is His favor. Muhammad ﷺ then called out more than thirteen and a half centuries ago: “O people, Allah has ordained Hajj upon you to this House, so perform Hajj.”
In fact, the pilgrimage to the Sacred House of Allah delves deep into the ancient recesses of history…
Since the day Abraham beseeched his Lord, supplicating: “Our Lord, I have settled some of my descendants in an uncultivated valley near Your sacred House, our Lord, that they may establish prayer. So make hearts among the people incline toward them and provide for them from the fruits that they might be grateful,” people have been making pilgrimage to the Holy House, which Allah—Glorified and Exalted be He—made a place of return for the people and a sanctuary.
People answered the caller to the Sacred House and sanctified it. The Arabs held it in the highest esteem during both their pre-Islamic Jahiliyyah (Age of Ignorance) and their Islam. It was Allah’s greatest favor upon them, as the Almighty said: “Have they not seen that We made [Makkah] a safe sanctuary, while people are being carried away all around them?”
2. Hajj Mabrur: The Pinnacle of Islamic Devotion and Rituals
While the Arabs did perform pilgrimage to the Ancient House during their Jahiliyyah, Islam placed heavy emphasis on its obligation. The Messenger ﷺ said, as narrated by Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her): “The best Jihad is an accepted Hajj (Hajj Mabrur),” and he considered it the greatest ritual.
Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, ordained a ritual for every nation, making Hajj the definitive ritual of Islam: “And for all religion We have appointed a rite [of sacrifice] that they may mention the name of Allah over what He has provided for them of [sacrificial] animals.”
Continuous Fulfillment of the Sacred Pillar
People have continuously fulfilled the duty of this great ritual, setting out toward it:
- Light and heavy
- On foot and riding
- In ships plowing through the waves of the seas
- Traversing the earth rapidly
Driven by longing for their Lord and answering His call, they travel until the Holy Land, the House of Allah, and the Sacred Monument (Al-Mash’ar Al-Haram) overflow with them.
Hajj Throughout Islamic History
Islamic history has never known an era in which this sacred ritual was suspended, except during periods that stand out in Islamic history like black spots on a pure white garment. In those dark eras, governance was characterized by abhorrent tyranny, flagrant injustice, or deeply entrenched desires. Yet, Allah always strips power from these tyrants, seizing them with the seizure of one Mighty and Perfect in Power, coming upon them from places they did not perceive, and recording what they plot by night. For the House has a Lord Who protects it, and Islam has One Who made it His religion and law—and He is the Sublime, All-Powerful Master.
3. The Divine Wisdom Behind Sanctifying the Kaaba
Why did Allah sanctify the Sacred House and make the pilgrimage to it one of His symbols, when Islam does not sanctify places or stones, but rather directs worship solely to Allah—the sole Creator of all things, the Originator of the heavens and the earth?
The answer to this question reveals the ultimate wisdom behind the legislation of Hajj. Place, like time, is not sanctified for its own sake or chosen for its physical cycles, but rather for the rituals, worship, and memories that occur within it. If Ramadan is blessed, it is not because it represents a blessed astronomical cycle, but because the Quran was revealed during it, and it contains the fasting that reminds us of the Quran’s guidance and refines the soul to receive its teachings.
Similarly, the House was not sacred, nor was Arafat sacred, because of their dirt, stones, or soil. Rather, the sanctification stems from the memories they hold—which are signs of Allah, Glorified be He, in His prophetheods. The one who built it was Abraham (peace be upon him), upon whom Allah—Glorified and Exalted be He—revealed the tolerant, primordial monotheism (Al-Hanifiyyah), which is the eternal, comprehensive law until the Day of Resurrection. This was the very essence of Islam, as the Almighty said: “Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was one inclining toward truth, a Muslim [submitting to Allah], and he was not of the polytheists.”
The Oldest Place of Monotheistic Worship
If that House is a place of return for the people, a sanctuary, and a holy domain to which people come from every distant pass, it is because it is the oldest known place dedicated purely to the worship of Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He:
“And [mention] when Abraham was raising the foundations of the House and [with him] Ishmael, [saying], ‘Our Lord, accept [this] from us. Indeed You are the Hearing, the Knowing. Our Lord, and make us Muslims [submitting] to You and from our descendants a Muslim nation [submitting] to You.'”
Therefore, performing Hajj and journeying to it is to witness the place built by the Intimate Friend of Allah (Khalilullah) under Allah’s care and command. It serves as a reminder to the Muslim that Islam is the law for all, and the call of all the Prophets, for it is the call of their father Abraham (peace be upon him).
4. Witnessing the Cradles of Islamic Revelation and Prophethood
Allah honored the Ancient House with a second distinct honor: within its precincts grew the Seal of the Prophets, Muhammad ﷺ. It was the setting for the first chapter of the Muhammadan message. Within the quarters of Makkah, the Prophet ﷺ lived, and around it, he used to engage in secluded devotion and contemplation as a precursor to his divine mission. Then, the Trustworthy Spirit (Gabriel) descended upon the Prophet ﷺ there. There, he openly proclaimed the command of his Lord, warned his closest kindred, and endured the polytheists with patience and fortitude, calling them with good instruction.
Thus, when Muslims perform pilgrimage to the secure sanctuary of Allah, they should first see the cradles of revelation, the landmarks of prophethood, and the early era of Islam. They should remember his patience ﷺ during severe hardships, how he countered plots, and how strong he was in his faith when he had no helper but Allah among a people who possessed all the means of material dominance.
In this lies a profound lesson for whoever has a heart or who listens while he is present in mind. Through it, one learns how to find pride and strength in Allah when enemies multiply, when the powerful conspire, when adversity increases, and prosperity wanes—a time when hearts tremble except for those protected by your Lord.
5. Absolute Equality and Unity in the State of Ihram
Hajj is not only for these sacred memories, but also “that they may witness benefits for themselves and mention the name of Allah over what He has provided for them,” as stated in the Holy Quran.
The Two Core Dimensions of Hajj
- The Material & Social Benefits: The benefits that Muslims reap and witness firsthand.
- The Spiritual Remembrance: The remembrance of Allah—Glorified be He—for what He has provided them.
Anyone who closely traces, examines, and studies the rituals of Hajj in their entirety and finer details will witness these benefits and this sacred remembrance of Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He.
The Symbolism of the Ihram Clothing
When the pilgrims enter the state of Ihram and intend Hajj, they turn to Allah—Glorified and Exalted be He—with their souls, bodies, and senses. They strip themselves of the garments that differentiate their social classes and groups, which vary according to their environments and regions.
Instead, they wear a single garment of unstitched white cloth. There is no distinction between the rich among them and the poor, nor between black and white, nor between Easterner and Westerner. This unity in dress becomes the symbol of unity in religion and equality before the Lord of the Worlds: “Indeed this, your religion, is one religion, and I am your Lord, so worship Me.” (Al-Anbiya: 92).
They cry out to Allah with one voice and one phrase, understanding its meaning and realizing its significance—where a non-Arab origin is no barrier to the Arabic tongue:
The Talbiyah Prayer:“Labbayk Allahumma Labbayk, Labbayka la sharika laka Labbayk. Innal-hamda wan-ni’mata laka wal-mulk, la sharika lak.” (Here I am at Your service, O Allah, here I am. Here I am, You have no partner, here I am. Truly all praise, grace, and sovereignty belong to You. You have no partner.)
In this shared supplication, which is dedicated solely to Allah, lies the anthem of Islam and Muslims, for they are the nation of absolute monotheism (Tawheed).
6. A Universal Gathering for Mutual Acquaintance and Diversity
In that sacred gathering, the Easterner meets the Westerner, and those from near and far cross paths. Muslims from every distant pass meet under the guidance of the Most Merciful. Each learns about the circumstances of others, and they exchange views on what brings righteousness to their worldly life and their hereafter, elevates their status, and advances their affairs.
If local citizens, in the narrowest sense, gather every week on Friday to check on one another and exchange views on their local affairs, then all Muslims—no matter how different their regions or varied their environments—gather on a single plain during Hajj. Compassionate affection binds them, faith unites them, the Holy Spirit aids them, and the light of Allah illuminates their path.
In Hajj, there is the practical application of the Almighty’s saying: “O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.”
7. Islamic Governance, Justice, and Shura (Consultation) during Hajj
In the early eras, as established in Islam and as it ought to be, Hajj was conducted under the leadership of the Grand Imam (the Caliph)—the one holding supreme authority over Muslims—or his deputy. During Hajj, he would address the people, clarify their affairs, look into their conditions, and engage in mutual consultation (Shura).
How Umar ibn al-Khattab Utilized the Hajj Season
Umar ibn al-Khattab used Hajj as a means to:
- Establish absolute justice
- Foster the spirit of consultation
- Learn about the true conditions of his subjects
He would question pilgrims from every region about their governors and how they treated the citizenry, and he would deploy informants to bring him news. He frequently summoned some of his governors to hold them accountable for their actions based on the news reaching him during Hajj.
Thus, Hajj serves as a bridge for mutual acquaintance among Muslims, an avenue for economic and social cooperation, and the ideal method for the ruler to know the condition of the ruled.
8. Hajj as a Spiritual Retreat of Absolute Peace
Hajj offers—above and beyond the aforementioned equality, mutual acquaintance, cooperation, and the establishment of justice—a spiritual life that sometimes exceeds two months. During this time, a human being sheds all innate desires for dominance and aggression—even toward animals. It is forbidden for the pilgrim to slaughter or hunt an animal, allowing them to rise above all manifestations of conflict and strife, and to exist purely for peace.
Through this, the fearful find sanctuary, the asylum-seeker finds tranquility, and humans remain content throughout this period. Man, who acts as a vicegerent on earth, refrains from slaughtering animals within his vicinity or even wild beasts in their wilderness. By the time he exits the state of Ihram and returns to the daily life of competition, his soul has been disciplined, his spirit refined, and he has grown accustomed to a life of safety and peace. Consequently, he does not become ferocious in conflict, nor does he cause destruction in triumph.
9. A Powerful Supplication for the Unity of the Muslim Ummah
These are but some of the secrets embedded in Hajj. It is the reality currently experienced by our brothers and sisters who reside today as guests of the Most Merciful. For those of us left behind, our only recourse is to turn to them—in their state of spiritual purity—to supplicate to Allah and implore Him to rectify the affairs of Muslims.
O humble pilgrims in the state of Ihram! Supplicate to Allah, saying:
“O Allah, unite us, remove our divisions, and make Your word the highest. O Allah, do not hold us accountable for what the foolish among us have done. O Allah, grant us the success to fulfill the rights of Your religion upon us, and have mercy on us, for You are the Best of those who show mercy!”
By Sheikh Muhammad Abu Zahrah
