Amal Al-Sibai

Saudi Gazette

 

HAJ, the pilgrimage to Makkah coincides with autumn this year. Just as each season of the year brings its special seasonal fruits, veggies, and other changes in our lives, there are certain days of the year, which bring about changes in our spiritual lives. As coffee shops everywhere are serving the fragrant, frothy pumpkin spice lattes for autumn, we can also taste the sweetness of performing pilgrimage this autumn and other acts of worship if we are not going for the Haj journey.



There are seasonal rituals, acts of worship prescribed for certain days each year on the lunar calendar. During these specific times of the year, we can seize the opportunity to fortify our connection with our Lord and renew our energy and devotion.



The pilgrim who goes on the Haj journey is fulfilling the fifth pillar of Islam, and also experiences an immense sense of personal satisfaction and reaps many rewards, good deeds, and honor.



This is the season when sins are forgiven. A pilgrim who does not soil his/her Haj with bad conduct such as gossiping, losing control of anger, and impatience will be granted forgiveness of all of his/her past sins.



Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “He who came to this House (the Kaaba) to perform Haj without saying or committing indecencies, will return (after the pilgrimage) free from sin as on the day his mother gave birth to him”



Performing the Haj correctly gives us a clean slate; a new page in the book, a fresh start.



The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “An accepted Haj has no less a reward than Paradise.”



The pilgrim has the highest honor, because pilgrims have been described in Islamic traditions as the guests of Allah. A guest always relishes in the generosity of the host, and Allah is the most generous of givers.



Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “The people performing Haj or Umrah are the guests of Allah. If they ask Him something He answers them and if they ask Him for forgiveness, He forgives them.”



The rewards gained are not limited to rewards that one will enjoy in the Afterlife. Performing Haj brings contentment to your heart and gives a new perspective on life. The Haj is an eye-opener that shows what is important in life so that the little, trivial things do not bother you as much anymore.



A 10th grade pilgrim said about his Haj last year, “It is a journey more than anything else about forgiveness and helping you to focus on your spiritual well-being. Anybody can change, no matter who you are. For me, going on Haj was indescribable. I think going on Haj should help you become a better person. The sighting of the Kaaba was overwhelming. I was awestruck by its magnificence. Its beauty cannot be described in words; one has to experience its presence.”



Now if you are not able to be among the guests of Allah this year, there are still plenty acts of worship you can do to make sure that you too take advantage of this season’s spiritual rejuvenation. Just increase the level of your worship in general, like adding voluntary prayers to your normal routine of the 5 daily obligatory prayers.



The first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are the best days throughout the entire year, while the best nights are the nights of Ramadan. Muslims who are not performing Haj are encouraged to fast during these ten days, from before sunrise to sunset.



Highly recommended during Dhul Hijjah, is feeding the poor, and to slaughter an animal and give in charity from its meat to those in need. Be scrupulous about your prayers; and pray in the mosque as many times as possible.



The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever prays fajr in congregation, then sits remembering Allah until sunrise, then prays two units of (voluntary) prayer, has a complete reward of Haj and Umrah.”



Try to attend lectures this season that strengthen your resolve to be a better Muslim.



Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever goes to the mosque not desiring except to learn or teach what is good has the reward of a pilgrim who competed his Haj.”



You can perform Haj in your heart, by repeating all day long, “Allah is Great, All praise is to Allah.”



Whether you are on your plane to Makkah or are already in Mina, or will only witness the Haj from your TV screen in your apartment in New York City or in Cairo, you can still chant the talbiyah:



“Here I am at Your service, O Allah, here I am. Here I am, at Your service, You have no partner, here I am at Your service. For You alone is all praise and all grace, and for You alone is the sovereignty. You have no partner.”