MEANING OF PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA.
By MohammedulBaqir N Khanbhai.
The Prophet Mohammed (SAW) is reported in Hadith to have said that the structure of Islamic built upon seven pillars: Walayat, Taharat. Salat, Zakat, Fasting, Hajj and Jehad. (Recitation of kalima that there is no God but Allah, cleanliness of both mind and body, five times prayers in a day, payment of Zakat or the poor tax fasting of the month of Ramadhan, the performance of Hajj when possible, and the performance of religious war when called upon).
The Pilgrimage to Mecca, therefore, is one of the essential constituents of the Islamic faith with the important, provision that its performance is possible and accessible in any given circumstances.
Kaaba in Mecca was, according to the Holy Quran, the first house established on earth for the worship of one Allah.
Reconstructed by Nabii Ibrahim and his vasi Ismael, it has ever since been a cherished goal of both biblical and non biblical prophets and saints.
The gathering together of Muslims in Mecca during the days of Hajj is not only the fulfilment of Prophet Ibrahim’s prayer beseeching God to make Mecca a focal point for a great multitude, but is also designed, according to The Holy Quran, for exaltation of Allah’s high name.
The Pilgrimage to Mecca is also a sign of unparalleled magnitude. It provides unimpeachable proof of God’s existence, for it was as a result of His wishes that Prophet Ibrahim left his spouse and infant son in this desolated desert. Prophet Ibrahim got reward for this unstilted submission to Allah, by a promise from Him to make this uninviting land into a place of promise and plenty.
Thus, the Muslims who visit Mecca for Hajj or otherwise become instrumental in fulfilling God’s promise to Prophet Ibrahim. The necessity and desirability of Pilgrimage to Mecca are, therefore, conclusive.
However, like any other article of faith, the pilgrimage can become meaningless if it is regarded as an end in itself rather than a means for the attainment of a sublimer life.
It is related in Tazkara-tul-Auliyah(memoirs of Muslim Saints) that once a saint saw in a dream that two angels were talking together, one saying to the other that in that particular year so many hundreds of thousands of Muslims had performed the pilgrimage. The other replied that all of these, only a certain cobbler’s Hajj had been accepted in the sight of Allah despite the fact that he had stayed at home and not visited Mecca.
When the saint arose, he tried to locate the cobbler and found him out in a remote corner of the country. This person told the saint that for years he had been yearning to perform the pilgrimage and had saved the certain amount of money for this purpose. However, on the eve of his departure for Mecca he heard the cries of children from neighbouring houses for want of food and nourishment.
He was so moved by the plight of the children that he gave up the idea of Hajj and gave the money instead to the mother of the children.
God is merciful and shows mercy to those who do likewise to his creatures. This act of kindness on the part of the cobbler was very pleasing to God to earn him the reward of Hajj.
The performance of Hajj can acquire greater significance and greater meaning if it results in the pilgrim’s enrolment of new life carrying more sympathy and compassion for the needy at home.
