Sheikh Abdallah R Makwinja
It would be most appropriate to quote the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Imam Khomeini’s statement to the pilgrims in which he described the philosophy of rites performed during Hajj: “While repeating ‘Labbayk “Here I am my Lord‘, say ‘no’ to all idols and cry out ‘no’ to all the princes of the devils and the prince kins of the devils; and while circumambulating God’s sanctuary which denotes your love to God, disengage your hearts from the rest, and purge your soul from phobias of other than God.
The Herald
There are two key Eid’s (Celebration Festivals) in Islam: Eid-ul-Fitr, which signifies the completion of the Holy Month of Ramadan; and Eid-ul-Adha, which follows the completion of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, which marks a commemoration of the actions of previous Prophets such as Adam and his wife Eve, Abraham his wife Hagar and their son Ishmael.
Hajj is the most vivid manifestation of lessons on equality, love, sacrifice, devotion, patience, harmony, mercy, and unity.
Hajj is a grand international assembly and forum of Muslims, and has great spiritual, social, economic and political aspects.
The Hajj is the most vivid manifestation and lesson of this equality: all dress in similar kind of clothes, all bow before One Lord, all are in the search of one Beloved, all seek one destination, all acknowledge the One Power and all deny all false gods.
Hajj is the open and defying negation of all false gods. Hajj is refutation of all false parameters of greatness made and maintained by ignorance and arrogance.
Hajj is the most evident and effective lesson of equality and brotherhood to mankind. Hajj is the foundation stone of unity in one belief and faith in One God. Hajj destroys racism, murders casteism, eradicates regionalism, eliminates nationalism, and systematically annihilates polytheism from the minds of worshippers gathered in His house under His watch to submit before His will.
Prophet Muhammad in his sermon to the pilgrims said, “O people, surely your Lord is One, the father of all of you is one, you all come from Adam and Adam from the earth. Surely the most honourable of you with God is the one among you most careful of his duty.”
It would be most appropriate to quote the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Imam Khomeini’s statement to the pilgrims in which he described the philosophy of rites performed during Hajj: “While repeating ‘Labbayk “Here I am my Lord‘, say ‘no’ to all idols and cry out ‘no’ to all the princes of the devils and the prince kins of the devils; and while circumambulating God’s sanctuary which denotes your love to God, disengage your hearts from the rest, and purge your soul from phobias of other than God.
And along with your love to God, divulge your hatred of the little and big idols and the devils and their affiliates, as the Exalted God and His friends have expressed hatred of them, and all the liberated people of the world do hate them”.
The current leader of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, Seyyid Ali Khamenei, also in his message to the Pilgrims said, “The Abrahamic Hajj, which Islam has bestowed upon Muslims, is the manifestation of dignity and spirituality, unity and glory. It shows the greatness of the Islamic Ummah and their reliance on the eternal divine power to ill-wishers and enemies, and highlights their distance from the quagmire of corruption and humiliation and oppression, which international bullying powers impose on human societies.”
Spiritually Hajj is the journey of the soul and a continued spiritual life in divine light. A true Hajj is the evolution of one’s soul.
The purpose of the Hajj is purification of soul and refinement of faith. The Hajj has deep and wonderful influences on the spiritual life of Hajjis. It gives them a new life and a new direction; most of the Hajjis, after returning back after completing the Hajj, are full of determination. Ultimately, Hajj is a life changing experience.
And lastly the day of Eid festival is a wholesome celebration of a remarkable achievement of the individual in the service of God and all faithful believers reap the fruits of their good deeds as God grants His mercy and blessings abundantly without measure on this day.
