THE FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM

The Five Pillars of Islam ~ 114 ~ Through the conditions created at the time of the pilgrimage, people learn how they should live on this earth with their fellow men. They receive a practical exercise in tolerating the difficulties created by others, which makes them realize both the necessity and possibility of living together in a spirit of justice and benevolence. Above all, Hajj is a colossal demonstration of human equality. It is such a complete act of worship that anyone who performs it in the proper manner will find that it has a salutary effect on all of his or her social interaction, whether in relation to God or to other human beings. Although we have been commanded to perform Hajj only once in a lifetime, it is such a great and allencompassing act of worship that, if correctly performed, both in form and in spirit, its impact will be permanent. This once in-a-lifetime pilgrimage will leave its indelible stamp upon the mind of the pilgrim, thus changing for the better the whole course of his remaining life.