The Spirit of Hajj

such behaviours. If a person’s consciousness is not fully aware of these prohibitions, there is a risk that they may fall into these behaviours knowingly or unknowingly. A true believer lives for a purpose, not for desires. Such a person strives to avoid disobedience to God in all matters and refrain from disputes in social life. These qualities should always be present in a believer, but during Hajj, they become a special indicator of whether one has truly become a pilgrim. If a person is truly affected by the state of piety that should accompany the journey of Hajj, they cannot engage in these prohibited behaviours. These acts negate piety, and where these acts are present, piety cannot exist. Conversely, where piety is present, these acts will naturally be absent. Further Emphasis The actions prohibited during the days of Hajj are the same as those forbidden on other days. However, during Hajj, these prohibitions serve as a form of special spiritual training. During Hajj, one is made to strictly adhere to these prohibitions so that one’s awareness of them becomes sharper, and a special capability to avoid them in the future is developed. When a person is at home or work, they are often entangled in their personal matters, forgetting the greater realities. Therefore, people are brought to the mosque daily for prayer so they can separate themselves from their environment for a while and focus their minds solely on God. The journey of Hajj serves a similar purpose. During