The Message of Hajj

grievances, the atmosphere of worship will be ruined, and the purpose of Hajj will not be fulfilled. Therefore, during Hajj, quarrelling and anger have been categorically prohibited, making Hajj a training ground for something much greater. Just as disputes can invalidate Hajj, they can also lead Muslims away from Islam in their everyday life. Often, a person mistakenly assumes that some outward action is a sign of piety and believes that by performing it, they have achieved a pious life, even though their heart may be devoid of true piety. Some people believe that forgoing provisions for the journey during Hajj is a sign of piety, and as a result, they neglect to prepare them. However, provisions for the journey are a matter of necessity, not piety. In such matters, a person should prepare according to their needs, but piety is something entirely different. It is a matter of the heart (Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 2564). God does not accept a person merely because they undertook the journey without provisions and unnecessarily burdened themselves. What God desires is the piety of the heart. The journey of Hajj should be an opportunity to cultivate the provision of piety, for this is the provision that will be of use in the journey of the Hereafter. The best wisdom for the traveller of Hajj, and similarly for the traveller of life, is to avoid indulgence in base desires, to distance oneself from actions disapproved by God, and to steer clear of quarrels and disputes.