Some Aspects

THE MESSAGE OF HAJJ Some Aspects It has been observed that many pilgrims while performing the rituals of Hajj, repeat memorized prayers or read from a book without much contemplation. Although this approach fulfils the obligations of Hajj, it does not do justice to the spiritual state that is sought through God’s remembrance and supplication during Hajj. A person performing Hajj should experience the same emotions and states that Prophet Ibrahim and his family went through. For instance, when performing Sa’i (the ritual running between Safa and Marwah), the pilgrim’s words should express a prayer such as, “O God, just as You blessed Hajar with an eternal spring after she strived, grant that my efforts produce springs of goodness that sustain me in this world and the Hereafter.” Sayyid Sabiq rightly stated in his well-known book Fiqh us-Sunnah: “It is recommended for anyone performing Tawaf to focus on remembrance (dhikr) and supplication (du‘a’), choosing what they prefer and what brings comfort to their heart, without being restricted to specific words or merely repeating what the guides say. There is no specific dhikr that the Shari’ah has bound us to during Tawaf. The supplications and remembrances that people recite in the first and second rounds, and so on, have no foundation. Nothing from this has been reported from the Messenger of God. Therefore, the ones performing Tawaf should pray for themselves and their brothers