The Spirit of Hajj

“Our residence was very close to the Haram, on Ibrahim al-Khalil Street. Thus, apart from eating and getting a brief sleep, I spent most of my time in Haram. My daily routine was to perform ablution with Zamzam water near Bab al-Hijra, then drink Zamzam to my fill, and afterwards enter the Haram. Often, I would go to the upper section of the Haram because it was relatively quieter due to the smaller crowd. There, I would pray, recite the Quran, gaze at the Ka‘bah, and remember God. Hours would pass by daily in this way, and I would lose track of time. No matter how much time had passed, when I returned from the Haram, it always felt as though my heart was not yet satisfied. The feeling I experienced sitting in front of the Ka‘bah cannot be described in words.” Relief in Distress During Hajj, people from all over the world gather at the same time. Due to this, there are frequent instances where one person causes discomfort to another. Repeatedly, situations arise that seem very unpleasant to one’s temperament. In such moments, if a person turns their attention toward God, their experience will change completely. Even a bitter experience will turn into a sweet one. What would normally only be a source of discomfort could become a means of divine sustenance. For example, imagine you are standing in Masjid al-Haram for prayer, and a crowd of people enters, forming a row right in front of you due to lack of space. You find that