The Spirit of Hajj

THE SPIRIT OF HAJJ Hajj is a comprehensive act of worship. It is a form that encompasses all the aspects desired by every individual in Islam. T here are two verses in the Quran regarding Hajj. Their translation is as follows: “Call mankind to the Pilgrimage. They will come to you, on foot, and on every kind of lean camel, by every distant track so that they may witness its benefit for them and, on the appointed days may utter the name of God over the cattle He has provided for them. Then eat their flesh, and feed the distressed and the needy” (22:27-28). Here, the benefits mentioned refer to spiritual gain. During the occasion of Hajj, the means to attain these spiritual benefits are referred to as the “Symbols of God.” (The Quran, 2:158) These symbols are the historical commemorations of the mission of monotheism that was established in this land through the prophets. The rituals performed during Hajj serve as reminders of that prophetic history.