Pilgrimage (Hajj

The Four Pillars Pilgrimage - Hajj Hajj in essence is sacrifice. The journey undertaken to perform the pilgrimage means a sacrifice of time and money, and the animal offered to God symbolizes the sacrifice of life. The rites of Sa‘i (movement between the two hillocks) and Tawaf (circumambulating the Kabah) means that the pilgrim diverts his attention from all worldly matters in order to devote himself to the one and only God. What is that divine mission in the course of which the believer must offer all these sacrifices? It is, in effect, to proclaim the glory of God on earth: “And when you have fulfilled your sacred duties, remember God as you remembered your forefathers or with deeper reverence” (2:200). The Prophet said: “The acts of Rami Jamar (throwing of stones at the devil) and the walking between the hills of Safa and Marwa are for the proclamation of God’s name” (Mishkat, Kitab Al-Manasik). The message of Hajj has been handed down from generation to generation through the repeated re-enactment of the life history of the greatest missionary, the Prophet Abraham (c. 1985-2160 BC) who dedicated his entire life to perform the role of a da‘i. The full extent of Abraham’s dedication was demonstrated by his readiness to sacrifice even his own son for God. But God was satisfied that Abraham, by showing his willingness to perform the sacrifice, had passed the test of loyalty to his Creator. God, therefore “ransomed his son with a noble sacrifice and bestowed on him the praise of later generations” (37:107-8). Every rite of Hajj reminds us of the life of this great da‘i. The pilgrim (Haji) symbolically ‘relives’ certain historic events in the life of Abraham, whose entire existence was dedicated to dawah (the call to religion). He makes a pledge to God that he will similarly dedicate his life to the propagation of the Truth, irrespective of the circumstances, and even when it entails passing through all the stages of Abraham’s ordeals in this mission. The Prophet was once asked who a Haji was. He replied: “One