ASK MAULANA

What is the spirit behind the words ‘Labbaik! Allahuma Labbaik! (Here I am at Your service! O God, Here I am at Your service!) When the pilgrim utters the above-mentioned words, he does not mean to say that he has come to settle in Makkah. It is not a declaration of his having left his homeland and arriving in Makkah. It is actually a declaration of having left his previous conduct or behaviour. It is an announcement to say that, ‘I am here with complete willingness to obey You (God), and do whatever You (God) command. To submit my life and soul to Your command.’ Although the pilgrim declares, Labbaik, ‘Here I am at Your service!’ at the place of hajj, he must stand by this declaration in practice in his personal life on his return from hajj. Is the square structure around which the pilgrims circumambulate like an Idol for the Muslims and what is the meaning of going around it? The square structure is a historical structure originally built by Prophet Abraham in the centre of a large courtyard also called the House of God. It is not an idol for the Muslims. It is known as the Kabah. The pilgrims go around the Kabah seven times, symbolizing their willingness to have God as the centre of their lives. They affirm that they will consider God as the focus around which their lives will revolve. It is as if scattered bits of iron are being pulled towards a divine magnet. The circumambulation (tawaf) is symbolic of making all one’s efforts constrained around a single focus. Believers all over the world turn towards the Kabah every day, offering their five daily prayers. When they pray together facing the direction of the Kabah, they experience an amazing sense of unity. The tawaf during hajj provides the pilgrims an invaluable lesson—of working together, of doing things together in harmony. Differences between rulers and subjects are eliminated completely, as are ethnic differences. It is as if every single person has just one status; as a servant of the one God. What kind of personality should emerge after one performs Hajj? The personality that should emerge after performing hajj is one in which a two-fold activity is set in motion, one form being external; and the other internal. External activity refers to conveying the word of God peacefully. Pilgrimage inspires a devotee to continue the prophetic mission of calling people towards a God-oriented life. Internal activity refers to a heightened sensitivity and awareness towards piety, self-control, the avoidance of violence and aggression and the need to lead a life which is devoted to God, instead of one devoted to self-glorification. o