WORD OF GOD — From The Scriptures

feeling of superiority over fellow pilgrims, that is, one should ‘press on from where the pilgrims stream forth.’ Making too much of one’s forefathers and praising their great deeds is also against the spirit of pilgrimage. Pilgrimage is for the glory of God, not for praise of the self. What place can such attitudes and activities have in Haj, the very lesson of which is the equality of man before one, supreme God? If one does not learn this lesson during the pilgrimage, what chance is there of one applying it throughout the rest of one’s life? But there are others who pray, ‘Our Lord, grant us good in this world as well as good in the world to come, and protect us from the torment of the Fire.’ 2: 201 Prayers, especially those off ered during the pilgrimage, are an outward manifestation of an inward state. Whatever one cherishes in one’s heart, one expresses in prayer. One who has set his mind on worldly riches and grandeur will concentrate on little else when he prays to God, whereas one who seeks the next world, with its infi nite happiness and blessings, will make this the central theme of his devotions. This prayer on the part of the believer is not a request for worldly riches. Material gain and worldly wealth are only parts of a ‘test paper’. And no one would like to pray to increase the diffi culty of his ‘test paper’. This prayer is more like asking God to give him what is best for man in the eyes of God in this world and what is best for man in the eyes of God in the Hereafter. Therefore, the best prayer for man is to say to his Lord, ‘O my God, give me in this world whatever You see is good for this world, and give me in the next life whatever You see is good for that world and save me from eternal doom.’ They shall have a good share from what they have earned. God is swift in His reckoning. Remember God during the appointed days; for one who hastens to leave in two days, it shall be no sin; and for one who stays on, it shall be no sin for him either. This is for one who fears God. Have fear of God, and know that you shall all be gathered before Him. 2: 202 - 203 ‘You shall be gathered before Him’ is the greatest lesson of pilgrimage, given in the plain of Arafat where millions of pilgrims gather annually.