THE SPIRIT OF HAJJ — Personality Changing

and quarreling during Hajj, things that are forbidden even in ordinary circumstances but which are to be avoided with particular care during Hajj. One major reason for this is that because when an occasion demands travel and a large number of people coming together, the chances of such misbehaviour are greater. If a person is not fully conscious of such matters, it is possible that he may indulge in such activities, willingly or unwillingly. Since Hajj involves travel and a large gathering, such misbehaviour is clearly and explicitly forbidden. One of the most dangerous things that constantly threaten to undermine collective harmonious living is one’s tongue. A true believer is one whose life is driven not by lust, but, rather, by a higher purpose. He takes every care not to disobey God in any of his dealings. He abstains from conflict with others. This is how a true believer should always behave, but during Hajj when a person exemplifies these traits, he shows himself to be a true Haji. If he has really imbibed these values of piety that he should possess during Hajj, he will desist from the sort of misdemeanour that above-quoted verse of the Quran refers to. These things destroy piety. Additional Precautions Things that are forbidden during Hajj are also forbidden at other times, too. They are to be especially particularly carefully abstained from during Hajj, but they must be avoided at other times as well. By stressing that we should be particularly careful about avoiding them during Hajj, it is so that we are more conscious of such activities and develop the special capability to abstain from them at other times also. When we are in our homes or in our workplaces, we are deeply engrossed in our personal affairs. We forget the realities that exist beyond these levels. That is why people are encouraged to go to mosques every day to pray—so that for at least some time they come out of their personal environments, free their minds from irrelevant affairs, and focus, with deep concentration, on God. Travelling for Hajj is also like this. During Hajj, one is taken out of one’s limited environment and is taken to various places of prominence in Islam over a period of several days. In this way, Hajj removes one completely from one’s worldly environment so that one can completely concentrate on God. There are several religious traditions associated with Arabia. The