THE SPIRIT OF HAJJ — Personality Changing

Kabah is in Saudi Arabia—and a great many religious traditions, accumulated over several thousand years, are associated with it. Stories of the sacrifices of prophets have been written here. Here are memorials testifying to the divine blessings received by pious servants of God. Here are also signs of the lives of God’s last prophet and his companions. Historical connections of this sort have given the places associated with Hajj a unique sanctity and respect. As soon as one enters this area, an entire religious history comes to life in one’s mind and one’s religious spirit is enkindled. One begins to abide by one’s religious duties with greater seriousness and commitment. Because of the special historical importance of this area, God selected it to be an arena where people come to rehearse the true and peaceful Islamic way of life, so that when they go back to where they came from they can be better equipped and inspired to lead God-oriented lives. The ihram worn in Hajj is a practical expression of the Islamic principle of human equality. Among the things that are forbidden while on Hajj are hurting anyone through one’s tongue and killing or wounding any animal. One is also to abstain from certain comforts and indulgences, such as wearing stitched clothes, using perfume and engaging in sexual relations. Being Careful While Speaking One of the most dangerous things that constantly threatens to undermine harmonious collective living is one’s tongue. The greatest hurt you can do to someone is through your tongue. Vast numbers of people gather together on the occasion of Hajj, and hence many situations where the possibility that people may lose control over their tongues and use them to hurt others. So, the training and instruction of being especially watchful of what one says is given emphasis to by people during Hajj. Although not hurting others in words is an Islamic value during all times, during the Hajj it made a mandatory condition. It is made into a necessary part of an Islamic act of worship, although being careful not to hurt others through one’s speech is a general Islamic teaching that applies at other times, too. The Prophet said that he who performs Hajj in such a way that others are safe from his tongue and hands will have all the sins that he has committed till then forgiven.