FROM THE EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

in its true spirit, and performed in the proper manner. It will then be the greatest act in a pilgrim’s life, he will never be the same again. To go on Hajj is to meet God. When the pilgrim reaches the border of the sacred territory, he is filled with awe of God, he feels that he is leaving his own world, and entering God’s. He feels he is revolving around Him, running towards Him, journeying on His behalf, making a sacrifice in His name, praying to the Lord and seeing his prayers answered. The House of God in Makkah is one of God’s signs on earth. The souls which have strayed from the Lord take comfort in Him once again; hearts which have become hard as stone are brought low before Almighty God; eyes which have lost their vision are filled with divine radiance. But these blessings of Hajj are available only to those who come prepared for them. Otherwise Hajj will be just a tour, a visit which leaves no lasting impression upon the traveller. The pilgrims gather on the plain of Arafat in order to recall the time when they will gather on the plain of the Last Day. It is to conjure up visions in this world of what they will experience in practice in the next world. The Prophet Muhammad said: “Hajj is to stand in the plains of Arafat.” This shows how important it is to visit Arafat and to spend time there. The plain of Arafat, where the pilgrims spend one whole day is like a picture of the Day of Reckoning. Believers come in from all sides to witness the spectacle. All are clad in a simple garment. There is nothing to make anyone stand out from the rest. All recite the same words: “Here we are at your service, Lord.” Anyone who sees this spectacle must be reminded of this verse from the Quran: The trumpet will be blown and, at once they will rise up from their graves, and hasten to their Lord. (36: 51) For all these reasons, Hajj reigns supreme among all acts of devotion. Just as the sacred mosque in Makkah has a station above all other mosques, so the worship that is performed there—as part of the pilgrimage—stands head and shoulders above all other acts of devotion. o Dr. Farida Khanam hub@thespiritofislam.org The blessings of Hajj are available only to those who come prepared for them. Otherwise Hajj will be just a tour, a visit which leaves no lasting impression upon the traveller.