Allah The Almighty Has Legislated acts of worship and rituals for great wisdom and important purposes. These acts of worship purify the souls and hearts and bring the slave closer to Allah The Almighty. There are common meanings that are shared by all acts of worship, while there are other specific ones that are peculiar to every act of worship. One of the great acts of worship is Hajj that has great secrets and wisdom that should be realized, felt and contemplated by the pilgrims while performing this obligatory act so that the purpose and effect of Hajj would be achieved.
Hajj is one of the greatest occasions when one is trained to fear Allah The Almighty, honor His symbols and His sacred ordinances. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {That [is so]. And whoever honors the Symbols of Allah - indeed, it is from the piety of hearts.} [Quran 22:32]
Allah The Almighty Ordered the pilgrims to be provided with piety. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Hajj is [during] well-known months, so whoever has made Hajj obligatory upon himself therein [by entering the state of Ihram], there is [to be for him] no sexual relations and no disobedience and no disputing during Hajj. And whatever good you do - Allah Knows it. And take provisions, but indeed, the best provision is fear of Allah. And fear Me, O you of understanding.} [Quran 2:197]
Allah The Almighty Clarified that the purpose behind legislating sacrifices is acquiring piety. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Their meat will not reach Allah, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you.} [Quran 22:37]
Hajj trains people to be obedient and submissive to Allah because the pilgrims perform certain acts of worship that have unclear meanings. For instance, they do not wear their normal clothes, they avoid adornment, perform Tawaaf and Sa’y for seven rounds, stand at certain places on certain times, go to certain places at certain times, throw the pebbles and spend the night at Mina and other rituals of Hajj that the pilgrims perform without realizing their meanings. They only know that they perform these acts of worship out of obedience to Allah and out of following the Sunnah of His Prophet . ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab, May Allah Be Pleased with him, said, when he wanted to kiss the black stone, “By Allah! I know that you are a mere stone that can bring neither harm nor benefit and if I had not seen the Prophet kissing you, I would have never kissed you.”
Hajj stirs feelings of brotherhood among the believers and makes them feel the necessity of being united as the pilgrims gather at the same time in one place assuming the same appearance to supplicate one God (Allah). Their aim and destination are the same. Thus, the pilgrims feel that this Ummah has potential to be united that is not owned by any other nation on earth. They also feel that they can do many things if their powers are united and their hearts are reconciled. This is a great feeling that one experiences only in such great occasions.
Hajj reminds the believer of the Day of Judgment along with its terrors that would make the children white-haired. When one sees the crowd, the loud voices of people and their noise while they are in the same place, wearing the same clothes and abandoning the joys of life and its adornment, he remembers the Day of Judgment. On that day, people will be accounted by Allah and they will stand naked and bare footed and the sun will be close to their heads. Remembering this situation will encourage one to work and get ready for the Hereafter.
During Hajj, the Muslims recall the memories of their ancestors from the prophets, scholars, pious and righteous people who went to this blessed House and trod on these great places. For instance, one may remember Ibraaheem (Ibrahim), May Allah Exalt his mention, and his migration with his wife and the afflictions and miracles that took place there. Also, one may remember the story of Ismaa‘eel (Ishmael) the one who was to be sacrificed, May Allah Exalt his mention, the building of the Ka‘bah, the proclamation of Hajj to the people, the Prophet who was brought up in this place, the persecution that he was subjected to at the hands of the disbelievers of the Quraysh, the Farewell Hajj, through which Allah The Almighty Perfected the religion and Completed His favor, and other great memories that connect the Muslims to such a blessed convoy and make them feel the importance of following their guidance and methodology.
There are many other meanings and benefits that are unlimited. Some of these benefits were mentioned without specifying them to indicate that they are various and abundant. They were mentioned in the verse in which Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {That they may witness benefits for themselves and mention the Name of Allah on known days.} [Quran 22:28]