There are many lessons that could be learned from Hajj and that have great benefits for individuals and the entire Ummah (Muslim nation).
Dear reader, the following are some of these lessons:
1. Gaining piety (fear of Allah The Almighty)
Piety is the aim of Hajj and the best of all matters as Allah The Almighty Advised the former and the latter peoples Saying (what means):
· {Hajj is [during] well-known months, so whoever has made Hajj obligatory upon himself therein [by entering the state of Ihraam], 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 (piety). And fear Me, O you of understanding.} [Quran 2:197]
· {Their meat will not reach Allah, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you.}[Quran 22:37]
· {That [is so]. And whoever honors the Symbols of Allah - indeed, it is from the piety of hearts.}[Quran 22:32]
The people of understanding whom Allah The Almighty chose to fear Him draw lessons from Hajj to obtain piety. They look at the origin of the Divine legislation and its important status in religion, and realize that true love for Allah The Almighty and slavery to Him are only achieved when one prefers what Allah The Almighty wills to what he personally wills.
A good example of this is Prophet Ibraaheem, may Allah exalt his mention, whom Allah The Almighty ordered to slaughter his only son, Ismaa‘eel, may Allah exalt his mention, the son that he was granted at an old age and the apple of his eyes.
This was a great trial that shows true faith and sincerity, as Prophet Ibraaheem, may Allah exalt his mention, gave all Muslims a great lesson in being sincere to Allah The Almighty by preferring what Allah The Almighty decreed to what he wanted regardless of how precious this matter was. Ibraaheem, may Allah exalt his mention, hastened to do what Allah The Almighty ordered him to do despite his deep love and great mercy and pity towards his beloved son, so he succeeded and passed the test. Allah The Almighty showed mercy to him and prevented the knife from cutting the throat of his son and ransomed Ismaa‘eel, may Allah exalt his mention, with a great sacrifice and made this a confirmed act of the Sunnah for Muslims until the Day of Judgment. This was a great lesson for Muslims to treat Allah The Almighty in the same way that they treat the ones they love and to sacrifice what they want for the sake of Allah The Almighty and what He loves.
If pilgrims grasped this meaning and realized this great secret for which sacrifices were legislated, they would return after performing Hajj with these great lessons and they would never slacken or refrain from fulfilling the orders of Allah The Almighty. They would never prefer the joy of sleeping to praying Fajr (Dawn prayer).
Love of money would never prevent them from abandoning cheating, injustice, Riba, giving less than what is due or selling merchandise by making false oaths.
Love of desires and women would never prevent them from lowering their gaze, maintaining their chastity and guarding their private parts in order to prefer what Allah The Almighty loves to what their souls love seeking the reward and satisfaction of Allah The Almighty in this life and the Hereafter.
Love of this life would not prevent them from spending money and sacrificing their soul in the Way of Allah The Almighty.
You can compare many other matters to these ones.
This is how the people of understanding learn the great lessons of Hajj in order to gain piety.
2. Getting used to Thikr (Remembrance of Allah)
Thikr is the greatest aim of all acts of worship and it is greatly manifested in Hajj. This is because Tawaaf, Sa‘y and throwing the pebbles were all legislated in order to remember Allah The Almighty according to the narrations of the Prophet, .
When pilgrims remember Allah The Almighty constantly while performing these acts of worship, they feel assured, have peace of mind and draw closer to Him. Consequently, this will get them accustomed to remembering Allah The Almighty after Hajj.
(To be continued)