Hajj-A Symbol Of Tawheed (Monotheism)

Fellow Muslims! The greatest issue and the obligation upon every human being is At-Tawheed (to have belief in the oneness of Allah and to act in accordance to it.) It is only with Tawheed that one attains good and comfort and without it one’s lot will be misery and hardship. That is why no stage of the Prophet’s mission was devoid of calling into Tawheed and waging war against Shirk and its manifestations. All pillars of Islam confirm the importance of Tawhied and embody it, for it is the root of those pillars, while the pillars are its branches and fruit.

Hajj, which is one of the pillars of Islam, is a great symbol of the actualisation of Tawheed in one’s worship, direction and aim. Allah says: “And for every nation We have appointed religious ceremonies, that they may mention the Name of Allah over the beast of cattle that He has given them for food. And your Ilaah (God) is one Ilaah, so you must submit to Him alone (in Islam). And (O Muhammad!) give glad tidings to the Mukhbitin (those who obey Allah with humility and are humble from among the true believers of Islamic Monotheism).” (Al Hajj: 34).

Dear brothers, let us now study some illustrations that reveal the spirit of Hajj in the light of these points:

The Prophet entered into the state of Ihraam with At-Tawheed. Jaabir said, “And he started his Ihraam with At-Tawheed when he said:

“Labbayka Allahumma Labbayk, Labbayka Laa Shareeka Laka Labbayk. Innal-Hamda Wan-Ni'mata Laka Wal-Mulk, Laa Shareeka Lak”.

(Meaning: I respond to Your call, O Allah I respond to Your call. I respond to Your call, You have no partner. I respond to Your call. Indeed, the praise and grace are yours as well as sovereignty. You have no partner).

One must raise his voice with it for, the Prophet   said, “The best Hajj is the one in which the voice is raised with Talbiyah and blood of sacrificial animals flow.” It is a Talbiyah of the one who feels that all acts of worship should compulsorily be directed to Allah alone and realises the danger of shirk and other destructive sins; a Talbiyah of the one who sacrifices to none but Allah, calls none but Allah and seeks relief from none except Allah. The pilgrim keeps on reciting this talbiyah until he casts the pebbles of Jamratul-'Aqabah.

It is authentically reported from the Prophet that during his Tawaaf he only touched the Yamanee Corner and Al-Hajar Al-Aswad. If the pilgrim however finds difficulty in touching them he should point to Al-Hajar Al-Aswad and say, “Allahu Akbar” once as he passes by it. As regards the Yamanee Corner, he should not point to it if he cannot touch it. This is done in order to come closer to Allah, and carry out His commandments. Allah says: “So let them worship the Lord of this House.” (Quraish: 3).

The Prophet also said, “Circumambulation of the House; running between Safaa and Marwa, and casting the pebbles is only ordained for establishment of the remembrance of Allah.” These rites were performed by the Prophet solely for the purpose of worshipping Allah, and not for the purpose of seeking blessings there from. That is why ‘Umar said when kissing Al-Hajar Al-Aswad, “By Allah! I know that you are only a stone. You neither benefit nor harm. If it were not that I saw the Prophet kissing you, I would not have kissed you.” (Bukhaari & Muslim).