By Mawlānā Muḥammad Zakariyyah Kandhlawī
Every step that we take towards the blessed lands of Makkah Mukarramah on this blessed journey bears many reminders from which a believer should take lesson from. Below are a few:
1) As we embark on this great journey we leave everything behind. Similarly, we will leave this world empty handed.
2) Boarding one’s vehicle is akin to being placed in one’s coffin. Some bid farewell from home, some are with us till we board our vehicle, and some close ones accompany us till we board the plane. Similarly, some will only be with us till we leave this world, some will participate in our janazāh ṣalāh and our near and dear ones will be there till our burial.
3) Wearing the iḥrām is a reminder of ones kafan (funeral shrouds).
4) Facing the struggles of the journey: passport checks, immigration, interrogation is reminiscent of the questioning of Munkar and Nakīr (angels who test the faith of the dead in their graves), the passport-check of Imān, and the visa check of Islam.
5) Entering the sacred city of Makkah is akin to entering the realm of the Hereafter.
6) The first glance of the House of Allah reminds us of being given the honour to look at Allah in Jannah and making ṭawāf (circumambulation around the Kaʿbah) of the Kaʿbah reminds us of the Angels that make ṭawāf of the Throne of Allah.
7) Running from Mount Ṣafā to Marwa reminds us of running in desperation on the Day of Judgement.
8) The plain of ʿArafah reminds us of the day of rising.
9) The different groups of people with their tour guides in Mina and Muzdalifah remind us of the various nations with their Prophets on the Day of Judgement.
10) Returning from ḥajj serves as a reminder of returning to Allah.”
Extracted from Faḍāil-e-Ḥajj
Courtesy of Bahr-ul-Midād Publications
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