Unto this year’s pilgrims to Makkah ( II)

In the name of the Almighty, the Beneficent, the Merciful Pilgrimage thereto is a duty, humanity owe the Almighty for those who can afford the journey… ( Q3: 97)

IT needs no emphasis that hajj rites that would be accepted by the Almighty from His servants are the ones which are prosecuted with lawful means. In other words, a governor who diverts public fund into providing Hajj seats to some Muslims with the intention to maintain their political patronage would suffer double jeopardy . He would be held to account for bad governance of the state under his watch; he would equally be held to account for transacting in spiritual corruption.

To embark on the journey to Makkah and Madinah for the hajj equally means the Hajji and the Hajjah are prepared for any eventuality. Thus Islam demands that before y ou set out on the journey that you write your will not because you feel you are going to transit to the great beyond during the journey but simply because as Muslims, we are expected to live with the constant consciousness of death; that death is inevitable, that it will come at any point in time. Since not every pilgrim who goes on Hajj enjoys the privilege of returning home to his or her family, then it would be in line with Islamic law for you to write your will in line with Quran chapter 2: 180- 182.

Brethren, going to Hajj means we are prepared to be tested by the Almighty. In other words, though Hajj means the embarkation on the best spiritual journey for the Muslims, it is equally, and quite ironically, the greatest platform upon which our claims as Muslims, our posturing as servants of the Almighty can come to the fore. Thus, while packing your luggage, do not forget to include, patience and perseverance; as you are stepping on the airplane, do not forget your coat of piety and sacrifice. Brethren, was it not in paradise that Prophet Adam and Hawa ( Upon them be peace) were tested? If you are given to quarrel, if you are the type who always wants people to say sorry to him when he is stepped upon, if you are highly irascible and very temperamental, then you have to re- read your resolve to embark on the journey to Makkah and Madinah. Hajj is the only journey on earth which provides humans with the greatest opportunity to be successful here and in the hereafter. Ironically, it equally has the greatest potential for a carefree pilgrim to lose eternal redemption. Such a pilgrim would be he who engages in illicit conduct while on hajj; such would be the worshipper who vitiates his rites of hajj through acts of brigandage and rebellion. Remember those political jobbers who are usually given tickets to go on hajj only for them to get there and begin to cause mayhem and strife. Brethren, ask those pilgrims who organized what they called “sabaka night” in Minnah where the evidence for such activity can be found in Islamic texts.