Reflections on Hajj and healing
On Hajj, the sense of cross-national fellowship, care and compassion negates the bigoted voices of Islamophobia – once and for all, Islam says NO to terrorism
The annual pilgrimage by Muslims to Mecca in Saudi Arabia is the largest single religious gathering in the world. It drew to a close last week.
Official figures show that 1 862 909 pilgrims took part in this year’s Hajj. Just over 1.3 million of them were from outside Saudi Arabia and almost 2 000 South Africans were accredited.
Many South Africans have to wait for years before getting visas, so my joy at being included in the most recent cohort of pilgrims was irrepressible.
It was my first Hajj. Over the years I heard horror stories from some about how difficult it is to perform Hajj.
My experience was completely different. My fears were all misplaced.
Saudi attention to detail and seamless comfort for the pilgrim was most commendable. The scale of the exercise is much bigger than events such as the Olympics.
Saudi police and soldiers were out in full force and safety measures were a priority following disasters in previous years.
The South African Hajj and Umrah Council (SAHUC), SA’s acting ambassdor to the Kingdom, Mohammed Abbas Khan, and Consul-General Shoayb Casoo ensured that pilgrims were well taken care of. They provided outstanding services to the “Hujjaj” (pilgrims), including free medical care.
I met pilgrims from across the globe: Fiji Islands, Barbados, Australia, America, Indonesia, India, Pakistan, the UK, Egypt, Nigeria, Ghana, Mozambique, Zambia and the list goes on and on.
Across the board, everyone from taxi drivers to shop owners loved South Africans.
Their faces would light up when they recognised our accents and they would say, “Janubi Africa!” Which translated is: “O South African!”
It’s an even more animated response when we say we’re from “Mandela’s Country”.
The sense of crossnational fellowship, care and compassion negates the bigoted voices of Islamophobia.
The “voices of my spiritual education” overtake me as I’m reminded to care for the hungry and poor.
I was part of a group of South African pilgrims who rallied together this Hajj to distribute food and water for other pilgrims.
Some 12 000 people benefited over a week, and a truckload of milk and juices was distributed over Hajj in Arafat. It was a small gesture.
Let’s not forget that unconditional charity forms part of our Abrahamic tradition.
I’m mentioning this simply to celebrate the spiritual and diplomatic benefits for South Africans.
Terror, arrogance, pride, classism are not at the heart of our Islamic tradition.
As a pilgrim, I was acutely aware that my mortality and my worldly achievements meant nothing. I had to rely on modelling piety and compassion.
My spiritual voices reminded me what Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) said: “Do you know what is better than charity and fasting? It is keeping peace and good relations between people, as quarrels and bad feelings destroy mankind.” (Bukhari)
It’s not a cliché to say that for me, Hajj 2016 was a journey of a lifetime.
It was a life-changing experience.
It provides Muslims with a massive spiritual boost and you leave the Hajj as a newborn baby – free from all sins.
The challenge is to keep the flag of God Almighty flying high and being an on-going ambassador for Islam.
It is our duty to submit to God’s Will by modelling the Prophetic values of “love to all – malice to none”, of justice, peace, care, service to humanity, to mention a few.
In Medina (Madinah), the feeling you get when you stand before the grave of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to offer your greetings is just deeply restorative, spiritually enveloping and majestic.
The vibrational energies are palpable as we hymn our praises to the Prophet, his companions and his family and plead that he intercedes on our behalf to God Almighty for Mercy and Grace on the Day of Judgement.
We moved onwards to the holiest city in the world for Muslims, Mecca.
In Mecca the architecture of the Grand Mosque itself is aesthetically pleasing and majestic, both inside and outside. Expansions are under way and the mosque, once fully completed, will accommodate 1.8 million pilgrims.
Staying over in Mina, the tent city, visiting Arafat and sleeping under the stars in Muzdalifa are part of the fiveday Hajj ritual.
The whole atmosphere, the realisation that you were in one of tthe most deeply spiritual places on earth, the sheer volume of people, the recitations, was pleasantly overwhelming, hypnotic and uplifting.
All pilgrims were stripped of their worldly status, since our humble garbs – the white two pieces of material, the “Ihram” – made us all equal. No brand names: it was truly a leveller.
A humbling experience for me was the taw’waf (circling) around the Ka’aba – the first house of worship dedicated to God, built by Prophet Adam – which is an act of worship; it is a ritual unique in the history of humankind.
It consists of walking seven times (anti-clock-wise) around the Ka’aba, simply praising God Almighty.
I was enacting what noble souls before me had done and exclaiming with tears in my eyes: “All praise be to God. There’s no God but God and there is none like him. Here I am at Your service O Allah, here I am. Here I am at Your service, You have no partner, here I am at Your service. For You alone is All Praise and All Grace, and for You alone is The Sovereignty. You have no partner.”
Another miracle for me was the sacred well of Zam Zam, which still exists within the precinct of the mosque.
Millions have been drinking its blessed water for generations and there seems no end of it.
Besides, it is required of all pilgrims to drink from the well, and as they do, they remember God and thank Him for his generous bounties and mercies.
This endless supply of healing water gushes forth at the spot in the desert where Prophet Abraham’s wife Hagar begged God Almighty to grant her water.
Another highlight for me, and the most cathartic experience, was the symbolic pelting of the devil – it’s really a rejection of all evil and an acceptance of submission to God Almighty’s will.
One becomes deeply reflective of life and living during Hajj. Yes, we live in a world of turmoil – so here we pray for global peace.
Islam is under attack and misconceptions about our religion are rife. Simply put: the love we saw here on Hajj, across colour, race, class, culture and gender lines, clearly negates the common bigoted media narrative.
Islam says NO to terrorism. The “voices of my spiritual education” say in the Noble Qur’an: “If anyone killed a person… to spread mischief in the land – it would be as if he killed all humankind, and if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of all humankind” (5:32).
That’s one of the reasons I decided to share my #Hajj2016 #AbramjeeOnHajj journey on social media platforms and on the mainstream media.
The “voices of my spiritual education” are indeed eminently suited for the 21st Century. Hence I’ve decided to spend the remainder of my life to “spiritualise my politics, and politicise my spirituality” for all of humankind as Muslims are supposed to, for the pleasure alone of God Almighty Allah.
The first groups of pilgrims arrived home at the weekend. The King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah was packed to capacity as tens of thousands of pilgrims prepared to leave. We had to check in some 10 hours before our scheduled departure.
Hajj 2016 will live in our hearts for ever. Yusuf Abramjee is a
social activist. Twitter: @abramjee