Lessons To Learn From Pilgrimage- The Holy Journey

By the break of the day; by the ten nights; by the even and the odd (contrasted); and the night when it passes away; Is there (not) in these an adjuration (or evidence) for those who understand? Al Fajr 89: 1-5

The first ten days of Dhul Hajj are the most sacred of the whole year and as Prophet Muhammad SAW said “there are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days”. (Al Tirmidhi).

The significance of worship in these ten days is not doubted at all, be it dhikr, fasting, praying or sacrifice but the most important thing is the ‘change’ which comes up in a person as an individual and which he takes back home from the house of Allah Almighty as a reward form Him.

Devotion and total submission to the Divine is the first and foremost lesson to be learnt. A believer is always ready to submit his total will to the Almighty on his first call without any hesitation and without giving it a thought or asking any question. The journey of pilgrimage builds such strong of a character in a Muslim which is described in Quran by Allah SWT as “we listen, and we obey” (Surah Al Baqarah 2: 285), a character who obeys and fulfills the command as and where given.

Forgiveness and giving space to others be it physical or emotional is a virtue which brings utter peace in one’s lives. The place where millions of believers spend their days and nights in open sky, making circumambulation together all in white cloth (ihram), stoning (rami), day of Arafah, stay in Mina would not be accomplished had there not been peace and harmony among the pilgrims ang giving respect and space to one other. If this lesson carried home, would make not only one’s life peaceful but also of many others surrounding him. For Allah SWT would forgive his own rights over His men but not of His people upon one another.

Pilgrims returning home being enriched morally and spiritually with their hearts purified with the idea of equality of mankind bring with them ultimate harmony, empathy, and respect for others irrespective of cast, creed color, nation and culture. As Allah SWT says “we created you from a single pair of a male and female (Adam and Eve) and made you into nations and tribes that you may know each other. The most honored of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you”. (Surah Al Hujrat 49:13)

Pilgrims enriched with a soul having all these indispensable attributes and virtues will bring up a world which Allah SWT ultimately desires from His people by training them through Pilgrimage.