These reflections were written following my Hajj trip in 1430/2009. Some of those memories were pleasant, others were a cause for concern, and some were outright scary. I am sharing those memories because they are still as relevant today (1447/2026) as they were 17 years ago.
It was very encouraging to see more young people recognizing the importance of Hajj as an act of worship. I have been noticing a trend that started to crystallize a few years back. In the Canadian group I was with, the presence of young people, especially couples, was a cause of great satisfaction. A large number of these young Hajjis were professionals. Islamic rejuvenation was evident through their inquiries, attendance at study circles, dedication to night prayers, and clear attempts to purify their inner selves (Tazkiyah).
I continued to notice a serious lack of information in regard to the rituals of Hajj. For the majority of Hajjis, these rituals represented a real challenge because the methods of preparation for the journey were inadequate. Attending a single seminar before starting the journey fell short of providing first-timers with the necessary support. Planning should start no later than the month of Rabi-al-Awwal for those contemplating Hajj in the same year. A series of seminars should be organized, one of which ought to be a hands-on virtual reality demonstration of all the rituals. Even with that much preparation, Hajj organizers/travel agencies should be prepared to provide a trained staff person to stay full-time with a group of Hajjis that should not exceed twenty people. That staff person who is familiar with all aspects of Hajj ought to provide the much-needed sense of security, especially for those who get easily stressed out in overwhelming circumstances. No one can deny that during Hajj, circumstances can become quite overwhelming.
Inadvertently, Hajj operators like hotel owners, travel agencies, and even individuals who have jumped into the arena for easy financial gain, have added a new dimension to Ayah 97 of Surat Aal’ Imran (3): "...and pilgrimage to the House (at Makkah) is a duty to God for all people who can afford the journey.” The cost of an average package has already become prohibitive for the majority of Muslims. If a husband and wife want to go together, they should expect to spend at least $ 20,000. How many people can afford this?
There is absolutely no need, nor is it recommended, to provide Hajjis with lavish meals at five-star hotels. Actually, this is counterproductive and shifts people's focus from the act of worship to how precisely the promised arrangements are delivered. I have seen the height of frustration when people who have spent thousands of dollars end up staying at the wrong hotel or eating a meal that is not 100% to their satisfaction because of long line-ups. Boxed meals in a safe environment and an efficient operation are all that any Hajji needs for the ultimate Hajj experience. The money saved on food and five-star accommodation can provide adequate staffing, and plenty will still be left over.
Why are we breaking the very spirit of Hajj by creating classes of Hajjis? Why is it that some people who can afford it may perform Hajj in style, while those who cannot afford it end up at the lower end of things as far as the quality of services is concerned? Furthermore, as stated earlier, how can Hajj organizers and hungry profit seekers face Allah SWT on the Day of Judgement when asked about their actions that stopped people from performing Hajj. Authorities should immediately implement the control measures that are currently lacking. Executive VIP packages should be banned because they shift Hajjis’ attention from seeking spiritual satisfaction to worrying about the physical arrangements promised in the package.
Wasting food is another major observation that one cannot ignore. I cannot even describe how much food ends up in the garbage. This is in violation of Ayah 31 of Surat Al-A’raf (7) as well as many other Ayat that carry the same meaning: “... and eat and drink, but be not prodigal, for God loves not the prodigals." Muslims need to understand that Hajj is not a series of mechanical rituals but rather an intense training course to reshape our behavior and align it with the Divine Will. Towards that objective, a pilgrim may not even uproot a weed or hurt an animal if it is not causing him any harm. How could one understand the true meaning of sacrifice while feasting in an environment that is expected to feature moderation and balance?
Another cause for concern is the struggle to ensure one's own comfort at the expense of others. How many Hajjis have fought their way to kiss the Black Stone and stayed put after achieving their goal? How many stick like glue to the Multazam and ignore the thousands trying to reach the same spot? How many have formed circles around one or two individuals to allow them to pray immediately behind the Station of Ibrahim? How many fight so hard to get to the Zamzam water fountains, and once they turn a blind eye to the hundreds of Hajjis behind them? How many push their way to the Rawda at the Prophet's Masjid and camp there for the rest of the day without any regard for the thousands who are seeking the same rewards? How could Muslims believe that by such behavior they will gain God's pleasure, when in fact they are contributing to the pain and even agony of thousands of other Muslims? What happened to the Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) “No one among you will attain genuine faith until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself".?
I am quite aware of the Quranic injunction mentioned in Ayah 198 of Surat Al-Baqarah (2): "It is not sinful for you to seek the bounty of your Lord God (by engaging in trade and commerce during pilgrimage)." However, many pilgrims end up shifting their priorities from maximizing spiritual gain to hunting for shopping deals. Many people miss the opportunity to pray at the Haram Al-Makki in Al-Madini because they are busy concluding a shopping deal. Pilgrims should be made aware that one prayer at Al-Masjid Al-Haram is equivalent in reward to a hundred thousand prayers elsewhere, and a prayer at Al-Masjid An-Nabawi is equivalent in reward to a thousand prayers elsewhere. Knowing that, how could anyone miss a single prayer at Al-Haram, whether in Makkah or Medinah?
Another issue of concern is the focus on splitting hairs regarding minute Fiqhi issues, at the expense of spiritual growth. Can toothpaste be used during Ihram? Can a man in Ihram cover himself with a blanket if it gets very cold? What if one ends up throwing 8 stones instead of 7 at the Jamarah? Can a husband talk to his wife while in a state of Ihram? I am not, by any chance, advocating overlooking the Fiqh of pilgrimage, but we need to redirect people's attention to the real objective of Hajj. There is a Prophetic tradition reported by Abdallah Bin ‘Amr Bin Al-’Aas that shows that the Prophet (PBUH) would never be asked a question regarding the rituals of Hajj without him saying, "continue without a problem! / If'al Wala ‘Haraj". Hajj, by far, commands the most variation in fiqh interpretations. Whereas, Muslims enjoyed years of learning the fiqh of Salat, Zakat, and Siyam directly from the Prophet (PBUH), they had only one opportunity to learn the fiqh of Hajj. During his Farewell Pilgrimage, the Prophet (PBUH) was reported to have said: "Follow my example in performing the rituals of Hajj. Perhaps I may not be with you next year." How could 100,000 people have learned the rituals of Hajj firsthand from the Prophet? Such was the cause of variation. As a result, pilgrims should stop the practice of Fatwa shopping, tolerate the inevitable minor differences in Hajj practices, and focus on the spiritual outcome of Hajj.
A unique memory of this year’s Hajj is the sad reality of how vulnerable Muslims can be. The Mutawif of Arab countries told me he had received instructions from the Minister of Hajj to separate the camps of Egyptians, Algerians, and Sudanese following the riots that ensued as a result of soccer play-offs that turned Muslim brothers against each other. I could not believe my eyes towards the end of my stay in Medinah, before leaving for Makkah, as pilgrims in Ihram filled the hotel lobby and started cheering for their favorite team.
This Hajj season will be remembered for the floods that covered the area on the 8th of Zul-Hijjah. Pilgrims were in Mina preparing for the beginning of Hajj the following day. The clouds were so thick, and rain poured for close to 6 hours. Pilgrims in Ihram tried very hard to divert water from the tents. Even though they were partially successful, many tents could not escape the water's rage. A rumor circulated that the Saudis performed Salat Al-Istisqa’a a week earlier, and their du’a was answered on the Day of Tarwiya (Water), 8th of Zul-Hijjah. Following the floods in Mina, pilgrims enjoyed a glorious day in Arafat. It was a day of Zikr, Quranic reading, du'a, and prayers. As usual, the open-air dua’a led by Imams in Arabic, English, and Urdu was the climax of the day, with tears flowing freely and sobbing audible from a distance.
I want to end on a positive note regarding the future of the logistical arrangements for Hajj. I was told by one of the Mutawifs that within a couple of years, suspended monorails will start to replace cars and buses in order to reduce pollution and traffic jams. This year, 32,000 vehicles with fewer than 25 passengers were banned from the extended area of the Haram.
I ask Allah subhanahu wat’ala to help me maintain my sincerity in providing advice solely for His sake. "They were not commanded save to worship God with sincerity in that they do." (Al-Bayyinah 98:5)