Hajj (pilgrimage) is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is an Ibâdah (worship) carried out with wealth and body. It was ordained (made Fard) in the ninth year of the Hijrah (Emigration from Makkah to Madinah). Rasûlullâh (sallallâhu alayhi wa sallam) appointed Hadrat Abû Bakr (radiyallâhu anh) in charge of Hajj that year, and he performed it the following year.
It is Fard al-Ayn (obligatory for each individual) to perform Hajj once in a lifetime if the person meets the conditions of Hajj. If a person has sufficient financial means, but their health is not sound until the end of their life, they should send a Wakîl (representative) on their behalf to perform Hajj.
Rasûlullâh (sallallâhu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Islam is founded on five pillars: Kalimah Shahâdah (to bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah and Muhammad (sallallâhu alayhi wa sallam) is the slave and Prophet of Allah), Salâh, Zakâh, Fast (in the month of Ramadan) and to go for Hajj (pilgrimage).”
Some of the virtues and benefits of Hajj:
To humble oneself in the sight of Allah and to be humble towards people,
To fulfil the gratitude for the wealth and health Allah bestowed upon,
The Holy Ka‘bah calms down, comforts and enlivens the souls of people.
To purify the Nafs (lower self) and discipline it (Tarbiyah),
Muslims with different colours, and languages but with one faith assemble and form a strong bond with each other.
At each greeting of Hajar al-Asad (Aswad), the Mithâq (covenant) is remembered, and Îmân is renewed.
Seeing the sacred places where Islam began and spread, remembering the struggle Nabî (sallallâhu alayhi wa sallam) and his Sahâbah went through for the sake of Islam in numerous hardships,
Dressing up in Ihrâm resembles the journey of Âkhirah (hereafter) after being shrouded, resurrected from the grave and going to the plains of Mahshar.
Hajj leaves precious memories to be remembered for a lifetime in the minds and hearts of Muslims.