Have We Said Goodbye to Hajj?

Have we really said goodbye to Hajj? Yes, we have. Hajj is over for this year. The practical rites of Hajj, where over one million and seven hundred thousand (1.7m) Muslims gathered, are completed. The coming together of Muslims around the Ka’bah, the holiest place in Islam, is finished. The influx of Muslims into Makkah, which happens every year during the first nine days of Dhul Hijjah, has wrapped up.

Makkah stays as a unique city. It is still a place of wonder. The rocky and desert-like landscape of Makkah continues to be a stronghold of Islamic spirituality. For those who have just left Makkah, it is time to remember. For other Muslims, it is just the beginning as they arrive for Umrah.

Dear Hajji, think back to your time in Makkah. Remember the Ihram you wore. The Ihram was a reminder of your temporary status on earth. It showed the impermanence of your life and place in this world. So, keep your Ihram in mind. Those loose white garments you wore for your Umrah and Hajj rites. Those same loose white garments you had on when you first arrived in Makkah. Remember those garments you will wear when leaving this world.

Remember, dear new Hajji. Recall the first moment you stepped into the Kaaba. Remember the words you said: "I have come, O! My Lord! I have come." By coming to your Lord, you enter into a promise with Him. You agree to follow His path and not listen to other powers. "Labbayka Allahuma Labayka...".

Remember, dear new Hajja. Think about your walking around the Kaaba. The Kaaba is the first house built for worship. It is the first sacred house on earth. Remember how you joined the crowd; remember how you walked around from right to left, in an anti-clockwise direction. You circled the Kaaba just as blood flows in your body. Before this, you may have been someone important in your area. But once you became a pilgrim, you lost that identity. Now, you are just one of many. The important person became ordinary; he became part of the crowd. The choice of where you end up matters most. Will it be hell or paradise? The decision is yours.

Dear new Hajji, hold on to your memories from Makkah and the Kaaba. Recall your runs (the Sa’yy) between Safa and Marwa. You ran between those hills like Hajar did when searching for water for her baby, Ismail. Hajar was driven by a mother's love. She could not ignore her baby's suffering. In the dryness of the desert, she searched with faith that she would find water. She believed that somewhere near the Kaaba, she would find what she needed for herself and her child. So, your run between the hills was not just for fun. It shows that you should seek Him, your Creator, not run away from Him. The hills of Safa and Marwa symbolize the challenges of life. Life has its ups and downs; it has needs and wants. But in between these struggles often lie the blessings of life. Water flowed from beneath baby Ismail's feet as a response to the Almighty's command. The dry land turned lush; the hill became a source of life; problems turned into solutions. Zamzam has flowed since that day, and there is no stopping the blessings of God when it is time for them to come your way.

Remember all these things and more. Remember your time standing on the plains of Arafat on the ninth day of Dhul Hijjah. Keep this memory close. Remember that Arafah serves as a reminder. It signifies the coming of resurrection, the day we all will stand before Him for judgment. Hold onto this and more.

But has Hajj truly ended? I say no. The Hajj experience ends only for those who have never gone. The circle around the Kaaba never ends for those who carry the Almighty in their hearts.