God Commands All to Make Hajj Pilgrimage
God in other verses about Hajj addresses not just Muslims but all humans:
“Proclaim the pilgrimage to the people. They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel, they shall come from every deep ravine that they witness profitable things for them and mention the Name of Allah on well known days over the flocks which He has provided them.” (Verses 27 and 28 of Surah Al-Hajj)
God has invited all people to gather together in a special place at a special time and circumambulate a house in His remembrance and in order to transcend time and place and join Him and in His company reach peace and security and feel a halo of sanctity around themselves.
God said, “Whichever way you turn, there is the Face of Allah.” (Verse 115 of Surah Al-Baqarah) Now if He has specified a special place (for people to gather), it is because we do not know where to go in the desert of this world to meet Him.
It is also for us humans to get to know each other and become friends and see the Creator in the mirror of each other.
We can hold congresses in Hajj and trade our knowledge and culture. For some time, we abandon things that cause neglect and injustice and prevent us from developing friendships and kindness. We all wear the same kind of clothing and face each other with our humanity alone.
When we take part in this great exhibition of Hajj we can feel the scene of the Day of Judgment when we should stand before God with a pure heart not with our wealth or position. We push away the devil of selfishness by expressing love and friendship.
For a few days, we abandon dispute sand conflicts and speak to one another with a sweet language. We stop looking in the mirror of selfishness and turn our view from worldly desires to heavens and angels, thinking about more sublime joys. And when we return home, we try to maintain these good feelings and characteristics.
We should sacrifice this animal Nafs (self). God told Abraham (AS) to build a house for Him in this barren land, and when he did, God said now invite people to this house.
Abraham (AS) said: No one is here in this barren desert to hear me. How can the voice of an old man like me cross deserts and seas and reach the world people?
God said: You invite people with your shaking voice and I will take it to all people.
And that is what happened as today thousands of thousands of people accept the divine invitation every year and travel to Mecca to visit this house.
Translated by Seyed Hossein Beheshti Shakib
