The
Universal Lessons of Hajj
Faisal Kutty
Millions of pilgrims from all over the world will be converging on
Mecca
in the coming days. They will retrace the footsteps of millions who have
made the spiritual journey to the
valley
of
Mecca
since the time of Adam.
Hajj literally means, "to continuously strive, to reach one's
goal." It is the last of the five pillars of Islam (the others
include a declaration of faith in one God, five daily prayers, offering
regular charity, and fasting during the month of Ramadan). Pilgrimage is a
once-in-a-lifetime obligation
for those who have the physical and financial ability to undertake the
journey.
The Hajj is essentially a re-enactment of the rituals of the great
prophets and teachers of faith. Pilgrims symbolically relive the
experience of exile and atonement undergone by Adam and Eve after they
were expelled from Heaven, wandered the earth, met again and sought
forgiveness in the
valley
of
Mecca
. They also retrace the frantic footsteps of the wife of Abraham,
Hagar, as she ran between the hills of Safa and Marva searching for water
for her thirsty baby (which according to Muslim tradition, God answered
with the well of Zam Zam). Lastly, the pilgrims also commemorate the
willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son for the sake of God. God
later substituted a ram in place of his son.
Yet, the Hajj is more than these elaborate rituals. The faithful
hope that it will bring about a deep spiritual transformation, one that
will make him/her a better person. If such a change within does not
occur, then the Hajj was merely a physical and material exercise devoid of
any spiritual
significance. As all great
religions teach, we are more than mere physical creatures in that we
possess an essence beyond the material world. Indeed, this is why
all great religions have a tradition of pilgrimage. In the Islamic
tradition, Hajj encapsulates this spiritual journey toward this essence.
The current state of affairs -- both within and outside the Muslim world
-- greatly increases the relevance of some of the spiritual and universal
messages inherent in the Hajj.
As Islamic scholar Ebrahim Moosa asks rhetorically: “after paying homage
to the two women Eve and Hagar in the rites of pilgrimage, how can some
Muslims still violate the rights and dignity of women in the name of
Islam? Is this not a contradiction?”
Indeed, the Qur’an teaches: "I shall not lose sight of the
labor of any of you who labors in my way, be it man or woman; each of you
is equal to the other.” (3:195)
Clearly, the white sea of men and women side by side performing tawaf
(circling) around the Kaaba (the stone building Muslims believe was
originally built by Adam and rebuilt by Abraham and his son Ishmael)
should lay to rest any claim that Islam -- as opposed to some Muslims –
degrades women.
The fact
that millions of Muslims transcending geographical, linguistic, level of
practice, cultural, ethnic, color, economic and social barriers converge
in unison on
Mecca
, attests to the universality of the Hajj. It plants the seed to
celebrate the diversity of our common humanity. Pilgrims return home
enriched by this more pluralistic and holistic outlook and with a new
appreciation for their own origins.
One of the most celebrated Western Hajjis (one who has completed the Hajj)
is none other than African-American civil rights leader El-Hajj Malik El
Shabbaz, more commonly known as Malcolm X. The man who was renowned
for preaching that whites were "devils" -- especially the blond,
blue-eyed ones -- profoundly reassessed these views during the Hajj.
This transformation, of course, sealed his break with the Black
nationalist movement of the Nation of Islam.
Contrary to the teachings of the Nation, he concluded that Islam
encompassed all of humanity and transcended race and culture. Malcolm X
later said, "In my 39 years on this Earth, the holy city of
Mecca
had been the first time I had ever stood before the Creator of all and
felt like a complete human."
In
Mecca
, he discovered himself mixing with, "fellow Muslims, whose eyes were
the bluest of blue, whose hair was the blondest of blond, and whose skin
was whitest of white." Malcolm X was so inspired by what he
witnessed, that, in letters to friends and relatives, he wrote, "
America
needs to understand Islam, because this is the one religion that erases
from its society the race problem."
Upon returning to
America
, he embarked on a mission to enlighten both blacks and whites with his
new views. Malcolm X understood that in order to truly learn from
the Hajj, its inherent spiritual lessons must extend beyond the fraternal
ties of Muslims to forging a common humanity with others.
In fact, as part of the spiritual experience, the pilgrimage links people
across religions through a past shared by several Abrahamic traditions.
This combined with the Islamic teaching of the common origin of
humanity holds out much hope. Indeed, the Qur’an teaches:
“We created you from a single pair of a male and female (Adam and Eve),
and made you into nations and tribes that ye may know each other and not
that you might despise each other. The most honored of you in the sight of
God is the most righteous of you” (Al Hujurat: 13). This is a
great celebration of the differences and at the same time unity of all of
humanity.
Another essential spiritual message of the Hajj is one of humility to God
and His supremacy and control over all that we know. The multitude
of people and their inner beliefs and practices are all to be judged by
God and God alone in His infinite wisdom and full knowledge. Indeed,
as the Qur’an insists, "Let there be no compulsion in matters of
faith, truth stands out clear from error." (2: 256)
The result of a successful Hajj is a rich inner peace, which is manifested
outwardly in the values of justice, honesty, respect, generosity,
kindness, forgiveness, mercy and empathy. And it is these values – all
attributes of God almighty -- that are indispensable to us all if we are
just to get along in this world.
About the
Author:
Faisal Kutty is a lawyer, writer and doctoral candidate at Osgoode Hall
Law School of York University. He is also vice chair of the Canadian
Council on American Islamic Relations. His articles are archived at www.faisalkutty.com
His
articles have appeared in the Toronto Star, Montreal Gazette, Ottawa
Citizen, National Post, Buffalo News, etc. His work has also
appeared in Al Ahram Weekly (
Egypt
), Arab News and the Indian Express. He is also a regular
contributor to the Lawyers Weekly.
E-mail: kutty@bakshkutty.com
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