The Pilgrimage
is the fifth Pillar of Islam.
All things come
from Allah, fulfil a function, and return to Allah. The Pilgrimage symbolises
the journey of man towards physical and worldly death and the return to Allah,
a journey he is usually unconscious of, and turns the whole of life consciously
into such a Pilgrimage.
For this purpose
the Kaaba in Mecca
symbolises the House of Allah on earth, and also the heart of the believer
wherein Allah also dwells. It represents the centre of the Universe or the
Throne of God, as well as the centre of life, of the Muslim community, and the
centre of the mind to which all things are linked and around which they
revolve. It is the centre of orientation that gives meaning and value to the
lives and existence of all Muslims and all Muslim nations. It is the centre
towards which all Muslims pray throughout their lives, but the pilgrimage
actually takes them there - what was a thought has become an actuality and a
longing has been transformed into realization. The rites and ceremonies
performed have a deep psychological significance, and is usually a very
profound experience for those who participate in it. When life is lived
according to the precepts of the religion and the mind is in a suitable
condition, the Pilgrimage can transform the individual. It acts like an
initiation or precipitating factor. This may be compared to water that is
heated over a long period until, at boiling point, it is suddenly transformed
into steam.
It brings
together Muslims from all over the world and consolidates their brotherhood.
They are required to wear only a white unsewn piece of cloth in order to remove
all worldly distinctions between them. This is a symbol for having no worldly
attachments, and therefore, of worldly death. The Pilgrim is required to
cultivate good thoughts, abstain from sexual relationships, evil actions and
thoughts and from quarrelling. The Pilgrims go round the Kaaba seven times in
an anti-clockwise direction in reverence and prayerfulness with minds concentrated
on the significance of what they are doing. The journey itself requires
planning and preparation and involves efforts that are done entirely for a
spiritual purpose.
“The
pilgrimage is (in) well-known months: whosoever then makes it incumbent on
himself (let him have neither) commerce with women, nor fornication, nor a
quarrel on the pilgrimage; and whatsoever of good ye do, Allah knoweth it; then
provide yourself for your journey; but the best provision is piety. Fear ye me
ye who possess understanding. It is no crime to you that ye seek the bounty of
your Lord; but when ye pour forth from Arafat, remember Allah by the Sacred Monument.
Remember Him how He guided you, although ye were, before this, surely of those
who are in error. Then quickly pass ye forth from whence it is usual for
multitudes to pour forth and ask pardon of Allah; verily, Allah is Forgiving
and Merciful. And when ye have performed your rites, remember Allah as ye
remember your fathers, or with a keener memory still. There is among men such as says: Our Lord!
give us in this world; but then they have no portion in the Hereafter. And some
there be who say: Our Lord! give us in this world good and good in the
Hereafter; and defend us from the torment of the fire! ” 2:197-201
The Pilgrimage
structures the entire life of the Muslim. He is required to make the Pilgrimage
at least once in his life time, but only when he has settled his worldly
affairs. He, therefore, arranges his whole life to achieve this goal. The goal
of life becomes a spiritual one, and itself becomes a pilgrimage. The Pilgrim,
the Hajji, is honoured in his community and, therefore, provides a constant
incentive for others in the community to achieve the same result. However,
there is a danger that this may produce a false goal, not to reinforce their
devotion to Allah, but to gain honour in their community. Needless to say this
produces no spiritual benefits, though there may still be social benefits.
Here, as elsewhere, the individual must be self-aware and confront himself with
the clear intention to perform the pilgrimage. This involves purification of
motives and constant striving for self-improvement.
An elaborate
description of the rituals of the Pilgrimage is probably valueless since its
main value is confined to the inner experience of those who participate, and
then only when the mind has been suitably prepared over many years.