A Guide for Intending Pilgrims
Hajj is one of the important pillars of religion Islam. It demands clarity of intention (niyyah) and complete surrender before Allah Almighty. It is considered to a stage where Muslims can test their physical and spiritual nature as it requires body effort and clear heart and intentions. There are certain things regarding niyyah that Muslims must know before performing Hajj,
1. People who plan to visit Allah’s house and perform pilgrimage must have pure niyah. They should express their gratitude of visiting that holy place and must do it with the only intention of pleasing Lord Almighty. Pure niyah means that person is performing hajj only for sake of Allah and to fulfill the demands of his beloved prophet. In Islam the reward for a specific deed solely depends on person’s niyyah. Therefore sincerity to the cause is extremely important here.
2. Performing Hajj is obligatory and is essential once in lifetime if he has adequate resources. A person should perform this holy farz with pure intention. In other offerings of Islam people can develop ikhlaas with time but in case of Hajj it is mandatory as it can’t be repeated soon. In the entire journey of Hajj, purity of intention is very important as niyaah holds great importance in this religion.
3. As Hajj is one the strong pillars of Islam therefore it is important to keep it aside from worldy evils and ulterior motives. If you believe you can fulfill Islamic objectives by blending them with worldly aims, you will fail to please Allah. Three main kinds of adulteration that are possible while performing Hajj are as follows:
• Performing Hajj with sole purpose of getting the title of Hajji will ruin its true meaning.
• Using illegal money for performing Hajj is unacceptable.
• Engaging in improper activities and task during Hajj is also considered wrong.
4. Showing off (Riyaa) your money, resources or boasting over anything you have will ruin the true essence of performing Hajj. You should spend your time peacefully and try to fulfill all ibadaats and saalat. Avoid emphasizing the difficulties you face during this journey and try to highlight the good things about the place and this task. It should be known to all Muslims that any kind of difficulty that is endured in this holy journey is a sacrifice for Allah and person will be rewarded for his difficulties and sufferings in the afterlife. Allah (SWT) promises to compensate his people for their problems.
