ARE YOU A HAJI OR A TOURIST

Thousands of Muslims had gathered in the Haram of Mecca. All were performing Tawaf - going seven times round the Ka'ba - and loudly reciting Talbiyya. The noise was defeaning.

Abu Basir - the Blind Companion of Imam Ja'fer Sadiq a.s. was impressed, moved and touched by all he could hear. He exclaimed: "What a great number of Hujjaj!" Immediately, Imam Ja'fer Sadiq a.s. , who was standing besides him, replied that the noise was greater than the number of true Hajis. Imam then put his hands on the eyes of Abu Basir and asked him to see for himself. Abu Basir then saw that there were only a few human beings among the multitude. The rest were like Donkeys, Pigs and other animals, revealing their true inner selves.

Such people have been described in the Holy Qur'an in Sura e Munafiqun when Allah said: "And when you see them (the hypocrites), their persons will please, and if they speak, you will listen to their speech…. They are the enemy, therefore, beware of them…."

The noise they were making was like the braying of donkeys as described in the Holy Qur'an: "surely the most hateful of voices is braying of the donkeys" (Luqman: 31:19).

After completing the construction of House of Allah (Ka'ba), Allah, s.w.t., asked Prophet Ibrahim a.s.: "And proclaim among men the Pilgrimage; they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel, coming from every remote path." Haj: 22:27).

Prophet Ibrahim a.s. proclaimed the message, calling upon people to come for Haj. The call reached all human beings - born and yet unborn . Those who responded, will perform true Haj.

Immediately thereafter, Shaitan also called upon people to come to Mecca. His call also was responded to. Those who come to Mecca in response to Shaitan's call do not go for Haj but are tourists just visiting Mecca. Their hearts are not pure and their hearts turn ever harder. Allah describes such people in Qur'an: "There is a disease in their hearts, so Allah added to their disease and they shall have a painful chastisement because they lied." (Baqarah: 2:10).

Before embarking on a journey to Mecca, one should ask oneself a few questions:

Is the intention of performing Haj a pure intention for the sake of Allah and none other?

Imam Ja'fer Sadiq a.s. has said that there are two types of Haj. One is performed for the sake of people and the reward should be expected from them on the Day of Judgement. The other one is for none but Allah, s.w.t., and the reward should be expected from Him.

In the Qur'an, Allah says: "And for Allah, the pilgrimage of the House (of Allah) is obligatory upon the people who have strength to go there" (Aale Imran: 3:96).

For most of you, it will the First and Last Haj. Another such opportunity may never arise in your life-time.

Have you mentally prepared yourself for this Spiritual Journey?

Imam Ali a.s. has said that Allah, s.w.t., selected Mecca for His House towards which He invited people to come because it is a barren place, devoid of any attraction.

Do you know the significance, importance and value of this Holy Journey? What do you expect to gain from it? What are you going to lose, if you are not careful?

Have you read Dr. Ali Shariati's book "Haj"? Everyone must read this Book before proceeding for Haj.

Have you been concentrating much on physical comforts available there: accommodation, food, services, etc. ignoring the real purpose of Haj?

Is it important for you to have rooms in 5-Star Hotels with air-conditioning, food of your taste on order? Are you prepared to forgo some comforts and bear a little inconvenience so that it makes you remember HIM more intensely? Have you so soon forgotten the spiritual exercise of Fasting - which was only two months ago?

Have you read carefully the Dua of Imam Husein a.s. on the Day of Arafah and tried to understand it? Will you be reading it on the Plains of Arafah with true feelings and understanding?

Do you know that - according to Ahadith - someone not forgiven during the Holy Month of Ramadhan cannot expect forgiveness from Allah but on the Plains of Arafah? Will you be missing this opportunity?

Will you be serving other Hujjaj or expecting others to serve you? Will you be expecting to get your Cup of Tea prepared by someone for you? Will you be leaving others to carry your luggage, see to your comforts and be at your call whenever you want?

Imam Zainul Aabedin a.s. used to go for Haj incognito (unrecognised) and serve people during the journey. Once a person who knew him joined the caravan on the way to Mecca (from Medina). He reprimanded people for taking service from Imam a.s. The people apologised to Imam stating that they did not recognise him. Imam was very upset and reprimanded the person for introducing him as it denied him the benefit of serving others.

Are you going there only to serve others? Should you not go there to serve Allah, s.w.t. and His Creation?

Once someone visited Imam Ja'fer Sadiq a.s. after performing Haj and started praising a member of his Haj Caravan. He stated this man was very very pious indeed. During the whole journey, he did nothing but pray, recite Qur'an and Dua. Imam a.s. immediately asked "then who was attending to his needs"? He replied that he and others in the Caravan looked after him. Imam a.s. said that everyone of them was better than that "pious person". In Islam, a person who attends to his own needs and requirements and also helps others is btter than the so-called "pious persons".

Have you mentally and physically prepared yourself to serve others? Prophet Muhammad, s.a.w., has said: "I am not afraid that after me the Muslims will return to polytheism. I am worried of their bad planning."

Have you planned how will you spend your time in Haj? Will you be gossiping, chattering, doing ghibat or vain, useless talk? Have you memorised or taken Qur'an and Dua Books with you, for you to benefit from them? Will you be talking to Allah all the time or with the people around you? Will you be worried if Allah is pleased with you or what human beings will think of you?

Did you know that if you complete recitation of whole Qur'an on the Mountain of Marwa, Allah will forgive you your sins and fulfil all your wishes?

Do you know what you have to recite whilst performing Tawaf, Saee, Taksir..?

Do you know that you should be performing Mustahab Tawaf for Prophet Muhammad, s.a.w., all the Imams a.s., your relatives, friends, people of the city you come from and so on? Would you be remembering them or just thinking of yourself?

If you go without planning and preparation and come back without any change in you, you can be sure that you have answered the Call of Shaitan and not the Call of Prophet Ibrahim a.s.