Hajj has been the part of our heritage for thousands of years. This magnificent way is more effective and powerful than any other ever conceived, to propagate our movement throughout the world and keep it alive for all eternity. This universal movement is more powerful than any other, drawing out people in the name of God and making them into a brotherhood transcending race, color and nationality

Year after year for centuries, hundreds of thousands of adherents of Islam, gather at one place, travel along various routes, pass through villages, towns and cities and demonstrate their faith through their words and deeds.

It was in Mecca that prophet Ibrahim and his son prophet Ismail, built the Holy Ka’ba, the center of the Islamic movement, on a site chosen by Allah Himself. This building was not intended for worship only, as mosques are; its purpose was to act as the center for spreading the universal movement of Islam, a world-wide gathering point for believers in God to assemble to worship Allah and go back to their respective countries carrying with them the message of Islam. This was the assembly, which was named Hajj.

Hajj the final pillar of Islam and is obligatory, at least once in a lifetime, upon all sane Muslims, who reach the age of puberty and are physically and financially able to make the journey. When we perform the Hajj rites properly, we attain tremendous rewards, including Allah’s forgiveness of all our past sins. This means our eternal happiness and success in Paradise.

Prophet Mohammed said, “He who came to this House (the Ka’bah) (with the intention in performing Hajj) without speaking or committing indecencies, would return (free from sin) as on the day his mother bore him.” (Muslim, 2/3129)

Islam teaches us to promote brotherhood and righteousness among ourselves. Performing Hajj increases our Faith. It makes us realise Allah's justice and equal treatment of all people who believe in Him. Muslims from different parts of the world, irrespective of race and socio-economic status in life, wear the same prescribed simple clothing, utter the same supplications and perform the same religious rituals during Hajj for the same purpose of pleasing the Creator.

Although people carry out the external trappings of these precious gifts, their minds have no concept of their inner significance. They have no concern for their outcome. They imitate the actions of their forebears, but it is a stereotyped imitation, devoid of comprehension or spiritual content. How can good results be expected out of such exercises?

It is very unfortunate to see that every year, thousands of pilgrims go to the center of Islam and come back after having had the privilege of performing Hajj, without that experience having had the slightest effect on them. Nor do they make any impact on those they meet upon their return or live with. Worse, many of them continue to exhibit their bad habits and bad manners; thus the very name of Islam is tarnished by their behavior.

They should understand that the journey to Hajj is quite different in nature. It is not meant for any personal end, but is undertaken solely for Allah and the fulfillment of the duty prescribed by Allah. Nobody can be prepared to undertake this journey until and unless he has love of Allah in his heart as well as fear of him and is convinced that Allah wants him to do what he is doing. During this time, they are expected to observe discipline, patience, kindness, tolerance and above all, peace. They ought to observe peace not only among themselves but also with animals and other living creatures. This means that they are expected to control anger.

Performance of Hajj, therefore, is not only a duty that gives us enormous benefits in this worldly life but also a must for our salvation to attain supreme success in the eternal world hereafter.