What is Hajj?

Significance of Hajj According to the Quran and Sunnah

Hajj season is ahead. Every year, millions of Muslims visit the house of Allah SWT to perform Hajj. In this article, we will explore the significance of Hajj according to the Quran and Sunnah.

Hajj is an Arabic language word. It means ‘to set out for a journey. In Islam, the literal meaning of Hajj is ‘the pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia’.

Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam. It is obligatory for a person who is financially and physically capable to do it. A person should perform Hajj and visit the sacred place of Ka’aba at least once in his/her life.

Our beloved Prophet Muhammad SAWW said about hajj,

“Islam is based on five fundamentals. To proclaim that there is no God but Allah and Muhammad SAWW is the Messenger of Allah. To establish the prayer. To pay Zakat. To go for pilgrimage and to fast in the month of Ramadan”.

(Bukhari)

It is not in a single hadith about Hajj. Many hadiths emphasize this divine journey towards the sacred house of Allah SWT in Mecca. The Quran also identifies this holy practice and makes it mandatory for all Muslims to perform the Hajj for the sake of Allah SWT.

In surah Al-Baqarah, Allah SWT says,

وَأَتِمُّوا۟ ٱلْحَجَّ وَٱلْعُمْرَةَ لِلَّهِ ۚ

“And complete the ḥajj and ʿumrah for Allāh”

Al-Quran 2: 188

As per the instruction of the holy book of Allah SWT, Muslims from all over the world with different languages and cultural backgrounds get together in Haram Mosque to perform Hajj. They put on plain white clothes called ‘Ehraam.’ When Muslims show the same color and pray together, it shows solidarity and unity among Muslims worldwide.

Hajj is a worship that is a combination of different rituals e.g. prayers, charity, patience, spending money for the sake of Allah, offering additional prayers, fasting, and being habitual in praising Allah SWT.

Allah SWT says in Quran about Hajj pilgrimage,

وَأَذِّن فِى ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلْحَجِّ يَأْتُوكَ رِجَالًۭا وَعَلَىٰ كُلِّ ضَامِرٍۢ يَأْتِينَ مِن كُلِّ فَجٍّ عَمِيقٍۢ ٢٧

“And publicly proclaim Pilgrimage for all mankind so that they come to you on foot and mounted on lean camels from every distant point. (”.

Al-Quran 22: 27

The pilgrimage of Hajj is not only a physical practice of religion. Instead, it has a significant impact on our social behavior. On the event of Hajj, Ka’aba becomes a place where all the Muslims have simple, plain white dresses that vanish any social status on earth. People from all the ranks prostrate on the same sacred ground that realizes to the Muslims a real meaning of life.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:

“One who comes to this House for Hajj and avoids all lewdness and sins, he returns as he was on the day his mother gave birth to him.”

(Bukhari & Muslim).

Prophet Muhammad SAWW also said,

“O people, Allah has prescribed Hajj upon you. So perform it”.

Similarly, in Quran Allah SWT shows us the path to success regarding Hajj.

۞ ۞ يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلْأَهِلَّةِ ۖ قُلْ هِىَ مَوَٰقِيتُ لِلنَّاسِ وَٱلْحَجِّ ۗ وَلَيْسَ ٱلْبِرُّ بِأَن تَأْتُوا۟ ٱلْبُيُوتَ مِن ظُهُورِهَا وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱلْبِرَّ مَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰ ۗ وَأْتُوا۟ ٱلْبُيُوتَ مِنْ أَبْوَٰبِهَا ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ١٨٩

“They ask you ˹O Prophet˺ about the phases of the moon. Say, “They are a means for people to determine time and pilgrimage.” Righteousness is not in entering your houses from the back doors. Rather, righteousness is to be mindful ˹of Allah˺. So enter your homes through their ˹proper˺ doors, and be mindful of Allah so you may be successful”

Quran 2: 189

If a person is going to perform Hajj, it is a great opportunity for him to be very close to Allah SWT. Because Hajj is a call or invitation from Allah to an individual.

May Allah SWT grant all of us an opportunity to visit His house at least once. Ameen

In this article, we discussed the significance of Hajj in the light of the Quran and Sunnah. We picked a few of the prominent Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad SAWW and a few Ayahs from the Quran to highlight the significance of performing Hajj. In the coming articles, we will explore the rituals of Hajj and the importance of the first ten days of Dhull Hijjah Insha Allah.