Dhul-Hijjah is here, the sacred month when Muslims worldwide journey to Mecca for Hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam. This compulsory pilgrimage, for those who meet the conditions, occurs annually between the 8th and 12th of Dhul-Hijjah, following the tradition of the Holy Prophetsa, who revived and remembered the tradition and sacrifice of Prophet Abrahamas.
The Holy Prophetsa is reported to have said that Islam is built upon five pillars: (i) Shahadah – worshipping Allah alone and rejecting all other gods; (ii) Salat – establishing prayer; (iii) Zakat – giving alms; (iv) Sawm – fasting in the month of Ramadan; and (v) Hajj – the pilgrimage to Mecca.
During the month of Hajj, all five pillars of Islam are highlighted. The shahadah is always central to Muslim faith, salat is performed daily, zakat is given abundantly, fasting is observed, and Hajj is performed. This makes Dhul-Hijjah unique as the month where all pillars of Islam converge, emphasising its significance in the Islamic calendar.
While it is possible that not all of us may be able to travel to Mecca for Hajj, we should not let this deter us from our love for Allah and the significance of Hajj. We should always be in a state of spiritual tawaf; our souls should constantly be circulating in the remembrance of Allah, upholding the five pillars of Islam. This commitment will sustain our faith.
Even though we may be physically far from the Ka‘bah, we must emulate the teachings and practices of the Holy Prophetsa so that our souls remain close to his. We can achieve this by following the Messengersa of Allah in all that he did.
It is recorded in the ahadith, that the Holy Prophetsa used to recite takbirat after all the obligatory prayers from the dawn of the ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah to the last day of the tashreeq days, that is, the Asr prayer of the thirteenth day of Dhul-Hijjah. The takbirat are as follows:
اَللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ اَللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ لَا اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَاللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ اَللّٰهُ اَكْبَرُ وَلِلّٰهِ الْحَمْدُ
Hazrat Alira and Hazrat Ammarra narrated that the Holy Prophetsa used to recite the takbirat from the Fajr prayer of 9 Dhul-Hijjah, to the Asr prayer on 13 Dhul Hijjah. (Al-Mustadrik lil-Hakim, Book of Eidain, Chapter Takbirat al-Tashreeq)
So, as we glorify Allah with these profound words, let us remember Allah’s greatness, affirm His Tawhid, express gratitude and praise, truly embody unification within the ummah, and ignite a sense of spiritual reflection and remembrance. Only then can we, with heart, mind, and soul, let our hearts make tawaf of the Ka‘bah.