Hajj: A Spiritual Rebirth: Insights from Imam Ghazali – Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat
This is the final of seven articles based on the Hajj: A Spiritual Rebirth seminar, delving into the spirit, context, virtues and etiquettes of the Hajj.
When preparing for Hajj, both mentally and spiritually, Imam Ghazali offers profound guidance in his writings. Though he dedicates pages to this topic, here are some key highlights from the end of his discussion:
1. Understanding the Significance
The first and most important point is understanding. Know where you’re going, you’re heading to a sacred land. A single good deed in Makka is equivalent to one hundred thousand deeds elsewhere. But just as the rewards are multiplied, so too are the consequences of sins.
This is the land of the Ka’ba, the House of Allah, a place granted to us for united worship. It is no ordinary structure. Countless people, even those with hardened hearts, are moved to tears upon seeing it. That connection every believer feels to their Lord becomes tangible there. While you’re not physically seeing God, you’re witnessing a symbol of His mercy and generosity. The Ka’ba radiates barakah (blessing), mercy, and spiritual elevation constantly. It’s not just architecture, it’s a profoundly sacred presence. Understanding this deeply will help you approach Hajj with seriousness and reverence.
2. Yearning and Longing for Allah
Before you even travel, take some time in solitude. Reflect on your blessings, your sight, health, family, wealth, down to every strand of hair. Say “Alhamdulillah” repeatedly. Gratitude like this lights a fire of longing in the heart, a longing to meet Allah, to be close to Him.
Hajj is not just a journey of the body; it’s a journey of love. You’re walking where prophets walked. You’re visiting the city where the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) was born, lived, and taught. Let your heart overflow with longing. Imam Ghazali notes that a Hajj filled with longing and emotion, where tears flow from love and awe, is the most meaningful.
3. Sincere Intention and Determination
Make a firm, sincere intention: “I’m going for Hajj solely to please Allah. I will be patient with whatever challenges come. I will ask forgiveness for myself and my loved ones.”
Do not go for status, praise, or to be seen as someone religious. Your Hajj is for Allah alone. There’s a beautiful story about a student from the generation after the students of Imam Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak. On his way to Hajj, he saw a desperately poor woman. Moved by her condition, he gave her all the money he had saved for the journey and returned home.
Despite not physically performing Hajj, the people praised him, claiming they saw him helping others, answering questions, and worshipping constantly. Allah had sent an angel in his likeness to complete the Hajj on his behalf and granted him the full reward, because of the sincerity of his intention and his compassion.
So rid your heart of the desire for recognition or praise. Say, “O Allah, I do this for You alone.” The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) would make a similar dua: “O Allah, this is a Hajj in which there is no showing off or seeking fame.”
4. Repentance and Restoring Rights
Begin your journey with sincere repentance. Ask Allah to forgive all your sins, every single one, from the earliest to the most recent. Start your Hajj with a clean slate. It’s one of the best ways to prepare your soul.
Also, seek to restore any rights you’ve violated. If you’ve wronged others, financially, emotionally, or otherwise, make amends. Hajj is not just about personal purification; it’s about restoring balance and justice in your relationships as well.
This is part of tawba (repentance): if you’ve taken something from someone, you must return it. If you’ve wronged someone, say, you’ve stolen from them or taken their property without their consent or satisfaction, then you need to give it back. That’s how your Hajj can be sincere and accepted. There’s no point in going on Hajj while holding on to someone else’s rights.
There’s a line of poetry I read earlier that actually made me laugh. The poet said something along the lines of:
“If you go on Hajj with money earned through haram means, then the one who really performed Hajj was the camel that took you there.”
In other words, your ride did the journey, not you. So make sure your money is halal, that’s crucial.
If you owe someone something, take care of it before you go. If you’re in debt, can you still go on Hajj? Yes, but only if the people you owe money to are okay with it. There’s no benefit in trying to do a “super Hajj” while the people you borrowed from are suffering, and you’re avoiding them. Don’t duck and hide when you see them, go and pay them back. That’s part of being sincere.
Another key point is ensuring your provision is halal. This is the flip side of the same coin. Your money needs to be halal for your Hajj to have true benefit. If your income is haram, what good do you expect from the Hajj? It won’t be accepted. So make sure your earnings are lawful, and spend on yourself and others in a good, generous way.
If you’re taking your wife or children with you, be generous with them. Don’t be stingy, don’t hand them one shawarma and say, “Make this last the week.” Spend well on them. You’re traveling for the sake of Allah, and generosity is part of that.
And most importantly: focus on Allah the whole time. That’s what this journey is really about, turning to Allah, step by step. Every day, every challenge, every moment is part of what Allah is bringing to you. You’re His guest, and He’s honoring you, but His honoring may come with tests and difficulties. So be patient and stay focused.
Let me share a story: the first time I went for Umra, it was with a couple of friends. We had booked through a group, and they told us someone would be waiting for us when we landed. They gave us a name, but it turned out to be a company name. No one showed up. After hours of waiting, someone finally took us to a random hotel in Makka.
We asked the driver, “We’re praying in Madina, right?” He said, “InshaAllah,” and we slept. When we woke up six hours later, it’s only a four-hour drive to Madina, we were confused. We asked, “Why are we still here?” He casually stopped at a service station for Fajr prayer. We prayed next to him, and then he just walked out and disappeared. We thought he’d gone to get something, but after a few minutes, we realized he was gone for good.
Alhamdulillah, our luggage was still there, open, but not stolen. Our “friend” had ditched us, and the sun was rising. It was hot, we were stranded, and we had no idea what to do. We managed to flag down a coach, paid extra, and finally made it to Madina. It was a hassle, but in hindsight, a funny memory too.
The point is: these things are part of the journey. See them as part of what Allah is putting in front of you. Engage with everything as something sent by Him. That’s how you should travel, with trust in Allah and a good opinion of Him in every moment.
Entering Makka: A Reflection and Intention
When you enter Makka, reflect on the deep meaning of the place. The word “Makka” has been interpreted by some scholars to mean a place that draws out or sucks out , in the spiritual sense, it draws out your sins. This is a powerful meaning: you’re stepping into a place of purification. So, go with the intention of pleading with Allah, asking Him to accept you, forgive you, and envelop you in His mercy.
Being accepted by Allah is not a small matter , it’s a sign of His love. You’re not just asking for acceptance; you’re asking for His love, for closeness, for Paradise, and for the purification of your soul. Go to Makka with the firm belief that Allah has brought you there because He wants good for you: good for your faith, your worldly life, and your afterlife. Believe that He wants to forgive you and reward you with Paradise.
Do not go with complaints in your heart. Don’t focus on delays, problems, or discomforts. Avoid thoughts like “Why did this happen?” or “We lost so much time.” Instead, interpret everything in the best possible light. Allah gives you every moment , even the difficult ones , for a purpose. Be wise, of course, and take practical precautions, but spiritually, remain positive and grateful.
When you see the Ka’ba, let your heart be filled with awe. This house of Allah is unlike anything else on Earth. Birds don’t land on it or defile it , a miraculous sign in itself. Millions from across the Ummah are united by it. It is a blessed, majestic place, and it changes lives.
Let me share a story: just yesterday, a brother told me how after a recent Umra, he experienced a spiritual transformation. One night, he suddenly felt an overwhelming love for Allah , all he wanted was to be close to Him. That’s a divine gift. Before, he used to attend classes and pray, but this was different. It was a deep pull toward Allah , something that comes from sincerity. If you go with a pure heart, your life can change. Your priorities can shift from dunya to Divine.
When you do tawaf (circumambulation), visualize the greatness of the Ka’ba. Imagine the reverence you would feel if you were standing before Allah Himself , though, of course, He is beyond place, body, or physical form. But reflect on His beauty, perfection, and the countless blessings He has given you. Let that gratitude and awe fill your heart.
As you do tawaf, remember the angels. You are imitating the angels who circle Allah’s Throne. Just as they move around it in devotion, you are circling the Ka’ba , the earthly symbol of Divine majesty. You move counterclockwise, keeping your heart (on your left) closest to the Ka’ba. Align your heart not just with the House, but with the Lord of the House. Make this your prayer: “O Allah, make me like Ibrahim, who fulfilled every promise to You.”
If you get the chance to kiss the Black Stone , or even if you can only gesture toward it (istilam) , do so with the mindset of renewing your pledge to Allah. In the past, people would kiss the hand or ring of a king when pledging allegiance. You are renewing your allegiance to the King of kings. Focus on that deeply.
When you come to the doors of the Ka’ba, allow your heart to long for true servitude to Allah. If you don’t feel it , pretend to feel it. If you pretend, perhaps you’ll start to feel it. And if even pretending is hard, then ask Allah to grant you that feeling. You are in one of the most sacred places on Earth, where duas are accepted. Ask from your heart.
One of the best places to make dua is at the door of the Ka’ba. Pour your heart out. Ask Allah to make you His true servant. Ask for closeness, love, forgiveness, and Paradise.
What many people don’t know is that the Ka’ba has two doors, one that’s visible and another directly opposite it, which is sealed with bricks.
Even when the covering of the Ka’ba is removed, the bricked-up doorway can be seen. If the area around it is crowded, stand nearby, raise your hands, and sincerely make du’a. Beg Allah to make you a true servant, fully devoted to Him.
Then look around at the crowd, millions of people from all walks of life, all pleading with Allah for forgiveness and guidance. Reflect on the fact that Prophets themselves stood on these same plains of Arafat. Visualize that moment, you are among the humble servants of Allah.
This is a great opportunity. One of the worst outcomes is to leave Arafat thinking you haven’t been forgiven. Don’t allow that thought. You are in a place and at a time where the Most Generous of kings is extending His mercy more than ever. Ask Allah with confidence and with a good opinion of Him.
Why are the prayers combined on this day? So you can dedicate the rest of your time to dua. Ask, ask, and keep asking. Make a list beforehand, encourage others to send you their own prayer requests. You will have time, sit and sincerely call upon Allah. Take breaks, make dhikr, and go back to asking again.
Then comes the stoning of the Jamarat. Some may ask, how is throwing stones at a pillar an act of worship? It’s not about the act itself, it’s about obedience. You are doing it because Allah commanded it. At that moment, express your servanthood. Say: “My Lord has commanded this, and I obey.” Ask Allah to give you the strength to remain obedient in every situation.
And when it comes time to offer the sacrifice, do it with the same intention as Ibrahim (peace be upon him), a complete willingness to submit to Allah. As is the Sunna, say:
“I have turned my face toward the One who created the heavens and the earth, turning away from all falsehood, and I am not among the idolaters.”
Reflect on the depth of this verse. Remember the spirit of your Hajj, it’s not just about rituals, but about deeply meaningful acts that connect you to the legacy of the Prophets.
After completing your rites, make sure to visit Madina. Don’t be among those who perform Hajj and return home without visiting the city of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace). Your intention should be to visit the Messenger himself, not just the mosque. Many Hadith speak of the virtues of visiting him.
When you enter Madina, visualize the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), fighting to defend the truth, guiding people, showing love and mercy, placing his blessed hands on children’s heads with a fragrance that lingered all day. Picture the people rushing to see him.
Send abundant salawat (blessings) upon him. Thank him. Because of his sacrifice and struggle, we have Islam in our hearts. Reflect on your own lineage, perhaps someone in your ancestry accepted Islam generations ago. That light came through the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace).
Remember: Whoever is not grateful to people is not truly grateful to Allah. So thank the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace). After being cleansed in Makka, you arrive in Madina as though entering a purified home. Just as you remove old furniture before decorating a new house, your heart has been cleansed, now you beautify it with the character of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace).
Before you return home, ask Allah to help you embody his character, to live as he lived, and to reflect his example in your daily life.
This is the inner essence of Hajj, a reenactment, a celebration, a commemoration of those beloved to Allah and their acts of devotion, despite their hardships.
And for those going for Hajj, may Allah accept your pilgrimage. Please remember us in your prayers. And for everyone else, continue to seek His guidance, for yourselves and your loved ones.
