Hajj: A Spiritual Rebirth: Renewing Our Slavehood to Allah – Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat
This is the first of seven articles based on the Hajj: A Spiritual Rebirth seminar, delving into the spirit, context, virtues and etiquettes of the Hajj.
One of the most significant aspects of the sacred months is the Hajj.
In Arabic, the word Hajj means to intend or aim for something magnificent and momentous. In classical Arabic, even a visit to a king could be described as a Hajj. But in this context, there is nothing greater than Allah.
Therefore, Allah has prescribed rituals to symbolize our spiritual journey toward Him. Hajj, then, is an extraordinary blessing from Allah. At its core, it revolves around slavehood to Allah.
Every one of us is a slave of Allah (Most High). The real question is: what kind of slave are you? Are you a slave merely by nature, or by both nature and choice?
Being a slave by nature means that one is inherently under Allah’s power and authority, like Shaytan. Though created by Allah and completely subjugated to His will, Shaytan chose rebellion and incurred divine punishment. He is still, by definition, a slave of Allah, yet not one by loving submission.
On the other hand, a slave by nature and choice is someone who submits to Allah willingly, with love and devotion. Such a person can rise to be the best of all creation, higher even than angels.
This concept is beautifully illustrated in the Quran. When Allah mentions the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), He sometimes uses titles of honor like al-Rasul (the Messenger) or al-Nabi (the Prophet), indicating status and responsibility. But when describing some of the greatest honors given to the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), Allah refers to him as ‘abd: His slave.
“Glory be to the One who took His slave by night…” [Quran, 17:1]
“All praise is due to Allah who revealed the Book to His slave…” [Quran, 18:1]
This highlights how true honor lies in servitude to Allah.
Hajj is about renewing and deepening our understanding of this servitude. It’s a time to reconnect with our identity as Allah’s slaves, not just in hardship, where submission is forced, but in ease and obedience, where it’s a conscious act of love and devotion.
Sometimes, Allah tests us with trials we can’t avoid, pain, loss, or difficulty, and in those moments, we have no choice but to submit. But the highest form of servitude is willing obedience: fulfilling Allah’s commands and obligations out of love and trust in our caring, wise, and merciful Lord.
Why should we live like this? Because Allah didn’t create us just for a temporary life on Earth. He created us to reward us with eternal blessings that exceed our imagination, rewards only found in Paradise. This life is a test, to see who truly seeks Him and deserves that reward.
The concept of slavehood is deeply rooted in the Quran. Unlike human slavery, often associated with humiliation and oppression, Allah honors us through servitude to Him. A human slave might be disgraced, but the slave of Allah is elevated.
When we willingly choose to be His slaves, we are freed from being slaves to anything else, be it people, desires, or worldly distractions.
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: “May the one be miserable who becomes a slave to gold and silver.” [Bukhari]
That’s where Hajj becomes so meaningful. Interestingly, it’s a form of worship that one only performs when they are financially able, when a person can afford the journey, leave their dependents with sufficient support, and cover their own expenses.
Yet, even when you have that wealth, Allah commands you to use it in a way that humbles you, reminding you that money is not the purpose of life. True purpose lies in submission and servitude to Allah.
Now, what do the truly devoted, the elite in nearness to Allah, ask for? They ask for the ability to fulfill the rights of their Lord. True servitude is when a person says to Allah, You are my Master. Whatever You want from me, I will strive to fulfill. If I fall short, forgive me.
That’s the heart of Islam: if you find yourself doing good, thank Allah. If you find otherwise, take responsibility, seek forgiveness, and know that Allah loves those who keep turning back to Him and strive for purity.
Hajj is all about this expression of slavehood, displaying your submission to Allah in the most complete and sincere way. Imagine someone standing in prayer, distracted, waiting for it to end so they can go back to worldly pleasures. Then compare that to someone who says Allahu Akbar and feels a deep sense of awe, they know they’re standing before a Master whose beauty, perfection, and majesty can’t even be fully comprehended. In sujood, they place the most honored part of their body, their face, on the ground, declaring: You are the Highest, the Most Perfect.
That is the gift of being a true slave.
Hajj can be summarized in three things: a celebration, a commemoration, and a reenactment of the devotion of Prophet Ibrahim (Peace be upon him) and his family. The Quran speaks of him with immense praise. He faced tests unimaginable to us, and was honored with blessings beyond what we can grasp, among them, that many of the prophets descended from him.
Allah says that those were the people He guided, so the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) was told to follow in their footsteps: spread the message, endure hardship, and live with conviction, just as they did.
Ibrahim (Peace be upon him) was elevated to the status of Imam, a model for generations to come. Theory is one thing, but seeing that faith lived out is an even greater blessing. His life, along with that of his son Isma’il, and his family, including Hajar and Sara, is a legacy of submission, devotion, and trust in Allah.
So, Hajj is ultimately a form of liberation, freeing oneself from ego, materialism, and heedlessness, and returning to the core of what it means to be a true slave of Allah.
Beyond the Ritual: Understanding the Spirit
If the letter of the law is about doing things correctly, then the spirit of the law is about doing them meaningfully. Hajj is not only a physical journey but also a deeply emotional and spiritual one. It’s a call to reflect, to purify the heart, and to reestablish our bond with Allah.
It’s easy to focus solely on the outward acts of Islam: praying, fasting, giving in charity. But the essence of our faith lies within the heart. A heart truly connected to Allah naturally inclines toward humility, sincerity, and submission. And this is where true slavehood emerges.
At the center of this spiritual narrative stands Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him), whose life and legacy form the backbone of the Hajj.
A Nation in One Man
Allah says in the Quran:
“Indeed, Ibrahim was a nation (umma), devoutly obedient to Allah, upright, and never one of the polytheists.” [Quran, 16:120]
This verse was revealed in Makkah, where the people claimed to follow the way of Ibrahim. They accused the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) of deviating from that tradition. In response, Allah revealed this verse to clarify: You are not following Ibrahim; the Prophet is.
The word umma usually refers to a group united by faith, lineage, or purpose. So how can one person be called an entire umma? The answer lies in the remarkable nature of Ibrahim (Peace be upon him). He embodied, in one soul, the best traits you’d usually find scattered across a whole community: piety, sincerity, generosity, resilience, and complete trust in Allah.
He was completely devoted to his Lord, firmly upright in belief and practice. He had an unshakable tendency to turn away from anything false, just as one instinctively turns away from something rotten or repulsive. He had no trace of idolatry in his heart or actions.
Grateful for the Smallest Blessings
Allah (Most High) continues:
“[He was] grateful for His favors. Allah chose him and guided him to a straight path.” [Quran, 16:121]
The Arabic word used here for “favors” is a specific plural form that indicates a small number, perhaps three to nine. This tells us that Ibrahim (Peace be upon him) was grateful even for the smallest blessings.
Now pause for a moment: look around you. We are drenched in blessings. Most of us live more comfortably today than royalty did centuries ago. We have clean running water, electricity, heating, refrigeration, instant communication, and modern sanitation. These are luxuries past generations never knew, yet we often take them for granted.
So follow in the footsteps of Ibrahim: recognize your blessings, big and small, and be genuinely grateful.
The Heart of Hajj
Whether you’re going for Hajj this year or not, take this time to reflect on the deeper meaning behind the rituals. Hajj is not just about walking between hills or circling a building, it’s about reconnecting with the legacy of submission, of trust, of sacrifice.
And above all, it’s about reviving our relationship with Allah, not just with our limbs, but with our hearts.
Today, some of the most awe-inspiring things we can witness are the images coming from space, especially those captured by the James Webb Space Telescope. Before that, we had the Hubble Space Telescope, which provided us with some incredible views of the universe.
Here’s something amazing: scientists chose a tiny spot in the sky—about the size of a small coin held at arm’s length. To the naked eye, this area looks completely dark, even from space.
But Hubble focused on that spot nonstop for three months, day and night. The result was the famous Hubble Deep Field images, which revealed thousands of galaxies just in that tiny patch of darkness! It showed that even what looks like empty space is filled with unimaginable wonders, galaxies, stars, and cosmic structures beyond anything we could have imagined.
Now imagine Ibrahim (peace be upon him). When he was still a child, Allah showed him the Malakut, the unseen, the vastness of the universe, and all that lies beyond the seven heavens. He was given insight into the full scale of Allah’s creation. He saw it all: Paradise, angels, and perhaps realities that are completely beyond our understanding.
This kind of vision instills a deep, unshakable certainty (yaqeen) and that’s what Ibrahim had. The Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace), during his Night Journey and Ascension (Isra and Miraj), saw things that no other human has seen. For example, he reached the Sidrat al-Muntaha—the furthest boundary of creation. Beyond that point, even angels do not know what lies. He described seeing colors that don’t even exist in our known spectrum, colors our minds can’t even comprehend.
This is why these prophets had such profound faith. Allah says about Ibrahim:
“We gave him goodness in this world, and in the Hereafter, he will be among the righteous.” [Quran, 16:122]
He was made an Imam, a leader and role model, not just for Muslims but also for Jews and Christians, who honor him as their spiritual forefather. His legacy is immense.
May Allah make us among those who embody their sincerity, devotion, and trust in Him.
