Hajj: A Spiritual Rebirth: The Ka’ba – Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

This is the fifth of seven articles based on the Hajj: A Spiritual Rebirth seminar, delving into the spirit, context, virtues and etiquettes of the Hajj.

The construction of the Ka’ba is another profound lesson that we witness. Allah says:

“Remember when the Messenger, Ibrahim, along with Ismail, raised the foundations of the House,” meaning they were constructing it from the base upward. 

As they were building, what were they saying? They were calling upon Allah with deep sincerity: “Our dear, loving, and compassionate Lord, you who have blessed us with this faith, who created and guided us, please, we beg You, accept this from us.”

Even though they were prophets, they didn’t act as if everything was automatically perfect or guaranteed. Though we believe that the actions of the prophets are accepted by Allah, their words showed their humility and servitude. They were expressing their position as devoted slaves of God.

And this is exactly what we’re meant to do when facing challenges or even after doing something good, turn to Allah. Say, “O Allah, please…” Keep returning to Him in all situations.

They continued: “Indeed, You are the All-Hearing.” Meaning, You hear every word we say and, more importantly, You know the intentions behind them. They were essentially saying, “We genuinely want to please You.”

Then they said: “Our dear and loving Lord, make us fully submissive to You.” Here, the term Muslim doesn’t refer to one who is simply not a Jew or Christian, but rather someone who is entirely surrendered to God’s will, as they themselves were.

They asked Allah to keep them in that state of total submission. And then they said: “And from our descendants, raise a nation completely devoted to You.” 

This refers to the Arabs and all others who would come after, walking the same path of submission.

They also said: “Show us our rites”, meaning the rituals of Hajj, which they knew would be prescribed to them. They didn’t yet know that their own actions would later be reenacted by others.

They prayed again: “Relent toward us; accept our repentance,” acknowledging that Allah is the One who continuously accepts the repentance of His servants. He is deeply loving and always generous with His gifts.

So here, what’s happening is that the people of Allah devote themselves to Him completely. But they don’t boast about their good deeds. They don’t say things like, “You should’ve seen my Hajj last year,” or “My tahajjud last night was mind-blowing.”

Even when they do good, they immediately turn to Allah and say, “O Allah, please…” They perform the action, and then they let it go, not fixating on it.

One sign that a deed has been accepted is that you no longer dwell on it. Of course, you’ll remember major events like Hajj or a powerful act of worship, but not every tiny detail.

For example, if you gave a small amount in charity six weeks and two days ago and it’s still on your mind constantly, that could be a sign of pride. While sometimes it’s fine to recall certain deeds, generally, if you’re no longer preoccupied with a good deed, there’s a chance Allah accepted it. We ask Allah to accept all of our deeds.

And that brings us to another element of submission. When you go to the Ka’ba, remember: Ismail was the one carrying the stones, while Ibrahim stood on a rock that rose with him as he built. He physically constructed the Ka’ba with his own hands, for Allah, and for us, to enable us to worship our Lord there.

It stands as the most significant structure ever built. The Ka’ba is undoubtedly one of the most revered places on Earth. From the highest heavens to every other corner of existence, few places compare. Yet, above all else, the most honored location is the grave of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace). The very soil that touches his blessed body holds a status greater even than the Ka’ba itself, greater even than the Throne of Allah.

So, according to the scholars and the people of knowledge, that is the highest and most noble place. Still, the Ka’ba remains a place of immense sanctity. When a believer visits it with the proper awareness and reverence, the experience becomes incredibly profound. Notice how birds don’t perch on the Ka’ba, nor do they defile it, they seem to have an innate respect for its sanctity.

When you visit such sacred places, these are the moments to reflect on your relationship with Allah, your state of servitude to Him. Is your journey just a quick two-week break from work? Is it simply a change of scenery before returning to the daily grind? Or is it a transformative experience meant to alter your heart and perspective forever?

We must ask ourselves: what is Dunya? Often it’s simply understood as “the world,” but in the Quranic sense, it means “the nearer life”, the life that’s right in front of us. It stands in contrast to the Akhira, the eternal life to come. The Dunya can easily distract us from the Hereafter because of its immediate presence and constant pull.

In a broader sense, Dunya can refer to anything that’s void of Allah’s remembrance in your heart. For instance, you can buy a phone and use it to stay connected with family, to spread good, or to watch beneficial Islamic reminders ,  and in doing so, it’s no longer Dunya. But if you buy that same phone only to mindlessly scroll through social media or obsess over celebrities, then it becomes Dunya. It’s about where your heart is.

One of the best things you can do during Hajj is to go with simplicity and sincerity. Pack the clothes you need, maybe bring back some dates for loved ones, but forget the idea of going there to shop. Sadly, the grip of Dunya has grown stronger in Makka and surrounding areas. Don’t make it your goal to explore malls or browse through the shops beneath the Clock Tower. Yes, you can buy perfume or other items if you need them, but don’t go there with the mindset of a tourist on a shopping spree.

Let your focus remain on Allah and on worship. Spend time in the mosque, sit near the Ka’ba, perform tawaf if you’re able. That’s the essence of the journey. Don’t let your experience be reduced to eating fast food just because it’s a “halal Burger King,” or snapping selfies while doing tawaf. It’s fine to have someone take a photo of you there, but don’t let the Dunya intrude on your worship.

Some people are even recording themselves as they pass the grave of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) ,  turning it into a performance rather than a moment of reverence. That contradicts the very spirit of what this sacred visit is supposed to be.