This is the Pilgrimage and here is its Greatness

(Translated)

Allah Almighty says: ﴿وَلِلّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلاً﴾“And [due] to Allah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House – for whoever is able to find thereto a way.”]Al-i-Imran: 97[. Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, arrived in Medina during two days in which they were celebrating. The Prophet said, «مَا هَذَانِ الْيَوْمَانِ؟»“What are these two days?” They said, “We would celebrate these two days in the time of ignorance.” The Prophet (saw) said, «إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ أَبْدَلَكُمْ بِهِمَا خَيْرًا مِنْهُمَا يَوْمَ الْأَضْحَى وَيَوْمَ الْفِطْرِ»“Verily, Allah has replaced these two days with two better days: the day of sacrifices (Eid al-Adha) and the day of breaking fast (Eid al-Fitr).” (Sunan Abu Dawood) And Ibn Abbas reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said,«مَا الْعَمَلُ فِي أَيَّامٍ أَفْضَلَ مِنْهَا فِي هَذِهِ»“No good deed is better what is done on these days...” Some companions of the Prophet said, “Not even jihad in the cause of Allah?” The Prophet said, … «وَلا الْجِهَادُ، إِلا رَجُلٌ خَرَجَ يُخَاطِرُ بِنَفْسِهِ وَمَالِهِ فَلَمْ يَرْجِعْ بِشَيْءٍ» “Not even jihad in the cause of Allah, except in the case of a man who goes out with his life and wealth in danger and returns with nothing.” (Narrated by al-Bukhari)

Allah Almighty has obligated Hajj upon every capable Muslim once during his lifetime, it is the pilgrimage of Islam. ﴿وَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ شَاكِرٌ عَلِيمٌ﴾“And whoever volunteers good – then indeed, Allah is appreciative and Knowing.”]Al-Baqara: 158[. Hajj is purely an act of worship, every single ritual (Nusk) of it suggests that Allah is worshiped by his servants, and the Muslim senses with it his servanthood to the Almighty Creator.

Therefore, we find millions of Muslims from around the world eager every year to perform this great obligation, which is a pillar of the five pillars of Islam, the Messenger of Allah said (saw): «بني الإسلام على خمس؛ شهادة أن لا إله إلا الله، وأن محمداً رسول الله، وإقام الصلاة، وإيتاء الزكاة، والحج، وصوم رمضان»“Islam is built upon five (pillars): the testimony that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, the observance of the prayer, payment of Zakat, Hajj to the House (i.e. Ka’bah,) and fasting in Ramadan.” (Agreed upon, Narrated by Bukhari) However, the revulsion practiced by Muslim rulers from the Sacred House, as the revulsion they practiced from the arbitration the law of Allah, intervenes between Muslims and the performance of this great rite. The Almighty says: ﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَيَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَالْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ الَّذِي جَعَلْنَاهُ لِلنَّاسِ سَوَاء الْعَاكِفُ فِيهِ وَالْبَادِ وَمَن يُرِدْ فِيهِ بِإِلْحَادٍ بِظُلْمٍ نُذِقْهُ مِنْ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ﴾،“Indeed, those who have disbelieved and avert [people] from the way of Allah and [from] al-Masjid al-Haram, which We made for the people - equal are the resident therein and one from outside; and [also] whoever intends [a deed] therein of deviation [in religion] or wrongdoing - We will make him taste of a painful punishment.”]Al-Haj: 25[.Thus, to allot a certain percentage of the allowed pilgrimage from each country, which is a ratio of one per thousand, is revulsion from the Holy Mosque, and is preventing Muslims from performing this duty which is Allah obligated on them. And to specify a certain allowed age to perform Hajj is revulsion from the Holy Mosque, and to impose charges on the pilgrims such as visa, Tawaaf and transportation fees is taking the money from the people unjustly, becomes a type of revulsion from the Holy Mosque. 

This great season, the first ten days from the month of Dhu al-Hijjah, Eid al-Adha and Hajj, comes this year, as dozens of years ago since the destruction of the Ottoman Khilafah "Caliphate" State, and the Muslims are preoccupied with their concerns and problems, and what afflicted them of tragedies, calamities and despairs. Millions of Muslims go to Hajj carrying these concerns with them to complain their sorrow and grief to Allah, the Grand, the Exalted, raising to Him Almighty their palms of supplication to lift from them what befell them of scourge and distress. Fixated before their eyes, and embedded in their memories the crimes committed by America and Britain, and behind them the disbelieving Crusader West against the Muslims in Yemen, Afghanistan, Libya, and Pakistan. And what the vindictive West does of chilling and horrifying massacres against the Muslims in Ash-Sham, directly or through its allies, agents, tools and its local associates, and its quest to abort the blessed revolution of the people of Syria to prevent the establishment of the second Khilafah "Caliphate" State (Caliphate) on the method of the Prophethood. Also not fading from the sight of the pilgrims, as they humble themselves before Allah Al-Jabbar Al-Aziz, seeking His Mercy and the acceptance of their supplications, the criminality of the sadistic Jews in the Holy Land (Palestine), who their hate and criminality exceeded all criminality. Nor the criminality of Russia and its massacres against the people of Chechnya and the Caucasus, and against the people of Syria, and its support for the tyrant of Ash-Sham. And not the criminality of the Hindus, the cow worshipers, against Muslims in Kashmir, Bangladesh, Pakistan; the criminality of Buddhists idolaters against the Muslims of Arakan (Burma), or the criminality of China against the Muslims in East Turkestan, which culminated in preventing them from fasting the Holy month of Ramadan… The list of the criminalities of the Kufar against the Muslims is long. Hasbuna Allahu wa Ni’ma Al-Wakil (Allah Alone is sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs for us), and Laa Hawla Wa Laa Quwwata Illa Bil-laah (there is no strength and no power except with Allah the Exalted).

Muslims stand before their Lord to complain to Him of their rulers who are colluding with their enemies against them. Standing between His hands with broken hearts, pleading hands, reiterating tongues and shedding tears; asking Him the Glorified and the Exalted, to remove from them what they are in of humiliation and suffering, to loosen this shackle from them, and to lift from them these concerns, and relieve them of their traitorous agent rulers.

Since the demolition of the Ottoman Khilafah "Caliphate" State the situation of Muslims and their conditions changed, and they became deprived of the Khaleefah who rules them by the provisions of Islam, takes care of their affairs with justice and fairness, and takes them to the scopes of splendor and glory through jihad for the sake of Allah. They became ruled by traitorous agent rulers, who the Kafir West appointed over their necks in order to afflict them with the worst torment. In order for the Crusader West to perform through these rulers its projects in plundering the wealth of the Muslims, looting their capabilities, and disseminating its destructive ideas and corrupt concepts and values in the Muslims countries.

Unfortunately, this is the situation of Muslims, after the demolition of the Khilafah "Caliphate", instead of being led by the Ameer who unites their word and gathers their ranks, who loves them and who they love, who prays for them and they pray for him, and who preaches them with Khutbah and advises them. Like how the Messenger of Allah (saw) did in his speech at Arafah during the Farewell Hajj. And like the caliphs used to do, where they used to meet with their governors, asking them about the conditions of the citizens and reassure about them. Where they used to ask Muslims about the governors and workers, so that to take the right of the citizens from them if they wronged and to account them if they failed.

Hajj is one of the rituals of Allah that brings together all Muslims in one ground, and reflects the unity of Muslims in many aspects including: unity of rites, feelings, purpose, and cause. So there is no regionalism, nor racism or Asabiyyah for color, gender or class. The Lord is One, the Deen is one, and the Qibla is one. Thus, Hajj links this life with the Hereafter with the bond of obedience and submission to Allah Almighty and resorting to Him alone in every issue, seeking His forgiveness and repenting to Him (swt) from all sins.

Yes, the meeting of millions of Muslims from different schools of thoughts, irrespective of their colors shapes, and ethnic backgrounds, and despite their various regional and partisan affiliations; Their meeting in one ground, chanting with one voice, “Labaik Allahuma Labaik,  Labbaika la shareeka laka labbaik. Innal hamda wal ni’matha laka wal mulk, laa shareeka lak.” (Here I am in Your service, O Allah, here I am. Here I am, You have no partner, here I am. Verily all praise and blessings are Yours, and all sovereignty, You have no partner) confirms that the Islamic Ummah is one nation to the exclusion of other nations, in spite of the Muslim rulers and their masters the vindictive Crusader West.

The disbelievers are shivering from the masses of pilgrims parading around one House, and their Sa’i in one place, and their standing in one site. So they and their agents pursued to hit the importance and the vitality of Muslims meeting in Hajj by depriving this Hajj its truth, strength and unity, in its form and content. So the most important and most insidious of what they did was that they gathered their guile in wars, conspiracies and the purchase of consciences and agents until they were able to eliminate the Ottoman Khilafah "Caliphate" at the beginning of the past century. Thus they removed the power of the masses of pilgrims in the rituals of pilgrimage and in their countries. So after they were one community, under one banner, and under the command of one Ameer, they became dispersed crowds, meeting in the rituals of Hajj and dispersing after it, under the rule of the states of damage for which Allah has sent down no authority.

The Hajj and Eid al-Adha season is a witness to our unity, we as Muslims, and it is crying for us to restore our bond, unite our ranks, establish the state of the second Khilafah "Caliphate" on the method of the Prophethood, and pledge allegiance to our Khaleefah; and thus only we will return to be strong cohesive community, led by our Khaleefah, who establishes in us the Book of Allah, and leads us to Jihad for the sake of Allah, to liberate our usurped lands, and spread Islam, a message of light and guidance for all mankind.

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by

Mohammed Abdul Malik