Al-Hajj Al-Mabroor

Chapter One
Here I am at Your Service, O Allah
Each year by the advent of the Hajj season yearnings fill the hearts
for visiting the Sacred House of Allah to perform the enjoined duty
of Hajj and visit the grave of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah
bless him and grant him peace), for the matchless spiritual joy it
offers; feeling ever so close to Allah, and being wholeheartedly
engaged with The Almighty; unmindful of all His other creatures,
whether they are one’s family, relatives, folks or other kindred.
The traveler to perform the enjoined duty of Hajj leaves everything
behind and devotes himself to worshipping Allah. He leaves his
family, his property, his friends and authority. He divests himself
of his usual life to draw near Allah in Salah [offering Prayers],
Tawâf [The devotional act of circumambulating (i.e., walking around)
the Ka‘bah seven times while reciting prayers and supplications.
Tawâf should begin and end at the Black Stone], uttering Talbiyah
[A formula of answering Allah’s Call for Hajj by saying: Labbaik
Allahumma Labbaik. Labbaik, La Shareek Laka, Labbaik. Innal Hamdah,
Wan Nematah, Laka wal Mulk, La Shareek Laka Labbaik: Here I am at
Your service O Allah, here I am. Here I am at Your service, You have no
partner, here I am. Yours alone is All Praise and All Bounty, and Yours
alone is The Sovereignty. You have no partner], Dhikr [Remembrance
of Allah through verbal or mental repetition of His Divine Attributes or
various religious formulas, such as ‘Subhân Allah,’ meaning ‘All Glory
be to Allah’] and by celebrating His Praises.
He neither becomes tired nor bored, and he submits to Allah body
and soul. His obedience to his Lord deepens day after day,
whereby mercies are sent down upon the hearts, tears run down
and man feels that the whole world and whatever in it has
dwindled in front of drawing closer to The Almighty and winning
His Good Pleasure.
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