Hajj inculcates the spirit of love and devotion to the One and Only Lord. It unifies peoples’ minds and hearts on almost the same purposes; to please Almighty Allah and to have their sins forgiven. All those who perform Hajj, despite their differences in ethnicity, culture, and language, share the same rites and hopes. Even those who do not perform Hajj turn their hearts and eyes towards the Ka`bah. Therefore, Hajj unifies the minds and hearts of all Muslims towards this great pillar of Islam.
Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto,Ontario, Canada, states:
Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam. Like other pillars, it was instituted by the all-Wise and all-Knowing to help humans realize their full potential. They are primarily intended to instill true consciousness of Almighty Allah in us and to make us aware of our real purpose in life. The following are some of the most important benefits of Hajj:
1. It deepens our awareness of the Oneness of Allah and helps us to be God-centered;
2. It teaches us the oneness of the human family under the Lordship of One God;
3. It helps us to develop a feeling of universal human brotherhood;
4. Finally, it enables us to renew our faith by making us aware of the transient nature of this life and our final standing before the Lord on the Day of Judgment.
May Allah help us to reflect on the deeper meanings of the acts of worship in order to realize their full benefits – Ameen.