c. 2006 Religion News Service
(UNDATED) The desert was hot, and the land was barren, devoid of water or vegetation. In this vast nothingness, he simply left his wife and young son and walked away. His wife was startled.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
He neither answered nor turned back to face her.
“Where are you going?” she asked again, even more incredulous. “How can you leave us here, in the middle of the desert?”
Once again, he did not answer and kept walking away.
She then asked, “Did God command you to do thus?” He finally replied, “Yes.” She then said, “Then He will not lead us astray.”
The situation, however, soon became desperate. The small amount of food and drink that her husband left her quickly ran out, and her baby began to cry out of hunger. Driven by the panic of a mother watching her child die from starvation, she frantically ran between two small hills seven times in a desperate search for food, water, or any sign of life or help.
When it seemed all hope was gone, the archangel descended and touched the earth with the edge of his wing. At that spot, a well sprung forth, and the young mother returned to find water. The mother and son both were saved, and her conviction in God’s help was miraculously confirmed.
This ancient drama of Abraham, Hagar, and their young son Ishmael in the land of Paran (modern day Mecca) forms the basis of the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. This sacred journey must be completed once in the lifetime of every Muslim who is physically and financially capable of doing so. It is the trip of a lifetime for every Muslim.
The Hajj consists of several rituals that re-enact the story of how Abraham left his wife and young son in the desert in obedience to God’s command. It also includes standing on the plain of Arafat _ where it is believed Adam and Eve were reunited after their expulsion from the Garden _ to seek forgiveness from God for their sins. Pilgrims also stone three pillars which represent the devil, just as Abraham did when the devil sought to dissuade him from sacrificing his son in obedience to the command of God.
This year, the Hajj will start around Dec. 29 and finish on Jan. 4. It is an immense spiritual journey, and there is not a person that comes back from Mecca without being profoundly changed. It was the Hajj, in fact, that changed Malcolm X’s views on race relations. I was blessed to perform the Hajj just short of four years ago, and it was the most powerful spiritual experience of my entire life.
When I first arrived in Mecca, I could not help but be humbled by the awesome presence and power of God. Yet God soon became a loving, caring friend, opening his arms to me and welcoming me home. The most emotionally powerful day for me was the day of Arafat (Dec. 30 this year). I was overwhelmed with emotion when I faced my Lord with all my mistakes and sins and really could say nothing to account for them.
The beautiful thing was, after the sun sets, the pilgrims’ sins are completely wiped away and he or she is born anew. Whenever I think about that day, even four years later, I still get overwhelmed with emotion.
Although the pilgrimage is physically demanding _ there are 2 million people all doing the same thing, at the same time, in the same place _ it is a truly wonderful experience. I couldn’t have been happier when my brother and sister told me that they both plan to make the pilgrimage this year.
I will never forget my Hajj experience, and there is not a day that Mecca does not call me back to her. Even though pilgrims who visit the holy city must sometimes travel thousands of miles to get there, Mecca is home for every Muslim.
The Hajj is such a powerful spiritual event that, no matter how fluent the orator or eloquent the writer, words cannot fully describe it. It has to be experienced firsthand.
(Hesham A. Hassaballa is a Chicago physician and columnist for Beliefnet. His book, the “Beliefnet Guide to Islam,” was published by Doubleday. You can read his blog at http://www.drhassaballa.com.)
KRE END HASSABALLA
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