As flights carrying the Hujjaj arrive at various airports, the ‘arrival halls’are packed and crowded with loved ones, family members, friends eagerly awaiting to welcome the new Al-hujjaj. Their eyes are glued, scanning, looking for their loved ones; and eventually, greetings laced with smiles began to pour.

Returnees dressed in a thowb, head clean shaven, face glowing, further enhanced by the emulation of the blessed beard of the Noble Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him) pushing a trolley atop which stands the containers bearing the blessed waters of Zam Zam flanked by his spouse whose beauty now further enhanced by the donning of the Hijab; suddenly from nowhere children who had missed their parents emerge shouting, Mummy, Daddy’ as they run into the welcoming arms of their returning weary parents.

Thereafter the elders from amongst family, friends and strangers wait to greet the Hujjaj and immediately request the dua (Supplication) of the Haji as directed by the Noble Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him)

Prayer for forgiveness

‘When you meet a returning Haji (on his way home) then greet him, shake hands with him and ask him to beg forgiveness of Allah on your behalf before he enters his home, for his prayer for forgiveness is accepted since he is forgiven by Allah for his sins’ {as narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar (May Allah be pleased with him).

For this reason, it has always been the custom to welcome the Hujjaj, to walk with them and to ask them to pray on our behalf. To all of them, we say Mar aba Allan wa sallan;Nur hibu bikum jemihan. Qad tuqbil Llah ibaadatih; wa yu bariki Lakum jemihan. Amin.

For all those of us who have been at the airport to receive a returning Hujjaj, the picture painted above is a reflection of that experience, to which we can easily relate. Sadly though, besides this ‘cosmetic’ change that a Haaji undergoes, there is generally a lack of what the Hajj of yester-years held for a Hajj. (There are definitely exclusions)

Legacies of Prophet Ibrahim

Every valley, gulley, mountain and paths that the Hujaj passed witnessed the Nur (Divine Radiance) that they carried with them into town, city, village. They remained unaffected with the legacy of the blessed Haramain Sharifain.

The legacy of Makkah Mukarramah being the Tauhid of Allah (SWT), and that of Madinah Munawwarah, being that of Nubuwah (Prophethood) and Khatme Nubuwah (the seal of Prophethood)

In Makkah we have the Kaaba which is the symbol of Tawhid (Monotheism) established by Prophet Ibrahim (a.s) for the sole and exclusive worship of Allah (SWT).

Prophet Ibrahim’s life (a.s) was characterised by total submission to his Creator and Sustainer and complete steadfastness in the face of great trials and tribulations like being ostracised by his own community including his father; and subsequently flung into the fire for his strict belief in Tawhid.

As a manifestation of one of the greatest miracles, he was divinely protected by Allah (SWT) and the fire was made a place of peace and comfort for him from which he emerged unscathed.

When this miracle failed to convince those   associating partners with Allah (SWT), Ibrahim migrated from the lands of his forefathers to become a stranger in the promised land of Shaam (SyriaAA), where he continued with his mission and called to the light of Tawhid in the ocean of darkness, ignorance and polytheism.

As he grew older, his desire for a child grew stronger and he prayed to Allah (SWT) thus, ‘O Allah, grant me a righteous son?’ (Surah 37, Verse 100) Against all odds and against every expectation, Allah granted him a son at the ripe old age of 86 (Ibn Kathir)

Prophet Ibrahim (a.s) was then commanded by Allah (SWT) to leave the blessed land of Shaam which represented land of material abundance and financial well-being and migrate to the barren desert land of Arabia in the valley of Makkah, devoid of any vegetation or habitation.

There, he was instructed by Allah (SWT) to leave his wife, Haajar (r.a) and his infant son, Ismaeel (a.s). He showed unflinching faith and allegiance to the command of his Creator and Sustainer as he never once questioned the commandment of Allah (SWT).

Equally impressive was the response of his wife Haajar (r.a) who, after being told that this was the Command of Allah (SWT) responded, ‘If your leaving us here is on the command of Allah (SWT) then He will never forsake us!’desperation began to increase at the sight of her child crying uncontrollably due to hunger and thirst.

When eventually, on her seventh ascent (her fourth on Safa), the pendulum of her hopes shifted totally off creation and only onto her Creator, Allah (SWT), the spring of Zam Zam began bubbling beneath the feet of her infant son, Prophet Ismaeel (a.s).

The water of Zam Zam which, from that time until today, flows forth in abundance and quenches both the physical and spiritual thirst of the millions visiting the Haramain as well as those that anxiously visit the returning Hujaaj/Umaraa at their homes having hope of being honoured with the good fortune of being offered a drink of this blessed water can be said to be the product of the great sacrifice of the family of Prophet Ibrahim (a.s).

Once this water began to gush forth the valley of Makkah began its growth as a habitation with the settling of the Jurhum tribe from Yemen that has today become the most visited and revered place in the whole world.