1. First, purify your intention, for deeds depend upon intentions. It is stated in a hadith, “Indeed, deeds depend upon intentions.”[1] Therefore, purify yourself of thoughts such as showing off, gaining greater social status by performing Hajj, being able to add “Al-Hajj” to your name, or being able to influence the public more in an electoral contest. Such motives are called “riya” (showing off). Riya is a grave wrongdoing that has been described in hadith as minor shirk.[2] Remember well that Hajj will not be accepted if it is performed while harboring minor shirk in one’s heart. Therefore, remain free of riya and pray to Allah to grant you the ability to perform a Hajj free of riya. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) himself would also make such a supplication. It is narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed to Allah, saying,
اللهم حجة لا رياء فيها ولا سمعة .
—O Allah! Grant me the ability to perform a Hajj that is free of riya and the desire for fame.[3]
2. From the day you make the intention to perform Hajj, consider that a new chapter of your life has begun. If you have previously neglected the rights of Allah or shown disregard, reluctance, or inattention in performing Salah, Sawm, paying Zakah, or anything else, then seek forgiveness and return to Allah. Cry out before Allah, seeking deliverance from all known and unknown sins and transgressions concerning the rights of Allah. Weep. Seek deliverance with all your heart, bearing in mind Allah Most High’s boundless mercy and forgiveness.
From now on, fulfill every matter that falls within the rights of Allah with the utmost care. Repent for past sins and wrongdoings. The conditions of repentance are:
a. Turning away from all kinds of sins and abandoning them completely.
b. Expressing remorse for all past sins and wrongdoings.
c. Making a firm resolve never again to become involved in such offenses in the future.
3. If an offense concerns the rights of people, it must be settled before repentance. Whether by paying compensation or seeking forgiveness, one must repent after reaching a settlement with the person concerned. Otherwise, no benefit will be gained from repentance. Remember that if you do not settle the matter with the person who was wronged, all your good deeds will be transferred to that person’s record of deeds on the Day of Resurrection. If you have no good deeds, that person’s burden of sins will be placed upon you. Therefore, this matter must be taken extremely seriously. Even performing Hajj does not result in forgiveness for violations of people’s rights until the person concerned has been satisfied by compensation or by seeking forgiveness. Resolve never again to hurt anyone unlawfully or consume anyone’s wealth unlawfully. At the same time, seek forgiveness from those whom you mistreated in the past or whose wealth came unlawfully into your possession. Return to them what is rightfully theirs. Pray for their well-being. Also seek Allah’s forgiveness for your own wrongdoing. Make istighfar.
4. Quarreling, disputing, and arguing are prohibited while performing Hajj.[4] Therefore, mentally
prepare yourself in advance to develop a tolerant temperament. Resolve that during the days of Hajj you will not quarrel with anyone under any circumstances, even if you are deprived of a right that is due to you.
5. There is a saying that travel is a portion of torment. It is true that in the past, during the era when camels and horses were the means of transportation, the hardship of travel was a thousand times greater than it is today. However, that does not mean there is no hardship at all today. Rather, during the journey of Hajj, one must endure indescribable hardship in various situations. For example, when traveling from Arafah to Muzdalifah, buses may come and go, but because of the crowds you may be unable to board any of them. After waiting for hours, you may finally get the opportunity to board a bus but have to remain standing, and then face an unimaginable traffic jam on the way. Suppose your vehicle is not air-conditioned; the heat and the crowd may leave you gasping for breath. In such a situation, there is nothing you can do except remain patient. In this way, you may face waiting, deprivation, and even indescribable hardship from hunger and thirst in various places. You must prepare yourself mentally for such situations from now on. The journey of Hajj is a journey of hardship. It is a journey of enduring both physical and mental suffering solely for the sake of Allah. Therefore, from the very beginning, firmly resolve to be patient and prepare yourself for the journey of Hajj.
6. The remembrance of Allah is an inseparable part of Hajj. The remembrance of Allah during Hajj is mentioned in verses 198, 200, and 203 of Surah Al-Baqarah. It is stated in a hadith that the rites of Tawaf, Sa‘i, and throwing pebbles during Hajj were prescribed for the purpose of remembering Allah.[5] Accordingly, you must prepare yourself mentally from the very beginning and practice so that the entire period of Hajj is spent in the remembrance of Allah and, while being a guest of Allah, reflection upon Allah and remembrance of Him constantly stir your heart. Otherwise, it is not possible to immerse oneself suddenly in the remembrance of Allah. For this reason, most pilgrims are seen to be heedless of remembrance while performing Hajj. Many are seen spending their time chatting about their households, wives and children, and businesses. Therefore, be attentive to this matter beforehand and develop the habit of reciting tasbih and tahlil.
7. When performing any act of worship, it is extremely important to follow the way and method of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). This is because worship will not be accepted if it is performed according to one’s own whims or the ideas and opinions of another person while disregarding the example of the Messenger of Allah. Therefore, seek Allah’s help and prepare yourself mentally so that you can perform every act according to the example of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and remember Allah through hamd and thana, supplications, and prayers. If a problem concerning any ruling arises, try to find out how the Messenger of Allah dealt with it. When you find the solution to your problem in an authentic hadith, hold firmly to it. If anyone says anything without citing an authentic hadith, reject it. Remember, an individual is not a reference. This applies not only to Hajj but also to other religious rites and observances.
8. Prepare yourself mentally not to do anything under the influence of emotion while performing Hajj. Remain alert to the fact that emotion may sometimes overcome you. Otherwise, you may return home with sins rather than rewards. For example, suppose you are performing Tawaf. You see emotional people kissing Maqam Ibrahim and touching it with their caps or handkerchiefs. Overcome by emotion, you may do the same with the intention of obtaining blessings. In such a situation, you will have committed an act contrary to Islamic teachings, which will undoubtedly bring sin rather than reward. Similarly, if you go to the Rawdah of the Messenger of Allah in Madinah and ask the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) for a child or for recovery from illness, you will have committed an act that is clearly contrary to Tawhid. Therefore, prepare yourself beforehand to control your emotions. Be firmly resolved.
9. The central slogan of Hajj is the Talbiyah, whose essential message is that Allah has no partner. He has taken no one as a partner in governing the heavens and the earth, nor does anyone possess any qualification to be His partner. Therefore, all praise belongs to Him alone. He alone is worthy of worship. Accordingly, while performing Hajj, you must be extremely careful that no trace of shirk touches your heart, mind, thoughts, or consciousness. This is because shirk utterly destroys a person’s Iman and Islam.[6]
10. People of various ideologies from all over the world gather during Hajj. Women gather alongside men in equal numbers. Most women move about and come to perform Salah with their faces uncovered. Many of them possess eye-catching beauty. In this situation, you must prepare yourself mentally beforehand to control your gaze. Otherwise, you will return from Hajj having earned sins rather than rewards.
11. When a husband and wife go to perform Hajj together, they must refrain from marital intimacy during the days of Hajj. Therefore, both of you must make a very firm decision regarding this and prepare yourselves mentally. Otherwise, remember that the entire Hajj will be invalidated.
[1] إنما الأعمال بالنيات — (Bukhari: Hadith no. 1)
[2] — إن أخوف ما أخاف عليكم الشرك الأصغر ، قالوا : وما الشرك الأصغر ، يارسول الله ؟ قال : الرياء (Ahmad: Hadith no. 22524)
[3] — Ibn Majah: 890
[4] — وَلَا جِدَالَ فِي الْحَجِّ (Surah Al-Baqarah: 197)
[5] — إنما جعل الطواف بالبيت وبين الصفاء والمروة ورمي الجمار لإقامة ذكر الله (Abu Dawud: Hadith no. 1612)
[6] — لَئِنْ أَشْرَكْتَ لَيَحْبَطَنَّ عَمَلُكَ (Surah Az-Zumar: 65)