This article is going to introduce hajj briefly and deal with its importance concerning some opposite arguments against hajj rituals. It is concluded that hajj is an obligatory duty that under no conditions one can prevent Muslims from performing it.
Hajj (pilgrimage) is made to the Kaaba (House of God) in Saudi Arabia, which according to the holy Quran was built by the Holy Prophet Abraham for the worship of God. It is the most sacred place towards which all Muslims converge once a year when they perform Hajj rituals following Abraham, and Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon them. Therefor the pilgrimage is a meritorious activity through which the pilgrims purify their souls and intense their spirituality.
During the hajj time all the pilgrims wear the same cloth (ihram) and perform hajj rituals in equal manner irrespective of their race or ethnic origin from all over the world. They all participate in the same rituals displaying a spirit of unity and brotherhood which serves as a unifying force in Islam. Thus the pilgrimage unites Muslims of the world into one international fraternity. Actually, Hajj is a manifestation of the Muslim's unity that is resulted from their belief in the unity of God according to which all pilgrims worship and obey the commands of the One God, Allah (J) the exalted.
Despite the mentioned virtues and benefits of hajj, there might be some of the people as opponents of hajj rituals, who may argue that, due to the tragedy of hajj stampede this year, we must prevent Muslims from doing this religious duty in the future. The main reason behind these kinds of suggestions is that hajj costs too much money for Muslims every year and sometimes it causes death especially the tragic death of the pilgrims as it led to such death of hundreds of them this year.
In respond to these opponents of hajj a few points must be mentioned. First of all it must be taken into consideration that hajj is an Islamic mandatory duty that nothing can stop Muslims doing it except for those certain conditions that are expressed in Islamic sharia. Secondly people spend huge amounts of money in their leisure pursuits and trips annually which may also lead to death of them while hajj expenditure is very less compared to the other expenditures. Thirdly, instead of preventing people from making the pilgrimage to mecca we must encourage and force the Saudi rulers and authorities to provide the pilgrims with better facilities and conditions spending their moneys.
Finally, it should be noted that based of the above mentioned points we must not prevent people from doing hajj rather we must find better and more practical solution to the problems. Providing the pilgrims with better conditions during the hajj time could be the best solution to the problems which is more practical and helpful. That’s why it is the responsibility of all Muslims to force and pressurize the Saudi rulers to provide the pilgrims with better facilities and save their lives during hajj.