Hajj or pilgrimage is an annual Islamic pilgrimage done by Muslims across the world who have abilities to perform it to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is the holiest city for Muslims and a mandatory duty based on religious matter. For all Muslims who can perform it in term of money and physically they have to perform it at least once in their entire lifetime. As the verse in Quran said about the important of Hajj as follows:
“And complete the Hajj and umrah for Allah. But if you are prevented, then (offer) what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals. And do not shave your heads until the sacrificial animal has reached its place of slaughter. And whoever among you is ill or has an ailment of the head (making shaving necessary must offer) a ransom of fasting (three days) or charity or sacrifice. And when you are secure, then whoever performs umrah (during the Hajj months) followed by Hajj (offers) what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals, and whoever cannot find (or afford such an animal) – then fast of three days during Hajj and of seven when you have returned (home). Those are tea complete (days). This is for those whose family is not in the area of al-Masjid al-Haram. And fear Allah and know that Allah is severe in penalty.”
(QS. Al-Baqarah : 196)
Muslims should perform Hajj at least once and learn how to perform Hajj step by step based on the desire to worship only for Allah SWT.
Benefits of Doing Hajj
For Muslims there are so many benefits of doing Hajj both for religious matter or for our mind and soul. To strengthened their intention, some people need to be encouraged by benefits and reward. Therefore; in this article we would like to explain on how Hajj will give you benefits and impact in a good way.
1.It will draw us closer to Allah SWT
Of course Hajj and any worship or prayer will draw us close to Allah SWT. It will help us to get closer and always make our faith to Him as our Creator. Human is proven to believe more from what they saw. By came to Mecca and seeing Ka’bah, it will help Muslims to follow the true story and proof of what has been written in Quran and Hadiths. Those that were written in Quran are true. You may also want to know about the most sacred month in Islam.
2.It will give us reward
As one of the important part of worship in Islam, Allah SWT has given us promise of reward for whoever can perform Hajj.
“In it there are clear signs (such as) the standing place of Abraham. And whoever enters it shall be safe. And (due) to Allah from the people is pilgrimage to the House – for whoever is able to find their way. But whoever disbelieves – then indeed, Allah is free from need of the worlds.”
(QS. Ali’Imran : 97)
Hajj is one of the basic principles in Islam, beside faith, prayer, charity, and fasting.
3.Relieved stress
Another benefits of doing Hajj is to relieve stress. Pilgrimage and it’s ritual or activities will help us to relieve our stress from worldly matter. Since in the process, we will be invited to always focus on worship during the Hajj period. It will help us to get rid of our previous problems.
4.Increase our health
When performing Hajj, Muslims are encourage to perform activities like walking in certain distance, meditate, and concentrate. It will help us increasing our health condition. Those activities during Hajj are very useful for our body, and some study in Islam proven that Hajj is great for our health and strength.
5.Increase our immunity
In addition to increase our health, another benefits of doing Hajj is it will also help to increase our immunity. It happened when we were forced to follow the activities and routine of Hajj including adjusting ourselves to new environment.
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6.It’s a form of Jihad without any conflict
Indeed that Hajj is Jihad but without involving any conflict, Hajj help us to know how to struggle on doing something we called as worship for Allah. When we perform it; of course, it will never be that easy, since Hajj involved physical, mind, and soul of Muslims. From Aisha reported that :
“I once asked the Prophet ‘O Messenger of Allah, we (the women folk) consider that Jihad is the best deed, why then may we not go forth and fight in the cause of Allah?’ The Prophet answered, ‘The best form of jihad in the cause of Allah for you is the hajj (pilgrimage), which is free from all vices and defects.”
(Narrated by Imam Al-Bukhari)
7.It’s reminds Muslims on the Judgement Day
Hajj helps us learnt how small we are in front of Allah SWT as our creator. The benefits of doing Hajj will make us realize that everything related to this world and us are merely the gift from Him. And that someday we will return to Him, and that this world will reach it’s end. Doing Hajj will make us realize on the Judgement Day and the time where we have to take responsibility of our deeds. You can also learn about the importance of Ka’ba in Islam.
8.Hajj is a way to create and form character
Believe it or not, doing Hajj will forge our character to become better. During Hajj, we are encouraged to perform worship, to maintain our behavior, to keep our discipline, to understand the struggle, and to learn how to help others or mingling in new society and community. It will help us to develop our character to become stronger and better than before.
9.Teach us as a community
Muslims all around the world assemble in front of Ka’bah. There are no difference between language, race, skin tone, and any kind of separation of human degrees during Hajj. It helps Muslims to live as a community during Hajj, and to help each other as friend or even family.
10. It helps us to respect other people
As mentioned before that whoever as long as they are Muslims, they can perform Hajj. Everyone from any different gender, race, skin tone, educational background, or anything can perform Hajj including all those people that were gathered in one place at one time. Therefore, we need to respect each other to keep Hajj running smoothly. Hajj helps Muslims to learn how to respect each other regardless of social background. You may want to know about the tips to gain motivation when learning Islam including how Islam teaches us to respect each other.
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11. Hajj can erase our sins
Rasulullah said in the following hadith,
“Whoever performs Hajj to this House (Ka’bah) and does not approach his wife for sexual relations nor commits sins (while performing Hajj), he will come out as sinless as a newly-born child (just delivered by his mother).”
Narrated by Abu Huraira
To conclude, those are all the 11 benefits of doing Hajj Muslims should know. After you read this article, we sincerely hope that all the readers can perform Hajj since there are so many virtues of benefits of doing Hajj for Muslims.