Embarking on Hajj Means Turning Your Entire Being Toward God Almighty
To go on Hajj means to direct your entire being
—your behavior, your ethics, and your values—toward God Almighty.
First Eid al-Adha Sermon, July 22, 2022
By Sheikh Tammam Ahmad (may God preserve him)
Imam Ja‘far al-Sadiq Mosque – Ain Hafadh Village – Safita
This day comes after a profound act of worship that God has prescribed for His servants—a form of devotion designed as a test of human patience and character. It challenges us: will we struggle against our own desires in obedience to our Lord?
As God the Exalted says: Pilgrimage to the House is a duty owed to God by all people who are able to undertake it. (Qur’an, 3:97)
The “ability” mentioned here refers to having the provisions and means of travel necessary to reach the Sacred House, which God has made a symbol of devotion and obedience to Him.
This station of pilgrimage, which God has commanded His creation to uphold, serves two great purposes:
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To test obedience—whether people will give of their wealth, their bodies, and their lives for the sake of God.
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To reveal the essence of this act of worship—to truly understand what Hajj represents.
At its core, Hajj is more than just a journey; it is an inner redirection. It is a return to the meaning of being human, especially when materialism overtakes us and drags us away from our values and morals.
To perform Hajj is to realign one’s behavior, one’s ethics, and one’s values—fully and sincerely—toward God Almighty.
Just as prayer means to connect with your Lord in devotion to attain His mercy and forgiveness...
Just as fasting aims to soften the heart so it may feel the suffering of the poor and needy...
So too, the purpose of Hajj is for a person to strip away base desires, whims, and impulses—and to walk toward God in purity and sincerity, seeking nothing but His noble face.
This act of worship is not confined to a single day or month. God has made it a yearly reminder—just as prayer is a daily reminder five times a day—for those who seek to repent and return to their Lord.
Each act of worship is a reminder—of God, of His commands, and of His prohibitions.
We ask God Almighty to make us among those who listen to what is said and follow the best of it.
O God, send Your blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad—a prayer through which You accept our prayers, answer our supplications, forgive our sins, erase our misdeeds, enrich us in our poverty, and mend us in our brokenness. Indeed, You are capable of all things.
O servants of God:
Indeed, God commands justice, good conduct, and giving to relatives, and forbids immorality, bad conduct, and oppression. He admonishes you so that you may take heed. (Qur’an, 16:90)
O God, make us among those who are reminded and take heed, who are warned and restrain themselves, who hear and truly listen, who are shown the way and clearly see it.
I say these words of mine, and I ask forgiveness from God—for myself and for you.
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