All praises are solely for Allah the most supreme. It is HE who has bestowed me the worthless and sinful servant the taufeeq to perform UMRAH and HAJJ.
Since every human is prone to sins and faults, I will beg Allah most high to pardon my faults and errors. I would also request all my beloved family and friends to forgive me if ever intentionally or unintentionally I've harmed them by any physical or verbal means.
Since everyone is not aware of Islam and its preachings, following is my little effort to explain it in the simplistic way possible. The importance and significance of this sacred land are so numerous that they cannot be covered in this piece of writing.
It is a fervent desire of every muslim, irrespective of color, nationality, wealth or status to visit THE SACRED LAND, where religious devotions could be fulfilled. The land where one faces not less than five times daily; the land where the KA'BAH, the sacred house of Allah and the qiblah is situated.
A muslim craves and yearns to visit this blessed land, the land where one could have the opportunity of witnessing the birth place of Allah's beloved NABI MUHAMMAD SALLALLAHU ALAYHI WASALLAM, who is the noblest and last of prophets, witnessing the land where he lived and rests in peace; the land whereon the archangel Jibreel Alayhis salaam and all the prophets of Allah treaded.
HAJJ
It is a unique form of ibaadah(worship). It embraces all types of devotions in some way or the other. Hajj does not only mean the carrying out of various devotions but also serves as a training centre where one educates and trains one's self spiritually as well as morally. It has many advantages, such as gaining Allah's pleasure, which is the height of ambition.
During the days of Hajj a pilgrim devotes one's self completely towards Allah the most supreme. One leaves behind one's beloved children, relatives, friends, home, luxury, comfort, country and country men.
One also cleanses one's self spiritually by abstaining from sins, vices, carnal and brutal desires. During the journey one also learns to be patient, tolerant and forgiving. At the same time one learns to discriminate between virtue and evil; between piety and impiety.
Above all, the entire stay is spent in an Islamic environment, where one learns practically how to behave and live as a sincere devout and upright Muslim.
The ULAMA of the ummah have stated : ' An individual who performs hajj does not remain the same person thereafter. One will either witness a spiritual and moral improvement, or a noticeable deterioration in one's self, spiritually as well as morally. '
The currency of every country is different. Similarly, is the currency of AA-KHIRAH which is pious deeds and not Dollars, Pounds, Francs, Yens and Rupees. Whilst we are alive let us accumulate this currency too the wealth of AA-KHIRAH. Bear in mind that no man has returned to the surface of this earth to accumulate wealth after his demise. The beauty of this currency is that it never depriciates, as does the currencies of this worthless world.
LABBAYK ALLAHUMMA LABBAYK.
LABBAYKA LAA SHARIKA LAKA LABBAYK.
INNAL HAMDA WAN NI MATA LAKA WAL MULK. LAA SHAREEKA LAK.
Here I am at your service O Allah. I am present. I am present, you have no partner. I am present. All praise and graciousness as well as the entire universe is yours. You have no partner.
Please pray for my safe journey and may Allah SWT accepts my prayers and qubool my HAJJ.
AAMEEN
( Source: The holy book Quran, sayings by Mufti Abdullah Bin Abdur Rahman )
