All praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. May peace and blessings be upon His servant and beloved Prophet Muhammad (S) our guide and intercessor with Allah the Exalted; and upon his purified household, his faithful companions, and those who follow his path until the Day of Judgement.

The sun of Islam brilliantly rose, enlightening the path which leads mankind to a blissful life both in this world, and the Hereafter. It guides the deviated, protects the weak, uplifts the downtrodden, satisfies the hungry and clothes the naked. Islam came to clarify all rights and obligations; and to free the individual, family, and the Ummah1 from fear, injustice, ignorance and hunger.

According to its laws, white and black, ruler and ruled, man and woman are all equal. Islam determines a just balance with which to organize every aspect of life, and whatever the needs of the human race. It marvelously caters to any need in life, while carrying the message of guidance and reform, the flambeau of power and mercy and the banner of freedom and justice in quest of a secure life for all humanity under its shades, till the end of life on earth.

In Islam, we find attributes that no other religion offers Islam reconciles the creed with the legislation and morals. It responds to the corporal needs and spiritual desires, and identifies the deterrent punishment. It cultivates morals to form the balanced Ummah. Then it makes justice the ruler and observer and. the conscience a guide. It promises reward for the righteous believers and forbade punishment for those who go astray.

One main attribute of Islam is that it raises the status of man, and asserts his high position as the viceroy of the Creator and the best of all creatures. Mankind revives the earth and the souls by construction and faith, while honouring the religiously ordained duties. Islam orders fulfilling of divine obligations, and makes it compulsory for the keeping up of prayer, fasting, and the performance of Hajj, and Jihad (struggle for the sake of Allah)...etc.

Hajj is indeed a source of guidance and innumerable benefits and interests, and a stronghold of defence and uprightness. Allah, the Most High, ordains Hajj so that the Ummah of the Seal of the prophet remains the bearer of the monotheistic banner to achieve the unity of humanity, and carries out the most desired objectives of humanity: freedom, equality, justice, security, welfare, brotherhood, stability and prosperity.

Hajj is a discharge of Allah’s dues, and for mankind a tour of the body, a journey of the soul. A unification of the Ummah and the dissemination of monotheism. In it there are short term benefits of this world and the everlasting benefits of the Hereafter.

Al-Balagh Foundation presents to its dear readers this booklet on Hajj, asking Allah to amply grant us His help to accomplish this duty to the best of our abilities, so that the Ummah may reap the bounties of its humble endeavors.

We ask Him to aid us in our efforts to do good works: that which pleases Him, to fulfil that which has been commanded of us, glorifying and giving due respect to the religious duties of Islam.

وَمَنْ يُعَظِّمْ شَعَائِرَ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّهَا مِنْ تَقْوَى الْقُلُوبِ

“...and whoever respects the signs of Allah, this surely is (the outcome) of the piety of hearts” (Holy Qur’an, 22:32).

Al-Balagh Foundation

• 1. Ummah is an Arabic term with a variety of shades to meaning. For example, it can be community, nation, a people or a group. In this text Ummah refers to the entire Muslim world community, irrespective of the differences of language, race and nation states.