Hajj is a transformative journey that reconnects a pilgrim with his innate nature. This benefit is only attained by those who perform the pilgrimage with the right intention and spiritual mindset.
According to a narration, the Prophet of Islam, peace be upon him, stated that when a believer completes the Hajj pilgrimage and returns home, he is spiritually rejuvenated. He returns after Hajj like a newborn child. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 1820)
To understand the meaning of this narration, let us refer to another hadith, in which the Prophet of Islam, explained that every individual is born on nature and it is their parents who later turn them into a Jew, Christian, or Magian (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 1385).
After reflecting on these two narrations, it becomes clear that when Hajj is performed with sincere intention and spiritual devotion, it has the power to transform the pilgrim, similar to what is commonly known as “de-conditioning” in modern terms.
The underlying concept is that every individual is influenced and shaped by their surroundings. The act of Hajj serves as a means to set oneself free from this conditioning. Hajj is a transformative journey that aims to de-condition every individual, allowing them to reconnect with their innate nature. Essentially, the person who was previously bound by external conditioning becomes aligned with their true nature through the experience of Hajj. He becomes Mr. Nature.
However, this benefit of Hajj is only attained by those who perform the pilgrimage with the right intention and spiritual mindset. For those who merely go through the outward rituals of Hajj without the full spirit, it remains just an outing lacking any deeper significance.
