The genuine value of Hajj and its reforming effects on the soul and behavior does not lie in mechanically routine practice, devoid of any meaning or value beyond what is seen, but in the awareness of the pilgrim and his spiritual and ideological awareness of every action he practises, every call he makes and in every prayer he reiterates. Otherwise, the pilgrim is not but a tourist, idly wandering around a historic place. He achieves none of the goals of Hajj and his soul remains untouched. In this conversation with Shibli, Imam Zayn Al-Abideen (a) describes Hajj, discloses its symbolic implications, and the inspirational meaning of each devotional deed during Hajj.
Discourse on Hajj with Shibli.
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): Did you go for Hajj O Shibli?
Shibli: Yes O son of the Messenger of Allah.
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): Did you stop at the Miqat (Miqat are the stations at
which pilgrims on the Hajj, the pilgrimage to Makkah, put on ihram, the
pilgrim’s garment) and put away the sewn clothes and perform the sacred bath?
Shibli: Yes
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): When you stopped at Miqat did you make the intention
that you are taking off the clothes of disobedience and putting on the clothes
of obedience?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): And when you had taken off your sewn clothes did you
make the intention that you had taken off hypocrisy and entering dubious acts?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): And when you took the bath did you have the intention
that you are washing yourself from all sins and errors?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): You did not stop at Miqat, nor did you take off sewn
clothes nor did you perform the sacred bath.
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): Did you cleanse yourself and put on Ihram and fulfill
your covenant of Hajj?
Shibli: Yes
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): When you did this did you have the intention that you
are cleaning yourself with the nurah of the sincere repentance to Almighty Allah
the most high?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): When you put on the Ihram did you have the intention
that you are forbidding yourself everything that Almighty Allah has forbidden?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): When you fulfilled the covenant of Hajj did you have
the intention that you have nullified all other covenants with other than Allah?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): You did not cleanse yourself nor did you put on the
Ihram nor did you fulfill the covenant of hajj.
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): Did you enter the Miqat and pray the two Rakats of the
Ihram and did you chant Talbiyah?
Shibli: Yes
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): When you entered the Miqat, did you make the intention
of entering as a visitor?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): When you prayed the two Rakats did you make the
intention that you are trying to get closer to Allah (SWT) with the best of acts
from the prayers and the biggest of good deeds from the acts of worship?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): When you chanted the Talbiyah did you have the
intention that you were talking to almighty Allah with all obedience and keeping
quiet from all disobedience?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): You did not enter Miqat nor did you pray nor did you
chant the Talbiyah.
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): Did you enter the Haram and did you see the Kaaba and
did you pray there?
Shibli: Yes
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): When you entered the Haram did you have the intention
that you were prohibiting on yourself all backbiting of all the Muslims from the
Nations of Islam?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): And when you reached Makka did you make the intention
with your heart that you had come to Almighty Allah (SWT)?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): You have neither entered Haram nor seen the Kaaba nor
prayed.
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): Did you go round the house and did you touch the Rukn
and did you make Saee?
Shibli: Yes
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): And when you did the Saee did you have the intention
that you were running towards Almighty Allah and did Allah the knower of all
secrets know this?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): You did not go round the house nor did you touch Rukn
nor did you make Saee.
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): Did you touch the Hajar al-Aswad (The Black Stone) and
did you stand at the Maqam Ibrahim (Station of Abraham) and did you pray two
Rakats on it?
Shibli: Yes
Here the Imam Zaynul Abidin (as) gave a scream as if he was about to leave this
world saying Ah! Ah! Whoever touches the black stone it is as if he has shaken
hands with Almighty Allah (SWT). So Look O poor chap that you do not destroy the
reward of something whose sacredness has been made very great and you do not
spoil your Handshake by disobedience and by grasping evil like the sinners.
Then Imam Zaynul Abidin (as) asked: Did you have the intention when you were
standing on Maqam Ibrahim (Station of Abraham) that you were are standing on
every obedience and that you have put behind you all disobedience?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): When you prayed two Rakats there did you make the
intention that you are praying the prayers of Ibrahim and that you are
humiliating Shaitan with your prayers?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): You did not stand on Maqam Ibrahim (Station of Abraham)
nor did you pray two Rakats on it.
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): Did you look over the well of Zamzam and did you drink
from its water?
Shibli: Yes
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): Did you have the intention when you were looking over
the well that you looking at obedience to Almighty Allah and closing your eyes
from all disobedience?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): You did not look over it nor did you drink from its
water.
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): Did you run between Safa and Marwa and did you walk
between it repeatedly?
Shibli: Yes
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): Did you have the intention that you were between hope
and fear?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): You did not run between Safa and Marwa.
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): Did you go out to Mina?
Shibli: Yes
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): Did you have the intention that every Muslim was safe
from your tongue, your heart and you?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): You did not go out to Mina.
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): Did you stay a short time at Arafa and did you climb
Jabal al-Rahma and did you recognize the wadi of Namira and did to supplicate to
Almighty Allah near al-Mil and al-Jamaraat?
Shibli: Yes
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): Did you conceive by your stay in Arafa the gnosis (Irfan)
of Almighty Allah (SWT) and the knowledge of good things and acts; and did you
conceive that your book of deeds was in the hands of Allah and that Allah had
full knowledge of your secrets and what is in your heart?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): And when you climbed the Jabal al-Rahma did you have
the intention that Almighty Allah may have mercy on all believing men and all
believing women and that He will help all Muslim men and women?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): Did you have the intention at wadi of Namira that you
would not enjoin good until you practice it yourself and you would not forbid
evil until you leave it yourself?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): And when you stopped at al-Mil and al-Jamaraat did you
have the intention that they were witnessing all your acts of worship and that
they were guarding you together with guardian angels by the order of Almighty
Allah?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): Then you did not stay at Arafat nor did you go up the
Mountain of Mercy nor did you recognize the wadi of Namirah nor did you
supplicate to Almighty Allah.
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): Did you pass between the two columns pray two Rakats
before crossing; go to Muzdalifah pick up pebbles and cross the Mash’arul Haram?
Shibli: Yes
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): When you prayed the two Rakats, did you have the
intention that you were praying the prayer of thanksgiving within the ten nights
which removes every hardship and facilitates every ease?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): At the time of passing between the two columns without
deviating to the right or the left did you have the intention that you would
never deviate from the true religion to the right or the left neither with your
heart, tongue nor with your limbs?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): When you walked through Muzdalifah and picked up the
pebbles did you have the intention that you have plucked all acts of
disobedience and ignorance and that you had affirmed knowledge and action?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): Then when you walked in the Mash’arul Haram did you
have the intention that you had embossed your heart with the identification of
those who have Taqwa and fear of Almighty Allah the Most High?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): Then you did not pass between the two columns nor did
you pray the two Rakats, nor walked into Muzdalifah, nor picked up the pebbles
nor walked in the Mash’arul Haram.
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): Did you arrive at Mina, throw stones at the Jamarah and
did you shave your head and slaughter the sacrifice and did you pray in Masjid
al-Kheef and did you return to Makkah and perform the Tawaf of Ifadha (return)
to Makkah?
Shibli: Yes
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): When you reached Mina and pelted the Jamarah did you
have the intention that you have attained your goal and your Lord has fulfilled
all your needs?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): And when you pelted the Jamarah did you have the
intention that you had pelted your enemy Iblees and by completing this precious
Hajj you had disobeyed him?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): And when you shaved your head did you have the
intention that you had cleansed yourself from all filth and from all the
injustice of the children of Adam and that you had purified yourself from sin
just like a new born baby.
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): And when you slaughtered your hadiya did you have the
intention that you are cutting the artery of greed by holding fast to the
reality of piety and that you are following the tradition of Ibrahim (A.S.) when
he was prepared to slighter his son, the fruit of his heart, through which he
established the Sunna of gaining nearness to Almighty Allah for those who came
after him?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): And when you returned to Makka and did the Tawaaf of
Ifadha did you have the intention that you had come back with the Mercy of
Almighty Allah to His obedience and that you had clasped His love that you had
performed your duty to Him and had gained nearness to him?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abidin (as): Then you did not reach Mina nor did you pelt the
Jamaraat nor did you shave your head nor did you slaughter the hadiya nor did
you pray in the Masjid Al-Kheef nor did you return to Makkah and perform the
Tawaaf of Ifadha. Go back because you have not performed Hajj!
Having heard all this Shibli started to cry because of what he had missed in his
Hajj and he continued to learn the secrets of Hajj until he could perform the
Hajj through knowledge and understanding.