Hajj appears as a true exposition of affection and inordinate love which is manifest in it.

In order to understand this properly, the following should be borne in mind. The relation of man with his Creator in Islam is of two kinds:

Firstly, man stands as a mere slave before Him, in a Master-slave relationship where Allah is Master, the Sustainer, the Creator, the Almighty, and man is the servant, slave and subject. Man is the worshipper and Allah is the only One worthy of worship. If one observes closely, one will realise that it is for this very reason everything in Salaah emphasizes this relationship and radiates humility, humbleness and submission on the part of man. Hence, man enters Salaah undisturbed with dignity, neatly dressed with proper behaviour as in the case of one presenting himself at a royal court of some king where special regulations are imposed for all as far as attire, neatness etc. is concerned.

Secondly, there is between man and Allah another relationship based on love and gratitude. Here Allah is the Lord, Sustainer, Beneficent, Gracious, the One possessing all the attributes of beauty and perfection. Man by nature possesses the ability to love, admire and adore beauty and virtue. Such has he been created.

The second relationship is of Allah as the possessor of all attributes, of beauty and perfection, and man as the admirer of that. It shows Allah as the Beloved, man as the lover searching for the object of his love and striving his utmost for the pleasure and reciprocal love of his beloved.

The distinct exposition of this relationship is shown in Hajj.

Hajj shows a love so great that everything is being sacrificed in the interest of gaining His love. The Haaji (pilgrim) is seen right at the outset leaving home and severing all relations with his home, his family, his children and dear ones. He casts them all aside and then sets forth towards his most Beloved. His love is such that without complaint or doubt he braves the journey through deserts and jungles, plains and mountains, valleys and hills, rivers and oceans to reach his destination. Greatly impatient and overly anxious, the journey continues. The reason for this impatience and over anxiousness is the fact that the time has come near for the annual gathering of all His lovers at His House. A gathering for which He Himself has issued the invitation.

No doubt such a journey will contain its fair share of difficulties and obstacles but with great tolerance these are overcome.

Therefore, when one enters the Haram borders, he should be like an ardent lover with dishevelled hair and dust-covered ihram clothes uttering aloud the labbayk. That is what Allah’s Messenger ﷺ made apparent when he said, “dishevelled hair and one laden in dust”. The manner in which the Haaji`s present themselves is so much appreciated and liked by Allah that He boasts about it in front of the angels saying, “O my angels, look at the visitor of My holy house with hair dishevelled and laden in dust they come to Me”. It is obvious that after a long and tiresome journey this will be the appearance. The more apparent this untidiness, the more it will show in devotion and love. The Haaji searchingly continues his journey and in this untidy state, while chanting the labbayk, he moves towards his goal, attaining the true love of Allah.