There are numerous lessons that the pilgrim will learn during the Hajj journey.

One of these lessons is the Hajj experience constantly reminds the Haji of the journey of death.

For Muslims, the Hajj depicts a myriad of emotions, sentiments and affections, including sacrifice, love and unity. Imam al-Ghazali R, the great Muslim thinker of the 12th century, writes that this vast throng of people moving and pleading in their numerous tongues with their individual imams, engaged in their own activities, brings to mind the picture of the day of judgement and the afterlife.

When the time of death comes, people are sometimes ill for varying periods of time, and sometimes, death occurs suddenly. Similarly, many people prepare for Hajj a month or two in advance. For some people, this happens suddenly, and in a week or two they need to prepare to leave. This leaves everybody surprised, that with hardly a hint of intention this person is leaving for Hajj. A Haji came to meet and greet him, and he got influenced to go for Hajj, or he went to meet a Haji, and he departs on the same flight with that Haji. He did not have a passport. In a flash, his arrangements in terms of visas, passports, and tickets are arranged. These sometimes get delivered at the airport, as this person is about to leave. Similarly, in life, some people remain ill for a while. And they see Maut (death) coming. For some people it is sudden (probably a crime related incident, motor car accident, a sudden heart attack, or the like).

Now when a person dies, suddenly he will leave all his family, his business and his friends, all comes to an end. This is the same with Hajj, when one leaves, one leaves all these people and things.

A Haji leaves his home, bids farewell to all his dear ones and relatives; and departs from them just before he sets off alone. From there he proceeds to another country (as if into another world) leaving behind all those things which he was attached to and which had occupied most of his time; his house, his family, his farm, his orchards and the company of his friends. Death is the same, therefore, when one dies, he leaves behind all this; his home, his family, friends, country and everything that he loves. Such should the Haji`s thoughts be when leaving for the House of Allah, that in the same way as he is now leaving all worldly things behind for a short period of time, similarly, that time shall soon come; when without a choice he shall have to leave them forever.

After that, as when the Haji mounts his camel, his horse or gets on the train or plane, which begins to move him further and further away from his house and dear-ones, so does his dear-one’srelatives and friends lift his janazah. Having lifted it to their shoulders they begin to move him further and further away from everything that he loved. So, he departs like the janazah being carried to the grave. Some would come to bid farewell at home, some will go as far as the station and the real faithful ones may even go further; up to the boat. The position of the deceased and his friends is similar to that. Some may come only to the house to have a last look at him; others will go a short way for the janazah prayers. The real friends will go as far as the grave, to place him inside and fill the grave with soil. The latter are like those faithful ones who will bid farewell on the docks. However, on the boat (as well as in the grave) only those will accompany him, who could have been of assistance to him in this life only, whether that be a friend, a relative or wealth.

With regard to the journey, some companions are such that at all times they will see to his comfort and happiness, thereby making the journey a happy and pleasant one. Others will be so ill-tempered and quarrelsome that at every step they will make his journey a most unpleasant ordeal. Exactly so are the circumstances of the deceased one. With him will remain his deeds, which will abide by him till the end. His good deeds will indeed cause him great comfort and pleasure on the journey to the Hereafter, (Aakhirah), and his evil deeds will indeed cause him severe pain and suffering. The good deeds will remain with us in the grave in the form of a most handsome person, while evil deeds will remain with us in the grave in the form of an exceedingly ugly and fearsome person. The greatest comfort a Haji enjoys in Hajj comes from the money and provisions, which are prepared by him before leaving. Likewise, the greatest comfort one enjoys in the life after death is that which comes from the good deeds he performed before his death.

Sometimes, in Hajj a person due to lack of money, urgently requires more money; and you can imagine how happy one becomes; if that which he needs urgently is sent to him by some near relative or friend. How thankful is one at that time? Similarly, how thankful will the deceased be if after his demise his relatives, his friends or his children give charity, or recite Quran etc; and pray for the rewards and blessings of that to be conveyed to him. These will surely reach him; because that is what our Rasulullah ﷺ said.

In the next stage the Haji then has to pass through many perilous and unpleasant things. Thieves may rob him, ill-tempered government officers will search his luggage, query his documents etc. All these experiences remind us of various stages of the grave as when Munkar and Nakeer will come to question us; our Imaan will be tested; snakes and scorpions and various insects will be in the grave to punish us. Certainly, many a rich Haji; instead of having to go through all these bitter and unpleasant experiences goes through the normal passport, immigration and customs formalities unharassed; and experiencing no inconvenience reaches Hijaaz (his destination) in a short time. Likewise, those who toiled in this world and successfully accumulated many good deeds will not even feel the ordeal of being put to test by the questioning of Munkar and Nakeer; nor will they suffer other punishments of the grave on the journey to their destination – the Aakhirah; which he will similarly reach in a short time. Then until Qiyamah he will rest in great comfort like a bride on her first night delighted and happy; completely unaware of the hardships surrounding her. Then again for the Haji in the next stage the two white cloths worn by him as ih’raam should always bring to mind the kafn he is to wear one day. No matter how wealthy he may be, he has to wear these two simple pieces of cloth, similar will be his condition, the day he dies.