Islam is basically built on Tawheed. This implies that all your deeds shall be for Allah’s sake to be accepted. You can’t be a Muslim without accepting this truth.

Indeed, all five Islamic pillars target this goal: to unify your destination. It’s to believe in Allah (the Only One God) and His Messenger, Muhammad ﷺ, to pray to Allah five times daily, to pay poor dues (Zakaah) for the sake of Allah, to fast in Ramadaan, and finally to perform Hajj to Allah’s House in Makkah. Thus, the meaning of tawheed is reflected in the journey of the hajj.

Tawheed (monotheism) is clearly illustrated in hajj rituals through the primary condition of hajj, the places of performing the rituals, the founder of the Sacred House, Ibrahim (peace be upon him), and the supplications said during the hajj rituals.

Tawheed is a must to be able to perform hajj

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) emphasizes this fact by saying:

‏ أَلاَ لاَ يَحُجُّ بَعْدَ الْعَامِ مُشْرِكٌ، وَلاَ يَطُوفُ بِالْبَيْتِ عُرْيَانٌ ‏.‏

In the year prior to the last Hajj of the Prophet (ﷺ) when Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) made Abu Bakr RA the leader of the pilgrims, the latter (Abu Bakr) sent me in the company of a group of people to make a public announcement: ‘No pagan is allowed to perform Hajj after this year, and no naked person is allowed to perform Tawaf of the Ka`ba.’ [Al-Bukhari]

Moreover, no act of worship is valid in Islam without pure intention for the sake of Allah. Thus, the pilgrim’s intention has to be for the Creator solely. Indeed, it is the same concept of tawheed, i.e., to worship only Allah, the One True God.

The pilgrim’s main destination is the Sacred House

The Sacred House placed in Makkah is the slogan of Tawheed on earth. It is the direction of prayer for Muslims whose belief is built on Tawheed. Most importantly, this Sacred House is established by Prophet Ibrahim (AS) by Allah Almighty’s order mentioned in the following verse:

وَإِذْ بَوَّأْنَا لِإِبْرَٰهِيمَ مَكَانَ ٱلْبَيْتِ أَن لَّا تُشْرِكْ بِى شَيْـًۭٔا

Remember! We identified the site of the Sacred House to Ibrahim (Abraham), saying, “Worship none besides Me, sanctify My House for those worshippers who make Tawaf (walking counter clockwise around it as a part of the Hajj rituals), and stand in prayer, bow, and prostrate themselves, [al Hajj 22: 26]

Prophet Ibrahim AS, the role model of Tawheed, called for the pilgrimage

Tawheed is highly reflected in the leader who established the place of the pilgrimage and call for it, obeying Allah’s order to him:

وَأَذِّن فِى ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلْحَجِّ

And make a proclamation of Hajj (Pilgrimage) to mankind [al Hajj 22: 27]

It was said that Ibrahim (AS) said: “O Lord, how can I convey this to people when my voice will not reach them” It was said: “Call them and We will convey it.” So Ibrahim (AS) stood up and said, “O mankind! Your Lord has established a House so come on pilgrimage to it.”

Indeed, Prophet Ibrahim (AS) is the father of the Prophets (AS) and he has a special rank for Muslims. His belief is Tawheed, as Allah says in the Noble Quran:

مَا كَانَ إِبْرَٰهِيمُ يَهُودِيًّۭا وَلَا نَصْرَانِيًّۭا وَلَـٰكِن كَانَ حَنِيفًۭا مُّسْلِمًۭا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ

“Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian; he submitted in all uprightness and was not a polytheist.” [Aal Imran 3: 67]

Talbiyah is the devotional prayer of Tawheed in Hajj

One of the significant prayers that the pilgrims say is the talbiyah:

فَلْيَرْفَعُوا أَصْوَاتَهُمْ بِالتَّلْبِيَةِ فَإِنَّهَا مِنْ شِعَارِ الْحَجِّ‏.‏

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Jibril AS came to me and said: ‘O Muhammad! Tell your Companions to raise their voices when reciting the Talbiyah, for it is one of the symbols of Hajj.’” [Ibn Majah]

The Arabic words Labbayk Allahumma labbayk here imply those meanings related to Tawheed:

· I submit and submit again,

· I am persisting in obeying You,

· I confirm my love of Allah,

· It implies sincerity,

· It implies drawing close to Allah.

· It is a symbol of Tawheed.