What Does Allah Want From Us In The Days Of Hajj?

What Does Allah Want From Us In The Days Of Hajj?

Now let us come to Al-Hajj. What is Hajj about? Most of us, if you're still here, that means you're not going on Hajj. What does Allah want from us in the days of Hajj? Because if we cannot go on Hajj physically, then we should go on Hajj with our heart.

What Is Hajj About?

Let me explain to you what Hajj is about. Hajj starts with what? What's the first thing that happens in Hajj? Before you make your intention for Hajj, where do you have to go? Where do you go to make your intention for Hajj, change into Ihram, etc.? Miqat. Miqat is a place where you go — there are five specific locations — you go there, you make your intention for Hajj.

It's not about changing clothes. It's about your intention starts from there. From the time you start from there until you reach the Ka'bah, what do you say? We say it together so we can get in the Hajj mood:

The Meaning of Labbayk

What does labbayk mean? I have responded. What are you responding to? Who called you? Ibrahim (peace be upon him) called. Who can tell me the ayah where Ibrahim (peace be upon him) called everybody to come to the house of Allah? Allah commands Ibrahim: go and call people to come to Hajj.

Did Ibrahim (peace be upon him) have a microphone, a speakerphone? No. So how did he call? Were there people around him when he was making the call for Hajj? He was standing in an empty desert — an empty desert — and the Ka'bah is just newly built behind him. A new build. And Allah tells him: now invite people to come to Hajj.

When we say labbayk, we are saying: I'm coming, oh Ibrahim (peace be upon him). Oh Allah, I'm going to answer your call. I'm coming, oh Allah, I'm coming. I have responded to your call.

Whether you are going for Hajj or not, you have to get into this mood. Oh Allah, I was distracted, but now I have received your call. I'm going to press the green button. I'm coming to you. I'm on my way — I'm on my way to my destination. I'm not going to disappoint you, oh Allah.

The First Step: Make the Intention

You start your journey. The journey to Allah starts with the intention. You have to make the firm intention.

These 10 days, I'm going to change my life. I have a smoking habit. I have a habit of arguing with my wife. I have a habit of playing too much Minecraft, too much Roblox, watching too much Paw Patrol, watching too much Octonauts, watching too much. These 10 days, when I'm thinking about Octonauts, I'm going to turn on a nature documentary — David Attenborough. When I'm thinking Octonauts, I'm going to play Qur'an recitation. I'm going to listen to a talk. These 10 days are going to be different.

You have to first make a clear intention. One thing you're going to leave in these 10 days — stop doing it. And one thing you're going to do in these 10 days — you have to intend it.

Without the intention, do you have a Hajj? Does your Hajj count? No — you can pack your bags and go back home. You come to Hajj without saying: oh Allah, I intend to make a Hajj. Everything you did was just exercise. You got sweat, and that's it. You didn't benefit anywhere.

First, you have to make the intention. Second thing...