The Purpose Of Pilgrimage In Three Semitic Faiths

By Editor on 27th May 2026 • ( 0 )

The Purpose Of Pilgrimage In Three Semitic Faiths

The Core Meaning of Hajj

Pilgrimage is the 5th pillar of Islam and the only pillar that combines physical, financial, and spiritual worship in one act. It’s not just a journey to Makkah; it’s a rehearsal for death, unity, and submission to Allah.

Fulfilment of Tawheed (Monotheism) and Submission to Allah are the core principles and messages of Hajj.

The Abrahamic Model of Absolute Obedience

The core of Hajj is Labbayk Allahumma Labbayk – “Here I am, O Allah, here I am.” This ritual strips away ego, nationality, wealth, and status.

“And to Allah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House for whoever is able to find thereto a way.” The Quran ( 3: 93).

The purpose is to declare that your life, wealth, and body belong to Allah alone. Like Prophet (PBUH) Abraham, one leaves home, comfort, and logic behind to obey a command one may not fully understand. Pilgrimage for Muslims is the revival of the Sunnah of Prophet (PBUH) Abraham and Prophet (PBUH) Ishmael.

Re-enacting the Trials of Ibrahim’s Family

Hajj re-enacts the trials of Prophet (PBUH) Ibrahim’s family:

Sa’i between Safa and Marwa – Hajar’s desperate search for water, teaching trust in Allah’s provision.
Stoning the Jamarat – Ibrahim’s rejection of Satan’s whispers.
Sacrifice at Mina – Isma’il’s submission and Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice what he loved most.

The purpose is to internalize that true success comes through obedience, not through convenience.

Manifesting Unity and Equality on the Plains of Arafat

Manifestation of Ummah’s Unity and Equality is the political aspect of the pilgrimage.

On Arafat, millions of people stand in two white sheets, with no distinction of race, class, or nationality. Kings and laborers stand side by side, all saying the same words.

“Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you.” (Qur’an 49:13)

Hajj dismantles the false hierarchies of jahiliyyah and shows what the Ummah would look like if Tawheed governed politics and society.

Spiritual Cleansing and Moral Refinement

Spiritual Cleansing and Renewal is another important aspect of Pilgrimage.

The Prophet (PBUH) said:

“Whoever performs Hajj without committing obscenity or sin returns as on the day his mother bore him.” (Bukhari 1521, Muslim 1350).

Hajj is designed to wipe the slate clean. The hardship of travel, heat, crowding, and patience is intentional. It breaks our ego, false pride, arrogance and humbles us and forces us to confront our sins before standing Allah, on the Day of Judgment. Arafat is a rehearsal for Yawm al-Hashr.

The Code of Ihram: Training the Soul for Social Harmony

Moral and Social Education are the significant lessons to be learnt.

Hajj forbids quarrelling, sin, and hunting in Ihram. It teaches self-restraint, patience, and concern for others. One cannot push, cheat, or harm while wearing Ihram. The purpose is to carry that Piety and Equality back home. As Dr Allama Iqbal said, the real revolution is a change of the self.

“Hajj is well-known months, so whoever has made Hajj obligatory upon himself therein [by entering the state of Ihram], there is [to be] no sexual relations and no disobedience and no disputing during Hajj.” (Qur’an 2:197)

The White Shroud: Breaking the Illusion of Material Permanence

Reminder of Death and the Hereafter is an alarming message of pilgrimage.

The white shroud-like Ihram, the standing at Arafat, the stoning at Satan, and the sacrifice all point to one reality: you will die alone, stand before Allah alone, and be judged alone. Hajj breaks the illusion of permanence and redirects the heart toward the Doomsday.

Hajj is not tourism. It’s a training camp for piety. Its vital purpose is to renew Tawheed, revive the legacy of Ibrahim, unite the Ummah, cleanse the soul, and remind us that we were created for a mission. The Quran announces that life is not a jest or a plaything.

The Prophet (PBUH) summarized it: “Hajj is Arafat.” Tirmidhi 889 – because if your heart stands before Allah there, the rituals that follow become alive.

Pilgrimage in Judaism and Christianity

Now very briefly, let us examine the concept and spirit of pilgrimage In Judaism and Christianity with its relevance to Islamic concept of Pilgrimage. The Jews and the Christians also undertake pilgrimage.

These spiritual journeys are a foundational aspect of their traditions, the specific destinations and requirements but differ significantly from those of Islam. In Judaism, pilgrimage is historically a major commandment, with the Torah instructing Jews to travel to Jerusalem for three major festivals: Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot. The Western Wall located in Jerusalem is the most sacred site accessible to Jews today, representing the remaining outer wall of Ancient Second Temple.

So far as the Christians are concerned, they do not have a strict doctrinal requirement to perform a pilgrimage in order to fulfil their faith, but doing so is a very common expression of devotion. The sites connected to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ in Israel and Palestine are heavily visited. Key stops include Bethlehem, the Sea of Galilee, the Via Dolorosa, and the Church of Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

The Futility of Empty Ritualism: The True Purpose of Religious Practices

Now, the question arises as to why religious rituals are being practiced by all religions? It is very clear that the religious rituals are performed to make people pious, humane, sensible, compassionate , virtuous, righteous, just, honest, peaceful, sacrificing, tolerant, honest, kind, caring and loving. If these positive qualities are not adhered and adopted, then all religious beliefs, practices and rituals become futile practices. The purpose of Pilgrimage and other religious practices and rituals is not served even today by the followers of all religions.

Violation of the Ten Commandments in Gaza

The basis of the Semitic religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam are the Ten Commandments given in The Torah. Let us see how they are violated by their followers. The Torah says:

“Thou shalt not kill.” (Exodus 20: 2-17).

Are the Jews doing what their holy scripture says? In Gaza/Palestine, they have killed innocent Muslim civilians in thousands. They have not even spared kids and women. The Torah says:

“Thou shalt not covet neighbour’s house.”

How shamelessly and brutally, the Israeli government has demolished the houses of the innocent people of Gaza. Even hospitals and schools have been bombarded. Are the Jews/ Zionists practicing the teachings of Moses?

The Mockery of Christ’s Message: The Genocide in Bosnia

Similarly, The Old Testament and the New Testament mention the Ten Commandments at various places such as in Corinthians (8:6); Timothy (2:5); and The Gospel of John (5:21).

The Bible also says: Do not murder. The way orthodox Christians murdered the Muslims of Bosnia, it is the mockery of the message of Jesus Christ(PBUH).

The Bible says: “Do not commit adultery”. The Bosnian Muslim ladies were raped and then bestially killed by the ferocious Serbian army. The unprecedented atrocities were perpetrated by the Serbs on armless civilians of Bosnia, whose only crime was that they were Muslims.

Jesus Christ was all love-incarnate. He was the Prophet of peace, justice and humanity. Aren’t the Serbian soldiers criminals in the eyes of morality, humanity and international law? Can they claim to be the followers of Jesus Christ (PBUH)?

The Quranic Foundation: Rules of Engagement and Ethical Warfare

The Holy Quran doesn’t explicitly list the Ten Commandments together as a single block of text or in an exact numbered format found in The Torah and in The Bible. However, the core moral, social and spiritual values underlying the Ten Commandments are heavily present throughout The Holy Quran.

Surah Al-Isra (17: 23-39) and Sura Al-Anam (6: 151-153) and some other verses emphasis on the spiritual, religious, moral and social aspects of society. As the Holy Quran strictly prohibits the genocide, especially the killings of women, kids, patients, elderly lot, and the people who do not fight Muslims. Islam allows defensive war. Islam does not allow violence and offense. The history has proven that nowhere in the world, the Muslims killed children and women of enemies after victory in war, as genocide is strictly against Islamic teachings and the practice of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

Beyond Slogans: Reclaiming the Revolutionary Spirit of Hajj

One thing must be sorrowfully mentioned that Muslims are not united. They are a prey to monarchy, sectarianism, monasticism, fascism, parochialism, tribalism, capitalism, pseudo spiritualism, and retrogression. This is the reason they are mercilessly being killed in Gaza and Kashmir. The purpose of pilgrimage for a Muslim is to make pledge with God to sacrifice his life for justice and uproot tyranny and aggression. Jihad is an obligatory Islamic tenet. It is to wage war against the oppressors, transgressors and aggressors.

When during pilgrimage, the Muslims chant: God we are here; we are present at beck and call. It means that they are ready to sacrifice their lives for justice and will fight aggressors. The Quran says that why don’t you help the aggressed when they are calling you for help. Are not the aggressed people of Gaza and Kashmir crying and calling us for help? Are the Muslims listening to their cries? If not; then why they are saying that they are present before God? Does God need them? Yes; God needs them to play their role to eradicate and erase the aggressors and through Jihad, maintain peace and justice. Only spiritless slogans and rituals are not the mission of Islam.

I wish the modern generation reads the poetry of Dr Allama Iqbal and the marvellous book titled “The Hajj”, written by martyr Dr Ali Shariati to have the proper understanding of The Pilgrimage in Islam.