The Philosophy of the Pilgrimage

Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘And He made obligatory for you the pilgrimage to His Sacred House which he made the ‘qibla for all people. They come to it like the cattle coming to water, and eagerly turn to it like the birds eagerly returning to their nest; He, glory be to Him, made it a sign of their humility before His greatness and their yielding to His Might.

Imam Zayn al-Abidin (AS) said, ‘Perform the Hajj [obligatory pilgrimage] and the umra [voluntary pilgrimage] so that your bodies become healthy, your sustenance expanded, and your faith improved; and suffice yourselves with the expenses of people and the expenses of your families.

Imam al-Baqir (AS) said, ‘Pilgrimage calms the hearts.

Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, ‘And this is the house by which Allah has demanded the devotion of His creatures to test their obedience in their coming to it, so He prompted them to glorify it and visit it. He made it the station of the prophets and the focal point (qibla) for those who pray to Him. It is a branch of His good pleasure and a way that leads to His forgiveness, founded on absolute perfection and ultimate grandeur.

Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, ‘There is no place dearer to Allah, most High, than the masaa [place of running between the mounts of al-Safa and al-Marwa in Makkah], for every overbearing person is lowered and debased before Him there.

Imam al-Rida (AS) said, ‘If someone asks why He commanded the pilgrimage, it is answered: in order for people to perform the journey to [i.e. for] Allah, Mighty and Exalted, and ask for increase… in addition to the benefits it has of understanding religion and relating the reports of the Imams (AS) to every side and region.