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How To Make the Most Out of Hajj
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   Photo by Marwa Hamad
Most people who have been to Hajj can attest to the fact that it is one of the most memorable experiences of a lifetime! And provided that they have the means to perform Hajj again, they would undoubtedly do so.
If you are fortunate to be honored with the opportunity of performing Hajj, it is important to make the most out of this blessed experience. Here are some tips on how you can take your Hajj experience to the next level, In sha Allah.
1. 'Taqwa' is the most important thing to bring on your trip
If there is one thing you can bank on during your trip, it is that you will be tested, over and over. It doesn't matter if you have a 5-star package and access to amenities that most others don't, you cannot escape the tests that Allah
 will place before you.
You may experience long delays in getting from point A to point B. You may get ill. You may get stuck with a fellow Muslim in your group that annoys you. You may lose your luggage or your passport. You may get lost from your group. Something may happen that throws your whole Hajj in jeopardy. The bottom line is: you will face challenges along the way. This has always been the case, right from when Hajj was first instituted until now.
Our Master and Creator
has provided us with some advice in the Qur'an on how we can respond to the tests that He will send.
"… And take provisions, but indeed, the best provision is fear of Allah. And fear Me, O people of understanding" [Qur'an: Chapter 2, Verse 197].
Allah
teaches us how we can prepare for those tests. It is taqwa that you should carry with you every step of the way because it will give you the strength to bear the tests that Allah will place upon you to test your faith and strengthen your imaan and maybe even, raise your status with Him .
Taqwa here means to have an elevated consciousness of Allah
, to be constantly aware that He is watching over you at every moment. With this awareness comes a desire to please Allah even in moments of distress. When your buttons are pushed, you control your emotions and act rationally with patience.2. Internalize your dua
Many people who plan on going for Hajj spend a lot of time focusing on what belongings they should take with them on the trip. They try to prepare themselves for the situations they expect to face.
What gets neglected often, however, is preparing for the moments in which you have the opportunity to make lots of dua and adhkar. There will be no shortage of these situations, because they will present themselves throughout the trip. For example, tawaf and sa'ee are times of making lots of dua and lots of dhikr of Allah
. There will be idle moments you have in between the fardh (obligatory) prayers. Even while traveling between locations, sitting on a bus or waiting at the airport, there are idle times that can be utilized.
As part of your Hajj preparations, factor in these precious moments that you will have. Try to memorize as much of the dua you want to recite as possible and thoroughly understand its meaning. So, when you are in front of the Ka'bah doing tawaf, or performing sa'ee or even in your nawafil prayer, the dua will come from the heart. The words you recite will reflect the emotions in your heart. When you are calling upon your Master, your heart calls out too. You won't get this level of spiritual connection by reading from a book of adhkar that you don't know the meaning of. However, it's certainly recommended to repeat the supplications which the Prophet
 taught us.
Practice and rehearse your dua in the weeks leading up to your trip. So when it's time to perform on the big stage, you are able to maximize the opportunity In sha Allah.
3. Make a master dua list for the day of Arafat
Arafat is Hajj. This is the pinnacle of your pilgrimage. This is why you spent thousands of dollars on this trip and exhausted your vacation days for the year. This is the day in which you come to Allah
humbled in the simplest of dress, standing in a barren desert, disheveled, with your hands outstretched, pleading with all your emotions hanging out.
Between Dhuhr/Asr (because you will combine these prayers) and Maghrib, is time for you and Allah
. Find your own comfortable spot, away from any distractions that might disrupt your dua. This is where you want to make dua for all the things you desire for yourself and your loved ones, both in this dunya and in the akhirah. This is the time where you want to make istighfar, like you've never done so before. And this is the time where you want to feel connected to Allah .
To make the most out of Arafat, start planning for it while you are making your other preparations for Hajj. Sit down and brainstorm an exhaustive master list of all the dua you want to make. If there are Prophetic duas or Qur'anic duas related to what you're asking for, include those on the list. Categorize and group your master list so that it flows following the etiquette of dua. Review and revise this list until you're satisfied.
If you can memorize all of these duas, all the better. If not, having a list to prompt and guide you will certainly be helpful in this situation.
4. Relive the stories of Prophet Ibrahim
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