The benefits of Hajj

In the Qur’an, it is mentioned that Prophet Ibrahim was commanded: “Proclaim the pilgrimage to all people. They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every distant pass so that they may witness benefits for themselves…” (Hajj 27-28).

(A necessary technical explanation: The term used in the verse for "benefits" is "manāfi", which translates to "benefits" or "advantages". This means that while performing Hajj, Muslims will also attain various tangible benefits and gains. Since the term “benefit” in our language often implies self-serving gains possibly at others’ expense, "benefits" is a more appropriate translation. However, this slightly dilutes the detailed emphasis of the verse. Please read the article with this explanation in mind.)

The question “What benefits can be observed during Hajj?” opens a rich avenue for reflection:

**Personal Benefits**

First and foremost, Hajj, a personal journey, teaches a Muslim to endure the hardships of travel, to manage oneself, and to share a space with strangers for weeks, learning the subtleties of this coexistence. For a Muslim who can look beyond the physical and apparent difficulties, wondering “What can I learn here until I return?”, the personal benefits of Hajj are limitless.

**Cultural Benefits**

A Muslim coming to Hajj will interact with people from different nations, get to know them, and notice fascinating details from physical appearances to traditions. This will deepen their understanding of the truth that “we are like the organs of one body.” Conversations will take them from Asia to Africa, the Balkans to America, showing how colorful, diverse, multilayered, and multidimensional the “ummah” truly is.

**Intellectual Benefits**

Hajj is a gathering place for the leading minds of the ummah. Thus, the issues of different regions will be brought to Mecca and Medina, new works published that year will be discussed, and writers and thinkers will give lectures, creating a fertile brainstorming environment. Many prominent figures who might not cross paths under normal circumstances will meet, fostering collaborations that lead to more productive works.

**Political Benefits**

Different political experiences are undoubtedly lived across the various regions of the Islamic world. This, at the same time, means an invaluable accumulation for the collective memory of Muslims. During Hajj, these experiences and accumulations will be shared, Muslims will consult on their political agendas, and upon returning home, they will be one step closer to solving their problems.

**Economic Benefits**

Hajj offers an atmosphere where commercial agreements can be made and provides opportunities for organized aid to those in need. On one hand, businessmen and wealthy Muslims exchange business cards; on the other hand, they will ponder over interest-free loans and other forms of Islamic charity, seeking solutions for the economic and financial wounds of the ummah. And not just seeking, but finding them as well.

(The verse mentions “witnessing benefits” clearly, so I did not touch upon the spiritual value of Hajj and the rewards it brings to a Muslim. As the prophetic saying states, “The reward for an accepted Hajj is nothing but Paradise,” this topic is self-explanatory.)

After discussing the theoretical aspects, let’s get to the main question:

Does Hajj, in its current practice, provide all these benefits I mentioned - and undoubtedly many more that could be added? Is our ummah sufficiently benefiting from Hajj on a personal, cultural, intellectual, political, and economic level? Are there opportunities for this, and if so, are they being utilized? Are there opportunities for the hundreds of thousands who flock to Hajj to interact and learn from each other?

We know the answers to all these questions. We even know the reasons and justifications for those answers. But regardless, we must read and understand the emphasis “so that they may witness benefits for themselves” as a duty placed upon the shoulders of the Islamic ummah to ensure Hajj is practiced in a way that makes these benefits clearly observable.