Pilgrimage "Hajj' by Mohammad Amin Sheikho

What wisdom lies behind the pilgrimage? What benefit comes from its strange rituals? Why should the pilgrim dress in white, untailored cloth? What is the wisdom of circumambulating a big stone named Al-Kaíba? What does the hajji (pilgrim) benefit from kissing the Black Stone? What is the purpose of walking quickly to and fro between Safa and Marwa? What is the importance of standing on a mountain named Arafat? What is the purpose of throwing seven pebbles? Can these seven pebbles destroy Satan, who is immaterial and invisible? Why are animals slaughtered in these places? If you are eager and interested to know the answers to these exciting questions, then let us sail forth into this research, which leads us to the straight path and ensures that there is no deviation from it. Thus we may live a life of eternal happiness. Let us seize the opportunity to gain a span of life compared to which our worldly life is not worth mentioning. Let us start now, for when death knocks at our door, regret will avail us nothing. At that time, how great will be the loss of those who turned away from their Provider!