Life and Teachings of the Prophet Muhammad
3. The Concept of Worship in Islam
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Saee:
the pilgrims undertake a brisk walk between Safa and
Marwah, two hillocks near the Kabah.
— Standing on Arafat: the pilgrims gather at Arafat and pray
to God throughout the day, reciting the Talbiyah. This
standing on the 9th day of Dhul Hijjah is very important.
According to tradition, standing at Arafat is the culmination
of the pilgrimage.
It was at Arafat that the Prophet delivered his farewell sermon
to his people from the Mount of Mercy, a hill in the middle of the
plane.
Among all Muslim acts of worship, Hajj holds a pre-eminent
position. In one Hadith, the Prophet called it “the supreme act of
worship.” But it is not just the rites of pilgrimage that constitute
this importance; it is the spirit in which Hajj is performed. Hajj has
been prescribed so that it may inspire us with a new religious
fervour. To return from Hajj with one’s faith in God strengthened
and rekindled – that is the hallmark of a true pilgrim. Hajj reigns
supreme among all acts of devotion. Just as the Sacred Mosque in
Makkah has a station above all other mosques, so the worship that
is performed there as part of the pilgrimage stands head and
shoulders above all other acts of devotion.
