Resources >Engaging Muslims> Engaging as individuals > My Muslim friends on the Hajj
Making the pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia once in a lifetime is a religious duty for all Muslims “who have the means”. Here are some thoughts and ideas for engaging with Muslims over this subject:
Many of our Muslim friends will go on the Hajj or want to make the pilgrimage. To do the Hajj at the prescribed time of year is far more meritorious and of course sharing with millions of other people in this act of worship is a real spiritual encounter. A cheaper option is the Umrah where you visit the same places but not at the specific time of year. This is still encouraged but doesn’t have the same merit.
How can the desire of our friends to go on the Hajj or their experience of visiting Mecca at the prescribed time or at another time open a way for us to talk about our faith or introduce Jesus?
The Hajj occurs at the time of the sacrifice festival - Eid ul-Adha. The actions which form the Hajj are mainly based on the life of Abraham and his son and Hagar. Despite the Muslim understanding that the son of sacrifice was Ishmael, there are still many things we get draw from these stories which can encourage discussion and open doors to talk about Jesus.
Read more about Eid ul-Adha here.
We can also talk about journeys and spiritual quests. There is a saying which declares, “The greatest Hajj is the Hajj of the heart.” Talking about travelling our life with God as our road companion or talking about Jesus as the one whose rod and staff are our comfort on the journey offers opportunity to talk about our testimony and our living experience of God, something many Muslim people are looking for.
Some people wait till late in life to go on the Hajj because it is suggested that you return from the Hajj as pure as a baby with all your past sins forgiven. Talking about how the pilgrimage has changed the person spiritually can open an important area of conversation and challenge.
Of course, a trip to Mecca for the Hajj or even for Umrah can be very expensive and the Hajj is only for those who can afford it. This could open conversation about our use of money or using our wealth for spiritual ends. Then with those who can’t afford to go, do we have something we can offer? Can we point them to a door or a journey that is open to all even those who are poor in the world’s eyes?
There is a story about a Hajji – a person who has been on the pilgrimage – which you might like to tell.
The king of the cats went on the Hajj. When he returned the other animals wanted to visit him and offer him congratulations and receive his blessing. Not visiting would be shameful so the mice decided a representative from their community should go. Because the king of the cats had a reputation of being a great mice catcher none of the mice wanted to go. In the end the king of the mice offered to go.
When he arrived at the king of the cats he watched from a distance as the cat gave out Meccan dates and Zam Zam water to those who came. He had even dyed his beard orange to show his devotion. The king of the mice approached cautiously, suddenly the cat caught sight of the mouse and he jumped off his throne scattering the dates and the visiting neighbours in all directions. The mouse bolted for the door and managed to escape but not before the cat had bitten off the end of his tail.
Nursing his wounds, the mouse returned home. When the other mice asked him how his visit had gone, he replied “Well, he looks like a hajji, he talks like a hajji and gives gifts like a hajji, but he still chases mice like a cat!”