Another view that should be stated is the fact that we are both body and soul; therefore as humans, a true pilgrimage is a journey within and without. This is a strong statement as it is a simple fact, yet very effective and straight to the point, implying that a true pilgrimage is not just a journey within.
On the other hand, many Muslims would be used to facing such a hot climate and this would present absolutely no obstacle to them, therefore withstanding many hours of such a climate, as in the Stand, would prove to be no problem. As well as this, certain Muslims may do a lot of exercise and certain events, such as the Sai, would prove to be no struggle for them.
Aamer Chaudray, a journalist from Pakistan made the journey to Mecca on behalf of his father, who had passed away. He said that he believed that his father “would have a better position in afterlife” and that he felt his father was “with him”. This shows that Aamer doesn’t fear death and wants to join with God, but most of all, highlights the spirituality involved with Hajj, and its “journey within”, as he is informing us of how the journey influenced the way he felt inside; making him closer to his father and God, not physically.
Despite my arguments against the statement, a strong case for it is the simple fact that Hajj is a journey for spirituality; you venture for yourself, or for a loved one who passed away and was not able to make the journey. The Stand may be a very physical ritual and standing before God is the entire point to it, however, the physicality involved would be nothing on its own, as you need the spiritual side to wash away your sins, be truly repentant to God and finally be forgiven.
Furthermore, all Muslims have to go to Hajj unless they have unavoidable circumstances; if you are ill then you can pay for someone to go in your place but they have to have made the journey before. Muslims do not have to physically be there but they can in spirit and prayer, this being a very strong argument for the statement, proving the journey to be one within.
To sum up I believe that participating in Hajj is really a journey within. After looking at both sides of the argument I thought that the fact that Hajj is a spiritual journey was more fitting, as it is one of the five pillars of Islam, and its meaning is to set out with a definite purpose; in this case getting closer to God. The pilgrimage to Hajj is a once in a lifetime journey, and the spirituality involved is far more important than the physicality; Mecca is the holy city of Islam and is home to the Black Stone in the Ka’bah, which is believed to be a meteorite sent by God as a sign to Abraham, who built it into the Ka’bah. The holiness involved in the journey is indescribable.
