What difficulties might there be for a Muslim performing Hajj?
There might difficulties be a Muslim performing Hajj because discomfort and sickness, swindlers, road bandits (in the past), unexpected material straits, fatigue, and other tests. It is because there have a lot of pilgrimage crowded, not convenient to travel up there. "Travel is tribulation," "In travel character is revealed" (Arabic proverbs). It is said that pilgrimage conditions as a whole give clues as to one's spiritual standing, within the ranges of extreme difficulty indicating divine displeasure, to uncommon ease indicating divine acceptance. Spiritually dormant travel companions are one of the worst difficulties, although not equally felt as others.
How might participating in Hajj affect the life of a believer
Hajj can really affect a Muslims' life. It can affect the way the way they do things and how people treat them. Their daily life and religious life can also be affected. The believer participated in Hajj; they will feel joy at having reached "the House". The Lord of the House increased their intimacy feeling. They will ask for restless gratitude from the Munificent Creator. They will forget one’s problems and leaving the world behind. A sharper will aware the brevity of life. Redoubled desire to fill one's every moment there with good deeds. The believer usually lack of sleep and eagerness to offer worship in its various forms, especially at night. They awared of the invisible world engaged in constant worship of the one God. They increased consciousness of one's actions in the balance of the hereafter. An palpable increase in one's capacity for sincerity. They will long for repentance on earth and success in the Hereafter. They will feel sadness at leaving, together with an insatiable desire to know one's Lord better and be with those who know Him, and hear from them. Upon return from pilgrimage the pilgrim finds him/herself making more frequent supplication. In Islamic countries pilgrims are received with festivities and people visit them for three days, asking for their prayers. The Hajj is unthinkable without the visit to the Prophet Muhammad in the radiant city of Madina, although this visit is not required nor part of the rituals of Hajj. This visit can be done either on the way to or from Mecca, and bears special spiritual significance of its own. The most important aspect, to Muslims, is God has forgiven them.
‘A true pilgrimage is really a journey within ’, do you agree with this statement?
There is a lot of discussion about whether Hajj is really necessary. There is more is more depth to a physical journey. It's about what it means to the individual. It is an emotional journey and spiritual journey. It's a journey from the heart showing love for God. For us humans, a true pilgrimage is a journey within and without as we are a combination of body and soul. In the moral sense, Hajj is definitely a migration away from bad manners to good manners, and a jihad against one's ego.
Some people don't believe that it is a 'journey within'. The point of Hajj is to get closer to God but if He is omniscient and omnipresent then what's the point of going on Hajj. Because He knows what you think of Him, He is everywhere and therefore close to you, wherever you are. Muslims would not agree with this because they don't mean to be physically close to Him. They want to be close to His heart. Christians don't have to go on a pilgrimage, but some do out of choice. I think they would agree that Hajj is unnecessary because you don't need to prove yourself to God. As long as your devotion for Him remains, that's all that matters.
Some Muslims would not agree with this because it is their duty to God, it's one of the five pillars. A Muslim who has completed Hajj would feel cleansed and purified of sins. Therefore they would lead a better life. A further point they make is that if God orders it to be done then there must be a good reason for doing it. They believe that God is omnipresent but they want to show their true devotion to Allah.
Non-religious atheists would think it was a waste of time. God is not omniscient or omnipresent, he doesn't even exist.
I agree with a true pilgrimage is really a journey within. I am agnostic but I think that if the Muslims feel Hajj is necessary, I respect their feelings. But I also believe that they don't need to show their devotion. This is because God is omniscient so He knows to what lengths a Muslim would go for Him. So I believe that a true pilgrimage is really a journey within.