"...the pilgrimage to the Holy House is an obligation which man owes to Allah, for the man who has the ability to find his way to it..." The Holy Qur’an, Surah Al-Imran: 96

 Know that "the form" of any ibada, of any kind of devotion, is a means to find Truth. If Truth is not found by it, "form" has no meaning or purpose by itself.

"A man came to take leave from Hz. Shibli (ks). Hz. Shibli(k.s.) asked:

— Where are you going?

— To the Hajj.

— Take with you two big bags; fill them with Mercy there and bring them to us, so that we will have a share of it, to share with our friends and to offer our guests...

The man took his leave and left to go to Hajj. When he returned, he came to visit Hz. Shibli(k.s.), who asked:

— Did you go to the Pilgrimage?

— Yes.

— What did you do first?

— I took a ritual total ablution, put on my pilgrim’s garb, made two raqats of salat, started reciting the talbiyya, and made my intention and decision to do the pilgrimage.

— With your intention and decision to do the Hajj, were you able to cancel all decisions you had taken which were contrary to this decision, since the day you were born?

— No.

— Then you have not made your intention to do the Hajj.

Then you say you took off your ordinary clothes and put on your pilgrim’s garb. Have you denuded yourself of all you have done in your ordinary life?

— No.

— Then you have neither taken off your clothes neither have you put on your pilgrim’s garb.

When you washed yourself and took your ablution, did you cleanse yourself of all your ills and defects?

— No.

— Then you have not taken your ritual ablution.

When you recited the talbiyya and said ‘i am present, my Lord,

i am here, at Your orders, i am here heedful, there is none like You, all grace is to You, all blessing is from You, all belongs to You, there is no partner with You’, did you receive an answer, a call from Allah?

— No.

— Then you have not recited the talbiyya.

Did you enter the Harem, the sacred grounds?

— Yes.

- When you entered the Harem, did you vow to leave behind all that is haram and unlawful?

— No.

— Then you have not entered the Harem. Did you visit Mecca?

— Yes.

— When you visited Mecca, did you feel as if you received a different state from Allah?

— No.

— Then you have not been in Mecca.

Did you enter the Sacred Mosque?

— Yes.

— Did you feel closer to Allah in the Sacred Mosque?

— No.

— Then you have not entered the Sacred Mosque. Did you see the Qaaba?

— Yes.

— In seeing the Qaaba, did you achieve the goal for which you came?

— No.

— Then you have not seen the Qaaba.

Did you circumambulate the Qaaba thrice in fast paces and four times slowly?

— Yes.

— In running thrice around the Qaaba, did you run away from everything that you were with and in walking four times around did you reach salvation and security and thankfulness?

— No.

— Then you have not left your old self, nor your worldly load; neither have you come closer to your Lord. You have not made your tawwaf.

Did you touch and salute the hajar’u aswad (the Black Stone)?

— Yes.

— Pity on you! It is said the one who touches the Black Stone touches the Truth. The one who touches the Truth is in the securest peace. Did you feel this security?

— No.

— Then you have not touched the hajar’u aswad. Did you make two raqats of salat afterwards?

— Yes?

— In doing so, did you stand in front of your Lord and show Him your intention?

— No.

— Then you have not made your salat. Did you stand on the hill of Safa?

— Yes.

— What did you do there?

— I recited the takbir. I declared the Greatness of Allah.

— As you stood there, did your soul find purity (saf)? Bid your heart find joy (safa)? As you said ‘Allahu Akbar’, did the world and the worldly become smaller?

— No.

— Then you have neither stood on the top of Safa nor did you declare Allah’s greatness.

As you ran between Safa and Marwa, did you run from His Jelal to His Jemal?

— No.

— Then you did not walk seven times between Safa and Marwa. Did you stand on the top of the hill of Marwa?

— Yes.

— As you stood there, did you feel peace and tranquility descend upon you?

— No.

— Then you have not been there either.

— Did you go to Mina from Mecca?

— Yes.

— Did you receive your wish?

— No.

— Then you have not been to Mina.

Have you entered the Masjid—i Hayf?

— Yes.

— When you entered the Masjid—i Hayf, was the fear of Allah refreshed in your heart?

— No.

— Then you did not enter the Masjid—i Hayf. Did you go up to the mountain of Arafat?

— Yes.

— Did you come to know how and why you were created, and where you are going to go? Did you come to know who is your Lord, that Lord who you deny? Has Allah shown you a sign that you were one of the chosen?

— No.

— Then you have not been to Arafat. Have you been to Mash’ar?

— Yes.

— Did you remember Allah at Mash’ar in such a way that you forgot everything else? Did you come to understand there how one is addressed and how one’s prayers are answered?

— No.

— Then you have not been to Mash’ar. Did you sacrifice an animal?

— Yes.

— Did you sacrifice your desires and your will for Allah’s sake?

— No.

— You have not sacrificed anything. Did you stone the devil at Mina?

— Yes.

— Did you throw away your ignorance? Did you receive wisdom in its place?

— No.

— You have not thrown stones at the devil.

Did you visit the Qaaba, the Sacred House, after you descended from Arafat?

— Yes.

— What gifts have you received from the Master of that house? For the Prophet (saws) says: ‘The pilgrims are Allah’s visitors; it is right that the Host show honor and give presents to the guests...’

— I have not received any gifts.

— Then you have not done your visitation.

Did you satiate yourself drinking the Zamzam water?

— Yes.

— Did the taste of Zamzam make you promise not to taste anything unlawful, ever?

— No.

— Then you have not drunk the Zamzam water.

Did you make the circumambulation of farewell at the Qaaba?

— Yes.

— Did you leave all of your ego and all your being behind?

— No.

— Then you have not made your farewell, nor have you made your Hajj. If you wish, you must return and make your Hajj again. If you do, do it the way I told you.

This story is taken from Hz. Sulami’s (ks) Haqaiq’ut-tafsir. Allah knows best.

Al fakir Tosun al-Jerrahi