By Shaykh Yūsuf Badāt
Congratulations upon fulfilling one of the greatest pillars of Islam. You did it! You are now in a purified state. You are enveloped in mercy, blessings and rewards. It is now a new beginning. A fresh start to being at your best.
Joy
Express happiness and joy. Be thankful to the Almighty that He accepted you for this journey. Celebrate this great achievement with gratitude for His benevolence. Have a positive attitude with optimum humbleness. Arrogance destroys goodness. Display joy and happiness but refrain from arrogance and conceit. You are amazing. There’s no looking back. Move forward with utmost vibrance and positivity while being the most kind and humble person you can be.
Its All About God
You did all of this for the Almighty. You meticulously completed all the ritual acts and requirements. You are worthy of praise and applaud. Know that everything you do in life should now revolve around God. Whatever you do, the decisions you make, the places you go, the transactions you render and the ambitions you imbibe must all connect to the Almighty and His pleasure.
Hereafter
Pilgrimage connected you to the reality of life. Just like pilgrimage commenced and concluded, so will your life conclude one day. Make that last day of yours such that when you look back, you are proud at what you see. Pilgrimage reminds you that life is transitory. We will all experience death and depart to the next life sooner or later. Your conscience of the hereafter is far greater now that you have completed the pilgrimage. Your excitement to steer your life towards things that really matter is more vibrant. You now begin to eliminate distractions, bad habits and less meaningful things. You have resolved to live a fruitful life of goodness so that you also succeed in the hereafter.
Positive Influence
Upon your return, you are now a means of spreading your goodness to everyone that comes in contact with you. Your talk, gestures, actions and practices now motivate others to being righteous and kind. You refrain from sharing any incident or mishap of pilgrimage that will demotivate others. Your experiences about the journey are a spring board for so many to commit to taking the journey at the earliest.
Consistency
During pilgrimage, it was exceptionally easy to be persistent. Every pilgrim around you was motivational. Being present at the sacred spaces erupted emotions of spirituality. The real challenge starts now. You return home. You are back to your routines. You find yourself surrounded by many things that would perhaps cause you to err, forget or slip. However, you are such a victor that embraces the challenge. You are strong. Your pilgrimage reminded you of the consistency of two great prophets, Abraham and Muḥammad (peace and blessings be upon them). After Ḥajj, you remain steadfast and consistent on all the good you can possibly do. This is what you have been created for by the Almighty. You serve God through your worship and your service to humanity. You display excellence in everything you do! You have a new dimension to yourself.
