Hajj and ‘Uboodiyyah to Allah

Hajj is an act of ‘uboodiyyah to Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala). ‘Uboodiyyah is a comprehensive term that asserts the meaning of the aayah:

“You Alone do we worship and You Alone do we seek for Help.” (Qur’an, Surah Al-Fatihah, 1:5).

It comprises the slavery of the heart, tongue, and limbs to Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala). The slavery of the heart includes both the qawl (sayings of the heart) and ‘amaal (actions of the heart). The qawl of the heart is the belief (i’tiqaad) in what Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) has informed about His Self, His Names and Attributes, His Actions, His Angels, and all that which He revealed in His Book and sent upon the tongue of His Messenger Muhammad (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam).

The ‘amaal of the heart include love for Allah, reliance upon Him, turning to Him in repentance, fearing Him, having hope in him, devoting the deen sincerely to Him, having patience in what He orders and forbids, having patience with His decrees and being pleased with them, having allegiance for His pleasure, having humility for Him and humbling oneself in front of Him, and becoming tranquil with Him.

The qawl (saying) of the tongue is to convey what Allah has revealed (in the Qur’an and in the authentic sunnah regarding Himself, His Names and Attributes, His Actions, His Commands, His Prohibitions, and all that is related to this deen), to call to it, defend it, to expose the false innovations which oppose it, and to establish its remembrance and to convey what it orders.

The ‘amaal (actions) of the limbs include the salaat (prayers), hajj, jihaad, attending the jumu’ah prayers and the rest of the jamaa’aat (congregational prayers), assisting the weak, acting with goodness and kindness to the creation, and other such acts.

This comprehensive meaning of the ‘uboodiyyah (or “of slavery” to Allah) is a specific type of ‘uboodiyyah. The people who fall under this type of ‘uboodiyyah are the believers who obey, love, and sincerely follow the deen of Allah, Most High.

The second type of ‘uboodiyyah is the general one in which all creatures in the heavens and in the earth are subdued to Allah’s sovereign Authority and Power; everything is subservient to His Will, and Authority; nothing occurs or ceases to occur except by His leave; His is the Kingdom and He disposes the affairs as He pleases. This type of ‘uboodiyyah is known as the ‘uboodiyyah of qahr (Subduing) and mulk (Sovereignty, Kingship, Possession, Mastership, etc.)

So, the part of the aayah signifying “You do we worship” asserts the adherence to the four principles of the ‘uboodiyyah:

(1) The sayings of the heart,

(2) The actions of the heart,

(3) The sayings of the tongue, and

(4) The actions of the limbs.

The other part, “You Alone do we seek for Help,” stresses the fact that the believer must ask Allah alone to help him establish the ‘uboodiyyah and succeed in executing all what it requires.[1]