In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Mercy-giving
(Bismi-llāhi-Iraḥmāni-Iraḥīm.)
All praise belongs to God, Who made the affirmation of His oneness a refuge and fortress for His servants; Who made the Ancient House (the Ka’ba) a concourse secure for mankind, ennobled it in honour, virtue and grace by attribution to Himself, and made the visitation and circumambulation of it a screen and shield between man and his doom.
Benedictions on Muhammad, the Prophet of mercy and Chief of the Community, and on his family and Companions, the leaders of the truth and princes of the people – and many salutations.
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The Pilgrimage is one of the pillars and fundamentals of Islam, the worship of a lifetime, the seal of consummation, the completion of surrender and the perfection of religion. It was during the Pilgrimage that God, Magnified and Glorious is He, sent down His revelation:
‘Today I have perfected your religion for you, and completed My grace upon you, and approved Islam as your religion.’ [al-Mā’idah, 5:3]
(Al-yawma akmaltu lakum dinakum wa-atmamtu ‘alaykum ni’matī wa-raḍītu lakumu-l’islāma dīnā.)
It was concerning the Pilgrimage that the Prophet, on him be peace, said: ‘He who dies without having performed the Pilgrimage, let him die a Jew or a Christian, as he wishes.’1
Thus did he exalt an act of worship the omission of which deprives religion of its perfection, making one who forsakes it equal in error to a Jew or a Christian.