دُرُوسُ الْحَجِّ وَالْعَوْدَةُ بِقَلْبٍ جَدِيدٍ

The accepted Hajj (al-ḥajj al-mabruur) The accepted Hajj "has no reward other than Paradise" (Bukhari 1773, Muslim 1349). But what is an accepted Hajj? Scholars describe it this way: performed for Allah alone, with lawful money, without sin or quarrelling, with good behaviour towards the other pilgrims, and followed by a better life than before. The word "mabruur" comes from "birr", piety and goodness. Asked about birr, the Prophet ﷺ answered: "Birr is good character" (Muslim 2553). A Hajj without good character has therefore lost part of its meaning. It is reported from several early scholars, including Al-Ḥasan al-Baṣri, that the sign of an accepted Hajj is that the pilgrim returns less attached to this world and more eager for the Hereafter [À VÉRIFIER : attribution].

The lessons of the rites • Oneness (at-tawḥiid). The talbiya repeats: "You have no partner." The House was built so that nothing would be associated with Allah (22:26). The whole of Hajj is a rejection of what turns one away from Allah. • Equality. Same clothing, same place, same supplication: rich and poor, powerful and anonymous, all colours and all languages. "We made you peoples and tribes so that you may know one another; the noblest of you before Allah is the most pious" (meaning of 49:13). In a report of the farewell pilgrimage narrated by Aḥmad: "An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab… except through piety" [À VÉRIFIER : numéro et degré]. • Preparation for the Hereafter. The iḥraam clothing recalls the shroud; 'Arafa recalls the great gathering; the pilgrim leaves his possessions, his family and his comfort, as he will one day leave them. • Patience and good character. Verse 2:197 forbids quarrelling; the crowd, the heat, the waiting and the fatigue are the test. "The best provision is piety" (2:197). • Trust in Allah. When Ibraahiim left Haajar and Ismaa'iil in the waterless valley, she asked: "Is it Allah who commanded you to do this?"; he said yes; she said: "Then He will not abandon us" (Bukhari 3364). The pilgrim performs actions whose reason he does not always see, out of obedience, like 'Umar before the Black Stone. • The unity of the community. One meets Muslims from all over the world; one prays, eats and sleeps beside them. One returns with a wider awareness of the umma. • Honouring the rites of Allah. "Whoever honours the rites of Allah, that is from the piety of hearts" (meaning of 22:32, text below).

Coming back changed The return is the real test of Hajj. Some guidelines: • Keep praying on time, in congregation if possible, as in Makkah and Madinah. • Guard your tongue: do not take up quarrels, backbiting and harsh words again. • Make amends: return what is owed, ask for forgiveness, repay debts. • Keep the connection with the Qur'an and dhikr taken up during the journey, even a little every day. • Share without boasting: the title of "ḥaajj" is not a rank. Doing a deed to be seen (ar-riyaa') destroys its reward. • Remain humble: one does not know whether one's Hajj has been accepted. Ibraahiim and Ismaa'iil, while raising the House, said: "Our Lord, accept from us" (2:127).

Returning home • On returning from a journey, the Prophet ﷺ would say: "Aayibuun, taa'ibuun, 'aabiduun, li-rabbinaa ḥaamiduun" ("We return, repentant, worshipping our Lord and praising Him") (Bukhari 1797, Muslim 1344) [À VÉRIFIER : numéros]. • He recommended returning quickly to one's family once the purpose of the journey was achieved (Bukhari 1804, Muslim 1927) [À VÉRIFIER : numéros]. • Visits, gifts and homecoming meals are a custom, not an obligation: without excess or expenses that burden the family. Asking the pilgrim to supplicate for oneself is a widespread practice; the reports about it are discussed [À VÉRIFIER : degré]. • Sharing one's experience with the community and accompanying future pilgrims: arrangements to be completed by the centre.

Understanding the lesson

Explanation Hajj is a school: in a few days, it teaches oneness, equality, patience, trust and humility, not through speeches but through actions and trials lived through. Its value is not measured by the number of photos or the title one receives, but by what changes afterwards. The accepted Hajj is recognised by behaviour: the word itself, "mabruur", refers to birr, good character. Hajj erases past sins; it does not guarantee the future. Someone who returns purified and falls back into his old faults has received a grace and not kept it. Hence the importance of a simple, concrete "return plan". Finally, these lessons are not reserved for pilgrims: someone who stays at home can also live the oneness of the talbiya, the equality of iḥraam and the patience of Hajj in his everyday life.

Lessons to draw from it • Before leaving, write down three concrete changes you want to keep on your return. • Plan a small return programme: prayer on time, a page of Qur'an a day, a fixed dhikr. • Return what is owed and ask forgiveness before leaving, and continue on your return. • Speak about your Hajj to encourage, never to show yourself off. • Ask Allah every day to accept your Hajj, like Ibraahiim and Ismaa'iil (2:127).

Key points to remember • Accepted Hajj: its reward is Paradise (Bukhari 1773, Muslim 1349). • "Birr is good character" (Muslim 2553). • Lessons: oneness (talbiya), equality (49:13), the Hereafter, patience (2:197), trust (Bukhari 3364), unity of the umma. • "Whoever honours the rites of Allah…" (22:32). • On return: "Aayibuun, taa'ibuun, 'aabiduun…" [À VÉRIFIER : numéros].

The main message The true sign of an accepted Hajj is seen on the return: a heart more attached to Allah, a gentler tongue and a more upright life than before.

The text: Surah Al-Ḥajj (22), verse 32 [TEXTE ARABE À INSÉRER : sourate 22:32]

The text: Surah Al-Baqara (2), verse 127 [TEXTE ARABE À INSÉRER : sourate 2:127]

Meaning: 22:32: "So it is. And whoever honours the rites (sha'aa'ir) of Allah, that is from the piety of hearts." 2:127: "And when Ibraahiim and Ismaa'iil were raising the foundations of the House: 'Our Lord, accept from us; You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.'" Even while building the Ka'ba, they asked Allah to accept their work: this is the state of mind of the returning pilgrim.

Arabic text: deliberately not typed, to avoid any error; it is to be copied from the centre's mushaf (or a verified source) at the place indicated.