A state is a a condition or way of being that exists at a particular time. A state is all encompassing. For example, when a person is in a state of joy, fear or anxiety they are overcome by that particular state. Hajj and fasting are both states. We should be overcome by the states of Hajj and fasting.

Let’s consider the state of Hajj. For most of us, ihram is simply two pieces of cloth. We become very worried about various rules and regulations concerning ihram such as inadvertently covering our heads or face. However, should we just be restricted and concerned by these things only? The first thing Allah سبحانه وتعالى mentions in the Holy Qurʾān in this verse about Hajj is related to obscenity i.e. controlling our tongue:

الْحَجُّ أَشْهُرٌ مَّعْلُومَاتٌ فَمَن فَرَضَ فِيهِنَّ الْحَجَّ فَلاَ رَفَثَ وَلاَ فُسُوقَ وَلاَ جِدَالَ فِي الْحَجِّ وَمَا تَفْعَلُواْ مِنْ خَيْرٍ يَعْلَمْهُ اللّهُ وَتَزَوَّدُواْ فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ الزَّادِ التَّقْوَى وَاتَّقُونِ يَا أُوْلِي الأَلْبَابِ

The season of Pilgrimage is the months known; wherefore whosoever ordaineth unto himself the pilgrimage therein, there is no lewdness nor wickedness nor wrangling during the pilgrimage, and whatsoever of good ye do, Allah shall know it. And take provision for the journey, for verily the best provision is abstainment; and fear Me, O men of understanding!

[al Baqarah 2/197]

A person cannot be in a sacred state when their mind and body lacks purity. The heart can never be pure until the tongue is pure. There is a saying in Arabic that the tongue is the spout of the heart; the spout can only pour out what is in the vessel (i.e. the heart).

In flashes of anger, our tongue betrays our heart. We should contemplate on what the reality is of the content of our heart.


[This short excerpt is based on a talk delivered by Shaykh Riyadh ul Haq on 8th September 2017].