The faith of a servant of Allah will not become straight...

The faith of a servant of Allah will not become straight unless his heart is straight and his heart is not straight unless his tongue is straight. Allah may have mercy upon a servant who speaks good words and enjoys its blessings, refrains from speaking indecent words and is safe from its sinister consequence.

He who believes in Allah and the Last Day must say good wording or keep silent.”[^4]90 Therefore, it is incumbent on the pilgrims to be careful about what they say and not to invalidate their great acts. They must refrain from telling lies, backbiting, swearing, taking oaths, self-praising, finding faults with others, mocking, joking, and vexing others. اَلْحَجُّ أَشْهُرٌ مَعْلُومَاتٌ فَمَنْ فَرَضَ فِيهِنَّ الحَجَّ فَلا رَفَثَ وَلا فُسُوقَ وَلا جِدَالَ فِي الْحَجِّ.

“The pilgrimage is (performed in) the well‑known months; so whoever determines the performance of the pilgrimage therein, there shall be no intercourse nor fornication nor quarreling amongst one another. (The Holy Qur’an; 2:197)” The Holy Prophet (saw) says: إنَّ الرّجُلَ لَيَتكلّمُ بكَلِمةٍ فَيُضحِكُ بها جُلُسائَهُ يَهوِي بِها أَبعَدَ مِن الثُّـرَيّا.

“On many occasions, a man may say something to make his companions laugh but as a result of the same words he will go far from Allah’s mercy as much as the distance between the earth and the heavens.”[^5]91 مَن صَمَتَ نَجا “Whoever keeps silent will be delivered.”[^6]92 Jesus Christ (as) is quoted as saying: لا تُكثِروا الكَلامَ في غَيرِ ذِكْرِ اللهِ فإنّ الذِينَ يُكثِرونَ الكَلامَ في غَيرِ ذِكرِ اللهِ قاسِيةٌ قُلوبُهُم ولكِن لا يَعلَمونَ.

“Do not speak too much save in remembering Allah, for those who speak too much but do not remember Allah are hardhearted but they do not know.”[^7]93 Therefore, a pilgrim should keep on remembering God and pronouncing His Names. To be reckless in a state of Ihram, to let eyes, ears, and tongues free to do what they wish, to insult the cook, the courier, and the co-travelers means to dishonor the Host in His House. We seek refuge to God from ignorance.

O brethren of sincerity and God’s confidants, let us say Labbayk from the bottom of our hearts in unison: Yes, here I am, O Lord, here I am. Here I am, there is no partner for You, here I am. Halting Place 2: Mataaf وَلْيَطَّوَّفُوا بِالْبَيْتِ الْعَتِيقِ “… And let them go round the Ancient House. (The Holy Qur’an; 22:29)” We now enter the city of Mecca where the Messenger of God was born and the Holy Qur’an was revealed.

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