Hajj as a bridge between the finite and the infinite 
Standing once again in the courtyard of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, my husband Chad and I prepared for our second Hajj — a pilgrimage that would prove even more transformative than our first, undertaken more than a decade ago in 2013. Chad, who embraced Islam 30 years ago, brought his deep spiritual maturity to complement my own quest for understanding the relationship between Allah and humans. Together, we embarked on a two-week journey that would reshape our comprehension of existence itself.
The logistics had been challenging. Navigating Nusuk’s booking platform tested our patience. Yet, once we had secured our package through Dar El Salaam Travel’s partnership with Saudia Hajj and Umrah — complete with five-star accommodation in Makkah and Madinah and comfortable lodging at Kidana Tower in Mina — and traveled to º£½ÇÖ±²¥ from the US, the stage was set for a profound transformation.
Under the exceptional guidance of Sheikh Yahya Ibrahim from Perth, Australia, our group discovered that Hajj extends far beyond ritual compliance. Sheikh Yahya masterfully prepared us to perceive the pilgrimage not merely as physical movements through sacred spaces, but as a transcendent journey beyond the constraints of space and time.
Yasmin Saikia and her husband Chad, who embraced Islam 30 years ago, performed Hajj this year. (Supplied)
The spiritual awakening during Hajj offers practical blueprints for daily life. The pilgrimage teaches us that meaningful existence requires constant awareness of our connection to the divine, which in turn transforms how we relate to ourselves and our communities.
In practical terms, this means approaching daily interactions with the same intentionality we bring to Hajj rituals. Just as we circle the Kaaba with focused devotion, we should approach family conversations, workplace challenges and community service with deliberate mindfulness. The patience required during crowded Tawaf translates directly to patience with difficult situations at work and home.
The patience required during crowded Tawaf translates directly to patience with difficult situations at work and home.
Yasmin Saikia
When you have experienced the profound equality of Hajj, where your Ph.D. means nothing and your bank account is irrelevant, you start approaching community work differently. It is not about charity anymore; it becomes about recognizing the divine in everyone you serve. That homeless veteran, that refugee family and that difficult colleague all require the same response we heard in Makkah.
The Hajj principle of selflessness, exemplified when pilgrims sacrifice personal comfort for collective movement, offers guidance for addressing contemporary challenges. Climate change, social inequality and political divisions require the same spirit of collective sacrifice and shared purpose that characterizes successful pilgrimage.
The concept of unity experienced during Hajj, where millions of pilgrims from diverse backgrounds stand equal before Allah, provides a template for community building. This can manifest in local initiatives that transcend cultural, economic or racial boundaries.
Most importantly, the constant remembrance of Allah cultivated during Hajj, through prayer and reflection, can be sustained through daily practices. Even mundane activities can become opportunities for spiritual connection when approached with Hajj consciousness.
As someone who has spent years studying conflict and searching for paths to peace, I see in Hajj something that academic theories often miss — the power of shared vulnerability. Standing at Mount Arafat, stripped of all pretenses, you realize that lasting peace begins with that kind of humility. It is what we are trying to capture in our Center of Muslim Experience work — how spiritual practice can inform real-world solutions to division and misunderstanding, as well as dignifying the marginal and vulnerable by paying attention to their efforts and contributions for national and global progress.
The journey to Makkah ultimately taught me that the sacred and mundane are not separate realms but interconnected dimensions of existence. By maintaining the spiritual awareness awakened during Hajj, we create bridges between the finite limitations of daily life and the infinite possibilities of divine connection, enriching both our personal growth and our service to humanity.
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- Yasmin Saikia is a professor of history at Arizona State University, Co-Director of the Center of Muslim Experience in the US and Hardt-Nickachos Chair in Peace Studies.
