The Hajji pleads of Allah to: "...purify (his) intention and give (him) the grace of performing the Hajj in the best possible manner." Most modern sports training books, also talk about "performing....in the best possible manner", with elevated states of physical and mental readiness, writes Mike Magras.
"How?" I hear you say "can he dare to compare the Holy Pilgrimage with the contents of a sports book?" Well, have you ever stopped to think that the training element, in fact, permeates nearly all of the five pillars of Islam? Zakat or the giving of charity trains us in spending our wealth. Fasting trains us in self discipline and self control over the body and its desires. Hajj trains us to sacrifice our physical and mental energies, our wealth, time, comforts and possessions in the way of Allah. Salah and as-Shahadah provide us with exercises in mental culture. These are necessary for the constant reaffirmation of our faith in God. So, I argue, preparation should not be seen as an alien concept since we, as Muslims, are "in training" all the time!
While researching this article, I asked several people who'd already been on Hajj: "What advice would you give to someone who wishes to know how best to prepare for Hajj?"
No question about it, everyone felt that all potential Hajjis should be well versed in the essentials. Specific areas that were mentioned included; the special prayers, obligations, restrictions, terminologies and the sacred places to be visited.
However, to my gratification, (otherwise there would have been no point to this article) their responses also suggested that people have begun to realise this simple fact: Hajjis will be in a better position to deal with the rigours of the holy pilgrimage if they are in a good physical state. People are finally beginning to realise the contribution that good bodily preparation can make towards alleviating some of the (usually extreme) physical hardships and stress during Hajj.
Hajj follows the holy month of Ramadan and is commonly known as the holy pilgrimage. It became a compulsory act, for all Muslims, in the year 9th Hijrah, that is nine years after the Islamic state was established in Medina. While on Hajj, Muslims consciously give up the accepted pleasures and conveniences of life and endure rigorous, obligatory, disciplines. The ultimate aim is to attain, and retain, an intensified state of devotion (taqwa) to God.
So it can be said that those who are physically and mentally fit to undertake the journey, are the ones most likely to gain the greatest potential benefits. Ill-health would greatly affect the level of concentration needed to complete the obligatory ceremonies. If you want to perform in the best possible manner, then you should ensure that you are in the best possible condition - naturally.
When asked how one should prepare for Hajj one Haji remarked, "they should try to walk the equivalent of 10 miles a day in a sauna." Others also remembered with renewed agony the long arduous walks and the intense blazing sun. With this in mind I've put together a simple regular training activity that will give all of those contemplating Hajj this year, an adequate level of fitness before you embark on the Holy Pilgrimage.
People tend to forget that walking is the single most natural human exercise activity there is, and nothing could be easier. By following a simple programme of walking, you can obtain the level of fitness needed to alleviate some of the physical stress of Hajj. Walking punishes the body far less than jogging or swimming, yet is an effective way of improving respiration and heart function.
The aim of this walking programme is to bring on subtle, progressive changes to the aerobic capacity of the body. The aerobic capacity is the body's ability to use oxygen during exercise and this programme is simple. It involves walking a little further than you do normally each day and increasing the distance gradually. The day-to-day improvements to your health, may well be very small and unmeasurable, but don't be put off, when the time comes to leave for the Holy City you will notice the improvement.
This is known, in the fitness world, as the progressive overload principle. To illustrate this principle we can take a look at the legendary tale of Milo. Milo was a warrior in ancient Greece who used the technique of lifting the same calf every day to build up his strength. Milo found that as the calf grew so did his strength. Over a period his strength improved significantly enough to allow him to lift the cow when it was fully grown. This tale shows how the body responds and adapts to steady increases in the workload.
You should, at the first opportunity, put on your walking shoes, set a destination and start your walking programme. Listen to your body, if it aches on the day after your walk, do not increase your distance, if it doesn't, do - say by an extra half mile to start with. You haven't got much time so I suggest you start almost immediately!
Another important factor to consider is the heat. Most of us who do not live in a country near the equator are not acclimatised to the intense heat that is experienced during Hajj. Because of this, our body defence systems are not adequate to cope with the maintenance of the temperature and body fluid balances. This can leave us open to the life-threatening conditions of heat stress and dehydration. During vigorous physical exercise a person can sweat at a rate of 4 pounds of water every hour. This water must be replaced. If a person loses more than 5 per cent of his or her weight in sweat, they face the danger of becoming dehydrated and thus increasing the risk of heat illness. The only way to combat this is to continue to drink at frequent intervals - up to four pints a day is recommended, that's about 12 glasses. The body's thirst mechanism is not a good indicator as it underestimates the need for fluid.
Finally the motivational factor deserves a special mention. Each Haji, who was asked to comment, said that their absorption into the spiritual experience was intensified just through being in the company of people with the same objectives. They went on to say that they also gained additional mental and physical strength. There is evidence that people are prepared to perform their duties, with reverence, in the face of adversity. It was reported that, in 1969, people continued to walk around the Ka'abah despite the fact that it had been flooded and there was 5 feet of water! So if you are going to get the most out of the Hajj please ensure that you are at your best spiritually, physically and mentally.
And while you are there could you please save a prayer or two for this humble correspondent!
Appeared in Q-News International Online (http://www.q-news.com/), Issue 260; March 1997 - Dhul Qada 1417 http://www.aapi.co.uk/q-news/260p26.htm
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