Hajj Season Is Here, and It's Calling You

"Have you performed Hajj, O Shiblī?"
"Yes, O Son of the Messenger of Allah."
"…Go back, for you did not perform Hajj!"
— Imam Zayn al-ʿĀbidīn (ʿA) to a pilgrim who completed every ritual
but missed every meaning.
(Mustadrak al-Wasāʾil, vol. 10, pp. 166–172)

Hajj Season Is Here — and It's Calling You

Hajj 2026 falls on approximately 25–29 May (8–12 Dhul Ḥijjah 1448 AH). Millions are packing their bags. But whether you're boarding a plane this week, planning for next year, or watching from the other side of the world — Hajj has something for you.

The conversation between Imam al-Sajjād (ʿA) and al-Shiblī — quoted above — is one of the most powerful teachings on Hajj in Shia literature. The pilgrim had done everything: iḥrām, ṭawāf, saʿī, ʿArafah, the stoning, the sacrifice. Yet the Imam told him he hadn't performed Hajj at all, because the inner intention behind every single act was missing.

That conversation should shake all of us. Not just travellers — all of us. Because Hajj isn't only a five-day journey; it's a lifelong invitation.

1. If You Haven't Gone Yet — Why You Should Start Planning

Allah says in the Qur'an: "And proclaim the Hajj among mankind. They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every distant pass." (Sūrat al-Ḥajj, 22:27). This is the call of Prophet Ibrāhīm (ʿA) — and it was made for you, across time and distance.

Imam ʿAlī (ʿA) said: "Hajj is the jihād of every weak person." You don't need to be a scholar. You don't need to feel "ready." In fact, the journey itself is what transforms you. Start by learning what it means — and the desire to go will follow.

Books to light that spark:

• The Inner Dimensions of Hajj — $38.00 AUD. A concise, mystical exploration of what each Hajj ritual truly means. If you read one book about Hajj this year, make it this one.
• The Story of the Ka'ba and Its People — $22.00 AUD. The history of the House of Allah, from Ibrāhīm to the Prophet (ṣ) — read this and you'll never look at the Ka'ba the same way again.
• Practices: From Prayer to Pilgrimage — $29.00 AUD. A clear walkthrough of the philosophy behind Hajj and other key rituals, rooted in Ahlul Bayt traditions.

2. Reflect on the Deeper Meaning — Even from Your Living Room

The Imam al-Sajjād–Shiblī dialogue teaches us that the body performing Hajj is not enough. When you remove your sewn clothes for iḥrām, are you removing showmanship? When you circle the Ka'ba, are you really circling Allah's will? When you throw stones at the Jamarāt, are you stoning your own ego?

These questions don't require a boarding pass. They require a quiet room and a good book.

Books for deep reflection:

• Adab as-Salāt — The Disciplines of Prayer — Imam Khomeini's masterwork on the inner dimensions of worship. If the Imam al-Sajjād–Shiblī hadith moved you, this book will stay with you for years.
• Secrets of Divine Love — $24.00 AUD. A warm, accessible exploration of the soul's relationship with Allah — perfect for readers who want depth without density.

3. The First Ten Days of Dhul Ḥijjah — Your Hajj from Home

You don't have to be in Makkah to share in the blessings. Imam Jaʿfar al-Ṣādiq (ʿA) narrated that the "appointed days" mentioned in the Qur'an ("Remember Allah during the appointed days" — 2:203) refer to the first ten days of Dhul Ḥijjah. The Prophet (ṣ) said that no days are more beloved to Allah for worship than these ten.

Here are five things you can do from anywhere:

• Fast the first nine days — a hadith from the Seventh Imam states the reward is like fasting a lifetime. Even fasting the first day alone carries the reward of eighty years of fasting.
• Pray a special 2-rakaʿat ṣalāh between Maghrib and ʿIshā on each of the ten nights (detailed in Mafātīḥ al-Jinān). Imam al-Bāqir (ʿA) said the one who prays this shares the reward of those who perform Hajj.
• Read the duʿās of ʿArafah on the 9th — especially the Du'ā of Imam al-Ḥusayn (ʿA), one of the most powerful supplications in our tradition.
• Perform the Ziyārah of Imam al-Ḥusayn (ʿA) on the Day of ʿArafah and on Eid al-Aḍḥā.
• Read, reflect, and renew your intention — pick up any of the books on this page and let the season transform you.

Your essential companion for all of this:

• Mafātīḥ al-Jinān (2-volume set) — $92.00 AUD. The comprehensive duʿā book that covers every significant night and day, including all the ʿamal for the first ten nights of Dhul Ḥijjah. This is the one book every Shia household needs.
• Sahifa Sajjadiyyah — $43.00 AUD. The Psalms of Islam — the perfect companion for these nights of supplication.

4. Actually Going? Pack These.

If you're among those blessed to be travelling this year, congratulations — and take it seriously. Go back and read the Imam al-Sajjād–Shiblī conversation in full (we linked the source above). Then pack these:

• Islamic Laws (Tawḍīḥ al-Masāʾil) — Sayyid al-Sīstānī, 4th Edition — $40.00 AUD. The definitive fiqh reference. Don't leave without it.
• My Hajj Book — Illustrated Step-by-Step Guide — $25.00 AUD. Clear infographics and illustrations of every ritual, aligned with Ahlul Bayt traditions.
• A Brief Guide with Supplications & Etiquettes of Visiting Holy Sites — $15.00 AUD. Compact, practical — perfect for carrying in your bag.
• Every Muslim's Guide to the Islamic Legal System — $19.00 AUD. A clear introduction to how rulings work — helpful when questions come up on the ground.

Bonus: Extending to Ziyārah

Many pilgrims extend their trip to visit the holy sites in Iraq and Iran. If that's you, these guides are invaluable:

• Illustrated Ziyārah Guide to Iraq — $24.00 AUD. 400+ colour pages: maps, biographies, step-by-step etiquette, and line-by-line duʿās.
• Illustrated Guide to Ziyārah & Tourism in Iran — $25.00 AUD. Covers Qum, Mashhad, Tehran, Isfahan, and Kashan.
• Hidāyat al-Zāʾirīn — $28.00 AUD. A comprehensive guide to the major Shia pilgrimage sites.

For the Little Ones

Hajj season is also a beautiful opportunity to teach your children. These two titles bring the journey alive for young readers:

• Little Muslims, Big Curiosity: Why Do We Go for Hajj? — $8.00 AUD (ages 5–10). A storybook that explains Hajj through the story of Prophet Ibrāhīm, Bibi Hājar, and baby Ismāʿīl — with activities, colouring, and a mini Hajj map.
• Yasser and Zahra Experience the Hajj — $19.00 AUD (ages 7–12). Follow two siblings through every stage of the pilgrimage.

The Journey Starts with a Page

Whether you're standing at ʿArafah this month or standing in your kitchen reading duʿā — the call of Ibrāhīm (ʿA) was made for you. Answer it however you can. Fast, pray, read, reflect. And when you're ready — go.

Browse the full catalogue at www.shiabooks.com.au. For bulk or group orders, contact us at info@shiabooks.com.au or call (+61) 433 162 768.

We're always updating our recommendations — have a suggestion? Email us at info@shiabooks.com.au.

References & Further Reading

• The Spiritual Aspects of Hajj — Imam Zayn al-ʿĀbidīn's Discourse with al-Shiblī (al-islam.org)
• Stages of Hajj — Sayyid Muhammad Zia Abadi (al-islam.org)
• Reflecting on Duʿā ʿArafah of Imam Ḥusayn (imam-us.org)
• The Significance of the Day of ʿArafah (Shia Studies World Assembly)