Hyderabad: Smuggling spoils the spirit of pilgrimage

Hyderabad: Merely observing rituals and not adhering to the true principles of a religion is the reason why illegal and unlawful acts are committed in the name of religion stated experts condemning the incident of nine pilgrims being caught smuggling gold into India from the Middle East.

The act of the pilgrims has raised issues whether the true spirit of the religion is understood by those who engage in these acts or is it merely a social pressure which pushes them to opt for the pilgrimage.

The act of cleansing is most talked in religious sermons and scriptures but it requires control over desires and acts to curb abuse, violence, illegal and corrupt acts.   

Dr Ahsan bin Mohammed al-Hmamoomi, religious scholar explained, “Umrah is not obligatory in Islam. Haj is one of the five pillars of Islam and is mandatory once in a lifetime but only after completing all the worldly rituals and also having no debts or any other social obligation. There is a desire in every Muslim to visit the holy cities but that does not mean that they can use their pilgrimage for unlawful acts. The adoption of an unlawful act nullifies the spiritual act. It then becomes haram as the unlawful activity in the garb of spiritual act is more sinful. Such people need to be given double punishment in the society.”

Scholars of all religions state that any act of violence, using foul language, disrespect to elders, making fun of the physically or mentally challenged, substance abuse, alcoholism and other nefarious activities demean the spiritual act. The act is then nullified and is of no use. But whether this is understood by those who indulge is a million dollar question.

Chilkur Balaji hereditary priest Ranga Rajan explained, “In normal life circumstances too any wrong acts are committed and there is a definite punishment for them. But in a religious pilgrimage when an unlawful or illegal act is carried out then the sin is more than thousand times. Any immoral, corrupt and unlawful activity during the time of pilgrimage multiplies the sins of the person. Those who indulge in these acts are not the ones who think before they speak or act. Their understanding of pilgrimage is a desire to go to the house of God but the path that they take whether it is right or wrong is not thought of by them.”

Experts state that the religious pilgrimages ac-ross all religions have seen major activity outside the sanctum of holy structures. Right from indulging in market pla-ce to buying of clothes, gold, fancy items, decorative pieces which are materialistic desires to indulging in immoral acts of abuse in terms of substance, alcohol and violence is also noted.

Experts state that cleansing of the mind and soul is a struggle within and it requires a constant effort which one act of travelling to holy places does not attain.

With inputs from Ather Moin