Islam - Its Meaning for Modern Man — Page 211
211 an animal or joins in making a sacrifice. Symbolically, the act pledges the pilgrim’s life to the service of God and His creatures, and places that life at God’s disposal as completely as the life of an animal owned by a person is at its master’s disposal. As the Quran says, the flesh of the animals sacrificed does not reach Allah, nor does their blood; it is the pilgrim’s spirit of righteousness that reaches Him. “Thus has He subjected these animals to you, that you may glorify Allah for His guiding you” (22:38). As has been mentioned, one of the objects of the pilgrimage is that those taking part in it “may witness its benefits for them” (22:29). It is much to be regretted that the social, economic, and political aspects of this object of the pilgrimage have been greatly neglected by the Muslims. The pilgrimage is obligatory only upon those who can afford the journey (3:98). This means not merely that the pilgrim should be in a position to defray the expenses of the journey to and from Mecca, and of his stay there for the period necessary for the performance of the pilgrimage, but that he should be able to afford the time needed for the journey, and also be able to make provision during his absence for those dependent upon him and for the proper conduct of his worldly affairs. In other words, the pilgrimage is obligatory only upon people who are in comparatively easy circumstances, those who