Being a sincere pilgrim

This is a journey that was taken by Prophets and Messengers before you. Those who take the path of the Prophets magnify the Tawhid of Allah and His House.

There are those, however, who come to perform Haj and their hearts are attached to things other than Allah. They invoke the dead and the righteous, whether present or absent. This is the opposite of Tawhid, it is shirk no matter what they call it because it is setting up rivals besides Allah. So, free your intention from any kind of devotion to other than Allah. Repent and come with a sincere heart submitting to Allah remembering what Ibrahim and his son Ismael (peace be upon them) said when they were raising the foundations of Allah’s House: “Our Lord, and make us Muslims (in submission) to You and from our descendants a Muslim nation (in submission) to You. And show us our rites and accept our repentance. Indeed, You are the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful.” (Qur’an 2:128)
Make this journey to Allah’s House as Allah wants it. Think of the next journey that is surely coming, the one that leads to the meeting of Allah, Most High. This raises questions like: What did I prepare for that Day? Am I following Allah’s Commands? Am I a follower of the Sunnah of Muhammad (peace be upon him)? Am I believer in all of Allah’s Names, Attributes and Actions which He has affirmed in His Book and by His Messengers?
We must know that there is no any other god along with Allah. La-ilaha ila huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He). Everything will perish save His Face. His is the Decision, and to Him (all) shall be returned. (Al-Qasas)
When you reach the Miqat there is another Miqat that is still to come. It is the Miqat (appointed meeting) on the Day of Resurrection: “Say, [O Muhammad], “Indeed, the former and the later peoples. Are to be gathered together for the appointment of a known Day.” (Qur’an, 56:49-50)
When you start saying the Talbiyah remember the Command of Allah to Prophet Ibrahim: “And proclaim to the people the Haj [pilgrimage]; they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every distant pass.” (Qur’an, 22:27) The Talbiyah you make is in response to Prophet Ibrahim’s proclamation to visit Allah’s house of worship. Allah is Most Great.
Upon entering Makkah remember that you are in the Secure Sanctuary: “Have We not established for them a secure sanctuary (Makkah), to which are brought fruits of all kinds, a provision from Ourselves, but most of them know not.” (Qur’an, 28:57)
Let one commit himself to repentance, having a good opinion of Allah, hoping that Allah will grant him security from His Punishment.
You will enter one of the gates of Al-Masjid Al-Haram. Then there you are before the magnificent House of Allah, Most High, the Ka’bah. Now you see what you hoped to see for a long time. Thank Allah for making this possible and hope that He, the Mighty and Majestic, will grant you the greatest reward of seeing His Majestic Face on the Day of Resurrection. This thankfulness is not just in saying “alhamdulillah,” but also by obeying Allah while on Haj and for the rest of your life.
When you start the Tawaf (circling the Kaaba) remember Allah by His names, attributes and actions. Also while in Tawaf try to reflect upon the time when the Prophet (peace be upon him) was prevented from doing the same thing you are doing today. Then think about what he did in cleaning the Holy Site from deities that were installed for worship. Engage yourself in supplications. Ask Allah, the Most Great, to make you hold on to the correct belief and path of the salaf and make you die on it. Ask Allah to save you from all forms of shirk and bid’ah (innovations).
While in Sayee (walking between As-Safa and Al-Marwah), contemplate on Hajar, the mother of Ismael, when she asked her husband Ibrahim (peace be upon him), “Did Allah order you to do this (leaving her and her baby Ismail in Makkah)? He said: “Yes.” Her great response was: “Then He (Allah) will not neglect us!” Think about this great dependence upon Allah when you are in the Sayee walking the same path which Hajar took in search for water and for the means of life around the mounts of Safa and Marwah. Think about her endurance, perseverance and trust in Allah. Sayee exemplifies the strong belief that we are in need for the One Who sustains and provides, Allah, the Exalted. Think about Ibrahim’s invocation on his way homeward to Palestine: “Our Lord, I have settled some of my descendants in an uncultivated valley near Your sacred House, our Lord, that they may establish prayer. So make hearts among the people incline toward them and provide for them from the fruits that they might be grateful..” (Qur’an, 14:37)
Men and fruits came to Makkah from many places. Ibrahim (peace be upon him) returned to visit and later to share with his son Ismael the noble task of raising the foundations of the Kaaba.
The standing on Arafat is the Haj. The crowds should remind you of the Day of Resurrection. Humble yourself to Allah, manifest your Ubudiyyah to Him Alone through Du’a, sincere intention and strong determination to free yourself from the sins of the past and to build up a commitment to rush for doing what is good. Think of becoming a better person when you return. Rid yourself of false pride and showing off because it may ruin what you may gain on this day.
You gathered the pebbles and you are about to embark on stoning the Jamarat. This is an act of obedience and remembrance of Allah, Most Magnificent. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: When you cast the small pebbles (i.e. at the Jamarat), it will be a light for you on the Day of Resurrection. (Reported by Al-Bazzar in his Zawa’id) on the authority of Ibn Abbas. This Hadith is reported by Sheikh Al-Albani (may Allah have mercy upon him) in Silsilat Al-Ahadith As-Sahihah. V. 6 Hadith 2515.) When performing the sacrifice, remember the saying of Allah: “It is neither their meat not their blood that reaches Allah, but it is your devotion that reaches Him.” (Qur’an, 22-23)
“When you have completed you Haj, do not think that the remembrance of Allah has ended. Listen to what Allah says: So when you have accomplished your Manasik (i.e. the rites of Haj) remember Allah as you remember your forefathers or with far more remembrance.” (Qur’an, 2:200)
In Madinah, the objective of the visit should be strictly restricted to the Sunnah and not Bid’ah. The intention is to set on a journey to visit the Prophet’s Mosque and not his grave. After praying in the mosque, it is advisable to go to the grave and say, “As-salamu alayka ayyuhan-nabiyy.”
The position of the scholars regarding visiting the grave sites by women can be summarized as follows: Disliked but not unlawful.

Courtesy: performhajj.com