The universal message of Hajj (and Umrah) is for individuals to embody its spirit in their daily lives, and that is to disseminate the divine message to the world.
The Prophet of Islam performed Hajj in the later part of his life, and almost all of his Companions were present on this occasion. During Hajj, he delivered a sermon on the Day of Sacrifice, which is known as the Farewell Sermon (Khutbat al-Wida’). In this sermon, he addressed his Companions and said, “Let the present ones inform the absent ones” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 1741), meaning that those who are present should convey the divine message to those who are not present.
Most likely, the result of this command by the Prophet of Islam was that after him, all the people engaged in the prophetic work of inviting others to the path of God. They spread the message of Islam throughout the majority of the inhabited world at that time. This shows that the conclusion of Hajj is, in fact, the beginning of a new endeavour. When the rituals of Hajj come to an end, a much greater mission begins. It is calling people to God. It is as if Hajj serves as training, and dawah work is the practical application of that training.
According to a Hadith, the rituals of Hajj are symbolic enactment of various stages of the life of Prophet Abraham. Prophet Abraham’s entire life was dedicated to inviting people to the path of God. Every believer has to follow this path in his life. For instance, wearing the Ihram signifies a life of simplicity. Tawaf represents devotion and dedication. Sa’i conveys the message that a believer’s efforts should be directed toward God alone. Animal sacrifice teaches the lesson of living a life of sacrifice. Stoning at Jamarat signifies the act of distancing oneself from Satan. Uttering “Labbaik, Labbaik” upon reaching the field of Arafat serves as a reminder of being present before God on the Day of Judgement, and so on.
Hajj is the major pilgrimage, while Umrah is a minor pilgrimage. However, the message of both is the same. The purpose of the Shari’ah is not for people to repeatedly perform Hajj and Umrah. Rather, its purpose is for individuals to embody the spirit of Hajj and Umrah in their daily lives after once performing them, and to disseminate its message to the world.
