And remember Abraham and Isma'il raised the foundations of the House (With this prayer): "Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us: For Thou art the All-Hearing, the All-knowing” [2:127].
Hajj dates back to the beginning of time, going all the way back to the very first construction of the Kaaba, completed by Prophet Adam (AS). Much later in time, Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and his dear son Ismail (AS) were tasked by Allah with the rebuilding of the Kaaba. The two worked together to build the house that would stand the test of time through centuries, and prove to be the most renowned symbol of obedience to Allah on this planet!
Allah is infinite in His wisdom; therefore it is essential to understand the building of the Kaaba by Ibrahim and Ismail (AS) in more detail than simply the fulfillment of a task Allah had laid out for them. Among the numerous wisdoms related to the Hajj pilgrimage, one of the examples Allah has preserved by way of the Kaaba’s rebuilding is that of father-son bonding.
Hands-on activities are a great way to forge appreciation, strong bonds, and memories between parents and children, and Allah shows us that one of the mandatory pillars of our Faith involves revolving around a house that a father and son built together for the sake of Allah. Among the numerous virtues of Hajj, Allah has honored the legacy of this ultimate father-son relationship by ascribing upon us visitation to the house that Ibrahim and Ismail (AS) built to all Muslims in their lifetime.
May Allah allow us to build our own homes with our children in His remembrance!