Introduction
Hajj (the Pilgrimage to Makkah) is the fifth pillar of Islam.
The Prophet (s.a.w., sallallahu' alayhi wa sallam meaning: may the peace and
blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
“Islam has been built upon five things: declaring that there
is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah; the
establishment of salaah (five compulsory daily prayers; the payment of zakaah
(obligatory charity); the Hajj (pilgrimage to the House of Allah, if one is
able); and sawm of Ramadan (fasting in the month of Ramadan).” (Bukhari 1/ 7)
This final pillar of Islam is obligatory, at least once in a
lifetime, upon all sane Muslims, who reach the age of puberty, and are
physically and financially able to make the journey. Allah the Almighty tells
us in His Book:
“... And Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) to the House (Ka‘bah) is
a duty that mankind owes to Allah, those who can afford the expenses (for
conveyance, provision and residence); and whoever disbelieves (i.e. denies
Hajj, then he is a disbeliever of Allah), then Allah stands not in need of any
of the ‘Alâmin (mankind and jinn).” (Qur’an 3:97)
When we perform the Hajj rites properly we attain tremendous
rewards. One of which is Allah’s forgiveness of all our past sins. This means
our eternal happiness and success in Paradise. In the following authentic
Ahâdîth we learn the following very inspiring teachings from the Prophet
(s.a.w.):
“He who came to this House (the Ka’bah) (with the intention
in performing Hajj) without speaking or committing indecencies, would return
(free from sin) as on the day his mother bore him.” (Muslim, 2/3129)
“From one ‘Umrah to another is expiation for what is between
them and Hajj Mabrûr has no reward except Paradise.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
By Hajj Mabrûr it means the Hajj accepted by Allah for being
performed perfectly according to the Prophet’s Sunnah with legally earned money
avoiding sinful and evil deeds during Hajj.
From the above Ahadith we learn that the everlasting reward
for Hajj is Paradise, a life that is full of peace, happiness and prosperity.
This is because in Hajj mabrur, we perform nothing but deeds of righteousness –
deeds that deserve Allah’s Reward of Paradise to all righteous Muslims men and
women. Our Creator makes this clear to us when He says:
“But those who believe and do deeds of righteousness. We
shall soon admit them to Gardens, with rivers flowing beneath, to dwell therein
forever. Allâh’s promise is the truth, and whose word can be truer than
Allâh’s?” (Qur’an 4:122)
“Whoever works righteousness man or woman, and has Faith,
verily, to him We will give a new Life, a life that is good and pure, and We
will bestow on such their reward according to the best of their actions.”
(Qur’an 16: 97)
Another tremendous reward for performing Hajj is the
acceptance of our supplications. If we ask for Allah’s forgiveness, He the Most
Forgiving responds to our prayer as narrated in the following Hadith:
Abu Hurayrah (r.a., radhiallahu anhu, meaning: may Allah be
pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “Those who perform
the Hajj and those who perform the umrah are people who have come to visit
Allah. If they supplicate Him He will respond to them, and if they ask Him for
forgiveness He will forgive them.” (Tirmidhi 2536 and Ibn Majah)
Well-Balanced Life
Since our Rabb listens to the supplications of those who come
to perform Hajj, let us ask enormous blessings from Allah. The best supplication
is to ask for success both in this world and in the hereafter or a
well-balanced life. We can do this especially when we are doing our tawaf
(circumambulation of the Ka’bah) when we are between the Yamani corner and the
black stone based on the following Ahâdîth:
‘Abdullah bin As-Sa’ib narrated: “I heard Allah’s Messenger
(s.a.w.) say between the two corners, ‘O Allah, bring us a blessing in this
world and a blessing in the next and guard us from punishment of Hell.’” (Abu
Dawud 1887)
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet (s.a.w.) said,
“Seventy angels have been put in charge of it (i.e. the Yamani corner), so if
anyone says, 'O Allah, I ask You for pardon and well being in this world and
the next. Our Rabb, bring us a blessing in this world and a blessing in the
next, and guard us from the punishment of Hell’, they will say ‘Ameen.’”
(Tirmidhi 2590 and Ibn Majah)
Let us not confine our supplications for our success in this
world alone but most of all the eternal world. To ask Allah the Most Merciful
of the eternal place in Firdaus is an excellent guidance from the Prophet
(s.a.w.). He has encouraged his Companions to ask for the highest place in
Paradise, which is the Firdaus. We read in the following authentic Hâdîth:
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet (s.a.w.) said,
“Whoever believes in Allah and His Messenger, offers prayers perfectly and
fasts (the month of) Ramadan then it is incumbent upon Allah to admit him into
Paradise, whether he emigrates for Allah’s cause or stays in the land where he
was born.” They (the companions of the Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “O Allah’s
Messenger! Should we not inform the people of that?” He (s.a.w.) said, “There
are one-hundred degrees in Paradise which Allah has prepared for those who
carry on Jihad in His Cause. The distance between every two degrees is like the
distance between the sky and the Earth. So if you ask Allah for anything, ask
Him for the Firdaus, for it is the last part of Paradise and the highest part
of Paradise, and at its top there is the Throne of Beneficent, and from it gush
forth the rivers of Paradise.” (Bukhari 9/519)
Serves as Jihad for Women
For us women, performance of Hajj serves as the opportunity
for us to do the best deed that deserves Allah’s supreme reward. It raises our
level to be among the Mujahideen (those who fight in Allah’s cause):
‘Aishah (r.a., radhiallahu anhu, meaning: may Allah be
pleased with her) narrated that she said, “O Allah's Messenger! We consider
Jihad as the best deed. Should we not fight in Allah's cause?” He said, “The
best Jihad (for women) is Hajj-mabrur (i.e. Hajj which is done according to the
Prophet's tradition and is accepted by Allah).” (Bukhari Vol. 4, Hadith 43)
‘Abdullah Bin Mas’ud (r.a.) narrated: “I asked the Prophet
(s.a.w.), which deed is the dearest to Allah?” He (s.a.w.) replied, “To offer
salaat (the prayers) at their early fixed times.” I asked, “What is the next
(in goodness)?” He (s.a.w.) replied, “To be good and dutiful to your parents.”
I again asked, “What is the next (in goodness)?” He (s.a.w.) replied, “To
participate in jihad (religious fighting) in Allah’s Cause.” (Bukhari 1/ 505)
Bin Habashi (r.a.) narrated that the Prophet (s.a.w.) was
asked which actions were most excellent and replied, “Faith which contains no
doubt, jihad which contains no unfaithfulness regarding spoil, and a pilgrimage
which is accepted.” He was asked which prayer was most excellent and replied,
“Standing long in devotion.” (Tirmidhi 3833 and Nasa'i)
Economic Benefits
Aside from the above eternal benefits, by performing Hajj we
also enjoy worldly benefits. Furthermore, Hajj increases our economic
well-being. Performance of Hajj does not prevent us to do legal business. Those
who engage in buying and selling can do it after the performance of prayers and
Hajj rituals. Our Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) says:
“It is no crime in you if you seek of the bounty of your Rabb
(during pilgrimage). Then when you pour down from (Mount) Arafat, celebrate the
praises of Allah at the Sacred Monument, and celebrate His praises as He has
directed you even though before this you went astray.” (Qur’an, 2:198)
“But seek the wealth which Allah has bestowed on you, the
Home of the Hereafter, nor forget your portion in this World. But do good, as
Allah has been good to you, and seek not (occasions for) mischief in the land;
for Allah loves not those who do mischief.” (Qur’an, 28:77)
“And when the prayer is finished, then may you disperse
through the land, and seek of the Bounty of Allah: and remember Allah
frequently that you may prosper.” (Qur’an, 62:10)
Hajj, therefore gives, us opportunity to enjoy a
well-balanced life. We also attain success in this world by developing our
personality for Hajj trains us Muslims to develop right conduct. Allah the
Exalted has enjoined upon us to take right conduct as the best provision in our
Hajj journey:
“For Hajj are the months well known. If any one undertakes
that duty therein, let there be no obscenity, nor wickedness, nor wrangling in
the Hajj. And whatever good you do, (be sure) Allah knows it and take a
provision (with you) for the journey, but the best of provisions is right
conduct. So fear Me, o you that are wise.” (Qur’an 2:197)
Muslims who go to Hajj are expected to observe discipline,
patience, kindness, tolerance and above all, peace. They ought to observe peace
not only among themselves but also with animals and other living creatures
including insects. This means that they are expected to control anger.
Controlling anger is a virtue which we Muslims are supposed to develop even if
we are not on pilgrimage as the Prophet (s.a.w.) taught us in the following
authentic Ahâdîth:
Abu Hurayra (r.a.) narrated that a man said to the Prophet
(s.a.w.) “Advise me!” The Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “Do not be angry and furious.”
The man asked (the same) again and again, and the Prophet (s.a.w.) said in each
case, “Do not be angry and furious.” (Bukhari 8/ 137)
Abu Huraira (r.a.) narrated Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w.) said,
“The strong is not the one who overcomes the people by his strength, but the
strong is the one who controls himself while in anger.” (Bukhari 8/ 135 and
Muslim 4/6311-6314)
Increases Iman (Faith)
Furthermore performance of Hajj increases our Iman (Faith).
It makes us realize Allah's justice and equal treatment of all people who
believe in Him. Muslims from different parts of the world, irrespective of race
and socio-economic status in life wear the same prescribed simple clothing,
utter the same supplications and perform the same religious rituals during Hajj
for the same purpose of pleasing the Creator. Muslims who go to Hajj experience
the largest congregation of different nations, which no other peoples from
other religions have ever experienced. When we see people from different
countries doing all the rituals of Hajj for Allah’s pleasure, we witness the
universality of Islam. Indeed, Islam is for all mankind and that Allah Alone is
the God of all mankind.
When we join the world’s largest annual congregation, which
is Hajj, we actually improve our socio-cultural perspectives. Hajj gives
opportunity for us to travel and meet our fellow Muslims from various countries
to know and help one another. This shows the universal brotherhood of all
Muslims; and hence the universality of Islam. Islam teaches us to promote
brotherhood and righteousness among ourselves:
“O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and
a female and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other
(not that you may despise each other). Verily the most honored of you in the
sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full
knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).” (Qur’an 49: 13)
It is not righteousness that you turn your faces toward East
or West; but it is righteousness to believe in Allah and the Last Day, and the
Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; to spend of your substance, out of
love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for
those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer, and
practice regular charity; to fulfill the contracts which you have made; and to
be firm and patient, in pain (or suffering) and adversity, and throughout all
periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the God-fearing. (Qur’an 2:177)
"...Help one another in righteousness and piety but help
not one another in sin and rancor. Fear Allah or Allah is strict in
punishment." (Qur’an 5:2)
Physical Fitness
In addition, Hajj trains us to be physically strong – a treat
that the Prophet (s.a.w.) strongly encourages when he said that “a strong
Muslim is better than a weak Muslim.” The seven times circumambulation around
the Ka’bah, the walking and running (back and forth) from Safa to Marwa, the
travel from Makkah Haram mosque to Mina, Arafat, Musdalifah, the throwing of
stones, and of course the daily prayers, all these give us opportunities to be
physically strong. We have to be strong, to prepare ourselves to carryout the
task of fighting Satan and his allies and those who follow their footsteps.
Allah reminds us that Satan is (dreadful) evil (4:38). He makes it clear that
Satan is our enemy, an enemy avowed (57:60) who deceives (8:48) and suggests
vanity (22:52-53). Satan descends on every lying, wicked person (26:221-222).
He commands us to do what is evil and shameful (2:168-169). He only invites his
adherents, that they may become companions of the Blazing Fire. Therefore, we
have to treat him as our enemy (35: 6).
We have to be strong so that we can worship Allah to the best
of our abilities in the best manner so we earn His tremendous Rewards. We have
to be strong in enjoining the right and forbidding the wrong so that we will be
among those who in the sight of Allah are the best among mankind:
“You (Muslims) are the best of peoples, evolved for mankind.
You enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong, and believe in Allah...”
(Qur’an, 3:110)
Mental and Spiritual Consciousness
Coupled with physical strength is for us to be mentally alert
and spiritually conscious because as Muslims we are obliged to dedicate
everything to Allah. For every thing that we do we have to have the pure
intention of dedicating it to Allah the Almighty:
“And they have been commanded no more than this: to worship
Allâh, offering Him sincere devotion, being True (in Faith); establish regular
prayer; and to give Zakat. And that is the Religion Right and Straight.”
(Qur'an, 98:5)
“Say: ' Truly, my prayer and my service of sacrifice, my life
and my death are (all) for Allâh, the Rabb (Only Cherisher and Sustainer) of
the Worlds.'” (Qur'an, 6:162)
‘Umar ibn Al-Khattab (r.a.) said: I heard Allâh’s Messenger
(s.a.w.) saying, “The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every
person will get the reward according to what he has intended....” (Bukhâri, 1/1
and Muslim 3/ 4692)
For our Hajj to be accepted we must first and foremost purify
our intention to do it for the pleasure of Allah. This we should do sincerely
so that we will be among those who will return to our respective homes, Insha
Allah, free from all sins as if we are newly born:
Abu Hurairah (r.a.) narrated that the Prophet (s.a.w.) said,
“Whoever performs Hajj for Allah's pleasure and does not have sexual relations
with his wife, and does not do evil or sins then he will return (after Hajj
free from all sins) as if he were born anew.” (Bukhari Vol. 2, Hadith 596 and
Vol 3, Hadith 345)
Patience
Another positive attribute that we develop in the performance
of Hajj is patience. We develop patience not only in the performance of the
various Hajj rituals but also in remembering how Prophet Ibrahim and his family
sacrificed in building the Ka’bah, the first Holy House of Allah. How many
among us women are patient enough to follow Hajar (the Prophet Ibrahim's wife)
and allow our husbands to leave us alone with our baby in a barren land, with
no food, no water and no people around? How much patience and endurance can we
afford for the sake of pleasing our Rabb? Just how many of us could pass the
test that Prophet Ibrahim had when Allah the Almighty commanded him to
sacrifice his own son? In the case of his son, Prophet Ismael, can anyone among
us follow his courage and submission to be sacrificed in order to build the Ka’bah?
Indeed, Allah will test us Muslims, either by our children or
by our wealth. We should know that as believers, Allah will try our Iman
(faith). Allah may test us as to which of us is best in deed (67:2). The closer
we are to Him, the more He will try us, just as He did to all His prophets and
messengers. For those who are not living in a comfortable life let the life of
the Prophet (s.a.w.) be a lesson for us. The following is just one of the many
narrations how he lived in a destitute life but shows how patient he was:
Ibn Abbas (r.a.) narrated that according to 'Umar bin
Al-Khattab (r.a.)… “Underneath his (Prophet’s) head there was a leather pillow
stuffed with palm fibers, and leaves of a saut tree were piled at his feet, and
above his head hung a few water skins. On seeing the marks of the mat imprinted
on his side, I wept. He said, 'Why are you weeping?’ I replied, 'O Allah’s
Messenger! Caesar and Khosrau are leading the life (i.e. luxurious life) while
you, Allah’s Messenger though you are, is living in destitute.’ The Prophet
(s.a.w.) then replied, 'Won’t you be satisfied that they enjoy this world and
we the Hereafter?’” (Bukhari 6/435)
In our Hajj journey and in the performance of all the
prescribed Hajj rituals, we may feel very uncomfortable for any reason. But let
not any temporary difficulties in life hinder our devotion to Allah, especially
during the Day of ‘Arafât on the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah when we ought to make more
supplications to Allah for His forgiveness, blessings and mercy. We should be
patient because Allah commands us to patiently persevere (2:153). We should
remember that Allah shall test us:
“Be sure We shall test you with something of fear and hunger
some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil) but give glad tidings
to those who patiently persevere.” (2:155)
Abu Hurairah (r.a.) narrated that the Prophet (s.a.w.) said,
“A Muslim male or female, remains subject to trials (in this world); in respect
of self, children and property till he or she faces Allah the Exalted (on the
Day of Judgment) in a state in which all his or her sins have been remitted.”
(Tirmidhi 49)
Do Da’wah according to the Qur’an and the Sunnah
Finally, but not the least, Hajj reminds us of the final
great assembly on the Day of Judgment when we will be resurrected from death
wherein our wealth, our parents, children, relatives and friends can be of no
help to us if we do not observe righteousness. The thing that can best help us
is our right conduct. Righteousness is the requirement for Hajj mabrur as
Allah, to reiterate, tells us that “the best of provisions is right conduct”
(Qur’an 2:197). By performing Hajj mabrur, insha Allah, we will be able to
manage our wealth in the halal (lawful way) and spend charity out of it for the
pleasure of our Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer). We will be able to enjoin
righteousness to our children who will continuously pray to Allah for our
forgiveness and eternal success. We can ask Allah to bestow us authentic
knowledge of Islam and be able to do Da’wah (or invite people to Islam)
according to the Qur’an and the Sunnah. We must remember that doing Da'wah is
the very Sunnah of the Prophet (s.a.w.) . In this way we can impart Islamic
knowledge to our relatives, friends, neighbors and the society and thus be
among those who receive Allah’s enormous rewards:
“And he who brings the Truth and he who confirms (and
supports) it — such are the men who do right. They shall have all that they
wish for, with their Rabb (Only Cherisher and Sustainer). Such is the reward of
those who do good: so that Allah will remit from them (even) the worst in their
deeds and give them their reward according to the best of what they have done.”
(Qur’an 39:33-35)
Admonition to Perform Hajj
For those of us who have not been to Hajj to fulfill the
fifth pillar of Islam, time has come to think of the enormous and eternal
blessings that Allah gives to those who perform it with right conduct. Do not
delay performing Hajj when you have enough money to cover the expenses of the
round trip journey to Makkah. Do not delay while you are still young and strong
enough to perform the Hajj rituals. Do not wait until you become poor and too
old or weak to perform the blessed rituals. Hasten to complete your Islam by
the performance of Hajj for death may just come to cut your plans and hopes in
life. Indeed, death is certain but as to when it will strike us, we never know;
so the best thing is to prepare for it. For your salvation, take admonition
from the following authentic hâdîth:
Abu Umamah (r.a.) narrated that Allah's Messenger (s.a.w.)
said: “He who is not prevented from performing the pilgrimage by an obvious
necessity, a tyrannical ruler, or a disease which confines him at home, and
dies without having performed the pilgrimage, may die if he wishes as a Jew, or
if he wishes as a Christian.” (Tirmidhi, Hadith 2535 and Darimi)
Conclusion
Performance of Hajj, therefore, is not only a duty that gives
us enormous benefits in this worldly life but also a must for our salvation to
attain supreme success in the eternal world hereafter. With this fifth pillar
of Islam, Allah the Most Merciful has perfected His favor to us when He
revealed the following:
“...This day have I perfected your religion for you,
completed My favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.”
(Qur’an 5:3)
This Article Taken From: Mission Islam
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