Hajj, The Pilgrimage to the House of Allah in Makkah. This Pilgrimage symbolizes the unity of humankind; Muslims from every race and nationality assemble together inequality and fraternity to worship their Lord.
The 5th pillar of Islam is the pilgrimage to the House of Allah, or the Ka’bah, is called - Hajj.
Linguistically, "Hajj" means,
“He repaired, or betook himself, to, or towards a person... or Towards
an object of reverence, veneration, respect or honour.”
The Awesomeness of Hajj is following, click here to Read -
In Islamic Law, it means a particular journey at a particular time to a particular place for the purpose of worshipping Allah. In other words, it is the journeying to Makkah during the months designated for the performance of Hajj as an act of worship for the sake of Allah.
Then Muslims visit the Masjid Al Nabawi (Prophet's Mosque) , Madinah. Showing there great Love and Respect towards the Holy Prophet of God - Prophet Muhammad (SallAllahu Alaihi Wasallam)
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Hajj an Obligation.
The performance of Hajj is an obligation upon every Muslim who has the
means (Financial as well as Physical Strength/Fitness) to perform it.
This can be clearly proven from the Quran and Sunnah.
However, it is much more than an obligation. It is one of the foundations or
pillars of Islam itself.
The reward for the performance of the Hajj is great.
The Prophet (Peace Be upon him ) said, “Whoever performs the Hajj for the sake of Allah and does not commit any lewdness or sins returns like the day in which his mother gave him birth,” that is, without any sins.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said, “One Umrah until the next
Umrah is an expiation for what is between them. And the Hajj, that is accepted by Allah and performed properly has no reward other than - Paradise.”
Another Hadees reads: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was
asked,
“What is the best deed?”
He stated, “Belief in Allah and His Messenger.”
He was then asked, “What next?”
He said, “Jihad in the way of Allah.”
He was again asked, “What next?”
He replied, “The Hajj which is performed correctly and accepted by Allah.”
Furthermore, Hajj is equivalent to Jihad for women and people who are not able to go for Jihad.
In one Hadees(Tradition) , the Prophet was asked whether or not women are required to take part in Jihad. He answered, “Yes, upon them is the Jihad which does not contain fighting , (they are) Hajj and Umrah.”
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Benefits and Virtues of Hajj.
Hajj has numerous benefits to it. Besides those mentioned in the Hadees , one can note that it is a place for Muslims from all around the world to come and worship Allah together. This is an excellent opportunity for Muslims to meet each other, understand each other and get closer to each other.
Furthermore, all differences between them are swept away as they all dress in a similar fashion and perform the same rituals. The poor, the rich and all others
are all standing in the same manner in front of Allah.
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Hey, it's Wonderfully Described!
Siddiqi Sahab (Rahimahullah) describes the significance of Hajj in the following manner,
'It is rightly said that it [the Hajj] is the perfection of faith since it combines in itself all the distinctive qualities of other obligatory acts. It represents
the quality of Salaah/Namaaz [prayer] since a pilgrim offers prayers in the Kabaah , the House of the Lord.
It encourages spending of material wealth for the sake of the Lord, the chief characteristic of Zakat. When a pilgrim sets out for Hajj, he dissociates himself from his hearth and home, from his dear and near ones to please the Lord. He suffers privation and undertakes the hardship of journey the lessons we learn from fasting and itikaf.
In Hajj one is trained to be
completely forgetful of the material comforts and pomp and show of worldly
life.
One has to sleep on stony ground,
circumambulate the Kabaah,
run between Safa and Marwa and
spend his night and day wearing only two pieces of unsewn cloth.
He is required to avoid the use of oil or scent or any other perfume.
He is not even allowed to get his hair cut or trim his beard.
In short, he is commanded to abandon everything for the sake of Allah and submit himself before his Lord, the ultimate aim of the life of a Muslim.
In fact, physical pilgrimage is a prelude to spiritual pilgrimage to God, when man would bid goodbye to everything of the world and present himself before Him as His humble servant saying:
“Here I am before Thee, my Lord, as a slave of Thine.”
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Who Must Perform Hajj?
Hajj is obligatory once in a lifetime upon every person who has the means to
perform it.
Allah says in the Quran that -
“And Hajj to the House is a duty that mankind owes to Allah, those who can afford the expenses. And whoever disbelieves, then Allah stands not in need of any of the worlds” (Quran 3:97).
Similarly,
when responding to the question of Gabriel, the Prophet (peace be upon him)
also specifically pointed out that Hajj is obligatory upon the one who has the
means to perform it. Scholars differ as to exactly how this condition is to be met. In general, though, it shows that Hajj is not meant to be a hardship. It is a great act of worship that people should do their best to perform but only if it is feasible for them. In general, this feasibility includes :
1) having the physical health,
2)financial well-being and the provisions needed to undertake the Hajj.
Some scholars also add that the journey should not be so treacherous that the pilgrim’s life is put at risk.
In addition, women must have a mahram [male relative or husband] to travel with them as they are not allowed to travel alone, although some scholars allow them to travel in “trustworthy” groups made up of men and women.
If one does Not meet these conditions, one is Not obliged to perform the Hajj.
He must wait until he has the ability to perform it. When he does have the ability to perform it, there is a difference of opinion over whether he must perform it immediately at that time or if he may delay it until a future year.
That is the next topic of discussion.
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Delaying the Hajj permitted or not?
There is a difference of opinion over whether or not the performance of
Hajj may be delayed. That is, suppose there is a person who has not fulfilled the obligation of Hajj and he has the means and ability to make Hajj this year.
If he decides to delay its performance until some later year, is he considered
sinful or not?
Is it permissible for him to delay it or must he perform it the first time that he has the opportunity to perform it?
The Great Imams - Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Malik, Ahmad and some followers of Imam Shafie' (Rahmatullah alayh) state that :
One must perform Hajj at its first feasible opportunity. Otherwise, one is Being SINFUL .
Evidence for this position includes:
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said,
“If anyone breaks [a bone] or becomes lame, he comes out of the sacred state and he must perform the Hajj the following year.”
(Sahih Hadees)
The deduction from this Hadees is that if one can perform the Hajj whenever he wishes, the Prophet (peace be upon him) would NOT have explicitly mentioned that the person should perform the Hajj in the
following year.
Another Hadees where Prophet Muhammad (SallAllahu Alaihi Wasallam) states,
“Hurry to perform the Hajj, that is, the obligatory one, as none of you knows what may happen to him.”
It is also narrated that Umar ibn al-Khattab (Raziallahu Anhu) once said, “I considered sending men to those lands to see who had the means but did not perform the Hajj. They should have the jizya applied to them as they are not Muslims, they are not Muslims.”
One of the strongest pieces of evidence presented for saying that one is
allowed to delay his performance of Hajj, even though he has the ability to
perform it, is the fact that Hajj was made obligatory in the 6th year after the
Hijrah and the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) himself did not per form the Hajj until the tenth year. However, Al-Shaukaani (Rahmatullah alayh) has offered the following response to this argument,
[First,] there is a difference of opinion concerning when Hajj became an
obligation. One of the opinions is that it became obligatory in the 10th year.
Hence, there was no delay [on the part of the Messenger of Allah (peace be
upon him)]. If it is accepted that it was obligatory before the 10th year, the
Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) delayed his performance because of
his dislike to perform the Hajj in the company of the polytheists, as they would perform the Hajj and circumambulate the Kaaba in the nude, as they were Ignorant people.
When Allah purified the House of those people, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) made Hajj. Hence, he delayed his Hajj due to an excuse. [That is acceptable,]. As there was a valid Excuse.
the dispute is only concerning one who delays his Hajj without any valid excuse.
The one who denies the obligation of the Hajj is a disbeliever. The person who intentionally delays his performance of Hajj, although he had the means, until he dies is an evildoer. He has left himself open to the punishment and displeasure of Allah in the Hereafter.
And Those Who Has No means of Going to Makkah and performing the Pilgrimage, and is at Home. He Should Fast the 9 Days of the Month of Hajj. The Fast ends on the 9th. And the 10th is the Festival of Eid Al Adha. (And Fasting is Forbidden on Eids) so one must celebrate the festival, eat and stay happy and ask Allah for Mercy and Peace.
[[Important Note : this fast is only for NON-Hajis, that is, Those who are not doing Hajj. Hajis Are Forbidden to keep this fast as it will incur great hardship upon Hajis and Allah wants the good of his Believers.]]
Because Obligations must be Fulfilled!
Commands Cannot be Put down, Ignored or Denied. As simple as that!
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Rites of Hajj.
The actual rites of the Hajj are many and various. Pilgrims come from all
over the world. They are required to wear specific clothing. They perform different rites on specified days.
On the ninth day of the Islamic month of Dhul-Hijjah, for example, they gather on the mount of Arafah and pray to Allah,
beseeching His forgiveness and mercy.
And On the 10th of The Month of Hajj is the Festival of Eid Al Adha (Festival of Sacrifice).
By the grace and mercy of Allah, there are many organizations today that
arrange the pilgrimage for Muslims from all over the world.
Some of these organizations specialize in taking Muslim Reverts/Converts to the pilgrimage. The author prays that every new Muslim will be able to perform this blessed event in the company of learned Muslims who can guide them and instruct them along
the way.
( By God's Grace , we have described those in the Second Post about Hajj. )
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The Incredible Journey.
This Journey is Different. You'll not find a journey better than this. Humbling like this. It's an Experience that cannot be Translated in words. You just have to feel that yourself by going there. Being Muslim. Believing in the Supreme One and Only Almighty God.
This journey is different. This journey, in contrast to every other, is a continuing course through which a Muslim attains a progressive purification of the self. On this journey, then, you are pilgrims to God.
Baseerah Institute Wishes you a Big Blessed Hajj Mubarak.
May the Hajj, Umrah, and Sacrifice be accepted by Allah, the Almighty God, And May Allah Accept the prayers.
O Haji's who are on their Journey to the Sacred Lands! Ask God For our Forgiveness and Ask Him to accept our good deeds and Be Pleased with Us. Ask Him to Grant us Success in Both the Worlds. And Ask God For the Well being of this Ummah of Rasool Allah (SallAllahu Alaihi Wasallam).
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