All praise is due to Allaah, Lord of the Worlds. Peace and blessings of Allaah be upon the Messenger, his household and companions.

Fellow Muslims! Worshipping one’s Lord is a sign of one’s submission to Him and a sign of one’s truthfulness with Him. The state of being a slave of Allaah is the highest rank that man can attain. The Messenger of Allaah preferred it above other qualities. Aboo Hurayrah narrated that Angel Jibreel sat with the Prophet (one day). He looked at the sky and saw an angel descending, He then said, “This angel has never descended from Heaven since he was created except in this hour.” When the angel landed, he said, “O Muhammad! Your Lord sent me to you to ask you whether He should make you a king and a Prophet or a slave and a Messenger.” Jibreel then told Muhammad, “Humble yourself for your Lord, O Muhammad.” The Prophet then said, “I rather want to be made a slave and a Messenger.” (Ahmad)

Brethren in Faith! In the past few days, the pilgrims performed one of the greatest acts of worship; they abstained from sewn garments, filled their eyes with tears of repentance at Arafaat out of fear for their sins, people cried to their Lord in different tongues, passed the night at Muzdalifah, threw the pebbles, circumambulated the House and ran between Safaa and Marwa; all this happened in one of man’s most marvellous journeys of his life. They then went back to their respective homes happy with what Allaah has endowed them with of His blessings.

“In the Bounty of Allaah and His Mercy therein let them rejoice, that is better than what they amass.”

(Yoonus 10:58)

Yes! It is better than this world and its ephemeral pleasures. Congratulations to the pilgrims on their hajj and to the worshippers for their acts of worship. The Messenger of Allaah said, in what he narrates from his Lord,

“If the slave moves closer to Me an inch, I will move closer to him a cubit length, if he moves closer to Me a cubit length, I will move closer to him an arm's length and if he comes to Me walking, I will come to him running.” (Al-Bukhaaree)

Pilgrims to the House of Allaah! Thank and praise Allaah for His numerous favours upon you.

“Whatever blessings and good things you have, it is from Allaah.”

(An-Nahl 16:53)

Dear pilgrims! Have good opinion of your Lord, hope for bountiful blessings from Him, strengthen your hope in Him as to the acceptance of your hajj and forgiveness of your sins. The Messenger of Allaah said,

“Let no one of you die except in a state of having good opinion about Allaah.” (Muslim)

Fellow Muslims! Dear pilgrims! You have come from different parts of the world and completed your hajj rites. You are now preparing to go back to your countries and homes. So, beware of going back to sins and forbidden things and “Be not like her who undoes the thread which she has span after it has become strong.”

(An-Nahl 16:92)

This is an example of a foolish woman who suffered day and night in spinning her wool and when it has become a strong and upright thread she started undoing it thereby gaining nothing except toil and hardship. Do not therefore be like her by destroying what you have built.

Pilgrims to the House of Allaah! You have opened a new and clean page in your life and put on new attire. So beware of going back to those disgracing deeds. How excellent is a good deed followed by another good deed and how horrible is it to follow a good deed with an evil one!

Fellow Muslims! Al-Hasan Al-Basree was asked about the sign of the accepted Hajj and he answered, “To go back to your home and abstain from the vanities of this world and to seek for the pleasures of the Hereafter.” Let your Hajj be your guard against destructive deeds and an incentive to do more good deeds. Know that it is only death that stops man from doing good deeds.

Brethren in Faith! How excellent would it be if the pilgrim goes back to his people after performing Hajj with better conduct, sounder intellect! How excellent is it to go back and give better treatment to the family and children, with cleaner heart and determination to adhere to the truth, justice, appropriateness and better deeds! There is no doubt that whoever goes back to his people with those qualities is the one who actually benefited from Hajj.

Fellow Muslims! The Pilgrim throughout his Hajj rites gets acquainted with Allaah. Those rites reminded him of Allaah's rights upon him, manifestations of His Lordship and that none deserves to be worshipped but Him. They reminded him that it is only Allaah that deserves to be surrendered to and worshipped; that He is the Self-Sufficient Lord Whom all creatures beg for their needs, ask for refuge and Whose aid is sought in calamities. How can a pilgrim then, after all this, direct any act of worship like, supplication, seeking aid and the like to others besides Him? Is there any reward for a pilgrim who goes back to his people after Hajj to engage in acts of associating partners to Allaah in worship and other ugly acts?

Brethren in Islaam! Is there any Hajj reward for a person who visits fortune-tellers and magicians after Hajj and believes in what they say, or a person who seeks blessings from trees, stones or wears talisman? Where is the impact of Hajj on a person who, after Hajj neglects prayer, does not pay zakaah, eats usury, takes alcohol and narcotics, is unkind to kith and kin and indulges all kinds of sins?

Dear pilgrims! You have abstained from violations of ihraam during Hajj. There are however, some violations which you should always abstain from. Allaah says,

“These are the limits ordained by Allaah, so do not transgress them. And whoever transgresses the limits ordained by Allaah, then such are the wrong-doers.”

(Al-Baqarah 2:229)

Brethren in Islaam! How can a person who answered the call of Allaah for Hajj respond to a call, an ideology or thought that contradicts the religion of Allaah?

How can a person who answered the call of Allaah to Hajj seek justice from laws other than that of Allaah, surrender to judgement other than His or be pleased with messages other than that of Islaam?

Let whoever answered the call of Allaah to Hajj answer His call at all places and times in whatever circumstances he finds himself. Let him not hesitate or refuse to do that. He should rather humble himself before Allaah, listen and obey.

O the one who spent these past days in sins! O the one who spent these blessed seasons in pastime and immoral activities! Did you not see the raised hands of supplicants and the tears of the repentant? Have you not heard the voice of those who recited talbiyah and those who glorified Allaah? How come has the best day in the world passed by while you were in the shackles of whimsical desire? O you sinner who continues to say, “I will repent today or tomorrow!” O the one who has been overwhelmed by ignorance and lust! Remember a night in which you will remain in your grave alone. Repent now and mend your ways before it is too late. Quit sinning now and know that Allaah stretches His hands during the day in order that the sinner of the night may repent and stretches his hand in the night, in order that the sinner of the day might repent.

As for you who performed acts of worship, continue in your good deeds and beware of showing off, for many a small deed is magnified by good intention and many a great deed is belittled by insincerity. One of the righteous predecessors said, “Let whoever wants his deed to be complete have a good intention.”

Be also afraid that your deeds might not be accepted. ‘Aaishah said, ‘I asked the Messenger of Allaah about this verse: ‘And those who give that which they give with their hearts full of fear’” I said, “Does it mean those who drink alcohol and steal?”

The Messenger of Allaah said, “No O daughter of As-Siddeeq, they are those who fast, pray and give charity and yet they fear that it might not be accepted of them. ‘It is these who hasten in the good deeds and they are foremost in them.’ ” (At-Tirmidhee)

Fear Allaah always and remember the Word of Allaah,

“Verily, Allaah accepts only from those who are pious.”

(Al-Maaidah 5:27)

Fellow Muslims! You are now in this world which is a place of trials. You are successors of some people and you are going to be predecessors of others. Therefore, make good use of your time and endeavour to do good deeds, for that is the capital of the sincere slaves of Allaah. Remain on the right course and do not go to extremes.

Dear pilgrims! Remember while walking on this blessed land, over which the Messenger walked and on which he lived. Exert efforts to learn his Sunnah and his way of life and following his guidance. You can however, not achieve that goal except by seeking help from Allaah. He says,

“And whoever holds firmly to Allaah, then he is indeed guided to the Right Path.”

(Aal Imraan 3:101)