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Lessons from Hajj
Shaykh Saalih Aal Taalib [(Dhul Hijjah 7, 1424 (January 30, 2004)]
All praise is due to
Allaah, Lord of all the worlds. Peace and blessings of Allaah be upon the
Messenger, his household and companions. Fellow Muslims! Fear Allaah as He
should be feared. Allaah says,
"O
mankind! Fear your Lord and be dutiful to Him! Verily, the earthquake of the
Hour (of Judgment) is a terrible thing. The Day you shall see it, every nursing
mother will forget her nursling, and every pregnant one will drop her load, and
you shall see mankind as in a drunken state, yet they will not be drunken, but
severe will be the Torment of Allaah."
(Al-Hajj 22:1-2)
Seek nearness to
Allaah with acts of worship that will make you earn His reward. Abstain from
causes of Wrath and punishment.
Pilgrims to the House
of Allaah! Congratulations on your arrival to the Sacred House of Allaah.
Congratulations on your commencement of Hajj rites. Blessed are those who
perform their Hajj seeking for Allaah's pleasure. May all of you be blessed. May
Allaah shower on you His favour. May He tell you on 'Arafah day: 'Go, your sins
have been forgiven.'
The Messenger of Allaah
said, "He who performed Hajj and he did not engage in sexual activities nor
engage in obscenities will return as [sinless] as the day his mother bore him."
(Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)
This is a great
blessing that gladdens the hearts of believers and for which they undergo great
difficulties.
Dear pilgrims! You come
here sincerely to answer the call of your Lord whose echo never breaks through
years. Allaah says,
"And
proclaim to mankind the Hajj (pilgrimage). They will come to you on foot and on
every lean camel; they will come from every deep and distant (wide) mountain
highway (to perform Hajj)."
(Al-Hajj 22:27)
You have come to this
Ancient House built by two noble Prophets: Ibraaheem and Ismaa'eel, peace be
upon them. It was Prophet Ibraaheem who declared Islaamic Monotheism and shunned
polytheism until he was thrown in fire from which Allaah saved him. As for
Prophet Ismaa'eel, he had surrendered to the will of his Lord and submitted
himself for slaughtering. So Allaah saved him and elevated his position. These
are two noble Prophets who gave their lives to Allaah.
Therefore, this great
edifice: the Ka'bah is the epitome of Tawheed and submission to Allaah in His
laws and in abiding by His commandments and prohibitions. This is the path to
victory threaded by the Prophets and their followers. Allaah says,
"So
shun the abomination [worshipping] of idol, and shun lying speech [false
statements] worshipping none but Allaah, not associating partners [in worship]
unto Him."
(Al-Hajj 22:30-31)
Fellow Muslims! Hajj is
not mere performance of some rituals and visiting places. It is a school,
history, memories and pure act of worship that confers on the pilgrim the light
of faith and the fruits of Ibaadah. When the pilgrim walks between As-Safa
and Al-Marwah and trots in the valley, he remembers his helplessness and his
need of Allaah. He also realizes that his need for his Lord is like the need of
Haajar, the mother of Ismaa'eel in that difficult situation when she was
passionately running up and down between the two mountains seeking Allaah's
relief. The pilgrim also remembers that anybody who obeys Allaah as Ibraaheem
had done, Allaah will not abandon him and his family and He will not reject his
supplications.
Dear Pilgrim! Since
Allaah has honoured you and made it easy for you to perform this Hajj, endeavour
to perform the rites of Hajj completely as an implementation of Allaah's
commandment,
"And
perform properly the Hajj and 'Umrah for Allaah."
(Al-Baqarah
2:196)
And in line with the
Prophet's commandment, "Take your Hajj rites from me." All necessary and
obligatory rites of Hajj must therefore be performed perfectly.
Also, you should ask
questions about acts of worship before you start them, for many a pilgrim
worship Allaah on ignorance. He neither knows nor asks. This situation weakens
his Hajj rites. If he had asked before he acted, he would have been spared of
troubles. Negligence in performing Hajj rites renders the Hajj flawed. So fear
Allaah and perform your Hajj and 'Umrah properly.
Proper performance of
Hajj necessitates shunning things that could tarnish it like argument, engaging
in obscenities and behaving arrogantly towards fellow Muslims. All these things
must be abstain from in order to have the Hajj accepted and have the sins
forgiven. Allaah says,
"The Hajj (pilgrimage)
is (in) the well-known (lunar year) months (i.e. the 10th month, the 11th month
and the first ten days of the 12th month of the Islaamic calendar, i.e. two
months and ten days). So whosoever intends to perform Hajj therein (by assuming
Ihraam), then he should not have sexual relations (with his wife), nor commit
sin, nor dispute unjustly during the Hajj. And whatever good you do, (be sure)
Allaah knows it. And take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the best
provision is At-Taqwa (piety, righteousness). So fear Me, O men of
understanding!"
(Al-Baqarah
2:197)
Dear brethren! The
pilgrims should also abstain from things that contradict his goals. He should
not call upon others besides Allaah and he should not proclaim anything but
Islaamic monotheism and the Sunnah. No Muslim who believes in Allaah and the
Last Day should harm or frighten a fellow Muslim. He should also not turn the
pilgrims away from the Sunnah. Allaah says,
"And
whoever inclines to do evil actions therein or to do wrong, him We shall cause
to taste from a painful torment."
(Al-Hajj 22:25)
Brethren in Islaam!
Hajj teaches patience, perseverance, forgiveness, tolerance, generosity and
kindness. It also encourages giving guidance to the ignorant, calling to
righteousness and benefiting the Muslims. All acts of righteousness are ordained
for the worship of Allaah as they are meant for refinement and purification of
the souls from impurities and imperfections and for liberating the minds from
lusts.
During Hajj, you
realize that worldly luxuries that you regard as essential are not really
essential, and that they are things you can do without. You also realize that
people's boasting of worldly materials is meaningless because; during Hajj you
see people equal as they will be on the Day of Resurrection. This scene will
make you change your perception of life and lead you into giving the life of
this world its due without exaggeration or negligence.
The Muslims'
congregation on this day is evidence that their unity is possible by the grace
of Allaah.
Dear Muslims!
Remembrance of Allaah is a conspicuous sign of Hajj. Tawheed is the proclamation
of Hajj. 'Labbayk Labbayk Allaahumma labbayk,
labbayka laa shareeka laka labbayk, innal-hamda, wan-ni'mah laka wal-mulk, laa
shareeka lak.' [I respond to Your call, O Allaah,
I respond to Your call. I respond to Your call, You have no associate, I
respond. Yours is the praise, favour and dominion. You have no associate.]
The Messenger of Allaah
said, "Circumambulation of the House, trotting between As-Safa and Al-Marwah and
throwing the pebbles [at Jamaraat] are all ordained for the remembrance of
Allaah." (At-Tirmidhee)
If the verses of Hajj
are properly reflected upon, one will realise that they are linked to the
remembrance of Allaah. For instance, Allaah says,
"And
remember Allaah during the appointed Days."
(Al-Baqarah
2:203)
He also says,
"Then when you leave 'Arafat, remember Allaah (by
glorifying His Praises, i.e. prayers and invocations) at the Mash'ar-il-Harām."
(Al-Baqarah
2:198)
Allaah also says,
"So
when you have accomplished your Hajj rites, remember Allaah as you remember your
forefathers or with a far more remembrance."
(Al-Baqarah
2:200)
Dear pilgrims, remember
Allaah much and glorify Him, He will elevate your ranks and forgive your sins.
Hajj is making
talbiyah, glorifying Allaah, remembering Him and invoking Him. The
successful is the one who beseeches his Lord submissively and shows his
helplessness to Him without wasting his time in useless things.
The Messenger of Allaah
has certain places in which he made much supplication. The Muslim must endeavour
to emulate him: the day of 'Arafah especially just before sunset, after Fajr
prayer at Muzdalifah until just before sunrise, after throwing Jamrah al-'aqabah,
after throwing the pebbles at middle Jamrah on the 11th, 12th,
13th of Dhul-Hijjah. The Prophet also used to pray on the mountains
of Safa and Marwah.
The Messenger of Allaah
would appear to people and tell them. "Take your Hajj rites from me." He would
teach the ignorant and answer the questioner. This is the Prophetic guidance for
students of knowledge so that they can guide people to the straight path.
Dear brethren! Hajj is
an opportunity for the scholars to teach hundreds of thousands of Muslims what
is useful for them in their religion. Let those who want success adhere to the
saying of the Prophet, "Religion is very easy and whoever overburdens himself in
his religion will not be able to continue in that way. So you should not be
extremists, but try to be near to perfection and receive the good tidings that
you will be rewarded. Strengthen yourself by worshipping Allaah in the mornings,
the nights." (Al-Bukhaaree)
Brethren in faith! One
of the greatest goals of Islaam is to make the Muslims united. In Al-Khayf,
Mina, the Messenger of Allaah said, "May Allaah bless a person who heard my word
and conveyed it [to others]. There are many carriers of knowledge who are not
knowledgeable for there are many who carry knowledge to those who have more
understanding. There are three things that the believer must bear in heart:
performing acts of worship purely for Allaah alone, sincerely wishing the Muslim
rulers well and adhering to the community of the Muslims." (Ibn Maajah)
Brethren in Islaam!
These are some lessons of Hajj that the pilgrims must take into consideration so
that their Hajj can be accepted and in order to attain great reward. The
Messenger of Allaah said, "He who performed Hajj and did not engage in sexual
activities nor engage in obscenities will return as [sinless] as the day his
mother bore him." (Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim) He also said, "The accepted Hajj has
no reward except Paradise." (Muslim)
May Allaah accept your
Hajj and may He forgive your sins. Allaah says,
"And
remember Allaah during the appointed Days. But whosoever hastens to leave in two
days, there is no sin on him and whosoever stays on, there is no sin on him, if
his aim is to do good and obey Allaah(fear Him), and know that you will surely
be gathered unto Him."
(Al-Baqarah
2:203)
Fellow Muslims! This is
Tarwiyah day [the eight day of Dhul-Hijjah]. In the morning of this day,
the pilgrim will go to Mina where he will pray Zuhr and 'Asr prayers shortened
at their respective times; and Maghrib at its time and 'Ishaa shortened at its
time. He will pass the night in Mina. After the sunset of the following day, he
will proceed to 'Arafah where he will pray Zuhr and 'Asr shortened and combined.
He will then stay on the plain of 'Arafah remembering Allaah much and showing
helplessness before Him. He asks Him the good of this world and the Hereafter.
He makes a lot of supplications in that great occasion, for Hajj is 'Arafah. The
Messenger of Allaah said, "The best supplication is the one done on the day of 'Arafah.
And the best statement uttered by me and the Prophets who were before me is:
'Laa ilaaha illallaah, wahdahoo laa shareeka lah, lahul-mulk walahul-hamd wahuwa
'alaa kulli shay'in qadeer.'
On the plain of 'Arafah,
the arena of forgiveness, hearts submit to Allaah and eyes shed tears in fear of
Him. The sins will then be forgiven and degrees will be elevated. On that day,
Allaah will boast with the pilgrims before the eyes of the angels and He will
say, "See My slaves. They came to me dust-covered and dishevelled from every
deep and distant places. I make you witnesses that I have forgiven them."
It is recommended for
those who are not performing Hajj to fast on the day of Arafah with a hope that
Allaah may erase with that the sins of the past year and the present one.
The Messenger of Allaah said, "There is no day in which Allaah liberates more
people from Hell than the day of 'Arafah." (Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)
After sunset on the day
of 'Arafah, the pilgrim leaves 'Arafah for Muzdalifah peacefully. He will pray
Maghrib and 'Ishaa there combined, with Ishaa shortened. He will pass the night
there. After the dawn, he prays Fajr and makes a lot of supplication and
remembrance of Allaah there until it is close to sunrise. He then proceeds to
Mina. Women, children and other weak people are allowed to leave Muzdalifah in
the middle of the night and that is ascertained by the disappearance of the
moon.
When he reaches Mina,
he throws seven pebbles at the Biggest Jamarah saying 'Allaahu akbar'
with each throw. He then slaughters his sacrifice if he has to do so. After that
he shaves or cuts his hair, though shaving is better. He then proceeds to the
Sacred House, and makes his Tawaaf al-Ifaadah if that is possible for him and he
makes Sa'y between Safa and Marwah. If he is doing Qiraan or Ifraad and he has
performed it and he had performed it along with his Arrival Tawaaf, he does not
need to make another Sa'y.
If anyone does any of
these four rites in sequences different from the one mentioned above, there is
no harm in that.
The pilgrim will then
go back to Mina and pass the nights of Tashreeq [11th, 12th
and 13th] there. While he is in Mina, he throws the pebbles at the
three Jamaraat for each of three days after the sun has passed its zenith. If he
likes he stays for two of these three days and if he likes he stays for the
entire three days and this is better. He will then not have to do anything but
the farewell Tawaaf when he is ready to leave Makkah.
Fellow Muslims! Fear
Allaah in all that you do. Purify your deeds for Allaah alone and follow the
Sunnah and the correct guidance. Abstain from things that could render your Hajj
incomplete or invalid. Perform your Hajj in peace and tranquillity. Be
compassionate with your fellow pilgrims especially in crowded places like during
Tawaaf, throwing the pebbles or at the gates of the Sacred Mosque.
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