Hasten to perform Hajj
Since 2012-11-11
Dear brother, let your care for this life be proportionate to your duration therein, and the same with the Hereafter. Do not procrastinate, since you are liable to die, fall ill, or be busy.
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Realms, and prayers and peace be upon the most honorable Prophet and Messenger, our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Praise Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He), O dear Muslim brother, that He kept you alive until witnessing the season of Hajj approaching and the delegations of pilgrims coming out in great numbers to recite Talbiyah (devotional expressions chanted at certain times during Hajj and Umrah) and Takbir (saying: “Allahu Akbar [Allah is the Greatest]”). They came from every place and some of them spent several years accumulating the sum that would enable them to carry out this great obligation.
O, dear brother who can afford this journey, why do you delay it and till when? Have you not heard the Saying of Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He): {…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 one’s conveyance, provision and residence); and whoever disbelieves [i.e. denies Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah), then he is a disbeliever of Allah], then Allah stands not in need of any of the ‘Alamin (mankind and jinn).} [Surat Al-Imran 3 97]
{وَلِلّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلاً وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ الله غَنِيٌّ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ} آل عمران :97
Transliteration: Walillahi ‘ala annasi hijjualbayti mani istata’a ilayhi sabêlan waman kafarafa-inna Allaha ghaniyyun ‘ani al’alameen.
And His (Glorified be He) Saying: {And perform properly (i.e. all the ceremonies according to the ways of Prophet Muhammad SAW), the Hajj and ‘Umrah (i.e. the pilgrimage to Makkah) for Allah.} [Surat Al-Baqarah 2:196]
{وَأَتِمُّواْ الْحَجَّ وَالْعُمْرَةَ لِلّهِ} البقرة: 196
Transliteration: W’timmoo alhajja wal’umratalillahi.
And His (Glorified and Exalted be He) Saying: {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).} [Surat Al-Hajj 22:27]
{وَأَذِّن فِي النَّاسِ بِالْحَجِّ يَأْتُوكَ رِجَالًا وَعَلَى كُلِّ ضَامِرٍ يَأْتِينَ مِن كُلِّ فَجٍّ عَمِيقٍ} الحج: 27
Transliteration: Wa aththin fee annasi bil hajji yatûka rijalan wa ‘ala kulli damirin yateena min kulli fajjin ‘ameeq.
O dear Muslim brother, Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam. Allah’s Messenger (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Islam is built upon five [pillars]: the testimony that there is no God except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; establishing regular Salah (Prayer); paying the Zakah (obligatory charity with a percentage); performing Hajj (pilgrimage); and fasting Ramadan.” [Agreed upon]
«بني الإسلام على خمس: شهادة أن لا إله إلا الله وأن محمدا عبده ورسوله، وإقام الصلاة، وإيتاء الزكاة، وحج البيت، وصوم رمضان» متفق عليه
The Muslim should hasten to fulfill the duty of Hajj when he is able to do it, lest he should become sinful. Allah’s Messenger (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Hasten to perform Hajj [meaning the obligatory Hajj] for none of you knows what will happen to him.” [Authenticated by Al-Albani]
«تعجلوا إلى الحج فإن أحدكم لا يدري ما يعرض له» صححه الألباني
Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “I tended to dispatch men to different lands and look into people who are able but didn’t perform Hajj and impose Jizyah (poll tax meant specifically for non-Muslims who were exempt from conscription) on them. They are not Muslims!” [Al-Haytamiy Al-Makky, authentic]
Thus, it is obligatory for you, O dear Muslim brother, to hasten to perform this great obligation, since modern means facilitated the journey, praise be to Allah. Neither let Satan hinder you, nor let your self resort to procrastination or worldly wishes. Ask yourself till when you procrastinate in this regard! And let you contemplate how our forefathers would take the journey on foot for several months to reach the Ancient House (the Ka’bah at Makkah).
O dear Muslim brother, the virtue of Hajj is great and Allah rewards for it generously. This worship demands both physical and financial efforts: Pilgrims exert great efforts both in their journey to Makkah and in performing the sacred rites; and they also spend a large sum for the journey.
Allah’s Messenger (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “From one Umrah to another is expiation for whatever (sins) come in between them, and an accepted Hajj brings no less a reward than Paradise.” [Agreed upon]
«العمرة إلى العمرة كفارة لما بينهما، والحج المبرور ليس له جزاء إلا الجنة»متفق عليه
“Whoever performs Hajj and does not commit any obscenity or commit any evil will go back (free of) sin as on the day his mother bore him.” [Reported by Al-Bukhari]
«من حج هذا البيت فلم يرفث ولم يفسق رجع كيوم ولدته أمه» رواه البخاري
Once the Prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) was asked which deed is best, he said, “Belief in Allah and His Messenger.” He was asked, “Then what?” He said, “Jihad for the sake of Allah.” He was asked, “Then what?” He said, “An accepted Hajj.” [Reported by Al-Bukhari]
وسئل النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: أي الأعمال أفضل؟، قال: «إيمان بالله ورسوله»، قيل: ثم ماذا؟، قال: «جهاد في سبيل الله»، قيل: ثم ماذا؟، قال: «حج مبرور » رواه البخاري
Abdullah ibn Masûd Reported that the Messenger of Allah (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Make the Hajj and Umrah follow each other closely, for they remove poverty and sins as the bellows removes the dross of iron, gold and silver, and an accepted Hajj brings no less a reward than Paradise.” [Reported by Al-Tirmidhi, Al-Albani said: good authentic]
«تابعوا بين الحج والعمرة، فإنهما ينفيان الفقر والذنوب، كما ينفي الكير خبث الحديد والذهب والفضة، وليس للحجة المبرورة ثواب إلا الجنة» رواه الترمذي، قال الألباني: حسن صحيح
In a Hadith that stirs one’s emotion and encourages one to perform Hajj, Allah’s Messenger (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “From one Umrah to another is expiation for whatever (sins) come in between them, and an accepted Hajj brings no less a reward than Paradise.” [Agreed upon]
«العمرة إلى العمرة كفارة لما بينهما, والحج المبرور ليس له جزاء إلا الجنة» متفق عليه
With this great reward, Hajj takes but few days that do not exceed a week for those visiting Makkah and just four days for its inhabitants, praise be to Allah! Is not it a great blessing, O Muslim brother?! Thus, neither hesitate nor take the matter lightly. The roads are paved, security prevails, and we live in luxury. Such blessings demand that one should be grateful. Do not forget that you are created for worshipping Allah Alone. Thus, do not procrastinate in performing Hajj, and receive the good news that you are one of the Delegation of the Most-Merciful, who respond to the Invitation of Allah Who responds to their supplication.
Receive the glad tidings of a day wherein Allah removes one’s faults and sins. Allah’s Messenger (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “There is no day on which Allah frees more people from the Fire than the Day of Arafah.” [Reported by Muslim]
«ما من يوم أكثر من أن يعتق الله فيه عبداً من النار من يوم عرفة» رواه مسلم
Thus, let you be delighted and relaxed; prepare yourself for meeting Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He); and let you invest your time in what benefits you in the Hereafter, since your good deeds will delight you on the day when neither one’s money nor one’s children will benefit you; on the Day when every person will receive their record, people’s hearts will tremble, and you shall see mankind as in a drunken state, yet they will not be drunken, but severe will be the Torment of Allah.
Dear brother, let your care for this life be proportionate to your duration therein, and the same with the Hereafter. Do not procrastinate, since you are liable to die, fall ill, or be busy. In order for you to avoid all this, seek Allah’s Help and put your trust in Him and be one of those reciting Talbiyah and Takbir this year.
Dear Muslim brother, now that you are willing to perform Hajj for the sake of Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) and the Last Day, I want to remind you of some matters:
1. Perform Salat-ul-Istikharah (Two Rak’ah Prayer, wherein one offers supplication for guidance) and consult others, because the one who prays Istikharah will not be disappointed and the one who consults others will not regret it. Thus, ask Allah to guide you for the right time, journey and friend, by performing two Rakahs and offering at their end the well-known Du’a’-ul-Istikharah (supplication for guidance).
Devotion to Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He): It is obligatory for a pilgrim to perform Hajj and Umrah (lesser pilgrimage) for the sake of Allah and the Last Day in order for their deeds, sayings, and expenditure to draw them nearer to Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He). The Prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Actions are according to intentions, and each person will have but that which he intended.” [Agreed upon]
«إنما الأعمال بالنيات وإنما لكل امرئ ما نوى» متفق عليه
2. Learning the rulings pertaining to Hajj and Umrah, and learning their conditions, obligations, pillars, and acts of Sunnah in order for the pilgrim to worship Allah based on sure knowledge and not to fall into such misdeeds that might invalidate their Hajj. The books on rulings are available and widely spread, praise be to Allah.
3. Leaving money sufficient to afford one’s family and commanding them to fear Allah: It is obligatory for the person who intends to perform Hajj to provide for their dependents their basic needs of money, food and water. They also should ensure the safety and protection against dangers and trials.
4. Repenting to Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) of all sins and misdeeds: Allah (Glorified be He) says: {And all of you beg Allah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful.} [Surat Al-Nur 24:31]
{وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ} سورة النور:31
Transliteration: watoobû ila Allahi jamee’an ayuhal muminoona la’allakum tuflihoon.
The reality of repentance is giving up all types of sins and misdeeds, regretting what one committed in the past, and having firm determination not to commit any sin any more. If one owes any right to people, one must pay it back to its owner or ask them to forgive one, whether these rights have to do with their chastity, property, or any other thing.
5. Expenditure of the journey should be lawful, i.e., one should earn one’s living lawfully that one’s Hajj should be void of any sin. The pilgrim who performs Hajj with unlawful money, their Hajj will not be accepted. It might be accepted but still they are sinful.
If you perform Hajj with ill-gotten money,
You did not perform Hajj; rather, it is the camels that carried out the journey.
Allah accepts only good deeds,
Not all those who perform Hajj their Hajj will be accepted.
6. Choosing pious companions: They are your best source of help in this journey. They remind you to remember Allah if you come to forget; they teach you what you do not know; they care for and love you; and they do you all this for the sake of Allah and to draw near to Him (Glorified and Exalted be He).
7. Observing the etiquette and Du’a (supplications) of travel: Reciting the Du’a of travel, reciting Takbir (saying: “Allahu Akbar [Allah is the Greatest]”) upon ascending a raised land and reciting Tasbih (saying: “Subhan Allah [Glory be to Allah]”) when descending a low land, and reciting the Du’a when reaching one’s destination, etc.
8. Accustoming oneself to bearing the hardship of traveling: There are some people who may grumble about the hot weather, lack of food, or long duration of the journey. You should bear in mind that you are not setting out for a picnic or recreation. Let you know that the best and the greatest type of patience is that observed over worshipping Allah. In spite of the availability of the means of transport and the paved roads, the journey still bears hardship. Thus, Do not invalidate your good deeds by reminders of your generosity or by harming Muslims with your hand or tongue. Rather, you should be gentle maintain calmness.
9. Lowering one’s gaze from what Allah prohibited: Let you refrain from what Allah prohibited, since you are in sacred places and rites. Let you restrain your tongue and all your other limbs to avoid rendering your Hajj to be misdeeds and sins that will burden you on the Last Day.
May Allah accept our acts of worship and forgive us our negligence and forgive us and our parents, and enable us to perform Hajj this year and the coming years.
Abdul-Malik Al-Qasim
Source: Said website.
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