What after Pilgrimage?
Since 2012-11-29
My Pilgrim Brother... Accepted Pilgrimage and Praised Seeking... But...What after Pilgrimage?
My Pilgrim Brother... Accepted Pilgrimage and Praised Seeking...
But...What after Pilgrimage?
Praise be to Allah who has guided his servants to the right way and peace and blessings of Allah be upon the Prophet; the owner of the Basin and the great position and upon his family, companions and their followers to the straightway.
My pilgrim brother:
When pilgrims decide to return to homelands, they remember fathers, mothers, wives, children and brothers so they buy presents for them. Those who are well-off purchase some kinds of goods for trading. There is nothing wrong for the pilgrim to do that. Allah Almighty said: {There is no sin on you if you seek the Bounty of your Lord (during pilgrimage by trading). Then when you leave ‘Arafât, remember Allâh (by glorifying His Praises, i.e. prayers and invocations) at the Mash’ar-il-Harâm. And remember Him (by invoking Allâh for all good.) as He has guided you, and verily, you were, before, of those who were astray.} [Surat Al-Baqarah 2:198].
{لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَبْتَغُوا فَضْلًا مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ ۚ فَإِذَا أَفَضْتُم مِّنْ عَرَفَاتٍ فَاذْكُرُوا اللَّـهَ عِندَ الْمَشْعَرِ الْحَرَامِ ۖ وَاذْكُرُوهُ كَمَا هَدَاكُمْ وَإِن كُنتُم مِّن قَبْلِهِ لَمِنَ الضَّالِّينَ} البقرة: 198
Transliteration: Laysa AAalaykum junahun an tabtaghoo fadlan min rabbikum faitha afadtum min AAarafatin faothkuroo Allaha AAinda almashAAari alharami waothkuroohu kama hadakum wain kuntum min qablihi lamina alddalleena
Imam Al-Qurtubi said: “in the previous verse there is evidence for the permissibility of a pilgrim to trade during pilgrimage along with performing the act of worship. Intending that is not a kind of polytheism and it is not a breach to the obligated sincerity of a pilgrim. Abu Dawud reported in his Sunan from Abu Umâmah At-Taymi that he said: I said to Ibn ‘Umar: I am a man who hires out and some people are saying: there is no pilgrimage for you (your pilgrimage is not accepted). Ibn ‘Umar replied: a man came to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and asked him the same question. He kept silent until the verse of “{There is no sin on you if you seek the Bounty of your Lord (during pilgrimage by trading)…}” was revealed so the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has said “Your pilgrimage is accepted” [Authenticated by Al-Albani].
«عن أبي أمامة التيمي قال: كنت رجلا أكري في هذا الوجه وكان ناس يقولون لي إنه ليس لك حج فلقيت ابن عمر فقلت يا أبا عبد الرحمن إني رجل أكري في هذا الوجه وإن ناسا يقولون لي إنه ليس لك حج فقال ابن عمر أليس تحرم وتلبي وتطوف بالبيت وتفيض من عرفات وترمي الجمار قال قلت بلى قال فإن لك حجا جاء رجل إلى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فسأله عن مثل ما سألتني عنه فسكت عنه رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فلم يجبه حتى نزلت هذه الآية (ليس عليكم جناح أن تبتغوا فضلا من ربكم) فأرسل إليه رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وقرأ عليه هذه الآية وقال لك حج» رواه أبو داود وصححه الألباني
My pilgrim brother: benefitting in due measures from this worldly life does not affect sincerity. But, O my brother, how were your feelings while you were bidding farewell such pure places? Have you not known, brother, that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has ordered people not to leave Mecca until they perform the farewell circumambulation? It is narrated by Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him and his father, that: “People were leaving to each direction, so the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has said: “No one of you is to leave unless his last engagement is in the House” [Reported by Muslim].
«كان الناس ينصرفون في كل وجه. فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: لا ينفرن أحد حتى يكون آخر عهده بالبيت» رواه مسلم
My pilgrim brother: that is what the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has ordered his companions to do when leaving the Great House, to perform their last circumambulation to get out from Mecca with eyes and hearts that are filled with the greatness of such House, may Allah increase its honor.
You my pilgrim brother: while you were leaving the Sacred House, what were your feelings while you were preparing yourself to leave these pure places?
O Brother: there is no doubt that departing from such pure places is severe for the soul, especially for those souls who are sincere to their Lord Almighty during performing the rituals of pilgrimage.
Then my pilgrim brother: remember while you are leaving this great House that you have been on the days of obedience and in the seasons of drawing near to Allah. How happy these moments are. But brother: do acts of obedience cease by returning home? Remember your presence before the Hands of your Lord Almighty at His great House. Remember the dignity of the day of Arafat and the great days of Mina.
Brother: how is it accepted for you then, to exchange your conditions to other than them? So, keep in performing your acts of obedience and open a new chapter in your life to achieve the characteristics of those whose pilgrimage is accepted. Al-Hasan al-Basri said: “The accepted pilgrimage is the one which this who performed it returns indifferent to this world and aspiring for the hereafter”.
It is said that: “one of the signs of the accepted pilgrimage is that it appears by its end. If one returns in a better condition than before, it is known then that it is accepted”.
Another matter my pilgrim brother: while you are leaving the Sacred House ask Allah that this is not the last time you encounter His House. Continuing in performing acts of obedience is a reason for being firm on them; just as continuing performing acts of disobedience is a reason for aberrance and going astray.
Brother: your continuity on performing acts of obedience is the key of success on the Day of the Great Demonstration. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was being asked: What are the acts are most pleasing to Allah? He replied “This which is done continuously, even if it is small” [Reported by Muslim].
«أي العمل أحب إلى الله؟ قال: أدومه وإن قل» رواه مسلم
My pilgrim brother: one of the signs of righteousness is the continuous performing of acts of obedience even if they are little. Following is a precious pearl I present to you: you have my brother to keep on doing a good act and continue in doing it; do not regard it with contempt. May Allah Almighty predestine you with the good end and keep for you the blessing of your pilgrimage.
My pilgrim brother: do not be one of those who only remember acts of worship in specific seasons. When these seasons end, they return to their first condition. ‘Alqama asked Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her: “O mother of the believers, how was the act of the Messenger of Allah, was he specializing some days for his acts? She said: “No, his deeds were continuous, but which of you can do as the Messenger of Allah?! [Agreed upon].
«سألت أم المؤمنين عائشة قلت: يا أم المؤمنين، كيف كان عمل النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، هل كان يخص شيئا من الأيام؟ قالت: لا، كان عمله ديمة، وأيكم يستطيع ما كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يستطيع» متفق عليه
Mohamed Ibn Al-Qasim said about Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, “that if she did an act she kept on doing it.”
My pilgrim brother: you must be patient with acts of obedience while continuing your new life. Be patient also against acts of disobedience as patience with acts of obedience and refraining from performing acts of disobedience are amongst the loftiest degrees of patience. Maimûn Ibn Mahrân said: “patience is of two kinds: patience over a disaster is good but patience over refraining from disobedience is better”.
Do not be my pilgrim brother one of those mentioned by Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim: “The mean are the most patient in obeying their whims and desires and they are the least patient in obeying their Lord. One is perfect in one’s patience in obeying the devil and cannot be patient in obeying Allah for the easiest matter. One is patient in bearing hardships for one’s whims to satisfy one’s enemy and cannot bear the least hardships to satisfy one’s Lord.
One is most patient in exerting efforts to obey the Devil and the self’s desires but is too weak to be patient for that for the sake of Allah. This is very meanness. This who is characterized by that cannot be honored by Allah and cannot stand with the honored people when they are publicly called on the Day of Resurrection; in front of all witnesses; the people gathered there will know who are worthier to be honored today and where are those who are pious.”
My pilgrim brother: the reward of the patient is Paradise: {And those who remain patient, seeking their Lord’s Countenance, perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât), and spend out of that which We have bestowed on them, secretly and openly, and defend evil with good, for such there is a good end. (22). ‘Adn (Eden) Paradise (everlasting Gardens), which they shall enter and (also) those who acted righteously from among their fathers, and their wives, and their offspring. And angels shall enter unto them from every gate (saying): (23). “Salâmun ‘Alaikum (peace be upon you) for you persevered in patience! Excellent indeed is the final home!”} [Surat Ar-Ra’d 13:22-24].
{وَالَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا ابْتِغَاءَ وَجْهِ رَبِّهِمْ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَأَنفَقُوا مِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً وَيَدْرَءُونَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ السَّيِّئَةَ أُولَـٰئِكَ لَهُمْ عُقْبَى الدَّارِ ﴿٢٢﴾ جَنَّاتُ عَدْنٍ يَدْخُلُونَهَا وَمَن صَلَحَ مِنْ آبَائِهِمْ وَأَزْوَاجِهِمْ وَذُرِّيَّاتِهِمْ ۖ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ يَدْخُلُونَ عَلَيْهِم مِّن كُلِّ بَابٍ ﴿٢٣﴾ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُم بِمَا صَبَرْتُمْ ۚ فَنِعْمَ عُقْبَى الدَّارِ} الرعد: 22-24
Transliteration: Waallatheena sabaroo ibtighaa wajhi rabbihim waaqamoo alssalata waanfaqoo mimma razaqnahum sirran waAAalaniyatan wayadraoona bialhasanati alssayyiata olaika lahum AAuqba alddari (22) Jannatu AAadnin yadkhuloonaha waman salaha minabaihim waazwajihim wathurriyyatihim waalmalaikatu yadkhuloona AAalayhim min kulli babin (23) Salamun AAalaykum bima sabartum faniAAma AAuqba alddari
Al-Fudayl Ibn ‘Ayadh said about the words of Allah: {Salâmun ‘Alaikum (peace be upon you) for you persevered in patience...} that: they were patient for what they were ordained about and refrained from what they were prohibited to do”.
Brother: it is in the nature of the self that it likes laziness and relaxation, so do not provide it with its wishes in order not to let the devil find a way into you. Al-Hassan al-Basri said: “if the devil looks at you and finds you continuously obeying Allah, it will come after you once and again. If it finds you continuing in your acts of obedience, the devil will then get bored with you and will reject you. But if you are wavering, the devil will crave after you”.
My pilgrim brother: you have recently returned from performing pilgrimage so you are still nearer to obedience. If you continue on such way, righteousness then is hoped for you. So hasten, brother, in your activity before laxity and laziness interfere with you. If you incline to laziness, the persistent enjoiner of evil self will dominate you and the devil will control you; and your pilgrimage will go in vain. Al-Hurayth ibn Qays said: “if you want to perform any act of righteousness, do not delay it to tomorrow. If you are doing a matter for this worldly life, do it slowly. If you are observing prayer and the devil tells you that you are a hypocrite, prolong the prayer.”
My pilgrim brother: hasten and start, do not procrastinate. Thumâma Ibn Bijad As-Salamy advised his kinsfolk and said: “O people I warn you [not to say] I shall do… I shall pray. I shall fast”.
My pilgrim brother: strive yourself and do not weaken as you have done when you were in these pure places {As for those who strive hard in Us (Our Cause), We will surely guide them to Our Paths (i.e. Allâh’s religion - Islâmic Monotheism). And verily, Allâh is with the Muhsinûn (good doers).”} [Surat Al-Ankabût 29:69]
{وَالَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا فِينَا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنَا ۚ وَإِنَّ اللَّـهَ لَمَعَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ} العنكبوت: 69
Transliteration: Waallatheena jahadoo feenalanahdiyannahum subulana wainna Allaha lamaAAa almuhsineena
{Then, for him who Tagha (transgressed all bounds, in disbelief, oppression and evil deeds of disobedience to Allah). (37) And preferred the life of this world (by following his evil desires and lusts), (38) Verily, his abode will be Hell-fire; (39) But as for him who feared standing before his Lord, and restrained himself from impure evil desires, and lusts. (40) Verily, Paradise will be his abode.} [Surat An-Nâzi’ât 79:37-41].
{فَأَمَّا مَن طَغَىٰ ﴿٣٧﴾ وَآثَرَ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا ﴿٣٨﴾ فَإِنَّ الْجَحِيمَ هِيَ الْمَأْوَىٰ ﴿٣٩﴾ وَأَمَّا مَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِ وَنَهَى النَّفْسَ عَنِ الْهَوَىٰ ﴿٤٠﴾ فَإِنَّ الْجَنَّةَ هِيَ الْمَأْوَىٰ} النازعات: 37-41
Transliteration: Faamma man tagha (37) Waathara alhayata alddunya (38) Fainna aljaheema hiya almawa (39) Waama man khafa maqama rabbihi wanaha alnnafsa AAani alhawa (40) Fainna aljannata hiya almawa
My pilgrim brother: do not miss increasing your invocations to Allah Almighty to help you be steady in performing acts of obedience. O brother, increase your supplications to Allah and head towards Him in invocation that He make you take the right steps to His right religion. The noble Prophet often asked his Lord to keep him firm in His religion. Umm Salama, may Allah be pleased with her, was asked about his most frequent supplication to which she replied: his most frequent invocation was: “O You who turn hearts keep my heart fixed to Your religion”. When he was asked about that he said: “there is no man but his heart is between two Fingers of the Fingers of Allah; those whom He wish He fixes (them in the right path) and those whom He wish He deviates (them from the right path)” [Reported by At-Tirmidhi, and authenticated by Al-Albani].
«قلت لأم سلمة: يا أم المؤمنين ما كان أكثر دعاء رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا كان عندك؟ قالت: كان أكثر دعائه يا مقلب القلوب ثبت قلبي على دينك، قالت: فقلت يا رسول الله ما أكثر دعاءك يا مقلب القلوب ثبت قلبي على دينك. قال: يا أم سلمة إنه ليس آدمي إلا وقلبه بين أصبعين من أصابع الله فمن شاء أقام ومن شاء أزاغ...» رواه الترمذي وصححه الألباني
In another narration, the Prophet peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, used to say: “O You who fix hearts keep our hearts fixed to Your religion” [Reported by Ibn Majah: The Authentic Hadiths of Ibn Majah: Al-Albani: 166].
«يا مثبت القلوب ثبت قلوبنا على دينك» رواه ابن ماجه، صححه الألباني
My pilgrim brother: If the Prophet peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, used to ask his Lord to keep him fixed to His religion, in spite of the fact that he has seen enough signs from Allah to fix his heart to the religion of Allah Almighty, then: what about us?!! You are, brother, in an era of many afflictions and reasons of going astray, an age where you cannot see any supporters for the truth; rather, if you commit to your religion, you will be mocked at and will hear every insult. A believer, however, is promised by his Lord, so he/she must not pay any attention to that. You have thus, brother, to increase your invocation to Allah to keep your heart fixed to His religion. Invoke Him with a sincere heart that has known the pleasure of obedience and has been intimate with the means of nearness to Him. Do not invoke the invocations of the heedless who does not know what he is saying. You, my pilgrimage brother, need to be fixed to the obedience of Allah Almighty so that you will pick the fruit of your pilgrimage and taste its blessing.
My pilgrim brother: there is an important matter about which I’d like to remind you while you are returning to your homeland: do not ever, brother, be self-conceited like those who look at themselves as if they were the best on this earth if they do a few good deeds. Rather brother, look always at yourself as a neglectful soul, because whatever good deeds you do, you cannot duly praise Allah Almighty for the least of His grace He has bestowed upon you. If you want to know the condition of the pious after performing righteous deeds, so ponder, O brother, on the following situations to know that the faithful servants of Allah always confess their negligence. After assuming the Caliphate, As-Siddîq (the most truthful) Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, said his famous speech: “O people, I have been made your guardian while I am not the best of you..”.
Al-Hassan al-Basri said: “Yes he is by Allah, He is the best of them, but a believer is always unjust to himself”. It is narrated that Mohamed Ibn ‘Atâ’ said: I was sitting with Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, and he saw a bird. He said: “Blessed are you bird, you eat from the trees, then you excrete and then you become nothing, and there is no reckoning for you. I wish I were you”. I said to him “you say that while you are the close friend of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him?!!”
This is al-Farouk (the one who distinguishes truth and falsehood) ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: “If a caller calls on the Day of Resurrection: “O people all of you come and enter Paradise except only one, I would think that I am this one”.
My pilgrim brother: this is our Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, is teaching us how worshipping Allah is to be. He used to offer night prayers till his feet became swollen. If he was asked about that, he answered: “Shouldn’t I be a thankful slave (to Allah)?” [Reported by Al-Bukhari].
«كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يصلي حتى ترم، أو تنتفخ، قدماه، فيقال له: فيقول: أفلا أكون عبدا شكورا» رواه البخاري
The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has said: “By Allah! I ask for forgiveness from Allah and turn to Him in repentance more than seventy times a day.” [Reported by Al-Bukhari].
«والله إنّي لأستغفر الله وأتوب إليه في اليوم أكثر من سبعين مرّة» رواه البخاري
Do you see, brother, while all the past and future sins of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, are forgiven, nevertheless he worships his Lord Almighty in such a way, can anyone then say: I have worshipped Allah His due worship?!!
Brother: be unjust to yourself, so it will straighten for you. If you looked at it as being perfect, it will become negligent, until this negligence will defect your performing of obligations.
In addition, my pilgrim brother: I will inform you about a wonder remedy for the laziness in persisting in performing acts of worship, upon taking it you will find an astonishing effect. Do you know what such wonder remedy is?! It is death. Remember, O brother that you are to leave this worldly life to a home in which both the righteous and the sinners are to be rewarded. If you want the blessing of your pilgrimage to last, remind yourself of death, you will then hasten to perform acts of obedience and will be active in performing acts of worship. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has taught Ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him and his father, such astonishing remedy. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, took hold of his shoulders and said: “Be in this worldly life as if you were a stranger or a passerby.” Ibn ‘Umar used to say, “If you survive till the evening, do not expect to be alive in the morning, and if you survive till the morning, do not expect to be alive in the evening, and take from your health for your sickness, and (take) from your life for your death.” [Reported by Al-Bukhari].
«أخذ رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بمنكبي فقال: (كن في الدنيا كأنك غريب أو عابر سبيل). وكان ابن عمر يقول: إذا أمسيت فلا تنتظر الصباح، وإذا أصبحت فلا تنتظر المساء، وخذ من صحتك لمرضك، ومن حياتك لموتك» رواه البخاري
Imam An-Nawawi said: “The meaning of the Hadith is that you should not have confidence in this worldly life and consider it as your homeland. Do not speak to yourself about staying at it. Do not get attached to it with more than a stranger gets attached to a place other than his/her homeland”.
Brother: Al-Hassan al-Basri used to say: “Initiation, initiation, it is (the worldly life) only breaths which if stopped, your deeds by which you approach to Allah Glorified and Exalted will stop. May Allah have mercy on a person who looks to himself and cries for his sins. He then has read this verse: {We only count out to them a (limited) number (of the days of the life of this world and delay their term so that they may increase in evil and sins).} [Surat Maryam 19:84].
{...إِنَّمَا نَعُدُّ لَهُمْ عَدًّا} مريم: 84
Transliteration: innamanaAAuddu lahum AAaddan
He then used to cry and say: the last count: when your soul is out, the last count, you departure from your family, the last count, when you enter yourgrave”.
My pilgrim brother: this is ‘Umar Ibn Abdul Aziz saying: “Death has embittered the flush and adornment of this worldly life for the people of this world. While they are in such status, Death comes and clutches them. Woe and anguish for those who did not beware from Death or remind themselves of it during prosperity; for those who did not send forth righteous deeds for themselves before them, that are to be found when he leaves this worldly life and its people…” He then was overwhelmed by crying and left.
Brothers: until when are you to procrastinate performing good deeds, until when are you aspiring to achieve hopes and are deceived by the extension of time and do not remember the attack of the moment of death? What you have given birth to is to dust, what you have built is to destruction, what you have collected is to be gone and what you have done is registered in a book and is to be delayed until the Day of Reckoning.
My pilgrim brother: I have revealed to you what was hidden in my heart and presented to you such gems; ponder on them. I ask Allah Almighty to keep you and me firm on His right religion and to bestow upon us with the happiness of the two homes.
Ibn Khuzaymah House
Wathakker Website
- Category:
- Source: