Hajj Preparation, Hajj Information, Hajj Meaning, Hajj Covenant, Hajj Guide

Conversation between fourth Imam Zaynul Abideen (as) and Shibli: Amust
for those planning to go for Hajj
When the fourth Imam Zaynul Abideen (as) returned from Hajj,
Shiblicame to meet him. They engaged in the followingconversation:
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): Did you go for Hajj OShibli?
Shibli: Yes O son of the Messenger of Allah.
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): Did you stop at the Miqat (Miqat are the
stations at which pilgrimson the Hajj, the pilgrimage to Makkah, put
on Ihram, the pilgrim's garment) and put away the sewn clothes and
perform the sacred bath?
Shibli: Yes
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): When you stopped at Miqat did you make the
intention that you are taking off the clothes of disobedience and
putting on the clothes of obedience?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): And when you had taken off your sewn clothes
did you make the intention that you had taken off hypocrisy and
entering dubious acts?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): And when you took the bath did you have the
intention that you are washing yourself from all sins and errors?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): You did not stop at Miqat, nor did you take
off sewn clothes nor did you perform the sacred bath.
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): Did you cleanse yourself and put on Ihram
and fulfill your covenant of Hajj?
Shibli: Yes
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): When you did this did you have the intention
that you are cleaning yourself with the nurah of the sincere
repentance to Almighty Allah (SWT) the most high?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): When you put on the Ihram did you have the
intention that you are forbidding yourself everything that Almighty
Allah (SWT) has forbidden?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): When you fulfilled the covenant of Hajj did
you have the intention that you have nullified allother covenants with
other than Allah (SWT)?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): You did not cleanse yourself nor did you put
on the Ihram nor did you fulfill the covenant of hajj.
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): Did you enter the Miqat and pray the two
Rakats of the Ihram and did you chant Talbiyah?
Shibli: Yes
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): When you entered the Miqat, did you make the
intention of entering as a visitor?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): When you prayed the two Rakats did you make
the intention that you are trying to get closer to Allah (SWT) withthe
best of acts from the prayers and the biggest of good deeds from the
acts of worship?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): When you chanted the Talbiyah did you have
the intention that you were talking to almighty Allah (SWT) withall
obedience and keeping quiet from all disobedience?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): You did not enter Miqat nor did you pray nor
did you chant the Talbiyah.
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): Did you enter the Haram and did you see the
Holy Kaaba and did you pray there?
Shibli: Yes
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): When you entered the Haram did you have the
intention that you were prohibiting on yourself all backbiting of all
the Muslims from the Nations of Islam?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): And when you reached Makka did you make the
intention with your heart that you had come to Almighty Allah (SWT)?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): You have neither entered Haram nor seen the
Holy Kaaba nor prayed.
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): Did you go round the house and did you touch
the Rukn and did you make Saee?
Shibli: Yes
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): And when you did the Saee did you have the
intention that you were running towards Almighty Allah (SWT) and did
Allah (SWT) the knower of all secrets know this?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): You did not go round the house nor did you
touch Rukn nor did you make Saee.
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): Did you touch the Hajar al-Aswad (The
BlackStone) and did you stand at the Maqam Ibrahim (Station of
Abraham) anddid you pray two Rakats on it?
Shibli: Yes
Here the Imam Zaynul Abideen (as) gave a scream as if he was aboutto
leave this world sayingAh! Ah! Whoever touches the black stone it is
as if he has shaken hands with Almighty Allah (SWT). So Look O poor
chap that you do not destroy the reward of something whose sacredness
has been made very great and you do not spoil your Handshake by
disobedience and by grasping evil like the sinners.
Then Imam Zaynul Abideen (as) asked: Did you have the intention when
you were standing on Maqam Ibrahim (Station of Abraham) thatyou were
are standing on every obedience and that you have put behindyou all
disobedience?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): When you prayed two Rakats there did you
make the intention that you are praying the prayers of Ibrahim and
that you are humiliating Shaitan with your prayers?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): You did not stand onMaqam Ibrahim (Station
of Abraham) nor did you pray two Rakats on it.
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): Did you look over the well of Zamzam and did
you drink from its water?
Shibli: Yes
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): Did you have the intention when you
werelooking over the well that you looking at obedience to Almighty
Allah (SWT) and closing your eyes from all disobedience?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): You did not look over it nor did you drink
from its water.
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): Did you run between Safa and Marwaand did
you walk between it repeatedly?
Shibli: Yes
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): Did you have the intention that you were
between hope and fear?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): You did not run between Safa and Marwa.
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): Did you go out to Mina?
Shibli: Yes
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): Did you have the intention that every Muslim
was safe from your tongue, your heart and you?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): You did not go out to Mina.
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): Did you stay a short time at Arafa and did
youclimb Jabal al-Rahma anddid you recognize the wadi of Namira and
did to supplicate to Almighty Allah (SWT) near al-Mil and al-Jamaraat?
Shibli: Yes
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): Did you conceive by your stay in Arafa the
gnosis (Irfan) of AlmightyAllah (SWT) and the knowledge of good things
and acts; and did you conceive that your book of deeds was in the
hands of Allah (SWT) and that Allah (SWT) had full knowledge of your
secrets and what is in your heart?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): And when you climbed the Jabal al-Rahma did
you have the intention that Almighty Allah (SWT) may have mercy on all
believing men and all believing women and that He will help all Muslim
men and women?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): Did you have the intention at wadi of Namira
that you would not enjoin good until youpractice it yourself and you
would not forbid eviluntil you leave it yourself?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): And when you stopped at al-Mil and
al-Jamaraat did you have the intention that they were witnessing all
your acts of worship and that they were guarding you together with
guardian angels by the order of Almighty Allah (SWT)?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): Then you did not stay at Arafat nor did
yougo up the Mountain of Mercy nor did you recognize the wadi of
Namirah nor did you supplicate to Almighty Allah (SWT).
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): Did you pass between the two columns pray
two Rakats before crossing; go to Muzdalifah pick up pebbles and cross
the Mash'arul Haram?
Shibli: Yes
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): When you prayed the two Rakats, did you have
the intention that you were praying the prayer of thanksgiving within
the ten nights which removes every hardship and facilitates every
ease?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): At the time of passing between the
twocolumns without deviating to the right or the left did you have the
intention that you would never deviate from the true religion to the
right or the left neither with your heart, tongue nor with your limbs?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): When you walked through Muzdalifah and
picked up the pebbles did you have the intention that you have plucked
all acts of disobedience and ignorance and that you had affirmed
knowledge and action?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): Then when you walked in the Mash'arul Haram
did you have the intention that you had embossed your heart with the
identification ofthose who have Taqwa and fear of Almighty Allah (SWT)
the Most High?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): Then you did not pass between the two
columns nor did you praythe two Rakats, nor walked into Muzdalifah,
nor picked up the pebbles nor walked in the Mash'arul Haram.
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): Did you arrive at Mina, throw stones at
theJamarah and did you shave your head and slaughter the sacrifice and
did you pray in Masjid al-Kheef and did you return to Makkah and
perform the Tawaf of Ifadha (return) to Makkah?
Shibli: Yes
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): When you reached Mina and pelted the Jamarah
did you have the intention that you have attained your goal and your
Lord has fulfilled all your needs?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): And when you pelted the Jamarah did you have
the intention that you had pelted your enemy Iblees and by completing
this precious Hajj you had disobeyed him?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): And when you shaved your head did you have
the intention that you had cleansed yourself from all filth andfrom
all the injustice of the children of Adam andthat you had purified
yourself from sin just like a new born baby.
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): And when you slaughtered your hadiya did you
have the intention that you are cutting the artery of greed by holding
fast to the reality of piety and that you are following the tradition
of Prophet Ibrahim / Abraham (as) when he was prepared to slighter his
son, the fruit of his heart, throughwhich he established the Sunna of
gaining nearness to Almighty Allah (SWT) for those whocame after him?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): And when you returned to Makka and did the
Tawaaf of Ifadha did you have the intention that you had come back
with the Mercy of Almighty Allah (SWT) to His obedience and that you
had clasped His love that you had performed your duty to Him and had
gained nearness to him?
Shibli: No
Imam Zaynul Abideen (as): Then you did not reach Mina nor did you pelt
the Jamaraat nor didyou shave your head nor did you slaughter the
hadiya nor did you pray in the Masjid Al-Kheef nordid you return to
Makkahand perform the Tawaaf of Ifadha. Go back because you have not
performed Hajj!
Having heard all this Shibli started to cry because of what he had
missed in his Hajj and he continued to learn the secrets of Hajj until
he could perform the Hajj through knowledge and understanding.