The Prophet's acts of worship during Hajj -I

Introduction
Hajj is one of the most prominent forms of worship in Islam. It is an
embodiment of true following of the Prophet's example. Unfortunately,
it has recently become apparent that too much emphasis is beingplaced
upon rulings pertaining to common mistakes committedby pilgrims during
Hajj, and to what validates or invalidates thismajor ritual. The fact
that these rulings are indeed important, even necessary (since the
validityof Hajj is largely contingent on them) has made people forget
other equally important aspects of the Prophet's conduct during the
Hajj. As a consequence, pilgrims nowadays perform many acts that do
not exactly follow his guidance.
The main aim of this article is therefore, to give an accurate account
of the Prophet's actsof worship during Hajj, with the hope that this
will help those who wish to accurately follow the Prophet's example.
The Prophet's acts of worship during Hajj
Educating and leading the pilgrims, as well as caring for hiswives and
household did not prevent the Prophet from worshipping Allaah, or from
showing submissiveness to Him.This attitude took various forms,and
here are some of the most significant examples:
1. Realizing and enhancing Tawheed (Islamic monotheism)
Tawheed is one of the fundamental principles of Islam that the Prophet
realized and fostered. This was very evident in his conduct during the
Hajj as it was in his recitation of Talbiyah (saying Labbayka
Allaahumma labbayk), which has become the Hajj motto. It means that
the act of Hajj is offered to Allaah, the One, Who has no associates.
The Prophet continued to recite Talbiyah from the moment he began the
ritual, and until he had cast Jamratul-'Aqabah (Aqabah stone) on the
Slaughter Day (i.e. 'Eed day). His Talbiyah went as follows: "Labbayka
Allaahumma labbayk. Labbayka laa shareeka laka labbayk. Innal-hamda
wan-n'imata laka wal-mulk, laa shareeka lak".
Moreover, the Prophet observed strict devotion in all his deeds. He
always asked Allaah to help him avoid hypocrisy and showing-off. Anas
reported that he heard the Prophet say: "O Allaah, make my Hajj
(pilgrimage) free of hypocrisy and showing-off." [Muslim]
While he was on the hills of Safaa and Marwah, the Prophet supplicated
to Allaah as narrated by Jaabir who said,"The Prophet began by
ascending As-Safaa until the Ka'bah was visible to him, then he faced
Qiblah and said "Laa ilaaha illallaah, Allaahu Akbar" (There is no god
worthy of worship but Allaah, Allaah is the greatest) and repeated
"Laa ilaaha illallaah." There are no associates to Him; He is the
Owner of the universe, to Him we give thanks, He is the Omnipotent;
there is no god worthy of worship but Allaah, the One... "He repeated
this three times until he reached Al-Marwah, where he did the same as
he did on As-Safaa." [Muslim]
The Prophet supplicated Allaah on the Day of 'Arafah saying as
narrated in the authentic hadeeth, "The best invocation is performed
on the Day of 'Arafah, and the best supplication ever offered by me or
by previous apostles is: Laa ilaaha illallaah. There are no associates
to Him; He is the Owner of the universe, to Him we give thanks, He is
the Omnipotent; there is-no god butAllaah, the One." [Muslim]
2. Repudiating the polytheists and insisting on acting differently from them
In many of the Hajj rituals, the Prophet insisted on acting
differently from the polytheists and on following in the footsteps of
our father Ibraaheem . This attitude was culminated by his rejection
of their actions in the sermon hedelivered on the Day of 'Arafah."All
Jaahiliyah (pre-Islamic) traditions are under my feet," the Prophet
declared. [Muslim] Some of the most important rituals that the Prophet
insisted on changing are as follows:
Talbiyah: The polytheists used toassociate other gods with Allaahwhen
they said "Except one associate; he is yours; you own him and whatever
he owns." [Al-Bukhaari] The Prophet made Tawheed (monotheism) pure,
and cast away the association of other gods with Allaah, repudiating
such practice.
Another example of the Prophet's insistence on acting differently from
the polytheists is seen in his stopping with the pilgrims at 'Arafah,
unlike the Quraysh who used to stop at Muzdalifah, saying: "We do not
perform Al-Ifaadah (departure) except from Haram." [Al-Bukhaari]
3. His overwhelming supplication, invocation and humility to Allaah
Supplication has a special status in Islam as it aims at expressing
total submissiveness, surrender and humility to Allaah. The Prophet
said: "Supplication isworship." [Abu Daawood] He used to per-form
supplication during the Hajj more than at anyother time. He would
supplicate Allaah, Almighty, in Tawaaf, and while standing on the
hills of Safaa and Marwah. He also offered lengthy supplications on
the Day of 'Arafah, riding on his camel back, raising his hands close
to his chest as if he were a poor man begging for sadaqah (charity).
He would remain inthat condition from the momenthe had chosen the spot
at whichhe would stop after salaah (prayer) and until sunset. He also
did the same at Al-Mash'ar Al-Haraam (the Sacred Monument) in
Muzdalifah right after he had offered the Fajr (dawn) prayer and
almost until sunrise. [Al-Bukhaari] On the Days of Tashreeq, and when
he had cast the first two jamaraat (pebbles), he would face Qiblah,
raise his hands, and start a prolonged supplication. [Al-Bukhaari and
Muslim]