Ahlesunnat Wal Jamat, - The Excellency of the 15th Night of Shabaan

Many Muslims in various countries pray on the 15th night of Shabaan, and ask for forgiveness of their sins and on the following day proceed to fast. To do this is in no way against the Qur’an nor the Sunnah. There are many narrations that support its validity.
There is one night in the year when Allah (Soobha Nahu Wata’ala) gives the knowledge to the Angels, about what is going to happen in the following year, for example, who is going to die, who will be born, who will be ill and how much food people will have in the year, etc.
The Majority of the scholars of Islam say:
That night is Laila-tul-Qadar in the month of Ramadan but the other scholars like Ikramah who is student of Abdullah bin Abbas (Radi allahu unho) says that night is 15th of Shabaan. There is a Hadith which Imam Tabari (Radi allahu unho) writes: Prophet [May Allah bless Him and grant Him peace] said, ‘From Shabaan to Shabaan there is a decision made of who is going to die, be married and some people get married but their names are written in the death
program. [Tafsir Tabari, under Surah Dukhan, verse 1 by Imam Tabari]
This narration is Ikrama’s, the other scholar’s statements are proven that 15th night of Shabaan is a holy night but there is no doubt that Allah (Soobha Nahu Wata’ala) gives the full knowledge to the Angels in the night of Laila-tul-Qadar, which is in the month of Ramadan.
If we read all the narration's regarding Laila-tul-Qadar and the 15th night of Shabaan we can reach the conclusion that the yearly program started on the 15th night of Shabaan and completed on Laila-tul-Qadar. There might be a suspicion as to ‘why does a year program take so long from Shabaan to Ramadan? The answer is Allah knows the best. No one can understand for sure the philosophy of Allah’s work. He made the worlds in six days. Who knows why He took six days to make the worlds. To examine all of the above statements consult these books:
“Tafsir Tabari, Fathul Qadeer by Qadi Shawkani, Tafsir Qurtabi, Tafsir Bagawi, Tafsir Mazhari, Tafsir Ma’ah riyful Qur’an, Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Tafsir Zia-ul-Qur’an under the verse of Surah Al- Dokhan verse 1 to 5”
There are some other narrations that inform us about the Excellency of the 15th night of Shabaan.
Imam Ibn Majah states:
It is narrated by Ali (Radi allahu unho) that the Prophet [May Allah bless Him and grant Him peace] stated; “ when it is the 15th night of Shabaan, do Qiyaam in the night, and fast in the morning, and ask for forgiveness. Because on that night Allah calls: ‘Is there anyone who is asking for forgiveness so that I can forgive them, who is in distress that I may relieve his distress, is there anyone who needs (rizq) food that I may give it to him.’ And this continues till the morning.” [Ibn Majah chapter Salaah]
Imam Tirmidhi writes:
Aisha Radi Allahu unha said: “On this night the Prophet [May Allah bless Him and grant Him peace] went to Jannat-ul-Baqee to make du’a, I followed him. The Prophet [May Allah bless Him and grant Him peace] said to me: Allah puts His attention towards the first Heaven, and forgives the sins of the people, even if they were equivalent to the hairs of the goats of Bunn Qalb. (A tribe who at the time had a lot of goats)
[ Tirmidhi , Kitab-us-Siyaam]
Imam Bukhari has objected upon one narrator but this is compensated by the fact that Ibn Maja has narrated it with different narrations (chains).
Allama Dhahabi, and Hafidhh Ibn Kathir quoted from Hafidhh Abu Zurah that only 30 Hadith in Ibn Majah are weak. [Tadhkaratul- Hufaadh by Hafidhh Dha'ha'bi and Tareek Ibn Kathir biography Ibn Majah
Some other people have stated that more than 30 Hadith are da’eef, (weak) but the narrations we have are not amongst those 30, that is why these Hadith can be used to support the validity of 15th Shabaan night.
Even Imam Tirmidhi’s narration is weak but this does not belittle the subject, when it concerns its merits and excellence - since weak narrations are still acceptable. However, we would like to ask those people who are so against the Mid Shabaan, wether they have even a weak hadith to disprove the prayers on the 15th of Shabaan? In reality they have no narration against the 15th night of Shabaan. If there are any they should prove it. Those who are against the 15th night of Shabaan usually say ‘Why do you celebrate the 15th night of Shabaan?’ The answer is why do all of the Saudi Arabian scholars celebrate Laila-tul-Qadar on the 27th of Ramadan in Haramain (Makkah and Madinah). ‘Did the Prophet [May Allah bless Him and grant Him peace] and his companions' celebrate the Laila-tul-Qadar on the 27th of Ramadan?’ The answer is no, they did not. So if this is permitted the 15th night of Shabaan is also permitted as well.
The Ahl-Sunnah say this is a permissible act, but it is not a Sunnah. There is enough proof that if the majority of the Muslims consider it to be good then it is sufficient. As the Prophet [May Allah bless Him and grant Him peace] stated: The thing that group of a Muslims says is good, it is accepted to Allah.
[ “Mishkat chapter Ihtisaam”]
Two great followers of Ibn Taymiyah and Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab Al Najdi, are Hafidhh Abdullah Rawpari and Thanaa’ullah Amritsari, both state that to worship on the 15th night of Shabaan is not Bid’ah and the person who does Ibada (Worship) on this night will obtain reward for it. The narrations concerning this night are weak but this does not matter since weak Ahadith are acceptable for virtuous actions.
[Fatawa Ahl-e-Hadith by Hafidhh Rawpari and Fatawa Thanaa’iya by Thana’ullah Amritsari, chapter on fasting]
Hafidhh Ibn Tayymiya writes:
The excellency regarding the 15th of Shabaan is an area of dispute between the Scholars, some of them say that there is no significance of this night, but Imam Ahmed recognises the excellency of this night, our other Hanbli Scholars also agree with Imam Ahmed. There are Ahadith on this night being significant, some of them are from Sunnan (Tirmizy, Ibn Majah) and the other Ahdeeth books as well
[Iqtidah Siratul Mustaqeem page 203 by Hafidhh Ibn Taymiyah]
The people who reject the significance of this night argue that the holy Qur’an was not revealed on this night so that is why there is no significance of this night It is true that the Holy Qur’an was revealed in Ramadan, but the significance is because the Ahadeeth that tells us bout the reward one will get if he/She worshipped on15th night of Shabaan. We pray to Allah if everything stated is correct eccept it, but if there is any mistake may Allah forgive us. (Amin) - - - - - *- to read in tamil - Tamil - - - - -

Hajj & Umrah, - That is Hajj; travel and journey, and movement, Tawaaf and Sa‘y in which one walks fast and then walks slowly, to the extent that the Messenger of Allah, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, took from Tawaaf a means to terrorize the polytheists and show the strength of the Muslims during the compensatory ‘Umrah. The people of Makkah were looking at the Muslims, thinking them to be weak and weary. On that the Messenger of Allah, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said to his Companions, May Allah Be Pleased with them, while they were performing Tawaaf:"May Allah Bestow mercy upon anyone who shows them his strength today."Then, he rushed to perform Tawaaf and the Muslims followed him. The perfect sport-related wisdom of Hajj is that it comes in all seasons of the year; sometimes in summer, sometimes in winter, and sometimes in between them, due to its dependence on the lunar month system, so that the Muslim would get accustomed to working and striving at any time, careless about the turning of seasons and changes in atmosphere, and to accustom himself to orderliness, where some rituals of Hajj are governed by a particular time, like standing at ‘Arafah, departure to Muzdalifah, throwing the pebbles, and so on. Allah Almighty Says )what means(:}Indeed, Allah Loves those who fight in His cause in a row as though they are a ]single[ structure joined firmly.{]Quran 61:4[ Is Hajj, with this wisdom given to it, not worthy of the care of educators, sportsmen, and those who like their nation to be strong, enthusiastic, brave and honored? To Allah belongs honor, and to His Messenger and the believers. If people are overwhelmed by materialism and they worship it other than Allah, and are engaged in the worldly adornments from beneficial production in life, they should reflect on Hajj, which directs materialism to be in the service of truth, and follows, along with the people, the way of justice. So, let them take from the world a lawful and permissible share, with which they would be happy in the world and the Hereafter; and make their aspiration for the afterlife stimulate them to regard with slightness this life's adornment; and be as keen on the dignity of their Ummah as they are on their pleasures and desires. It is not unlawful to be rich or a ruler with authority; what is unlawful is to transgress with one's wealth and tyrannize with one's authority. To those who think that taking provisions and practicing trade in Hajj contradict the confidence in Allah and reduce the reward of Hajj, Allah Almighty Says )what means(:}And take provisions, but indeed, the best provision is fear of Allah . And fear Me, O you of understanding. There is no blame upon you for seeking bounty from your Lord ]during Hajj[.{]Quran 2:197-198[ Does this point not entail the thinking of economists? Islam is not satisfied with establishing theories or calling to the truth; it always puts the theoretical word into practice. When it called to mutual accord, recognition and cooperation, it, at the same time, made the assembly of prayers a means to recognition, Jumu‘ah and both ‘Eeds binding upon the inhabitants of the same town, and Hajj obligatory to be the conference of all Islamic countries. Why does Makkah not become the headquarters of the pact of Muslim nations, as Geneva is the headquarters of the pact of the Western nations? Verily, chaos has become public in our houses, communities and conferences so much that we are tired of that. Of course, we are living at a time when there is dire need for an urgent remedy and curative medicine, to put an end to that chaos, and change our state from destructive chaos to a long-life prevailing system, from dividing riot to uniting calmness. This remedy seems evident to us in this great obligatory duty of Hajj. In addition to the religious unity which leads to unity and constancy, when the pilgrims put on the same uniform in their Ihram, perform Tawaaf at the same time, respond to the Call of their Lord at the same time and with the same supplications, there is also a practical lesson which invites to orderliness, arrangement and punctuality. When our deeds, houses and societies are governed by orderliness and arrangement, they would produce the expected benefit, and we would be in the best state possible, by virtue of reviving the rite of Hajj in ourselves. Beside facilitating and paving all possible ways for the comfort of pilgrims, security and reassurance about souls and property had the strongest influence on the increasing number of pilgrims year after year. What we hear of stories and tales from the pilgrims, and read in our magazines and journals about the comprehensive security and reassurance in this safe country instills, within us, the belief that it is unique in this element, of which the other Eastern and Western countries are deprived. That state is not strange for a country which has relied on the Islamic religion, taken its fundamental reference from it, and enforced its correct teachings; it is not strange for it to be an enlightening lamp to guide those astray and far from the straight path to follow and imitate it. We supplicate Allah Almighty to Cover its beloved king with mercy from Himself.

The days of Hajj passed, its rituals are over and most of the pilgrims returned home, carrying the memories of their journey to the House of Allah Almighty. However, if the rituals of Hajj are over, its benefits and objectives are not and will never come to an end.
A Christian missionary once said:
Islam will remain the strong rock that will destroy the ships of Christian missionary activities as long as it has such strong pillars: the Quran, Friday gathering and the conference of Hajj.
If this is how the enemies of the Muslims understand the objectives of Hajj and the great role that it can play in the nation of Islam, then how do Muslims themselves find Hajj? What are the benefits that one can have during the anniversary of Hajj? What are the lessons that the Ummah can draw from Hajj? Is Hajj composed of just rituals that are to be fulfilled, rites, supplications and invocations that are to be performed, or is it something greater than that?
Allah Almighty, Whose wisdom is great and sublime, can never Prescribe nor Impose something unless it has numerous benefits and wisdom that no one’s knowledge can comprehend except Him, The Exalted, regardless of who comprehends or does not comprehend this.
The nation of Islam in its times of difficulty and weakness needs – or rather, it is in dire need of it – to thoughtfully contemplate, learn and analyze every objective of the rituals of Islam, and Hajj is one of them. In this way, it will draw lessons, renew determination, and correct the direction and intention so that it may adhere firmly to this religion and strive hard for its superiority, fighting whoever averts from its way and stands against it.
The obligation of Hajj is great in its rituals, sublime in its characteristics, noble in its fruits, magnificent in its benefits and wonderful in its effects. It has uncountable benefits and interests. Rather, Hajj includes the noblest objectives, the greatest wisdom and extraordinary benefits. Allah Almighty Has Pointed out such benefits and objectives in simple words, Saying )what means(:}And proclaim to the people the Hajj ]pilgrimage[; they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every distant pass. That they may witness benefits for themselves.{]Quran 22: 27-28[ Ibn ‘Abbaas, May Allah Be Pleased with him, said, “The benefits of the worldly life and the Hereafter.”
Raising the banner of Tawheed )Islamic monotheism( high:
One of the greatest and foremost objectives of Hajj is raising the banner of Tawheed high and reviving its characteristics that have perished. This is the most important and clear objective of the journey of Hajj. It accompanies it from the very beginning through dedicating one's intention to Allah Almighty, Alone, and raising the voice with Talbiyah to the very end with the last time of throwing the pebbles during the last Days of At-Tashreeq, which is the last of the rituals of Hajj that the pilgrim does before performing Tawaaf Al-Wadaa‘, leaving Makkah to go home.
The people of the pre-Islamic era and Quraysh used to say Talbiyah and associate partners with Allah Almighty in Talbiyah, saying:
Labbayka Allahumma labbayk. Labbayka la shareeka laka Illa Shareek Huwa Lak, Tamlikuhu wama Malak )I respond to Your call, I respond to Your call, You Have no partner except the partner that You Have, You Own Him and whatever he owns(.
However, when the Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, came, he taught his Ummah pure Tawheed through the great beautiful Talbiyah:
Labbayka Allahumma labbayk, Labbayka la shareeka laka labbayk, Innal hamda wan-ni‘amata laka wal mulk, la shareeka lak )I respond to Your call, O Allah here I come, In response to Your call, You Have no partner, I respond to Your call. All the praises and blessings are for You, All the sovereignty is for You, And You Have no partners with You(.
This Talbiyah indicates sincere devotion and repentance, Tawheed without associating partners and sincerity that is free of showing off. Actually, every act that does not have sincerity lacks blessings and will not be accepted. The Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said that Allah Almighty Says:
He who does something for someone else’s sake as well as Mine will have that action renounced by Me to him whom he associated with Me and I Will Disassociate Myself from him.
Therefore, the first lesson that the pilgrim and the Ummah as a whole should learn perfectly from the lessons of Hajj is that of Tawheed and repenting to Allah Almighty again at a time when people have started to worship many different gods and deities and sound faith has disappeared in the hearts of its people exactly as the embroideries of a garment do. People have given up worshiping Allah Almighty to worship others than Him such as supplicating the dead, believing in the Awliyaa’, ascribing worship, presents and vows to the graves, seeking a child for a barren woman from them, seeking a husband for a young woman that stayed a long time in the house of her father unmarried, seeking a cure for the ill or the return of the absent.
Still there is another category of people who worship others than Allah Almighty, seek support, help and provision from them, making them their refuge and safety, believing that they are more powerful than Allah Almighty. When any harm afflicts them, their hearts call upon and turn to their deities other than Allah Almighty, unlike what the polytheists used to do. Allah Almighty Says )what means(:
•}And when adversity touches man, he calls upon his Lord, turning to Him ]alone[{]Quran 39: 8[
•}And when waves come over them like canopies, they supplicate Allah, sincere to Him in religion. But when He Delivers them to the land, there are ]some[ of them who are moderate ]in faith[.{]Quran 31: 32[
As for people nowadays, if adversity touches them, they turn to the gods of the earth. They depend upon them; call upon them; supplicate them; seek help and support from them; and present sacrifices for them, even if the sacrifice is to slaughter Tawheed and sound faith.
Not to mention worshiping desires, property, wives, children and the like. Hajj comes to change all such things. It comes to destroy the throne of Shirk and establish the tower of Tawheed on its ruins: Labbayka Allahumma labbayk, Labbayka la shareeka laka labbayk, Innal hamda wan-ni‘amata laka wal mulk, la shareeka lak. You the Almighty Are The True God and True Deity. There is no Lord except You. There is no god other than You. Here I come in response to Your call, truly in devotion and slav¬ery.
Adhering firmly to the footsteps of the Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam:
Amongst the lessons of Hajj is that the Ummah has to learn, remember and comprehend – rather, it has to have firm conviction – that there is no sublimity, success, prosperity nor guidance except through adhering to and following the way of the Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. To adhere firmly to the footsteps of the Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, means that one should adhere to his guidance regarding belief, actions, conduct, manners, rulings and accepting his judgments.
Hajj is a wonderful lesson in this regard. It is practical practice that the pilgrim will do and the whole Ummah will witness. It has specific rituals and magnificent order that all pilgrims do at the same time and place. The Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, has explained this issue while saying when performing every ritual of Hajj:“Learn from me your rituals )of Hajj and ‘Umrah(.”
Therefore, Ibn ‘Abbaas, May Allah Be Pleased with him, said, “Perform Hajj in the same way the Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, did and never say this is a Sunnah and this is obligatory.”
This matter is not confined to Hajj only, but rather it is to be done in all the different walks of life. Everyone has to obey the Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and follow his guidance, otherwise, doom and abyss will be his fate. Allah Almighty Says )what means(:}But no, by your Lord, they will not ]truly[ believe until they make you, ]O Muhammad[, judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves and then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have judged and submit in ]full, willing[ submission. {]Quran 4: 65[

Hajj & Umrah, - Social wisdoms in Hajj – II

That is Hajj; travel and journey, and movement, Tawaaf and Sa‘y in which one walks fast and then walks slowly, to the extent that the Messenger of Allah, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, took from Tawaaf a means to terrorize the polytheists and show the strength of the Muslims during the compensatory ‘Umrah. The people of Makkah were looking at the Muslims, thinking them to be weak and weary. On that the Messenger of Allah, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said to his Companions, May Allah Be Pleased with them, while they were performing Tawaaf:"May Allah Bestow mercy upon anyone who shows them his strength today."Then, he rushed to perform Tawaaf and the Muslims followed him. The perfect sport-related wisdom of Hajj is that it comes in all seasons of the year; sometimes in summer, sometimes in winter, and sometimes in between them, due to its dependence on the lunar month system, so that the Muslim would get accustomed to working and striving at any time, careless about the turning of seasons and changes in atmosphere, and to accustom himself to orderliness, where some rituals of Hajj are governed by a particular time, like standing at ‘Arafah, departure to Muzdalifah, throwing the pebbles, and so on.
Allah Almighty Says )what means(:}Indeed, Allah Loves those who fight in His cause in a row as though they are a ]single[ structure joined firmly.{]Quran 61:4[ Is Hajj, with this wisdom given to it, not worthy of the care of educators, sportsmen, and those who like their nation to be strong, enthusiastic, brave and honored? To Allah belongs honor, and to His Messenger and the believers.
If people are overwhelmed by materialism and they worship it other than Allah, and are engaged in the worldly adornments from beneficial production in life, they should reflect on Hajj, which directs materialism to be in the service of truth, and follows, along with the people, the way of justice. So, let them take from the world a lawful and permissible share, with which they would be happy in the world and the Hereafter; and make their aspiration for the afterlife stimulate them to regard with slightness this life's adornment; and be as keen on the dignity of their Ummah as they are on their pleasures and desires. It is not unlawful to be rich or a ruler with authority; what is unlawful is to transgress with one's wealth and tyrannize with one's authority. To those who think that taking provisions and practicing trade in Hajj contradict the confidence in Allah and reduce the reward of Hajj, Allah Almighty Says )what means(:}And take provisions, but indeed, the best provision is fear of Allah . And fear Me, O you of understanding. There is no blame upon you for seeking bounty from your Lord ]during Hajj[.{]Quran 2:197-198[ Does this point not entail the thinking of economists?
Islam is not satisfied with establishing theories or calling to the truth; it always puts the theoretical word into practice. When it called to mutual accord, recognition and cooperation, it, at the same time, made the assembly of prayers a means to recognition, Jumu‘ah and both ‘Eeds binding upon the inhabitants of the same town, and Hajj obligatory to be the conference of all Islamic countries. Why does Makkah not become the headquarters of the pact of Muslim nations, as Geneva is the headquarters of the pact of the Western nations?
Verily, chaos has become public in our houses, communities and conferences so much that we are tired of that. Of course, we are living at a time when there is dire need for an urgent remedy and curative medicine, to put an end to that chaos, and change our state from destructive chaos to a long-life prevailing system, from dividing riot to uniting calmness. This remedy seems evident to us in this great obligatory duty of Hajj. In addition to the religious unity which leads to unity and constancy, when the pilgrims put on the same uniform in their Ihram, perform Tawaaf at the same time, respond to the Call of their Lord at the same time and with the same supplications, there is also a practical lesson which invites to orderliness, arrangement and punctuality. When our deeds, houses and societies are governed by orderliness and arrangement, they would produce the expected benefit, and we would be in the best state possible, by virtue of reviving the rite of Hajj in ourselves.
Beside facilitating and paving all possible ways for the comfort of pilgrims, security and reassurance about souls and property had the strongest influence on the increasing number of pilgrims year after year. What we hear of stories and tales from the pilgrims, and read in our magazines and journals about the comprehensive security and reassurance in this safe country instills, within us, the belief that it is unique in this element, of which the other Eastern and Western countries are deprived. That state is not strange for a country which has relied on the Islamic religion, taken its fundamental reference from it, and enforced its correct teachings; it is not strange for it to be an enlightening lamp to guide those astray and far from the straight path to follow and imitate it. We supplicate Allah Almighty to Cover its beloved king with mercy from Himself.

Hajj & Umrah, - Social wisdoms in Hajj - I

Allah Has Created people to be different in their living; some are rich and some poor, some well-off, affluent and high-esteemed, and others indigent, miserable and astray in life. That is great wisdom decreed by Allah, so that people would exchange work, cooperate with one another, and use one another to achieve their requirements and needs: the rich person spends his money, and the poor person exerts his effort in labor for remuneration. In confirmation of that, Allah Almighty Says )what means(:}Do they distribute the Mercy of your Lord? It is We Who Have Apportioned among them their livelihood in the life of this world and Have Raised some of them above others in degrees ]of rank[ that they may make use of one another for service. But the Mercy of your Lord is better than whatever they accumulate.{]Quran 43:32[
Had the difference been limited to the exchange of benefits, it would have been good. But some rich people exalt themselves above the poor, and their arrogance produces hatred among the poor. On the other hand, some poor people envy the rich, with the result that the rich boycott and neglect them; arrogance among some rich people versus hatred among some poor people, and haughtiness among some dignitaries versus envy among some of the common people. In this way, the social classes of the same nation have mutual aversion to each other, cooperation disappears, bonds are undone, and production decreases. The remedy of that disease lies in the religious acts of worship in general, and Hajj in particular, which has a practical healing and effective decisive medicine to put an end to haughtiness, and lay the foundation for equality between all people in the form of )putting on the same clothing of( Ihram, performing Tawaaf, Sa‘y, and so on. In Hajj, no one could be distinguished from others with a particular uniform, clothing, appearance or adornment, because all of them are equal in their simple united appearance. That is indeed equality between individuals as well as between races and peoples, in compliance with what Allah Says )which means(:}O mankind, indeed We Have Created you from male and female and Made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the Sight of Allah is the most righteous of you.{]Quran 49:13[
Our Messenger, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:"No Arab is superior to a non-Arab, nor a white-complexioned to a black-complexioned except by virtue of piety."Is Hajj then, from this point of view, worthy of the care of reformers, the concern of the sincere and the effort of the passionate?
We are all subject to our habits and governed by our traditions as a result of the house in which we live, the school in which we learn, and the environment surrounding us. A lot of our customs and habits are bad and harmful, the majority of our traditions are invalid and superstitious, and the greater part of what we agree upon is false and ignorant. Worship, as they said, is a second disposition, and to be released from traditions is very difficult upon a lot of people. When a reformer likes to straighten the crookedness of his nation, and push it towards the pathways of perfection, he encounters the rocks of habits and traditions. He may perish and die before changing his people from a familiar habit, given that "people are slaves of their traditions". Hajj comes to release the individual from his habitual customs, and change his familiar traditions. Hajj, in this way, enables the pilgrim to govern himself, control his deeds, give up bad customs, and come away from awful traditions to the immense field of piety, virtues and spiritual elevation. That is because the pilgrim becomes a sovereign over his own self after having been a slave of his habits.
In confirmation of that, Allah Almighty Says )what means(:}Hajj is ]during[ well-known months, so whoever has made Hajj obligatory upon himself therein ]by entering the state of Ihram[, there is ]to be for him[ no sexual relations and no disobedience and no disputing during Hajj. And whatever good you do – Allah Knows it.{]Quran 2:197[
The Messenger of Allah, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, stated that Hajj brings the Muslim out of his sins, misdeeds, bad customs and habits, saying:"Whoever performs Hajj during which he does not have sexual intercourse )with his wife( nor commit wickedness, will become )as sinless( as he was on the very day his mother gave birth to him."Is Hajj, in this sense, not worthy of the care of educationalists and psychologists? What is worthier of care than a worship-based practical system that releases man from the slavery of loss, and joins him to )Allah( The Most Merciful with a strong bond of truthfulness, certainty and faith? Countries allocate money to physical sports and military exercises, a system for which our youth in schools are preparing. Without doubt, sport is a source of strength, valor, courage and gallantry, and an important support pillar in the construction of the glory of the Ummah. Islam was a forerunner in recognizing the virtue of sport, when it commanded people to learn racing, archery, horsemanship, swimming and swordfight to prepare for Jihaad in the way of security, truth and peace. It joined sport with acts of worship, so that the emotion and feeling would share with the heart in performing it. Thus, sport becomes a physical power and a spiritual worship which has its glorious benefits in this world, and its great reward in the Hereafter.