Ch 8: Behind the Curtain

In the course of this talk Umar Lahmi addressed Isabella.
Umar Lahmi: So for securing forgiveness of sins all kinds of dirty
acts have to be narrated? But how did you use to seek forgiveness?
Isabella (lowering her eyes with modesty): On a given date everyone
has to go to the great church,the same where you had discussion with
Michael and Peter and then…
Umar Lahmi: Are girls alsobound to appear?
Isabella: Yes, every adult girl and boy is present there and the
priest enquires from everyone what sins he had committed the previous
week. After stating the sins and making confession, the priest,
passing his hand on the head of the sinner, says: Now go. By the
blessing of Jesus Christ all your sins are forgiven.
Umar Lahmi: Are questions put to everyone in seclusion or in the
presence of all?
Isabella: It would not have been so shameful if everyone were asked to
confess in seclusion. But everyone is questioned in the presence of
all before the certificate of pardon is granted.
Umar Lahmi: Allah forgive! Even in the presence of unmarried boys and girls?
Isabella: Yes, and in fact (bowing her head in shame again) unmarried
boys and girls have to confess in public and in the hearing of all.
Umar Lahmi: Allah forgiveus! In the confession of sins many shameful
things may have to be stated. Supposing one has committed theft, he
shall have to confess it before all.
Isabella: Not only theft, even the most heinous act has to be publicly
confessed. If anyone does not confess and conceals something, thenthe
pardon is not granted and the sinner isthreatened of Hell.
Umar Lahmi: This might be having a very bad effect on the morals of
unmarried boys and girls.
Isabella: Certainly. But among the Roman Catholics no importance is
attached to sins securing pardon of sins being so easy. This has made
people bold in committing sins.
One of the audience: Are sins of common people forgiven by the priest himself?
Ziad (smiling): Probably the priest may not be committing any sins.
At this stage Ziad b. Umarleaves the meeting and goes upstairs to
devote himself in prayer and devotion.
Isabella (lowering eyes inshame and modesty): Youcannot conceive what
our religious leaders do, particularly our monks, and how full of sins
is their life.
Umar Lahmi: What! Are the lives of religious leaders even worse than
common people? What are you talking? It does not mean that by becoming
a Muslim you make false allegations against anyone. Punishment of
false accusation is very severe according to the Holy Quran.
Isabella: You must think like that because you are not aware of the
black record of the monks' lives and since you cannot even conceive of
these shameful acts, you may not be wrong if you think me lying or
disbelieve me.
Umar Lahmi: Is it a fact? Ifso, please let us know in detail.
All those present insisted that Isabella should throw some light on
these matters so that they may have an idea ofthe great boons
conferred by Islam .
Isabella: You know that abandoning the world and the life of a monk
have been greatly stressed in Christianity and, therefore, most of our
priests have adopted monkery and have forsaken the world. To gain
salvation they take great pains and afflict their bodies. In the same
way women also becomenuns (that is follow in thefootsteps of Virgin
Mary and lead unmarried lives). But at the same time monks and nuns
cannot maintain their chastity. Monks and religious leaders are also
corrupt and nuns often completely lose their chastity. Because of
confession and pardon monks often find a good opportunity to satisfy
their lust. Nuns are mostly involved in this moral depravity while
some monks do not spareeven their mothers and sisters. [Laski, History
of Civilization of Europe, Vol. II].
(At this stage Isabella is extremely ashamed and perspires.)
All present: Allah protect us ! Allah forgive us ! All power and
authority is with Allah!
Umar Lahmi: These thingshappen because Christianity has dignified
unmarried life and asceticism which is against Nature and Divine law.
A strong argument of the falsity ofChristianity is also that it
enjoins on men such lawsas are against Nature which men cannot follow.
It is for this that the Apostle of Islam had declared that La
Rahbaniyat fil-Islam. [There is no monkery or giving up the world in
Islam.] He also said : An-nikah min sunnati fa-man raghaba an sunnati
fa-laisa minni [Marriage is my system and whosoever turns away from my
system is not of me]. The Quran says: "And (as for) monkery, they
innovatedit—We did not prescribe it to them, but they did not observe
it with its due observance." And how can anyone observe a thing which
is unnatural and against law?
Isabella: Has Islam prohibited monkery and abandoning the world?
Umar Lahmi: Certainly. You have just heard whatthe Holy Quran and the
Prophet of Islam say.
Isabella was greatly moved on this and the dignity of Islam was
further enhanced in her mind.
A person: So the monks do not discriminate between the permissible and
the prohibited, between right and wrong ?
Isabella: There are many shameful things. When the honour of their
mothers and sisters is notsafe at their hands, what else they would
not be doing!
Mr Laski in his book, European Morals, has very elaborately exposed
the depravities of monks and priests in general and has written that
there was no moral crimewhich they did not commit.
A person: Are the nuns also so corrupt?
Isabella: Allah may protect us. Their condition is worse than monks.
Even European historianshave testified that when a tank in a school of
nunswas cleaned out several thousand craniums of babies were found
there which had been thrown in to conceal corruption of some of them.
Umar Lahmi: In fact the root of all this corruptionis the creed, of
Atonement which has given licence to Christians to commit sins.
Isabella: Surely, you have understood it well. In fact, the creed of
Atonement has taken away the fear of sins andeveryone is confident
that by confessing beforethe priest all kinds of siaswill be forgiven.
Umar Lahmi: Allah-o-Akbar (Allah is great!). The greatness and truth
of Islam is also manifest from the fact (hat while rejecting the creed
of Atonement, it has made good conduct the basis of salvation and
felicity and at the same time it has propounded the principle that:
"He who does an atom's weight ofgood will see it. And he who does an
atom's weight of evil will see it."
A person (to Isabella): You know that the creed of Atonement has
induced Christians to commit sins, but there is also another reason.
Christians consider all Prophets to be sinners and think that they
have been committing all kinds of sins in their life.
Isabella: This seems to be wrong. If the holy Prophets are also taken
to be sinners, then who will be left to cause aversion from sins and
what right shall they have to ask people to refrain from sins ?
Umar Lahmi: You are right, but what would you say to the Christians
regarding holy Apostles (Allah forbid!) as idol-worshippers,
adulterers and liars ?
Isabella: Oh brother! it is really the creed of Christians. They
regard Apostles as idol-worshippers and also liars. If this is so,
which of the Christian books say so ?
Umar Lahmi: My sister! you do not know yet the ideas of Christians
and, inorder to justify their ownsins, what serious accusations they
have made against Apostles. Since you have not yet carefully studied
your sacred books you are surprised at my words. I assure you that if
Islam had not come and the Champion of all Goodness, the Chief of
Apostles, had not exposed the untruths of Christians and Jews, no one
would have found any proof of the chastity of Apostles today.
Isabella : Are the Christians so shameless that they still believe in
Prophets while considering them sinners. Probably you have
misunderstood. I have not yet heard from anyone that Apostles
worshipped idols and told untruths. Can you prove your allegations
from the religious and revealed books of Christians ?
Umar Lahmi: Certainly from your revealed books…
Isabella : My religious and revealed books! My religious and revealed
book is the Holy Quran.
Umar Lahmi: I mean the books which you as a Christian regarded
religious and revealed. They contain all these things.
Isabella : Very strange! But kindly give some proof of it.
Umar Lahmi: I say it againthat in the sacred Christian books Prophets
(Allah forbid!) have been described as adulterers and
idol-worshippers. It is said about Prophet Lut (Lot) (the Old
Testament in his hand) had sexual intercourse with his daughters. See
Genesis, Chapter 19, verses 32-38. About Prophet David it is said that
he had. sexual intercourse with an alienwoman. See Samuel 2, Chapter
11, verse 4. Then it is said about Prophet Samson (Shamshun) that he
had intercourse with an alien woman and then had a love affair with
another. See Judges, chapter 16, verse 1.
All present: Allah forbid ! Allah may curse the Jews and Christians!
Allah forgive us! Allah forgive us!
Isabella is ashamed and perspires and could not speak.
Umar Lahmi : Now, listen further. In the Christian sacred books
Prophets have also been said to have been liars. First the Prophet
Samson (Shamshun) told a lie andtaught a wrong thing to a woman
thrice. See Judges, chapter 16. Next a Prophet (whose name is not
mentioned in the Bible) told a lie. See 2 Kings, chapter 13. Another
Prophet also tolda lie. See 1 Kings, chapter20. Christ told a lie. See
1 Kings, chapter 22, verse 15. Apostle Jeremiah also spoke a lot of
falsehood. See Jeremiah, chapter 38.(To Isabella:) You know Saint Paul
very well. What do the Christians say of him ?
Isabella : Christians believe Saint Paul to be aprophet and all great
priests are regarded as successors of Saint Paul and for this they are
authorised to forgive sins.
Umar Lahmi: Quite right. But is it not said about him in all the four
Bibles that when the enemies arrested Jesus Christ and wanted to
arrest Saint Paul, he thrice cursed Jesus- Christ and told a liethat
he did not know him(Christ)?
Isabella : Of course, it is so written. I used to take daily lessons
of the Bible from my teacher, Michael.
Umar Lahmi: Now, take the proof of the third thing that, according to
Christians, Prophets worshipped idols. It is written in the Book of
Exodus (which is the fourth part of Taurat), chapter 32, verse 4, that
Prophet Aaron asked his people to make idols andtaught them to worship
them. In chapter 11 of 1 Kings, it is said that Prophet Solomon at the
insistence of his wife worshipped idols in his old age and thus
assigned partners to Allah. Allah forbid!
Isabella : Allah protect us!
Umar Lahmi: Look, I have the Bible with me and I have marked relevant
portions. You may see yourself that I am not telling a lie. (Isabella
turns over the pages and reads all the references.) My object in
referring to these is that Christians boldly and fearlessly commit all
kinds of sins because, according to them, Prophets also committed them
(Allah forbid!) and they think that when Prophets werenot deprived of
their prophethood in spite of their sins, why should common people be
condemned on that very account.
Isabella: Does the Quran call all Prophets innocent?
Umar Lahmi: It is the greatest merit of the Quran that it has
stronglyrepudiated all the wrongideas and allegations of the Jews and
Christians and declares that Prophets did not. even think of
committing sins, to say the least of actually committing them. The
Quran says that what the Prophets prohibited they had never even
thought of doing it, and the Quran counts all Prophets among the
virtuous.
Isabella : Is it not written in the Quran that ProphetAdam ate the
fruit of the prohibited tree? Is it not disobedience of God's orders a
sin?
Umar Lahmi: The definition of sin is that it is an act which is
committed deliberately. Anything done unintentionally is not a sin.
For instance, a man isprohibited from eating or drinking while he is
observing fast, but if anyone eats and drinks in forgetfulness the
fast is not broken and there is no sin. Prophet Adam also ate the
fruit of the prohibited tree in forgetfulness as the Quran says: "We
had taken a pledge from Adam but he forgot it and We did not find
deliberation in him."
Isabella: Glory to God! I know it today that Adam committed no sin,
otherwise Christian priests used to allege that Adam is described asa
sinner in the Quran. (Suddenly becoming conscious of the time) Oh! I
am very much delayed and should go home at once. My father and mother
will be anxiously waiting for me,and I have not yet taken my food.
Umar Lahmi: If you like food can be served to you here. The common
food of my master (Ziad b. Umar) will be served toall of us, You may
also participate. Will you accept this request of mine?
Isabella: Thank you very much, but I will prefer to take food at my
house, for mother does not eat till I return after walk. She always
takes food with me.
Umar Lahmi: How long will she have your company in taking food! At
last one day the secret has to be out.
Isabella: Leave it to the time when it comes, but just now permit me to leave.
Umar Lahmi: When will you bring your friends with you?
Isabella: Tomorrow if possible, otherwise day after tomorrow
certainly.And now you should praythat they should also be guided to
the right path like me.
All present : Amin!
Isabella – A girl of Islamic Spain

He is travelling for Hajj and business

Is it permissible to travel for Hajj and to buy some goods from Makkah
and sell them in my country to make a profit from them?.
Praise be to Allaah.
It is permissible to engage in trade during the Hajj season.
Al-Tabarinarrated in his Tafseer with his isnaad that Ibn 'Abbaas (may
Allaah be pleased with him) said concerning the verse (interpretation
of the meaning), "There is no sin on you if you seek the Bounty of
your Lord (during pilgrimage by trading)" [al-Baqarah 2:198]:
There is no sin on you if you buy and sell before and after ihraam.
And Allaah is the Source of strength.

Effects and purposes of Hajj

I watched scenes of the pilgrims on TV, and saw them coming to visit
the sacred House of Allaah. I was overwhelmed and my eyes filled with
tears when I saw this great scene, and I wished that I could be with
them anddo this great deed.
My question is this: does this great gathering have any effect on the
Muslims and the people of Islam? What should the pilgrim remember when
he is facing the sacred House of Allaah?.
Praise be to Allaah.
We thank you for your question and appreciate your concern. We ask
Allaah to bless those who perform Hajj with forgiveness of sins, and
for those who have not done Hajj we ask Him to grant them what they
hope for and save them from that which they fear.
The aims and purposes of Hajj and great and sublime. There follows an
outline of some of them:
1 - A sense of connectionwith the Prophets (peace be upon them) from
our father Ibraaheem who built theHouse, to our Prophet Muhammad the
Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and
his respect for the sanctity of Makkah. When the pilgrim visits the
sacred places and performs the rituals, he remembers the visist of
those pure Prophets to this sacred place.
Muslim (241) narrated that Ibn 'Abbaas said: Wetraveled with the
Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
between Makkah and Madeenah, and we passed by a valley. He said, "What
valley is this?" They said, "The valley of al-Azraq." He said, "It is
as if I can see Moosa the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) putting his fingers in his ears beseeching Allaah,
reciting the Talbiyah andpassing through this valley."
Then we traveled on until we came to a mountain pass. He said, "What
mountain pass is this?" They said, "Harsha or Lift." He said, "It is
as if I can see Yoonus on a red camel, wearing a woollen cloak, the
reins of his camel made from fibres of date-palm, passing through this
valley reciting the Talbiyah."
2 - The whiteness and cleanness of the pilgrims' clothes is a signof
inward purity, cleanness of heart and the purity of the message and
the method. This means putting aside all adornment and showinghumity,
and it is a reminder of death whenthe deceased is shrouded in similar
cloths. So it is as if he is preparing to meet Allaah.
3 - Entering ihraam fromthe meeqaat is a physicalexpression of worship
and enslavement to Allaah, and of submission to His commands and laws.
No one passes it (without entering ihraam) because it is a command
from Allaah and a law that He has prescribed. This confirms the unity
of the ummah and its following one system with nod differentiation or
exemptions with regard to the definition of the meeqaats.
4 - Hajj is the symbol of Tawheed from the first moment the pilgrim
enters ihraam. Jaabir ibn'Abd-Allaah said, describing the Hajj of the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): "Then he started
to say the words of Tawheed, '"Labbayka Allaahumma labbayk, labbayka
laa shareeka laka labbayk. Inna al-hamd wa'l-ni'mata laka wa'l-mulk,
laa shareeka lak (Here I am, O Allaah, here I am. Here I am, You have
no partner, here I am. Verilyall praise and blessings are Yours, and
all sovereignty, You have no partner).'"
Narrated by Muslim, 2137; see question no. 21617
5 - It is a reminder of theHereafter when all the people come together
inone place in 'Arafah and elsewhere, with no differentiation between
them. All of them are equal in this place and no one is better than
anyone else.
6 - Hajj is a symbol of unity, because Hajj makes all people the same
in their clothing, deeds, rituals, qiblah and the places they visit.
So no one is better than anyone else, king or slave, rich or poor, are
all the same.
So the people are equal in terms of rights and duties. They are equal
in this sacred place, and differences in colour andnationality do not
matter; no one has the right to differentiate between them.
Unity of feelings, unity of rituals.
Unity in purpose, unity in action.
Unity in words. "People come from Adam, and Adam came from dust. No
Arab is superior to a non-Arab and no white man is superior to a black
man, except in terms of piety (taqwa)."
More than two million Muslims all standing in one place, wearing the
same clothes, sharing one aim, with one slogan, calling upon one Lord
and following one Prophet... what unity can be greater than this?
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Verily, those who disbelieved and hinder (men) from the path of
Allaah, and from Al-Masjid Al-Haraam (at Makkah) which We have made
(open) to (all) men, the dweller in it and the visitor from the
country are equal there [as regards its sanctity and pilgrimage (Hajj
and'Umrah)] -- and whoever inclines to evil actions therein or to do
wrong (i.e. practise polytheism and leave Islamic Monotheism), him We
shall cause to taste from a painful torment"
[al-Hajj 22:25]
7 - It trains him to be content with modest clothing and
accommodation, when he wears two pieces of cloth and it is sufficient
for him, and his accommodation gives him just enough room tosleep.
8 - Terrifying the kaafirs and followers of misguidance with this huge
gathering of Muslims. Even though they are scattered and different,
the simple factthat they come together despite those differences at a
certain time and in a certain place is indicative of their potential
to unite at other times and in other places.
9 - Pointing out the importance of Muslims coming together and
establishing harmony. For we see usually each person travelling on his
own, whereas in Hajj wesee people coming in groups.
10 - Getting to know thesituation of the Muslims from trustworthy
sources, since the Muslimcan hear directly from his brother about the
situation of his Muslim brothers in the land from which he has come.
11 -Exchanging benefits and experience among the Muslims in general.
12 - Meeting scholars and decision makers from all countries and
studying the situation and needs of the Muslims, and the importance of
cooperating with them.
13 - Achieving true submission to Allaah by standing in the holy
places when the pilgrim leaves al-Masjid al-Haraam which is the best
of spots, and standing in 'Arafah.
14 - Forgiveness of sins, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said: "Whoever does Hajjand does not speak any
obscene words or commit any sin will go back cleansed of sin as on the
day his mother bore him."
15 - Opening the doors of hope to those who commit sin, and teaching
them to give up their sin in these holyplaces, so that they will give
up a lot of their badhabits during the periodof Hajj and its rituals.
16 - Proclaiming that Islam is the religion of organization, because
during Hajj the rituals and time are organized, with every action done
in the place and at the time defined for it.
17 - Training oneself to spend in charitable waysand to avoid
miserliness.The pilgrim spends a great deal of money for the sake of
Hajj, on travel expenses, on the road and in the sacred places.
18 - Increasing piety andmaking the heart fit to honour the Symbols of
Allaah. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"and whosoever honours the Symbols of Allaah, then it is truly, from
the piety of the hearts"
[al-Hajj 22:32]
19 - Training the rich to give up their distinct clothing and
accommodation and making them equal withthe poor in clothing and in
the rituals of tawaaf, saa'i and stoning the jamaraat. This teaches
them to be humble and to realise the insignificance of this worldly
life.
20 - The pilgrim persists in worshipping and remembering Allaah during
the days of Hajj, moving from one sacred place to the next, from one
action to another. This is a kind of intensive training in worship and
remembrance of Allaah.
21 - Training oneself to be kind to people - so the pilgrim guides
those who are lost, teaches those who are ignorant, helps the poor,
and supports the disabled and weak.
22 - Developing good characteristics such as forbearance and puttingup
with annoyance frompeople, because the pilgrim will inevitably
beexposed to crowding and arguments, etc. Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning):
"The Hajj (pilgrimage) is (in) the well-known (lunar year) months
(i.e. the 10th month, the 11thmonth and the first ten days of the 12th
month of the Islamic calendar, i.e. two months and ten days). So
whosoever intends to perform Hajj therein (by assuming Ihraam), then
he should not have sexual relations(with his wife), nor commit sin,
nor dispute unjustly during the Hajj."
[al-Baqarah 2:197]
23 - Training oneself to be patient and to put up with difficulties
such as heat, long distances, being apart from one's family, going
back and forth between the holy sites and crowded conditions therein.
24 - Learning to give up one's usual habits and the things that one is
comfortable with, because the pilgrim has to uncover his head and give
up his regular clothes, and leave behind the accommodation, food and
drink that he is usedto.
25 - When the pilgrim does saa'i between al-Safa and al-Marwah, he
remembers that the one who obeys Allaah and puts his trust in Him and
turns to Him, He will not let him down, ratherHe will raise high the
esteem in which he is held. When Haajar the mother of Ismaa'eel (peace
be upon them both) said to Ibraaheem,"Has Allaah commanded you to do
this?" he said, "Yes." She said, "Then Hewill not let us down." So
Allaah raised high the esteem in which she washeld and the people,
including the Prophets, started to run between the two hills as she
had done.
26 - Teaching oneself not to despair of the mercy of Allaah, no matter
how great one's worries and distress. For the way out is in
Allaah'shand. The mother of Ismaa'eel thought her son was about to
die, and she started to run from one mountain to the other, looking
for a solution, and it came to her from a source she could never
imagine when the angel came down and struck the ground, and out came
the water of Zamzam with its healing for diseases of the heart
andbody.
27 - The pilgrim remembers that in doingthese rituals he is the guest
of the most Merciful. The gathering of Hajj is not at the invitation
of any government or organization or king or president, rather it is
theinvitation of the Lord of the Worlds Who has made it an occasion on
which the Muslims meet on a footing of equality in which no one is
superior to anyone else. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And proclaim to mankind the Hajj (pilgrimage). They will come to you
on foot andon every lean camel, they will come from every deep and
distant (wide) mountain highway (to perform Hajj).
That they may witness things that are of benefit to them (i.e. reward
of Hajj in the Hereafter, and also someworldly gain from trade)"
[al-Hajj 22:27-28]
Al-Nasaa'i (2578) narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: The Messenger of
Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "The guests
of Allaah are three: the warrior for the sake of Allaah, the pilgrim
performing Hajj and the pilgrim performing 'Umrah." Classed as saheeh
by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Nasaa'i, 2464.
28 - Strengthening bonds with the believers, as representedin the
words of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him): "Your blood, your honour and your wealth are sacred to you
as this day of yours in this month of yours in this land of yours is
sacred." Narrated by al-Bukhaari,65; Muslim, 3180.
29 - The season of Hajj isdistinguished by complete separation from
the people of shirk and kufr who are forbidden to attend any part of
it. It is forbidden for them to enter the Haram at any time, no matter
what their purpose. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"O you who believe (in Allaah's Oneness and in His Messenger
Muhammad)! Verily, the Mushrikoon (polytheists, pagans, idolaters,
disbelievers in the Oneness of Allaah, and inthe Message of Muhammad)
are Najasun(impure). So let them not come near Al-Masjid Al-Haraam
(at Makkah) after this year; and if you fear poverty, Allaah will
enrich you if He wills, out of His Bounty. Surely, Allaah is
All-Knowing, All-Wise"
[al-Tawbah 9:28]
Al-Bukhaari narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: "Abu Bakr (may Allaah be
pleased with him) sent me as an announceron that Hajj [which the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) appointed Abu Bakr
to lead in 9 AH], to announce on the Day of Sacrifice in Mina that
after this year no mushrik might perform Hajj and no one might
circumambulate the House naked."
And Allaah knows best. May Allaah send blessings and peace upon our
Prophet Muhamamd and upon his family and companions.

Should he do more Hajj or is once enough?

Is it good to do more than one hajj or is it better to do only one hajj?.
Praise be to Allaah.
With regard to what is obligatory, Hajj is only required once in a
lifetime. It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: The Messenger of
Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) addressed us and
said: "O people, Allaah has enjoined Hajj on you, so perform Hajj." A
man said: "Is it every year, O Messenger of Allaah?" Heremained silent
until (the man) said it three times. Then the Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "If I said yes it
would be obligatory andyou would not be able to do it." Then he said:
"Be content what I leave with you, for those who came before you were
destroyed because they asked too many questions and argued with their
Prophets. If I tell you to do something then do as much of it as you
can, and if I tell you not to do something then abstain from it."
Narrated by Muslim, 1337.
It was narrated from Ibn 'Abbaas that al-Aqra' ibn Haabis asked the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): "O Messengerof
Allaah, is Hajj every year or just once?" He said: "It is only once,
andwhoever does more than that, it is a voluntary (act of worship)."
Narrated by Abu Dawood, 1721; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani.
With regard to what is preferable, the more a Muslim does of Hajj, the
better, even if he can do Hajj every year. There are reports which
encourage doing Hajj a great deal, such as the following:
1 – It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) wasasked: which deed is
best? He said: "Believing in Allaah and His Messenger." He was asked:
Then what? He said: "Jihad for the sake of Allaah." He was asked:Then
what? He said: "An accepted Hajj." Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 26;
Muslim, 83.
2 – It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him)
said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) say: "Whoever does Hajj for the sake of Allaah, and does
not utter any obscenity or commit any immoral action, will go back
(sinless) as on the day his mother bore him." (al-Bukhaari,
1449;Muslim, 1350).
3 – It was narrated that 'Abd-Allaah ibn Mas'ood said: The Messenger
of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah 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."
Narrated by al-Tirmidhi,
And Allaah knows best.