Welcome to Islam, - Islam: a complete code oflife

Islam is an all-embracing way of life. It extends over the entire spectrum of life, showing us how to conduct all human activities in a sound and wholesome manner. It does not allow a hierarchy of priests or intermediaries between Allaah and human beings, no farfetched abstractions and no complicated rites and rituals.
Everybody can readily understand the Quran and follow in the footsteps of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, )may Allaah exalt his mention(, to the best of his or her ability, assured by Allaah that He will accept the deeds that each soul has the ability to offer )what means(:"On no soul does Allaah place a burden greater than it can bear."]Quran 2:286[
When we read the Quran or the Prophetic traditions, we find instructions regarding all aspects of life: political, social, economic, material, ethical, national and international. These instructions provide us with all the details needed to perform a certain act.
The Prophetic traditions go as far as showing us all the steps we need to follow, even the etiquette of using the bathroom: supplications to be said upon entering it and leaving it, how to clean ourselves properly and so on.
To summarize, Islam governs a Muslim's life in all its aspects. This is the reason why it is not only a religion but also a way of life.
Islam does not recognize any kind of separation between religion and life. It openly rejects the Western saying: "Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, and unto God what is God's"; for everything should be dedicated to God alone and a Muslim is required to submit himself completely to the Will of Allaah in all his affairs )what means(:"Say: ‘Truly, my prayer, my sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. No partner has He: this am I commanded, and I am the first of those who submit to His Will.’"]Quran 6:162[
Islam does not believe in wishful thinking. It clearly states that righteous conduct must be followed by belief in Allaah. The Quran says )what means(:"For those who believe and work deeds of righteousness is a reward that will never )fail(."]Quran 41:8[
And )what means(:"Those who believe and work righteousness, joy is for them and a blissful place of )final( return."]Quran 13:29[
Islam, as the revealed Religion from Allaah, is comprehensive and perfect. Its Divine Book, the Quran, is the most comprehensive book available to mankind for guidance ¾ nothing has been omitted from it.
In order to guide mankind to the Right Religion, Allaah has completed His Divine Favor upon us by making Islam the Perfect Religion. The last message that Allaah has sent to His Messenger, Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, for our Divine Guidance is the perfection of Islam.
As we mentioned above, when we read the Quran or the Prophetic traditions, we find instructions regarding all aspects of life. The following are some Quranic verses and Ahaadeeth )traditions(, which reflect the comprehensiveness of Islamic economic, social, religious and cultural values.
Fair/Honest Dealing in Trading, Buying and Selling
Allaah Says )what means(: “O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allaah, as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: and fear Allaah. For Allaah is well-acquainted with all that you do.”]Quran 5:8[
Hakim bin Hizam, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that Allaah’s Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “The seller and the buyer have the right to keep or return goods as long as they have not parted or till they part; and if both the parties spoke the truth and described the defects and qualities )of the goods(, then they would be blessed in their transaction, and if they told lies or hid something, then the blessings of their transaction would be lost.”]Al-Bukhaari[
Weighing/ Measuring of Goods for Business
Allaah Says )what means(: “Give full measure when you measure, and weigh with an even )i.e., honest( balance. That is the best )way( and best in result.”]Quran 17:35[
Prohibition of Bribery
Allaah Says )what means(:"And do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly or send it )in bribery( to the rulers in order that )they might aid( you )to( consume a portion of the wealth of the people in sin, while you know )it is unlawful(.”]Quran 2:188[
‘Abdullaah bin ‘Amr bin al-’Aas, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that he heard Allaah’s Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, saying:"Fornication will not appear among any people without their being punished by famine, and bribery will not appear among any people without their being punished by terror.”]At-Tirmithi[
Avoidance of Hoarding and Monopoly
The Prophet, sallallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:"Do not withhold your money by counting it )i.e. hoarding it(, )for if you did so(, Allaah would also withhold His blessings from you.”]Al-Bukhaari[
Paying Salaries/Wages of Employees/Laborers on Time
The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:“Allaah says: ‘I will be against three persons on the Day of Resurrection: 1. One who makes a covenant in My Name, but he proves treacherous; 2. One who sells a free person )as a slave( and eats the price; and 3. One who employs a laborer and gets the full work done by him but does not pay him his wages.’”]Al-Bukhaari[
Prohibition for Fighting/Murder and Other Crimes
Allaah’s Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:“When two Muslims fight )meet( each other with their swords, both the murderer as well as the murdered will go to Hell-fire.” It was said: “O Allaah’s Messenger! It is all right for the murderer but what about the murdered? Allaah’s Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam replied: “He surely had the intention to kill his companion.’”]Al-Bukhaari[
Peace and Reconciliation
Allaah Says )what means(: “The recompense for an injury is an injury equal thereto )in degree(: but if a person forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from Allaah; for Allaah loves not those who do wrong.”]Quran 42:40[
Respect and Kindness to Women
Allaah Says )what means(:“O you who believe! You are forbidden to inherit women against their will. Nor should you treat them with harshness, that you may take away part of the dower you have given them, except where they have been guilty of open lewdness. On the contrary live with them on a footing of kindness and equity if you take a disliking to them it may be that you dislike a thing, and Allaah brings about through it a great deal of good.”]Quran 4:19[
Kindness to the Family, Parents, Relatives, Orphans, the Poor, the Needy and the Weak
Allaah Says )what means(:“...Treat with kindness your parents and kindred, and orphans and those in need; speak fair to the people; be steadfast in prayer; and give zakaah )poor due(...”]Quran 2:83[
Respect to Non-Muslims )People of the Book(
Allaah Says )what means(: “And dispute not with the People of the Book, except in the best way; unless it be with those of them who do wrong but say: ‘We believe in the Revelation which has come down to us and in that which came down to you; our God and your God is One; and it is to Him we submit )in Islam(.’”]Quran 29:46[
Conclusion
This compilation, although far from being complete, proves that Islam as the perfect religion for the whole mankind is indeed complete. Allaah Almighty has chosen Islam as the only religion acceptable to Him. Islam is the best way of life for all. It serves as the best solution to all sorts of problems no matter how perplexing they may be. Islam is the absolute answer to those who seek a perfect religion and a complete way of life. It guides us to a well-balanced life, one that makes us happy and contented in this world and in the life Hereafter. It is the way to attaining supreme success in the everlasting world to come. In short, Islam, as the complete way for all, is Allaah’s Mercy to the whole of mankind.

Welcome to Islam, - Islam is your birthright -II

Muslims: The Moderate Nation:
The chief characteristic of the Islamic concept of life is that it does not recognize a conflict or a separation between the spiritual and the mundane. It does not recognize ritualism, secularism or materialism. For a Muslim, all aspects of life, the spiritual and the material, the State and the religion are interrelated, because everything belongs to Allaah and Allaah alone. Islam provides definite guidelines for all people to follow in all walks of life: individual, social, moral, governmental, political, economic, spiritual and advocates moderation. This is why the Quran calls the Muslims a "moderate nation."
Source of Islamic Teachings:
The Islamic way of life is based on the teachings of the Quran and the Sunnah )traditions( of the Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, )may Allaah exalt his mention(. The Quran is the basic source of Islamic teaching and law. It is the word of Allaah revealed to Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, by the angel Gabriel. The entire Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, in parts over the 23-year period of his prophethood. Whenever a portion of it was revealed, it was written by his faithful scribes, may Allaah be pleased with them, according to his instructions on palm leaves, parchments, bones etc. Moreover, there were tens of thousands of the Prophet's Companions, may Allaah be pleased with them, who committed the Quran to memory.
After the death of Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, the first Caliph Abu Bakr, may Allaah be pleased with him, ordered the collection of the whole Quran in one volume. It was preserved until the third Caliph ‘Uthmaan, may Allaah be pleased with him, prepared several copies and sent them to different Muslim territories. From that time onwards )about 1400 years ago(, the same version has been in use with identical words, order and language, without a single addition or deletion. Briefly stated, the Quran is the only remaining authentic Divine Revelation available to humankind today that is distinguished by its clear historical accounts, unquestionable accuracy, indisputable authenticity and complete preservation in the exact language of its Revelation.
The Sunnah consists of the teachings, sayings and actions of Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, meticulously reported by his Companions, may Allaah be pleased with them. It explains and elaborates the Quranic verses.
Islam Is The Religion of Equality:
There is no discrimination in Islam between people on the basis of color, tribe, race, nationality, etc. since all humans descend from one father and one mother: Aadam, may Allaah exalt his mention, and Eve. Islam teaches that the standard of distinction is righteousness. A verse of the Glorious Quran reads )what means(:"Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allaah is the most righteous."]Quran 49: 13[
Islam Is Your Birthright:
Everybody is born in a state of Fitrah )the inclination to worship One God i.e. pure Monotheism(. To accept Islam is not to turn one's back on all the previous Messengers and Prophets, may Allaah exalt their mention. In fact, it is a reversion to the original Monotheism in which we are all created. As such, Islam is your "birthright." However, the parents or the community converts the child to other faiths or to atheism.
Criteria for Truth:
Are you following the correct belief system? The criteria for true faith are listed as follows:
1. Rational Teachings: Man is a rational being, hence, he should use both reason and intellect to distinguish truth from falsehood.
2. Perfection: Since Allaah is perfect, His Revelation must be perfect without flaw and completely free of any contradiction or error.
3. Scientific: Since Divine Revelation is the absolute truth, it can always withstand the challenge of any kind of knowledge, including human discoveries in the field of science.
4. Inimitable: True Revelation from Allaah is an infallible living miracle that cannot be imitated by any being.
5. Worship of One God: True Revelation should teach the worship of One God who has no partner, sharer, associate or helper in His Divinity )i.e., Creatorship, Lordship, Sovereignty or in any of His Divine Attributes(.
6. Simple, Clear and Just: True Revelation must be simple, clear and just in order to be readily understood by any one, because all humans are equal in the sight of Allaah. His blessings are open to anyone who has the will to obey Him.
To conclude, Islam is not a new religion. It is, in essence, the same message and guidance, which Allaah revealed to all His Messengers, may Allaah exalt their mention, but only reiterated in its comprehensive, complete and final form. It is a continuation and culmination of all the preceding Revelation, because as we know, their origin is one and the same; A verse of the Glorious Quran reads )what means(:"This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you, and have approved for you Islam as religion."]Quran 5: 3[.
Since it is the final message from Allaah that culminates, supersedes and seals all the previous religions, Islam makes it an obligation on every person who clearly hears its Message to accept it and follow it. Another verse of the Glorious Quran says )which means(:"And whoever desires other than Islam as religion – never will it be accepted from him, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers."]Quran 3: 86[
Now, Allaah has shown you the right path and at the same time conferred upon you freedom of choice and will, whether you accept the message of Islam or not is up to you. May the light of truth shine in our hearts and minds. May it lead us to peace and certitude in this life and eternal bliss in the Hereafter.

Welcome to Islam, - Islam is your birthright - I

The Creation of man and the entire Universe is not a mere accident or the product of chance. The entire Universe manifests and points to the realization of an All-Powerful Creator. Therefore, it is man's duty to know his Creator, Allaah.
Indeed, Allaah )The Only True God( has told us about Himself through the Divine guidance He sent to human beings. Humanity received this Divine guidance through the Messengers, may Allaah exalt their mention, who were chosen by Allaah to convey His message and to be living examples for their people. These Messengers, may Allaah exalt their mention, told man who his Creator is, the purpose of existence, and what will happen to him after death. They all brought the same message of Monotheism: the worship of Allaah alone. However, they differed only in the canonical teachings that were presented to their peoples.
Over a period, the earlier messages were distorted or lost by later generations. As a result, the pure message was polluted with myths, superstitions, idolatry and philosophical ideologies. However, Allaah, the Compassionate, did not leave man straying. He sent Prophets, may Allaah exalt their mention, to re-instate the original message and to remind man of the right path. The last of those Prophets was Prophet Muhammad,sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam,)may Allaah exalt his mention(, who presented Allaah's guidance in its final form: Islam, for all times and for all people.
Islam is an Arabic word that denotes submission and obedience; as a religion, Islam stands for complete submission and obedience to Allaah. The other literal meaning of the word Islam is "peace", this signifies that one can only achieve real peace of heart and mind, and peace in society through submission and obedience to Allaah.
The Five Pillars of Islam
Worship in Islam is an all-inclusive term for all that Allaah loves -- private and public words and actions performed in accordance with His teachings. Islam considers every virtuous action which is performed to carry out the commandments of Allaah and in order to seek His pleasure, an act of worship. The Five Pillars of Islam, stand as the framework of the spiritual life of Islam. They include the following:
1. The Declaration of Monotheism
Monotheism is the cornerstone of Islam. A man joins the fold of Islam by believing and declaring his submission to Monotheism: "There is none worthy of worship but Allaah and Muhammad is His Messenger". It is the acceptance or denial of this belief that differentiates a Muslim from a non-Muslim.
2. Prayers
Every Muslim whose net annual savings are above a certain specified minimum must pay an annual amount of 2.5 percent of his wealth to the poor and needy.Zakaahpurifies a Muslim’s accrued wealth, fosters the quality of sacrifice and rids him of selfishness and greed.Zakaahalso helps reduce to resentment and envy between poor and rich members of the society.
4. Fasting during the month of Ramadan
Muslims observe fasting once every year during the month of Ramadan.They abstain from food, drink and sexual contact from dawn to sunset. Fasting teaches sincerity and implants devotion. It develops a sound social consciousness, patience, self-restraint, will-power and an awareness of how the needy members of the society lead their lives. It has been medically proved that fasting also helps to maintain good health.
5.Hajj)Pilgrimage to Makkah(
Hajjis an act of worship, which is to be performed at least once in a lifetime, if one can afford it both financially and physically. During this time, Muslims meet from all corners of the world in a congregation responding to the call of Allaah. It demonstrates and refreshes the belief that all Muslims are equal, irrespective of their geographical, cultural or racial origins.
The Six Articles of Faith in Islam
The Muslim believes in the following articles of faith:
1. He believes inthe Oneness of God, Allaah, Supreme and
Eternal, Merciful and Compassionate, Creator and Provider of everything.
2. He believes inall Messengers of Allaah, may Allaah exalt their mention, with no discrimination between them. Every nation had a messenger )or more( sent by Allaah to convey His message, and to exemplify it for his people or nation. The Quran mentions the names of only twenty five of them and indicates that there have been many others. Those twenty-five include Nooh )Noah(, Ibraaheem )Abraham(, Ismaa’eel )Ishmael(, Ishaaq )Issac(, Yaaqoob )Jacob(, Moosaa )Moses(, Daawood )David(, Sulaymaan )Solomon(, Yahya )John(, ‘Eesaa )Jesus( and finally, Muhammad,sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, may Allaah exalt their mention. Every Messenger was sent to a specific nation, but Prophet Muhammad,sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam,)may Allaah exalt his mention(, was sent for mankind. This special status of Prophet Muhammad,sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam,as the seal and last of all the Messengers puts the Muslim in the position, whereby honoring Prophet Muhammad,sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, implies honoring all those Messengers who came before him. There are numerous evidences or proofs that Prophet Muhammad,sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is an apostle of Allaah, mentioned in his biography. The greatest is the Quran )the Word of Allaah(, which could only have been conveyed by a Messenger. The Biblical versions, even in their present forms, clearly mention the advent of Prophet Muhammad,sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. ]See Deut. 18:18, 18:15, 33:2-3, Isaiah 29:12, Songs of Solomon 5:16, John 16:12-14 and John 14:15-16.[
3. A Muslim believesin all the scriptures of Allaah, in their original form. These scriptures contain the Divine message which the Messengers, may Allaah exalt their mention, received to show their respective peoples the right path of Allaah. In the Quran, a special reference is made to the books of Abraham )Suhuf(, to the Torah )Law( of Moses, theZaboor)Psalms( of David and theInjeel)Gospel( of Jesus. However, long before the birth of Prophet Muhammad,sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, those revealed books were corrupted or lost. Allaah revealed the Quran to Prophet Muhammad,sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, as the final revelation and guidance for all humankind for all times.
4. Muslims believe in theexistence of angelsas part of the unseen world. Angels are purely spiritual beings whose nature requires no food, drink or sleep; they perform specific duties assigned to them by Allaah.
5. A Muslim believes inthe Day of Judgment. The Quran teaches that life is a test for man, to see whether he will follow the commands of Allaah. Accordingly, one should prepare himself with good deeds for the eternal life after death. People will be resurrected on the Day of Judgment to stand before Allaah for a just reckoning of their worldly deeds and actions. People with good records will be generously rewarded and warmly welcomed to the Paradise of Allaah, while those with bad records will be punished and cast into hell.
6. A Muslim believes thatwhatever happens in this world is ordered and predestined by Allaah.Allaah is the Most Wise, so whatever He does has a meaningful purpose, although at times we may fail to understand it fully.

Hajj & Umrah, - Educational situationsfrom the school of Hajj - I

At the time the Islamic world is overwhelmed by the bliss of the Hajj days and their rituals legislated by Allah Almighty, to Purify and Bestow mercy upon His slaves, a lot of people write and talk about faith-related, spiritual, scientific, educational and Jihaad-related reflections, taking various models, ideas and lessons to learn from the school of Hajj.
In the Islamic religion, there is no support pillar, nor a method, nor a deed, without great wisdom lying behind it – disposed by )Allah( The Exalted in Might, and disclosed, in part, to those endowed with knowledge among people – in order to reflect on the Greatness of The Creator, the overwhelming Power of The Sovereign of the dominion, and the Mercy of The Most Merciful, The Ever Merciful, through it.
Endless lessons:
Among those educational aspects, about which there are lots of writings, without encompassing even the least or identifying their meanings and purposes, Mr. Fahd Al-Juhani says:
We may pause with some lessons, learned from the school of Hajj, or say, the "university of Hajj". Of course, we do not intend to enumerate or count them all. They are but references and enlightening hints, which show the spirit and greatness of Islam.
1- Unity and gathering together in one line:
How excellent, necessary and important those meanings are for the revival of the Ummah! They are evident and clear in Hajj. Although Muslims come from all parts of the world, different in their countries, colors, languages and names, they gather together in one place and time, explicitly and implicitly in Hajj. At the same time, they are united implicitly so that if you ask anyone of them why he has come for Hajj, he will say, without hesitation, that he has come in obedience of Allah Almighty, seeking His Pardon and Mercy. Allah Almighty Says )what means(:}Then depart from the place from where ]all[ the people depart…{]Quran 2:199[ So, all the deeds and acts of the pilgrims in Hajj would be the same, and the aspects of their unity and gathering together in the rituals would be too evident to detail. Thus, if there was no benefit in Hajj other than this lesson to learn and return with to our countries, it would be sufficient and have the clearest influence and be a Quantum leap toward the elevation and honor of the Islamic Ummah.
2- Organization of time and commitment to appointment:
That is another lesson to learn from Hajj. There is a strong relation between Hajj rituals and time, which indicates the great importance of time, as shown in the fact that Allah Assigns a certain time to each ritual, like standing at ‘Arafah, spending the night at Muzdalifah, departure therefrom to Mina, throwing Jamrat Al-‘Aqabah, the beginning of the time of throwing pebbles during the Days of Tashreeq, just after the sun declines from the middle of the sky. Hajj is performed at a definite time of the year, not before or after it; this guides us to – and alerts us about – being concerned with time. No doubt, time is life, and it is the capital that the Muslim should guard from spending in any useless or pointless affair that has no religious or worldly benefit, or in what has been made unlawful by Allah Almighty.
3- Making things easy rather than difficult:
Ease and removal of difficulty are among the good merits of Islam; and the manifestations of this are shown clearly in Hajj. It was narrated by Al-Bukhaari and Muslim on the authority of ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Amr ibn Al-‘Aas, May Allah Be Pleased with him, that he said that – when the Messenger of Allah, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, stood at Mina, during his Farewell Hajj, for the people to ask him – he was never asked about anything to be done before or after the other, except that he answered:"Do, and there is no blame."It is also shown in the concession given to those legally excused, as appears in the permission given by the Messenger of Allah, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, to Al-‘Abbaas ibn ‘Abd Al-Muttalib, may Allah be pleased with him, to spend the nights which the pilgrim should spend in Mina in Makkah, in order to be able to provide the pilgrims with water supplies; and the permission given to the weak among the women and the children to depart from Muzdalifah at night and throw Jamrat Al-‘Aqabah ahead of its due time. There is a lot more evidence for making things easy rather than difficult upon the pilgrims. Moreover, giving the freedom of choice bears much more facilitation and ease. In your Hajj, you are given the choice to perform Hajj At-Tamattu‘ )to perform Hajj after having performed ‘Umrah during the months of Hajj(, Al-Qiraan )to assume Ihraam with the intention to perform both ‘Umrah and Hajj jointly(, or Al-Ifraad )to have the intent to perform Hajj solely(; and to have your head shaved or to cut your hair short; to hasten your departure )within two days( or to delay your departure )after the third day( to the end of Hajj. Undoubtedly, that is great lesson for every caller to Allah, teacher and mentor, and every Muslim in general; to make things easy, not difficult upon others, in response to the statement of the Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, where he said:"Make things easy, and do not make them difficult; and give glad tidings, and do not cause the people to have aversion )to religion(."
4- Self-upbringing, self-watchfulness and adherence to piety:
One of the clearest aspects observed in Hajj is the accurate organization and compulsory discipline and seriousness of the pilgrims. From the beginning to the end of the journey of Hajj, there are clear spatial and time limits. The spatial boundaries are the Hajj definite Meeqaats which the pilgrim, who does not live in Makkah, should not go beyond, as well as the places of Tawaaf, Sa‘y, and so on; the time limits are to do the rituals at particular times, like standing at and leaving ‘Arafah, spending the night at Muzdalifah, throwing the pebbles, and so on. A clear manifestation of organization, noticeable in Hajj, is to oblige all pilgrims to put on one form of dress of a certain quality, and avoid the list of prohibitions which invalidate the state of Ihraam.
All those limits are set by Allah Almighty as He Says )what means(:
•}These are the Limits of Allah, so do not transgress them. And whoever transgresses the Limits of Allah – it is those who are the wrongdoers.{]Quran 2:229[
•}And those are the limits ]set by[ Allah. And whoever transgresses the Limits of Allah has certainly wronged himself.{]Quran 65:1[
In the "Book of Hajj", Al-Bukhaari, May Allah Have mercy upon him, has a chapter with the following title: "A Chapter on the command of the Messenger of Allah, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, to adhere to tranquility on departure, and signaling to them with his whip". When the Messenger of Allah, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, left on the Day of ‘Arafah, he heard a loud noise and the sound of the beating of camels behind him. So he signaled to the people with his whip and said:"O people! Adhere to tranquility for haste is not a sign of piety."Look, my dear brother and sister, at those great meanings on which the Muslim is brought up in Hajj, as regards the love for organization and discipline, and strengthening the spirit of seriousness. Thus, the Muslims return to their families with those valuable educational meanings.
5- Organization, discipline and seriousness:
Those meanings are well manifested in the feelings of Hajj. Allah Almighty Enjoined righteousness in His talk about Hajj. He Says )what means(:}And take provisions, but indeed, the best provision is fear of Allah. And fear Me, O you of understanding.{]Quran 2:197[ This leads the Muslim pilgrim to have self and internal watchfulness of Allah. Allah Knows every deed he does. Allah Almighty Forbade him sexual relations, wickedness and wrangling to improve his conduct:}Hajj is ]during[ well-known months, so whoever has made Hajj obligatory upon himself therein ]by entering the state of Ihraam[, 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[ From the beginning to the end of Hajj, the Muslim should observe )the Commands of( Allah and abide by righteousness. In this way, his intent, Hajj, love, hope, fear, humiliation and supplication will be for Allah Almighty. When he assumes the state of Ihraam, he makes himself a watcher that alerts and reminds him. Since he learns that Allah Knows all that he does, he then does not approach the nullifiers of Ihraam; and if he makes a mistake, he will then make expiation for it according to what is mentioned, and it is Allah Who Knows him well. If, during Tawaaf, there is crowdedness between men and women, he will watch his sight and keep it from looking at what is unlawful and guard his heart, hearing, seeing and tongue, during Hajj, in order to maintain his rituals, hoping that his worship would be accepted. The same applies to all rituals. That is, as it seems clear, to raise, develop, purify and justify the soul. It is, by Allah, a great lesson for the pilgrim to reflect on, obtain benefit from, generalize and apply to all his life affairs.
6- Mutual accord, recognition and sympathy among Muslims:
How good Hajj is when it enables you to be acquainted with anyone of your fellow Muslims from another part of the world, where you know his conditions, love him as well as he loves you, and both you and he, together, aid each other, and we all sympathize with each other, with no relationship to gather us, neither of blood, nor of nation, nor of dust or of property, nor of anything other than the religion of Islam. Yes. In Hajj, the most beautiful and wonderful meanings of brotherhood appear, and we become, as stated by the Messenger of Allah, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam,"The believer is, in relation to another believer, like a firmly joined structure of which the parts strengthen each other."
Consider, my dear brother and sister, the following Hadeeth narrated in Saheeh Muslim on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbaas, May Allah Be Pleased with him, that once, the Messenger of Allah, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, met a group of riders at )the place of( Rawhaa’, whom he asked:“Who are the people?”They said: “)We are among( the Muslims.” Then, they asked: “Who are you?” He said:“I am the Messenger of Allah.”A woman )from among them( raised a young boy to him )to see( and said: “Could Hajj be performed by that )young boy(?” He said:“Yes, and you would receive a reward )for enabling him to perform it(.”
Hajj always develops mutual accord, recognition, affection and proximity among the Muslims: no one among us is superior to another except by virtue of piety. In confirmation of that, Allah Almighty Says )what means(:
•}That they may witness benefits for themselves and mention the Name of Allah on known days over what He Has Provided for them of ]sacrificial[ animals. So eat of them and feed the miserable and poor.{]Quran 22:28[
•}…then eat from them and feed the needy and the beggar...{]Quran 22:36[
Yes. Allah Almighty Instructs His slaves and Brings up the pilgrims to His House to aid each other, cooperate with each other, sympathize with each other, and the rich among them feed the poor, and the strong help the weak, thereby consolidating important meanings of collaboration and cooperation.
7- Honoring and protecting women:
Women have been utilized by those in whose hearts there is a disease as a means to their straying purposes, and a ladder to their suspicious wishes, to corrupt the society and alienate the Ummah. They claim, out of ignorance, that women have been wronged, exposed to humiliation, and deprived of their rights and freedom in the Muslim society. Let us say, with the highest voice, that no religion, cult or law other than Islam has ever given women their rights, honored, raised and maintained them, so much that some Western women hope to lead a life like that of Muslim women in their position, chastity and happiness in bringing up their children, and honor in wearing their Hijaab. That is because Western women have long suffered from injustice, humiliation and contempt. In Hajj, there are various forms in which women are honored, cared for and maintained. When a man stood up and said:"O Messenger of Allah! I have been enlisted in such-and-such battle, and my wife has set out for Hajj." The Messenger of Allah, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said to him, "Go and perform Hajj in the company of your wife."
Since Islam has not enjoined Jihaad upon women in order to guard them and respect their weakness, Allah Has Recompensed them with Hajj and ‘Umrah. It was narrated on the authority of ‘Aa’ishah, May Allah Be Pleased with her, that she said:"O Messenger of Allah! Is Jihaad obligatory for women?" He said, "Yes. Obligatory for them is Jihaad in which there is no fight, i.e. Hajj and ‘Umrah."]Ahmad and Ibn Maajah[
Consider with me, dear brother and sister, the following Hadeeth narrated by Al-Bukhaari and Muslim on the authority of ‘Aa’ishah, May Allah Be Pleased with her, where she said:
The Messenger of Allah, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, entered upon me while I was weeping. He asked me the reason for it. I replied, "I heard what you said to your Companions and I cannot do the ‘Umrah." He asked me, "What is the matter with you?" I replied, "I am not praying )as I have got my menses(." He said, "There is no harm in it as you are one of the daughters of Aadam and the same is written for you as for others. So, you should perform Hajj and I hope that Allah Will Enable you to perform ‘Umrah as well."
Is this not a kind of honor for women, asking about their state, soothing their hearts, and caring for their affairs? Would that my people know this! Would that they perceive that to abide by the Islamic method of dealing with and caring for women maintains the manners of the society and the Ummah from all kinds of social, moral and educational corruption in which the materialistic world lives – and is visible here and there.
8- Tolerance, pardon and soundness of the heart:
It was narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, May Allah Be Pleased with him, that he said that the Messenger of Allah, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:"Whoever performs Hajj to this House )the Ka‘bah( during which he neither has sexual intercourse )with his wife( nor commits wickedness will return )as sinless( as a newborn on the very day his mother gave birth to him."]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[ There is no day on which Allah Releases people from Hell more than on the Day of ‘Arafah. This shows the great extent of the Pardon, Mercy, perfect Generosity and Munificence of Allah with the visitors of His House. During those blessed days, the mercy )of Allah( descends, the blessings are multiplied, and sins are removed by )Allah( The Forgiver, The Merciful, The Pardoning, The Generous, The Munificent and The Forbearing. So, would we obtain benefit from Hajj? That is: to return with tolerance, forgiveness, sound breasts and pure hearts; having no feelings of resentment towards the Muslims, according to which I would excuse all my brothers and sisters, pardon those who wronged me, deal with the mistakes of others in kindness, and purify my heart from all feelings of resentment, envy, grudge or hatred, in the hope that Allah Would Forgive and Pardon me; He Is The Most Merciful of those who show mercy;"Verily, Allah Bestows mercy upon the merciful among His slaves."