Hajj & Umrah, - *The Many Virtues of Hajj –II

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… Continued
·After the pilgrim starts saying, “Labbayk Allaahumma labbayk)Here I am at your service, O Allaah, here I am(” at theMeeqaat)station from where one enters into the state ofIhraam(, he must not continue sinning further, having responded to his Lord’s call. When he says it he should think of it as,“I am responding to Your prohibition of it )committing sins( and this is the time I am giving it up.”
·When he enters the Sacred House of Allaah The Almighty, which He has made a sanctuary for humankind, he remembers the sanctuary of the Day of Resurrection, which no one can reach without first striving hard in this world.Tawheed)belief in the Oneness of Allaah The Almighty( and shunningShirk)association of others with Allaah The Almighty( provides the greatest sanctuary on that Day. Allaah The Almighty Says which means:}They who believe and do not mix their belief with injustice – those will have security, and they are )rightly( guided.{]Quran, 6: 82[
·Kissing the Black Stone, which is amongst the first rituals to be carried out, teaches the pilgrim tohonortheSunnah)Prophetic tradition( and not oppose the laws of Allaah The Almighty with his feeble reasoning. He realises that there is wisdom behind the laws and rites which Allaah The Almighty has prescribed for humankind, and trains himself to submit to his Lord wholly. ‘Umarsaid after he kissed the Black Stone,“I know that you are only a stone and that you can neither benefit nor harm. If I had not seen the Prophetkiss you, I would not have kissed you.”]Al-Bukhaari, Muslim[
·When the pilgrim doesTawaaf, he is reminded of his father Ibraaheem,who built the House so it could be a place of refuge for humankind and a safe haven, and that he called them to perform pilgrimage to this House. The Prophet,, also called humanity to perform pilgrimage to this House, and Moosa, Yoonus and ‘Eesa, may Allaah exalt their mention, also came for the same purpose. This House was venerated by all these Prophets.
·When drinkingZamzam, the pilgrim is reminded of the blessedness of this holy water, from which millions of people have drunk throughout history, yet it has never dried up. He is encouraged to make Du’aa)supplications( when he drinks it, according to the Hadeethin which the Prophet,, is reported to have said:“The water of Zamzam is for whatever it is drunk for.”]Ibn Maajah, Ahmad[
·When he does theSa’y, he is reminded of the despair of Haajar, the mother of Ismaa’eelwho ran back and forth between Safa and Marwah searching for water so she could give her little son water to drink. When a man remembers the struggle and patience of this great woman, it makes it easier for him to bear his problems; a woman will also relate to Haajar’s suffering and find it easier to cope with the tribulations of life.
·Standing on the day of‘Arafahreminds the pilgrim of the throngs of people on the Day of Gathering. If the pilgrim is tired due to being in a crowd of thousands, how will it feel to stand amongst the hordes of barefoot, naked,uncircumcisedpeople, for fifty thousand years?
·When throwing the pebbles at theJamaraat)the three small stone-built pillars inMina(, the Muslim trains himself to obey Allaah The Almighty without arguing and questioning His commands, even if he does not understand the reason and wisdom behind this act, and cannot make the connection between rulings and their purpose. This is the manifestation of complete submission to Allaah The Almighty.
·When he slaughters his sacrificial animal, he is reminded of the great incident when Ibraaheemsubmitted to the command of Allaah The Almighty to sacrifice his only son Ismaa’eelafter he had grown up and become a helping hand for him; there is no room for emotions which go against the commands of Allaah The Almighty. This teaches him to respond to what Allaah The Almighty orders, as He tells us that Ismaa’eel said:}…‘O my father, do as you are commanded. You will find me, if Allaah wills, of the steadfast.’{]Quran, 37: 102[

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Hajj & Umrah, - *The Greatest Objective of Hajj - I

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Worshipping Allaah The Almighty alone, making one’s heart Allaah-conscious, having tongues oft-remembering of Allaah, having the body's organs preoccupied with fulfilling the rituals ofHajjand spending effort and wealth in every aspect drawing the person nearer to Allaah are the greatest goals behind the greatHajj.
This is a novel arrangement of worship that affects the individual’s heart, soul, mind, words and deeds as well as affecting the entireUmmah)Muslim nation( during the process of performing these rituals and glorifying these holy sites. This is an immense matter that is deserving of our attention because it is connected to annulling the foul practices of the pre-Islamic era, refuting its falsities, and putting an end to its discrimination and racism.
It is an amazing scene that deserves reflection and contemplation. It is the very process of remolding the Muslim duringHajj- remolding him within the Islamic Sharee‘ah and the guidance of the Prophet Muhammad.
Tawheed)monotheism( dates back to the start of creation on the day whenAadam)Adam(obeyed his Lord whereas Satan refused to obey Allaah The Almighty. Hence, the believing person was distinguished by his worshipping Allaah alone and avoiding the way of Satan in terms of ungratefulness, arrogance and haughtiness, and then in avoiding Satan’s whispers and seductions.
When we look into our deep-rootedness in history that dates back to the father of the Prophets,Ibraaheem)Abraham(we will find the first mark and sign of Tawheed. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:
*.}And ]mention, O Muhammad[, when We designated for Ibraaheem the site of the House, ]saying[, "Do not associate anything with Me and purify My House for those who perform Tawaaf ]circumambulation[ and those who stand ]in prayer[ and those who bow and prostrate.{]Quran 22:26[ This is so that it would be the foremost landmark ofTawheedsince the establishment of the House of Allaah. Also:
*.}And We charged Ibraaheem and Ismaa‘eel )Ishmael(, ]saying[, "Purify My House for those who perform Tawaaf and those who are staying ]there[ for worship and those who bow and prostrate ]in prayer[.{]Quran 2:125[ Such purification is meant to eradicate any violation or infringement of Tawheed or of attachment to anything other than Allaah The Almighty.
In light of thisTawheed, we reflect uponHajjand the guidance of the Prophetwhen he came toMakkahfor‘Umrat Al-Qadhaa’)the compensatory lesser-Hajj( following theAl-Hudaybiyahtreaty. He headed for the House of Allaah, glorifying it and without paying any attention to the idols and false gods erected around theKa‘bahthat contradicted monotheism and worshipping Allaah alone. However, when he enteredMakkahas a conqueror, he struck the three-hundred and sixty idols around the Ka‘bah with his crook and stick, bringing them down to the ground by the hand ofTawheedwhile reciting the verse )which means(:}And say, "Truth has come, and falsehood has departed. Indeed is falsehood, ]by nature[, ever bound to depart."{]Quran 17:81[ The Prophetdismounted from his riding animal and refused to enter the House.Ibn ‘Abbaasand his father, narrated,“When the Prophetentered Makkah, he refused to enter the House with the idols therein. He ordered them to be taken out. There was an image depicting Ibraaheem and Ismaa‘eel, may Allaah exalt their mention, holding divining arrows in their hands like the polytheists. The Prophetsaid:‘May Allaah kill them )the polytheists(! They know that they )Ibraaheem and Ismaa‘eel( never used divining arrows.’Then, he entered the House declaring Takbeer )Allaah is the greatest( in its corners and went out without praying.”]Al-Bukhaari[
The next year, when the Prophetwas in total control ofMakkah, he did not leave forHajjand sentAbu Bakrleading a small group of the Companions.Abu Hurayrahsaid,“Abu Bakr sent me - in the ninth year when he led people in Hajj - along with other announcers on the day of sacrifice to announce publicly that, 'No polytheist is allowed to perform Hajj after this year and no naked person is allowed to perform the Tawaaf around the Ka‘bah...'”]Al-Bukhaari[ This abolished all the signs and foul customs of Shirk )polytheism(. Polytheists claimed that they made Tawaaf around the Ka‘bah naked in order not to wear the clothes that they had committed sins and transgressed in. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}And their prayer at the House was not except whistling and handclapping. So taste the punishment for what you disbelieved.{]Quran 8:35[ The Prophetwanted to nullify all these practices. The Hadeeth ofAbu Hurayrahcontinues,“…Then he )the Messenger of Allaah( sent ‘Ali to read out Surat Baraa’ah )Chapter At-Tawbah( before people on the day of the greater Hajj.”]Al-Bukhaari[ This announced that Allaah The Almighty and His Messengerare disassociated from the polytheists. It was a declaration of Tawheed indicating disassociation from everything that contradicts it and annulling the practices of Jaahiliyyah )pre-Islamic ignorance(. All of this was confirmed in every move made during the Hajj ofAbu Bakrand the Prophet.

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Hajj & Umrah, - *The Many Virtues of Hajj -I

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There are numerousHadeeths)narrations( that talk about the virtues ofHajjand its great reward. Some of these are:
·Abu Hurayrahreported that the Prophet,, said:“From one ‘Umrah to another is an expiation for the sins committed between them, and the accepted Hajj has no less a reward than Paradise.”]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
·‘Aa’ishah, the Mother of the Believersasked the Prophet,,“O Messenger of Allaah, can we not go out on campaigns and fight in Jihaad with you?”He said:“But the best and most beautiful of Jihaad is an accepted Hajj.”‘Aa’ishahsaid,“I never stopped going for Hajj after I heard that from the Messenger of Allaah.”]Al-Bukhaari[
·‘Amr ibn Al-‘Aasreported that the Messenger of Allaah,, said:“Hajj wipes out whatever )sins( came before it.”]Muslim[
·‘Abdullaah ibn Mas’oodnarrated that the Messenger of Allaah,, said:“Keep on doing Hajj and ‘Umrah, for they eliminate poverty and sin just as the bellows eliminate impurities from iron, gold and silver.”]At-Tirmithi, An-Nasaa’i[
·Ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet,, said:“The one who fights for the sake of Allaah and the pilgrim who goes for Hajj or ‘Umrah are all guests of Allaah. He called them and they responded; they ask of Him and He will give them.”]Ibn Maajah[
Allaah The Almighty Himself Says which means:}That they may witness )i.e., attend( benefits for themselves…{]Quran, 22: 28[ The benefits ofHajjare both worldly and religious )spiritual(. As for the latter, the one who goes forHajjearns the pleasure of his Lord and comes back with all his sins forgiven. He also earns immense reward, which he cannot earn in any other place. For instance, one prayer inAl-Masjid al-Haraam)i.e., the Sacred Mosque inMakkah(, is equal to a hundred thousand prayers elsewhere, andTawaaf)circumambulation of theKa’bah( andSa’y)pacing betweenSafaandMarwah( cannot be done anywhere else. Other benefits include meeting other Muslims and discussing their circumstances, encountering scholars and learning from them and asking them about one’s problems. Worldly benefits include trade and business, as well as other kinds of earnings related toHajj.
Some examples of the wisdom behind some of the rituals ofHajjare:
·When the pilgrim travels forHajj, he leaves his near and dear ones behind as well as his homeland, which reminds him of his final journey to Allaah The Almighty and the Hereafter.
·Whoever equips themselves with provisions sufficient to help them reach the sacred land should remind themselves that they also need enough provisions to help them reach their final destination. Allaah The Almighty Says which means:}…And take provision, but indeed, the best provision is fear of Allaah…{]Quran, 2: 197[
·Travelingis tiring, and this is also true of the journey to the Hereafter – only on a much greater scale. Man goes through various stages of existence: there is the stage of his passing away, the grave, the gathering, the accounting, the scales and As-Siraat)a bridge that will be laid across Hellfire, for people to pass over on the Day of Judgment(, followed by either Paradise or Hell. The only ones who truly blessed are those whom Allaah The Almighty saves.
·When the pilgrim puts on the two garments of hisIhraam)the state of a pilgrim in which he performsHajjand‘Umrah, and during which he is prohibited from certain acts that are lawful otherwise(, he is reminded of the shroud in which he will be wrapped after he dies. This prompts him to give up disobedience and misdeeds. Just as he gives up his regular clothing )forHajj(, likewise he should give up sins. Just as he has put on two clean, white garments, he has to cleanse his heart and make it clean and pure, and guard his senses so they remain uncorrupted, uncontaminated and unsullied by sins and disobedience.
)To be continued(

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Hajj & Umrah, - *Discovering the Bounties of Hajj - II

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… Continued
In brief, Allaah The Almighty has completed the religion by the Noble Quran and the exegesis of his Prophet. Thus, whatever is authentically reported of his exegesis cannot be replaced by another and what comes after his Sunnah )Prophetic tradition( is a light that can be taken as guidance in understanding its rulings, such as the consensus of the Companionsor the action of the vast majority of them and those who followed their guidance. Therefore, whoever refrains from adopting their way, will be inevitably misguided and will not be saved from following his desires and whims.
Dear pilgrims of the Sacred House of Allaah The Almighty, you have heard the Hadeeth of the greatest Messenger:“An accepted Hajj brings no less a reward than Paradise.”
Planes, cars and ships travel this journey in a short time. They have made the distant places near, and lightened the difficulty, especially for the disable and weak. Thus, bear the glad tidings today for the pilgrims of the Sacred House of Allaah The Almighty. A warm welcome to those who performTawaaf, staying there for worship, bowing and prostrating! Allaah The Almighty rewards the good doers with good rewards and grants them extra from His bounty. He is the Most Generous and The Most Kind.
Dear pilgrims, you have witnessed these sacred places, that were founded on righteousness and fear of Allaah The Almighty and seeking His approval; no blood can be shed in them, no Muslim can be threatened in them, and no game can be hunted in them. Allaah The Almighty has made the acceptedHajja means of obliterating sins and misdeeds and a cause of entering Paradise. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}Indeed, the first House ]of worship[ established for mankind was that at Makkah - blessed and a guidance for the worlds. In it are clear signs ]such as[ the standing place of Ibraaheem )Abraham(. And whoever enters it shall be safe.{]Quran 3: 96-97[
Moreover, the Prophetsaid:“Whoever comes to this House and does not commit any obscenity or commit any evil will go back )free of( sin as on the day his mother bore him.”]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
An eminent scholar once said,
“Hajj is the general conference of Muslims that is held every year where the revelation descended, in the secure city ]Makkah[. In Makkah and Madeenah, the sacred place of Allaah The Almighty and the sacred place of His Messenger, all Muslims meet in spite of their distant countries, different races, different languages, different colors, and different etiquettes and traditions. Everyone comes to his Lord, declaring repentance from all sins, seeking His reward, fearing His punishment, seeking the pleasure of Allaah The Almighty, leaving the adornments of life, reciting Talbiyah obediently, reciting Takbeer submissively, and supplicating Allaah The Almighty in humility. They meet there and the word of Tawheed )Islamic monotheism( combines them, the banner of Islam shades them, and the language of the Noble Quran links them to each other. They meet there so that they may witness benefits for themselves; spiritual, physical, religious, and worldly benefits, and perfect the relationships of brotherhood and mercy. It is a bounty and favor from Allaah; and Allaah is Knowing and Wise.”
Dear Muslims,Hajjhas great wisdom and secrets in its rites. Every action in the rites ofHajjis a precious reminder and a great lesson for those who have understanding. If such secrets are comprehended well, then their effects will result in purity of heart and richness of knowledge and understanding. Allaah The Almighty has honored the Ancient House by mentioning it in conjunction with Him and making it a destination for His worshippers. Furthermore, He The Exalted affirmed its sanctity by forbidding its game and trees. The clothing ofIhraamsignify renouncing the vanities of the worldly life, demonstrating complete equality and avoiding all adornment, with no distinction between the highest and lowest. One returns to his country, afterwards, a new person with strong faith, noble morals, and a pure and clear conscience.

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