Hajj & Umrah, - *Hajj and Inner Peace - I

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When Allaah The Almighty bestows upon a believing slave the blessing of calling him to perform the obligation ofHajj, this slave who loves Allaah The Exalted feels an overwhelming happiness, combined with awe and humble submission. He is conscious of the great responsibility that he should assume and the trust that must be discharged. He prostrates in humble submission and loves to praise and thank Allaah The Almighty for His great favor upon him, asking Allaah The Almighty to accept hisHajjand to help him safeguard it.
Hajjis a great responsibility before Allaah The Almighty; it requires sincerity, truthfulness in words and deeds, purity of the soul and inner peace.
Preparation for the journey ofHajjrequires special behavior. The believing slave determines to travel to perform the obligation ofHajjbeing peaceful, chaste and pure with no impurity in his heart, overwhelmed by love for Allaah The Almighty, hoping to attain His mercy and seeking His pleasure.
The sincere slave who loves Allaah The Almighty starts his preparation for theHajjjourney with a peaceful mind; he purifies himself and elevates his heart, spirit and self to the highest levels of inner peace. He starts taking himself to account for his deeds, and to recall the incidents of his life, to take his actions towards himself and others into consideration. If he had ever abused or wronged someone, or was a reason for hurting someone, he should immediately seek the pardon of Allaah The Almighty first, and then ask for forgiveness from the one whom he wronged or hurt.
Complete forgiveness and perfect repentance depends upon the issue of preserving the rights of slaves. Allaah The Exalted quotes Noohas saying to his people )what means(:}Worship Allaah, fear Him and obey me. Allaah will forgive you of your sins.{]Quran 71:3-4[
Allaah The Almighty does not Say "forgive all your sins", rather, He Says:}Forgive you of your sins{. That is to say that the forgiveness of some sins will remain suspended till the rights of slaves are fulfilled. Such sins are not pardoned by Allaah The Almighty except after fulfilling the rights of His slaves, or if they pardon orwaive them.
What is injustice? Many people mistakenly believe that a person may do whatever he wishes, then perform the obligation ofHajjand return as he was on the day he was delivered by his mother: without sin or error.
How can one allow himself to wrong others and become the cause of hurting or abusing them in any form whatsoever? Then, merely after performing the obligation ofHajj, he returns and feels as if he has not committed any mistakes. Where is the right of the people he wronged?
The Noble Quran denounced injustice in the strongest terms and threatened wrongdoers with painful torture. Moreover, just as it threatened wrongdoers, it promised those wronged, with victory and support.
In addition, it calmed them as it prohibited the public mention of evil, except by the one who has been wronged. Allaah The Exalted granted the right of public mention of evil to those who have been wronged because He knows the extent of the anguish and troubled feelings within the wronged person.
A wrongdoer is someone whose heart is afflicted with the disease of pride. He is selfish, arrogant and domineering to an unhealthy extent. He does not see anyone other than himself and is concerned only with achieving his own interests, even if the price is to transgress on the interests and rights of others and to hurt their humanity, dignity and pride. He is someone who has forgotten Allaah The Almighty, so Allaah The Almighty made him forget himself.
There are three types of injustice:
*.Injustice between man and Allaah The Almighty: it is injustice pertaining to the right of Allaah The Exalted. It is intended to mean disbelief,Shirk)polytheism( and hypocrisy with Allaah The Almighty. This type of injustice is considered great for Allaah The Exalted Says )what means(:}Indeed, association ]with Him[ is great injustice.{]Quran 31:13[
This type of injustice is not forgiven by Allaah The Almighty, because Allaah The Almighty forgives all the sins of whoever He wishes, except the sin of associating anything with Him.
*.Another type of injustice is between a man and himself: it is injustice towards the right of the human self, where the slave neglects and takes the obligations that Allaah The Almighty ordered him to fulfill lightly, such as being lazy when performing acts of worship. This is how man wrongs himself. Allaah The Exalted Says )what means(:}among them is he who wrongs himself.{]Quran 35:32[
Allaah The Almighty forgives this kind of injustice to whom He wills.
*.Injustice between a man and people: it constitutes injustice towards the rights of others, such as unjustly consuming the rights of others, wronging them with a false testimony or wrongfully using power and authority to abuse and humiliate people.
To be continued …

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Hajj & Umrah, - *Hajj: A Training School for Sound Morals – III

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… Continued
Piety combines all sorts of goodness and the guide to every righteous act. Allaah The Almighty accepts the deeds of the pious people and He guides them and sets right their conditions. Whoever wears the garment of piety will realize goodness and achieve happiness. Whoever takes off the garment of piety is outcast. Piety drives the person to fear Allaah The Almighty and the consequences of the sin, so he does righteous deeds.
Piety is also the fruit of good deeds. Therefore, although the verses ofHajjin the Quran are not many, Allaah The Almighty repeatedly instructed His slaves in those verses to observe piety, because there are many means to attain piety embedded inHajj. This could be met along with the awareness of the essence and goal ofHajj. Therefore, Allaah The Almighty address those who are aware by Saying )what means(:}And fear Me, O you of understanding.{]Quran 2:197[
Whoever correctly uses his mind should be guided to make the most of those sacred rituals in order to achieve piety. O you who discards his sewn clothes to wearIhraamgarments, such discarding is of no avail as long as you do not discard your desires and wishes that displease Allaah The Almighty.
Does the discarding of ordinary clothes benefit you while you do not discard your beloved actions that contradict the actions that are beloved to Allaah The Exalted?
DoesTawaafaroundKa‘bahbenefit you while you are disobeying Allaah The Almighty?
DoesSa‘ybetween As-Safa and Al-Marwah benefit you while you are involved in disobeying Allaah The Almighty without fearing Him?
How could you seek the door of theKa‘bahto ask Allaah The Almighty of His bounty while you were not seeking his obedience and the fulfillment of his legislations?
In the verses ofHajj, Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}And fear Allaah and know that Allaah is severe in penalty.{]Quran 2:196[
On the other hand, the pilgrim should fear Allaah The Almighty by giving a helping hand to his Muslim brother, who joins him in performing this blessed ritual, with a smiling face and a pure heart.
The pilgrim should fear Allaah by avoiding crowds, especially the women.
He should fear Allaah by avoiding stinginess and ill thinking.
He should fear Allaah through being kind to the blind, the weak, respecting the old and being merciful to the young.
He should fear Allaah through teaching the ignorant and guiding the astray.
He should fear Allaah The Almighty through guarding hisHajjagainst sexual intercourse, bad language and arguing.
He should fear Allaah by avoiding the wasting of time and by filling his time with remembering Allaah and reciting the Quran that dispels devils and teaches humans.
He should fear Allaah The Almighty through being sincere and advising to every Muslim and being keen on following the steps of the Prophet,.
Forgiveness of sins is one of Hajj benefits:
There are many texts on this aspect. Abu Hurayrahsaid that the Prophet,, said:“Whoever performed Hajj, in which he neither did wickedness nor committed sexual intercourse, his past sins will be forgiven.”]At-Tirmithi[ The wording of another narration reads:“…would return )as sinless( as on the very day his mother gave birth to him.”]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
Ibn ‘Abbaas, May Allaah Be Pleased with him, said,“Alternate between Hajj and ‘Umrah, because both of them rid one of poverty and sins as the blacksmith’s bellows remove all the impurities from iron, gold and silver.”]An-Nasaa’i and others[
Ibn Al-Munthir and a group of scholars said thatHajjforgives all major and minor sins because of the generality of texts in this regard. This is a very sound opinion and Allaah, Knows best.
Entering Paradise is one of Hajj benefits:
There are many texts that prove this. Abu Hurayrah, May Allaah Be Pleased with him, said that the Prophetsaid:“The accepted Hajj has no reward but Paradise.”]Al-Bukhaari[
Ibn Mas‘ood, May Allaah Be Pleased with him, said that the Prophetsaid:“There is no reward for the accepted Hajj less than Paradise.”]An-Nasaa’i[
Finally, it is sufficient thatHajjis a reason, if not among the greatest reasons, to enter Paradise. There is no doubt that this is the best sought goal by a Muslim in this life.

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Hajj & Umrah, - *Hajj: A Training School for Sound Morals – II

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… Continued
Pardon and forgiveness are among the benefits of Hajj:
Hajjis a school for teaching pardon and forgiveness. Some clashes often happen in times of crowdedness that require good behavior.Hajjdisciplines and trains the pilgrims to control themselves when they are angry and to say only good words. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}So whoever has madeHajj 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 duringHajj.{]Quran 2:197[
When ‘Aa’ishahwas asked about the morals of the Prophet,, she said,“He was never immoral or foul or a noise-maker in the markets. He never rewarded evil with evil; rather, he used to forgive and pardon.”]At-Tirmithi:Hasan Saheeh[
The Prophet,, said:“Whoever suppresses his anger while he is able to give vent to it, Allaah will call him in front of all people on the Day of Resurrection, and let him choose from the Hoor and marry him to whoever he pleases.”]At-Tirmithi[
Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:
·}Take what is given freely, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the ignorant.{]Quran 7:199[
·}Who spend ]in the cause of Allaah[ during ease and hardship and who restrain anger and who pardon the people - and Allaah Loves the doers of good{]Quran 3:134[ This is stated in the context of enumerating the qualities of the believers.
·}If you show ]some[ good or conceal it or pardon an offense - indeed, Allaah Is ever Pardoning and Competent.{]Quran 4:149[
·}And those who avoid the major sins and immoralities, and when they are angry, they forgive{]Quran 42:37[
Patience is one of the benefits of Hajj:
Hajjin its three types )Ifraad, QiraanandTamattu‘( is the school of patience and endurance . If you reflect uponHajjfrom the beginning to the end, you will find that all its conditions and rituals require patience. Travelling, wearingIhraam,Tawaaf, Sa‘ybetween As-Safa and Al-Marwah, over crowdedness, moving from one place to another to perform rites, staying in ‘Arafah, and so on, require extreme patience. Hence, the pilgrim learns one of the most needed traits in life which is patience to obey Allaah, to remain away from disobedience and to accept the Decrees of Allaah.
Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:
·}O you who have believed, persevere and endure{]Quran 3:200[
·}O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allaah is with the patient.{]Quran 2:153[
·}And keep yourself patient ]by being[ with those who call upon their Lord in the morning and the evening, seeking His countenance. And let not your eyes pass beyond them, desiring adornments of the worldly life, and do not obey one whose heart We Have Made heedless of Our remembrance and who follows his desire and whose affair is ever ]in[ neglect.{]Quran 18:28[
Seriousness is one of the benefits of Hajj:
Hajjinstills in the believers’ souls that seriousness is a way of life and that frivolous jest and play have no room in our lives. All the rites ofHajjinvolve hard work and strenuous efforts. Thus, whoever is not serious or lazy in his actions cannot fulfillHajjrituals and reach the goal. This applies to the affairs of the world and the Hereafter that cannot be achieved without seriousness.
Piety is one of Hajj benefits:
Piety is the provision of the righteous and an address for the success of the believers. It is an instruction from Allaah The Almighty to all people in past and future. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}And We have instructed those who were given the Scripture before you and yourselves to fear Allaah.{]Quran 4:131[
Piety combines all sorts of goodness and the guide to every righteous act. Allaah The Almighty accepts the deeds of the pious people and He guides them and sets right their conditions. Whoever wears the garment of piety will realize goodness and achieve happiness. Whoever takes off the garment of piety is outcast. Piety drives the person to fear Allaah The Almighty and the consequences of the sin, so he does righteous deeds.
)To be continued(

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Description of the Prayer, - Dought & clear, - * It is permissible to prostrate on blankets etc.

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My grand mother says its not permissible to do sajda on a soft surface like on a blanket while praying i.e one should do sajdah on a hard surface.Is it true?.
Praise be to Allaah.
It is permissible to prostrate on soft surfaces like blankets etc., so long as the worshipper can place his forehead and nose firmly on the surface when prostrating. What is not allowed is prostrating on something too soft, in which the worshipper’s face will sink and not be firmly placed.
Ibn al-Hamaam said inFath al-Qadeer(1/304): It is permissible to prostrate on grass, straw and cotton, if it is firmly laid on the ground, and likewise compacted snow, but not if his face will sink into it or it is not firmly laid on the ground. End quote.
Ibn al-Qayyim said inal-Bahr al-Raa’iq(1/337): The basic principle is that just as it is permitted to prostrate on the ground, it is also permitted to prostrate on anything that is like the ground, where his forehead may be firmly placed, meaning that if he presses hard, his head will not sink any further down. End quote.
Based on this, there is nothing wrong with prostrating on an item like a blanket or mattress, if it is firm and will remain stable no matter how much pressure a person puts on it.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked about the ruling on prostrating on a sponge pad. He replied: If the sponge is thin and will flatten out when he prostrates, then there is nothing wrong with it.
Fataawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen(13/184).
And Allaah knows best.

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