Hajj, - Hukm al-Hajj wa’l-‘Umrah (rulings on Hajjand ‘Umrah), Dought & clear, - * What is Hajj?

Share

What is a haj?
Praise be to Allaah.
Hajj means travelling for the purpose of visiting the Ka’bah, the sacred House of Allaah, to perform the rites (manaasik), i.e., the actions and words reported in accounts of the Prophet’s Hajj, such as Tawaaf or walking around the Ka’bah seven times, al-Saa’ee or running between the hills of Safaa’ and Marwa seven times, standing at ‘Arafaah, stoning the Jamaraat (stone pillars representing the Shaytaan) at Mina, etc. Hajj brings immense benefits to people, as they declare the Unity (Tawheed) of Allaah, there is forgiveness for the pilgrims, Muslims get to know one another and learn the rules of their religion, and so on. We greatly appreciate your interest in asking about Hajj even though you are so young and live so far away in Canada. We ask Allaah to enable you to go for Hajj and do all its rites. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad.

Share

How to Perform Eid Prayer

Share

" Eid is Waajib! " - {for Hanafi} - The Eid Prayer has two rak'ah to perform in the normal way, with the only addition of six takbirs, three of them in the beginning of the first rak'ah, and three of them just before ruku' in the second rak'ah. - *The detailed way of performing the 'Eid prayer is as follows: - The Imam will begin the prayer without Adhan or Iqamah. He will begin the prayer by reciting takbir of Tahrimah (Allahu Akbar). You should raise your hands up to the ears, and reciting the takbir, you give a little pause during which you should recite Thana' (Subhanak Allahumma.......)· After the completion of Thana' the Imam will recite takbir (Allahu Akbar) three times, and after reciting each Takbir (Allahu Akbar) in a low voice, you should bring your hands down and leave them earthwards. But, after the third takbir, you should set them at the level of your navel as you do in the normal prayer. After these three takbirs the Imam will recite the Holy Qur'an, which you should listen quietly. The rest of the rak'ah will be performed in the normal way. After rising for the second rak'ah, the Imam will begin the recitations from the Qur'an during which you should remain calm and quiet. When the Imam finishes his recitation, he will recite three takbirs once again, but this time it will be before bowing down for ruku'. At each takbir you should raise your hands up to the ears, and after saying "Allahu Akbar' bring them down and leave them earthwards. After these three takbirs have been called and completed, the Imam will say another takbir for bowing down into the ruku' position. At this takbir you need not raise your hands. You just bow down for your ruku' saying, 'Allahu Akbar'. The rest of the Salah will be performed in its usual way. - {for Shafi - * according to the Shafi'ee Madhab, there are twelve extra Takbiraats in Eid Salaah, i.e. 7 in the first and 5 in the second Rak'ah.}

Share

Hajj, - Hukm al-Hajj wa’l-‘Umrah (rulings on Hajjand ‘Umrah), Dought & clear, - * How often should one visit the Sacred House (the Ka’bah) in one's lifetime?

Share

I was recently told by two sources that in the Sunnah there is a reference to fulfilling an Islamic precept that one should visit Mecca 7 times in ones life and Jerusalem once.
Could you please help me verify this as I have been unable to.
Thank you very much for your help.
Praise be to Allaah.
1. There are ahaadeeth which state the virtues of praying in the Sacred House of Allaah in Makkah, in the Prophet’s Mosque [in Madeenah] and in al-Masjid al-Aqsaa [in Jerusalem].
It was reported from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “One prayer in this mosque of mine is better than one thousand prayers anywhere else, apart from al-Masjid al-Haraam [in Makkah].”
(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1133; Muslim, 1394).
It was reported that Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allaah said: the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: One prayer in this mosque of mine is better than one thousand prayers anywhere else, apart from al-Masjid al-Haraam, and one prayer in al-Masjid al-Haraam is better than one hundred thousand prayers anywhere else.”
(Narrated by Ibn Maajah, 1406; Ahmad, 14847. The hadeeth was classed as saheeh by al-Boosayri inal-Zawaa’id.Haamish Sunan Ibn Maajah).
With regard to praying in al-Masjid al-Aqsaa (in Jerusalem), the correct view is that its virtue is equal to one-quarter of that of a prayer in the mosque of Madeenah.
It was reported that Abu Dharr (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: when we were with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) we were discussing which was better, the mosque of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) or the mosque in Bayt al-Maqdis (Jerusalem). The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “One prayer in this mosque of mine is better than four prayers there, and how good a place of worship it is…”
(Narrated and classed as saheeh by al-Haakim, 4/509; al-Dhahabi and al-Albaani agreed with him, as stated inal-Silsilah al-Saheehah, at the end of the discussion of hadeeth #2902).
With regard to the famous hadeeth which says that a prayer in al-Masjid al-Aqsaa is like five hundred prayers, this hadeeth is weak (da’eef).
(See:Tamaam al-Minnahby Shaykh al-Albaani (may Allaah have mercy on him), p. 292).
2. Concerning the timing of one’s visits to the Sacred House of Allaah, it has been reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“Allaah says: if my slave in sound in body and has an ample provision, and five years pass [without him visiting My House], he is truly deprived [of mercy].”
(Narrated by Ibn Hibbaan, 960; Abu Ya’laa, 1/289; al-Bayhaqi, 5/262. The hadeeth was classed as saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaani inal-Silsilat al-Saheehah, 1662).
The more often one visits the House of Allaah, the better, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Keep on following Hajj with ‘Umrah, and ‘Umrah with Hajj, for they wipe out poverty and sins…”
(Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 810)
With regard to the idea referred to in your question, that one should visit the Ka’bah seven times in one's lifetime and al-Masjid al-Aqsaa once, ask the person who told you this what his source and evidence is, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Say , ‘Produce your proof…’” [al-Baqarah 2:111]
-- for it is not permissible to say that something is obligatory or to claim that there is virtue in something without sound evidence. May Allaah help us and you to do that which He loves and which pleases Him. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad.

Share

Hajj, - Hukm al-Hajj wa’l-‘Umrah (rulings on Hajjand ‘Umrah), Dought & clear, - * Delaying Hajj for no reason

Share

What is the ruling on one who delays Hajj for no reason when he has the means and is able to do it?
Praise be to Allaah and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allaah. Whoever is able to do Hajj and does not do the obligatory Hajj, delaying it for no reason, has committed a great evil and a major sin. What he has to do is to repent to Allaah from that and hasten to do Hajj, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) to the House (Ka‘bah) is a duty that mankind owes to Allaah, those who can afford the expenses (for one’s conveyance, provision and residence); and whoever disbelieves [i.e. denies Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah), then he is a disbeliever of Allaah], then Allaah stands not in need of any of the ‘Aalameen (mankind, jinn and all that exists)” [Aal ‘Imraan 3:97] And the Prophet SAWS (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Islam is built on five (pillars): the testimony that there is no god except Allaah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah; establishing regular prayer; paying zakaah; fasting Ramadaan, and performing Pilgrimage to the House (the Ka’bah).” (Saheeh – agreed upon. Al-Bukhaari, 8; Muslim, 16). And the Prophet SAWS (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, when Jibreel (peace be upon him) asked him about Islam: “It means to testify that there is no god except Allaah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah, to establish regular prayer, to pay zakaah, to fast Ramadaan, and to perform Pilgrimage to the House if you have the means to do so.” (Narrated by Muslim in his Saheeh, 8, from the hadeeth of ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allaah be pleased with him)). And Allaah is the Source of strength.

Share