PILGRIMAGE – HAJJ
All praise is for Alláh(swt) who completed for this nation the laws and rulings of Islam, and made it obligatory upon those who are able financially and physically to perform Hajj (pilgrimage), for which He prescribed a high reward. He promised the Muslim who performs Hajj without erring or violating to have all of his past sins erased so that he becomes as innocent as a newborn baby. That is Al-Hajj Al-Mabrur (the Pilgrimage that is accepted by the grace of Alláh (swt)) for which Alláh(swt) rewards the garden.
I praise Alláh(swt) and thank Him and bear witness that there is no god worthy of worship except Allah(swt), Al-Malik (The King), Al-Quddus (The Holy) and As-Salám (The Peace). I also bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger, the best man that ever prayed, fasted, performed Hajj, and paid Zakát. May the peace and blessings of Alláh(swt) be upon him, his family, his benevolent Companions and those who follow their guidance throughout the passage of time.
O believers! Fear Alláh(swt) and praise Him for perfecting your religion and completing his favors upon you. One of these favors is that He ordered you to perform Hajj and also made it easy for you to do.
In the early ages, pilgrimage was a hard obligation to fulfill in terms of difficulties and cost, which few people would be able to afford. The person would be encountering many dangers during this journey. Whereas in these days, many things have changed and Alláh(swt) has made it easier for us to perform this form of worship. It has become an easy matter and a pleasant journey in terms of travelling. One can choose any means of transportation to take; an airplane, a bus, a car, or even an ocean liner, whatever is more convenient for us. All of these means are part of Allah’s favors on the people. So they should to be grateful for this and much more. While it is easy for them to take this journey, they should take advantage of the opportunity to increase their obedience and worship and to gain more Taqwa and piety.
Pilgrimage is obligatory upon every Muslim who has fulfilled the following prerequisites:
1. Puberty
2. Sanity
3. Physical and Financial ability
Hajj is not required from a child who has not yet reached puberty, a mentally insane person, or a physically or financially incapable person. Allah(swt) said:
“Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) to the House (Ka’bah) is a duty that mankind owes to Alláh, those who can afford the expenses (for one’s conveyance, provision and residence).” (3:180)
The one who is in debt and does not have money should pay his debts first, then perform Hajj because to be acquitted first from these responsibilities is more important. If a person becomes weak to the point that he cannot travel but has money, he may send someone to perform Hajj on his behalf. The sick person whose sickness is terminal may also perform Hajj through proxy (i.e. to send someone to do it on his behalf.) This also applies to old people who are so weak that they become unable to travel. For women another requirement may be added. That is every woman should have a Mahram (a male relative who is Islamically forbidden from ever marrying her) to accompany her on her journey until she returns to her home. In this regard, the Prophet(pbuh) said:
“A man shall not be alone with a woman in private without her Mahram. A woman shall not travel without a Mahram [accompanying her.]”, Upon this, aman stood up and said: “O Messenger of Alláh, my wife set out for Hajj, and I am here preparing for Jihád” The Prophet(pbuh) said: “Go and perform Hajj with your wife.
A Mahram is any man that a woman is Islamically forbidden to ever marry due to family, nursing, or marriage relationships, such as a father, son, grandfather, brother, uncle, or nephew (in the family or from nursing relationship), A Mahram may also be the father-in-law, the stepson, the son-in-law, and the step-father (from the marriage relationships). All of the aforementioned are qualified to be Mahram for the woman. Of course, there is reasoning behind this ruling. It is to protect, safeguard and look after the woman while she is travellíng. However, whoever cannot find a Mahram is excluded from the obligation due to inability to fulfill the prerequisites.
As for the performance of Hajj and Umrah, a Muslim must leam how to do that, so as to be able to perform them correctly. The first thing for a Muslim to know is that he is about to do one ofthe main obligations and píllars of Islam. He must abstain from indulging in any prohibited matter or sin. He must purify his heart as well as his body. The money he intends to use for this journey must come from a lawful, Halaal (Islamically permissible) and pure source that has not mixed with Haram (Islamically impermissible matters). He should further pay specíal care to his prayers by performing them as perfectly as possible, in congregation and in the mosques if available. In addítion to that, he must behave with good qualities such as generosity, cheerfulness, and patience upon suffering the pains and hardships of the journey and should not harm anyone.
When one reaches his prescribed Miqat (a place designated for people to assume Ihram based on their originating city) one should take Ghusl (a ritual purifying bath in which the whole body is washed), use perfume on his body, hair, and beard, then perform the act of Ihram (puts on the two-piece traditional garment and utters the intention to perform Umrah) He then sets out for Makkah pronouncing the Talbiya (saying aloud these words):
“Here I am at Your service, O Lord, Here I am Here I am. No partner you have. Here I am! All praise be to You, and all favors and bounties are due to You. No partner do You have.”
When he reaches Al-Bayt Al-Haram (the House of Alláh), he circumambulates the Ka ‘bah seven times as part of the Umrah. He can do so regardless of his distance from the Ka ‘bah, within the mosque, yet to be closer is more preferable if this does not cause any harm to Tawaj anyone, including himself. After completing this (circumambulating the Ka ‘bah), he goes behind Maqam Ibrahim (the station ofIbrahim) and prays two Rak’át if possible, otherwise he may pray at any place within the sacred Mosque. After that, he heads towards the two hills to perform As-Sa ‘i (walking and hurrying between the two hills of As-Saja and Marwa starting from As-Saja), seven times. After he completes these seven turns, he should cut his hair equally. Cutting only part of the hair is not acceptable. Even though many people do so, it is not correct.
A person performing Hajj shall keep his heart, limbs and thoughts from all sins or violations that might cause a defect in his Hajj. On the eighth of Dhul-Hijjah, he prepares himself for Hajj by taking a Ghusl, using perfume and wearing Ihram. He shall do such at the place he is staying at in Makkah. He shall then head for Mina. He prays the noon prayer, the afternoon prayer, the evening prayer, the night prayer and the next morning prayer at Mina shortened but not combined. This is because the Prophet(pbuh) prayed these prayers at Mina and in all the areas of Makkah shortening the prayers but not combining them.
On the night of Dhul-Hijjah (the Day of ‘A raja), he sets out for Mount Araja immediately after sunrise, uttering his Talbiya and humbling himself to his Lord. On this day he prays the noon prayer and the afternoon prayer shortened and combined in the time of the noon prayer so as to dedicate the rest of the day for supplication and Dua ‘. He must keep his Wudu (status of purity) and face the Qiblah (the direction of the Ka ‘bah) with the hill at his back, as this is the Sunnah of the Prophet(pbuh). He must further stay within the boundaries of ‘Arafa and its signs. Unfortunately, many people stand far beyond these boundaries or even farther away not knowing that standing beyond these boundaries definitely nullifies the Hajj entirely, as the Prophet(pbuh) said:
“Hajj [Pilgrimage] is (mainly) ‘Arafa (i.e. standing at ‘Arafa).”
Once you are at ‘Arafa, you may stand anywhere you want within the boundaries. The bottom of the valley, which is called Urana Valley, is not a part of ‘Arafa. The Prophet(pbuh) said:
“I stood over here and the entirety of ‘Arafa is acceptable to stand on.”
After a Muslim has confirmed that the sun has set, he may proceed to Muzdalifah in a peaceful and dignified manner, humbling himself while reciting his Talbiyyah, as was advised by the Messenger of Alláh(pbuh) when He said:
“O people: Peace, Peace!”
When he arrives at Muzdalifah, he has to pray the evening prayer and the nighttime prayer in combination, shortening the nighttime prayer to two Rak ‘át. Thereafter he shall stay at Muzdalifah until dawn.
The Prophet(pbuh) had permitted only the weak people to depart Muzdalifah any time after midnight and before dawn. Having prayed in Muzdalifah, a Haji (a person who is performing Hajj) is advised to face the Ka ‘bah and say Takbeer and Tahmeed (exalting Alláh(swt) by saying Alláhu Akbar, and praising Him by saying Al-Hamdulillah) as well as saying the supplications and prayers. He shall do so until the brightness of the morning is widespread. Before sunrise, he should proceed to Mina and on the way he should pick up seven pebbles. He should then go towards the stone pillar of ‘Aqabah,which is the last one next to Makkah. Upon arriving there and after sunrise, he should throw the pebbles towards the stone pillar of ‘Aqaba one after the other while saying Alláhu Akbar with each throw. This whole practice must be done with humility and submission, because the purpose behind it is to glorify Alláh(swt) and make mention of Him. Each pebble must be thrown towards the ‘Aqaba pillar, yet throwing the pebbles at the post erected in the middle is not required. After completing this deed, he may slaughter his sacrificial animal if it is required from him. The animal must fulfill the requirements needed in a sacrificial animal. It is permissible to appoint a proxy to do the slaughter. After that, a Haji is allowed to shave his entire head or shorten his hair equally. He is not allowed to cut or shave part of it and leave parto As for women, they are required to cut a fingertip-long length of their hair. With this, a Haji is free of most prohibitions of Ihram except having sexual intercourse with hislher spouse. That is called the first Tahallul (i.e., returning to one’s normal state.) A Haji may therefore put on his clothes, clip his nails and wear perfume, but shall not have relations with his wife.
When a Haji proceeds to Makkah before noon, he shall perform Tawaf al-lfadah (being an essential part of Hajj), perform Sa ‘i (walking between the two aforementioned hills seven turns) and return to Mina. Having done all that, he is in the state of complete and final Tahallul when every Hajj prohibition is lifted including having intercourse with one’s spouse.
O servants of Alláh, on Eid (the tenth of Dhul-Hijjah), a Haji performs four of the Hajj practices: throwing at the stone pillar, slaughtering the sacrificial animal, shaving then Tawaf and Sa ‘i. This is the correct order; however doing these actions in a different order from this shall not constitute a defect in the Hajj. For example: shaving before slaughter, doing Tawaf and Sa ‘i after proceeding from Mina, or slaughtering the animal on the 13 th will not do any harm especially when such is being done to the advantage of the Haji. A Haji is required to stay the night of the 11 th of Dhul-Hijjah at Mina.
Immediately after noon a Haji should throw at the three stone pillars with seven pebbles every day for three days in a row starting with the first pillar, then the middle, then the lasto He shall always remember to say Takbir with every pebble he throws.
The time of throwing the pebbles on the day of Eid is after sunrise until sunset for the healthy and strong people and after midnight for the weak ones. After the day of Eid the time of throwing the pebbles starts afternoon but not before, though some scholars deemed such to be permissible. It is also permissible to throw the pebbles at night if the place is very crowded during the day. If one is not able to perform this act by himself because of sickness, old age, or because very young, one can appoint a proxy to do it for him. A proxy can throw the pebbles of the one he represents after he has thrown his own. There is no need to go and come back again. Once a Haji completes the Jamara! (the throwing of the pebbles at the pillars), he is free to leave, or stay for the night of the 13th. It is advised that the performance of throwing the pebbles be after the noon prayer as it was reported that the Prophet(pbuh) had done so.
When a Haji thereafter intends to depart Makkah, he shall have to do the Tawaf Al-Wida’ (the farewell circumambulation). No one shall be pardoned from this practice except the women who are menstruating or in the period of discharge following childbirth. These women should not even come close to the mosque’s gates or stand by them.
This is the description of the performance of the Pilgrimage. So fear Alláh the best you can and obey His commandments. Alláh(swt) said:
“And proclaim to mankind the Hajj (pilgrimage). They will come to you on foot and on 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 some worldly gain from trade), and mention the Name of Alláh on appointed days (i.e., 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th day of Dhul-Hijjah), over the beast of cattle that He has provided for them (for sacrifice), [at the time of their slaughtering by saying: (Bismilláh, Walláhu-Akbar, Alldhumma Minka wa llaik)]. Then eat thereof and feed therewith the poor having a hard time. Then let them complete their prescribed duties (Manasik of Hajj) and perform their vows, and circumambulate the Ancient House (the Ka’bah at Makkah).” (22:27-29)
May Alláh bless you and me with the verses of the Noble Quran, and benefit us with its signs, proofs and wisdom.
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