“Pilgrimage to the House is a duty to God for all who can make the Journey.”
[Surah A’l-e -'Imran 3:97].
The Prophet (SAW) was asked: 'What is the best deed?' He said: ‘Belief in Allah and His Messenger (SAW).’ He was then asked: 'What next?' He said: ‘Jihad in the way of Allah.' He was again asked: 'What next?' He replied: “The Hajj which is performed correctly and accepted by Allah.”
[Sahih Bukhari & Muslim]
Hajj is no ordinary rendezvous – it is a journey to Allah (SWT). Other acts of worship are ways of remembering Allah (SWT); Hajj is a way of reaching Him.
It is the fifth of the fundamental Muslim practices and institutions known as the five pillars of Islam and is obligatory on a Muslim who is physically and financially capable.
Hajj is rightly said to be the perfection of faith, since it combines all the distinctive qualities of all other kinds of worship such as prayer, patience, privation of amenities of life, devotion, Zakat (alms), slaughtering the sacrifice and supplication.
The physical pilgrimage is a prelude to the spiritual pilgrimage to Allah (SWT), when man bids goodbye to everything of the world and presents himself before Him as His humble servant saying: 'Here I am before You, my Lord, as a slave.'
Narrated Abu Hurayrah (RA): The Prophet (SAW) said, "Whoever performs Hajj for Allah's pleasure and does not have sexual relations with his wife, and does not do evil or sins then he will return (after Hajj free from all sins) as if he were born anew." [Sahih Bukhari]
Non-Hajjis can swing into the Hajj spirit too, by fasting during the first ten days of DHUL-HIJJAH - especially on 9th Dhul- Hijjah, the Day of 'Arafah.
"There are no days during which good deeds are more beloved by Allah (SWT) than these (ten) days."[Sahih Bukhari, Tirmidhi]
Abu Qatadah (RA) reported that The Prophet (SAW) said, "Fasting the Day of 'Arafah will be credited with Allah (SWT) by forgiving one's sins of the previous year and the following year." [Muslim].
Saying Takbir (saying: Allahu-Akbar) and Dhikr (remembrance of Allah) in these (ten) days, is most important because of the saying of Allah in [Surah Al-Hajj 22 : 28:] "...And mention the name of Allah on the appointed Days..."
Ibn `Abbaas (RA) commented on the verse [Surah Al-Hajj 22: 28] “and to mention Allah's name (plentifully) on known days by saying: these known days are the ten days (of Dhul Hijjah) [Tafseer ibn Katheer]
Non Hajjis who plan to sacrifice must also avoid cutting their hair or nails from the first of Dhul Hijjah until they offer the sacrifice.
"Once the ten days start, for those of you who have the intention to sacrifice, let them not cut any of their hair or nails (until they sacrifice)." [Muslim].
May Allah accept all our righteous deeds [AMEEN] |
