|
|
|
|
ÇáÍÌ: ÝÖÇÆá
æÃÍßÇã
Summary
1)
Worship is the exclusive right of Allaah
2)
The virtues of worship
3)
The merits of this Ummah
4)
It is from the mercy of Allaah that He sent messengers and
legislated different acts of worship
5)
Hajj
is one of the pillars (of Islaam)
6)
The virtue of Hajj
7)
Hajj
is proof that Islaam is the true religion
8)
Which is the perfect Hajj?
9)
The pillars and obligatory aspects of Hajj
10)
The virtue of the day of An-Nahr (sacrifice)
11)
Recommended acts and etiquettes
12)
The virtue of the ten days of Dhul- Hijjah
13)
Fasting the day of ‘Arafah
Fellow Muslims! Fear Allaah and be dutiful to Him,
for piety is the best provision for the Last Day and by it, Allaah improves the
affairs of His servants, as He says which means, “…And
whoever fears Allaah – He will make for him of his matter ease.”
(At-Talaaq: 4)
Brethren
in Faith! Be aware that worship is the right of Allaah alone and it is an
obligation upon mankind and the jinn. Allaah says which means, “And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to
worship Me.” (Adh-Dhaariyaat: 56)
Acts
of worship are the best deeds with which Allaah honors His slaves and by which
He elevates the pious among them. They illuminate the hearts, refine the souls,
reform one’s manners and please the Lord; acts of reverence also raise one’s
rank in
Furthermore,
it is from Allaah’s favors upon us that He sent to us, the best of His creation
in order to explain to us sayings, deeds and beliefs that can make us win the
pleasure of our Lord, and to warn us against all that can make Him displeased
with us. Allaah says which means, “Just as We
have sent among you a messenger from yourselves reciting to you Our verses and
purifying you and teaching you the Book and wisdom and teaching you that which
you did not know. So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me
and do not deny Me.” (Al-Baqarah: 151-152)
Had
Allaah not sent the Messengers and revealed the Books, mankind would have been
worse than animals, but He blessed humanity by establishing a religion and
laying out the straight path for them; so, the fortunate ones received guidance
and the wretched ones went astray.
Among
the blessings of Allaah upon His slaves is that He ordained for them acts of
worship that can reform their souls, like prayer, alms giving, fasting, Hajj
(major pilgrimage) and other such deeds so that man may become fully nurtured
and purified in all aspects. Allaah says which means, “…Allaah does not intend to make difficulty for you, but
He intends to purify you and complete His favor upon you that you may be
grateful.” (Al-Maa’idah: 6)
Hajj is a pillar of Islaam in which Allaah has combined
all types of ‘Ibaadah (worship). It comprises the testimony that there
is no God but Allaah and that Muhammad sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam is
His Messenger, as well as prayer, spending in the way of Allaah, fasting (for
those who cannot afford to pay for the sacrificial animal), enjoining
good and forbidding evil, (characteristics of) patience, perseverance, mercy
and abstention from forbidden things.
Hajj is one of the greatest signs of Allaah that what
Muhammad sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam has come with, is in reality the
religion of truth, for no human power can gather pilgrims every year from all
parts of the world; (pilgrims) with hearts full of yearning and love, who
experience difficulties yet rejoice at leaving their homes and families,
feeling that the hours of performing Hajj are the greatest of their
lives and spending generously for this purpose. Indeed, it is only Allaah who
can bring about such a situation. He says which means, “And proclaim to the people the Hajj (pilgrimage); they
will come to you on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every
distant pass – That they may witness (i.e., attend) benefits for themselves and
mention the Name of Allaah on known (i.e., specific) days over what He has
provided for them of (sacrificial) animals. So eat of them and feed the
miserable and poor.” (Al-Hajj: 27-28)
The
interpreter Ibn Jareer, may Allaah have mercy upon him, and others,
reported that Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased with him, said, “When
Allaah commanded Prophet Ibraaheem to proclaim Hajj among people, he said: ‘My
Lord, how can I convey the message to the people as my voice cannot reach
them?’ Allaah said, ‘You call; it is Our duty to make it reach (everyone)!’ So,
he stood in his position and said, ‘O you people! Your Lord has chosen a House,
so perform pilgrimage to it.’ It was said that the mountains became leveled and
his voice reached all parts of the earth and all that are in the wombs and
loins of men were made to hear the call and everything that heard it,
responded. So those for whom Allaah has decreed to perform Hajj till the Day of
Judgment responded with the saying, ‘Labbayka Allaahumma Labbayk (Here I am at
your service, O Allaah, here I am).’ ”
Dear
Muslims! Purify your intention for Allah in your Hajj and emulate the
Messenger of Allaah in all its rites, for he, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa
sallam, has said, “Take your Hajj rites
from me.” (Muslim) If you do so, your Hajj will be
accepted; the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said, “Whoever performs Hajj and does not engage in sexual
relations nor acts sinfully, he will return (after Hajj free from all sins)
like (he was) the day his mother gave birth to him.” (Bukhaari
& Muslim) He also said, “Performing
‘Umrah after ‘Umrah will erase the sins committed between them and the
well-performed Hajj has no reward but
It
is obligatory for the pilgrims to be aware of the rituals of Hajj and to
perform its pillars accordingly. The pillars of Hajj are: Ihraam
(the state of a pilgrim in which he performs Hajj and ‘Umrah, and
during which he is prohibited from certain acts that are lawful otherwise),
staying at ‘Arafah, the Tawaaf Al-Ifaadhah (circumambulation of
the Ka’bah on the tenth day of Dhul-Hijjah) and the pacing
between Safa and Marwah. He should also perform the obligatory
acts of Hajj which are: Ihraam from the Meeqaat (the place
from where people must get into the state of Ihraam), standing at ‘Arafah
till sunset, passing the night at Muzdalifah, throwing the stones (at
the Jamaraat, i.e., three stone-built pillars in Mina), shaving
or trimming of the hair, spending the nights at Mina, sacrificing an
animal if necessary (according to the type of Hajj one is performing)
and doing the farewell Tawaaf (circumambulation).
On
the day of slaughtering (i.e., the 10th day of Dhul-Hijjah),
the pilgrim throws stones at the Jamrat Al-‘Aqabah, slaughters, runs
between Safa and Marwah and performs Tawaaf Al-Ifaadhah.
Once he does the first three acts, all the prohibitions stipulated by Ihraam
are removed for him except sexual intercourse. However, if he has performed Tawaaf
Al-Ifaadhah in addition to that, everything becomes permissible for him
again, including sexual relations.
It
is recommended for the pilgrim to increase in the performance of acts of
worship and in Talbiyah (a prayer recited by pilgrims going to Makkah)
till he starts throwing the stones at ‘Aqabah. He should endeavor to
read the Qur’aan and supplicate much, especially on the day of ‘Arafah,
for the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said, “The best supplication is that of (the day of) ‘Arafah, and
the best word that I and all Prophets have said on the day of ‘Arafah is, ‘Laa
ilaaha illallaah wahdahu laa shareeka lahu lahul-mulk walahul hamd, wahuwa
‘alaa kulli shay’in qadeer’ (None has the right to be worshipped but Allaah
alone, Who has no partner. His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He is
Able to do all things).” (Tirmidhi) The pilgrim should
also guard his tongue and abstain from backbiting, fighting and arguments.
The
Muslim should also recite the prescribed Takbeer from right after Fajr
(dawn) prayer on the day of ‘Arafah till the afternoon of the 13th
day of Dhul-Hijjah. The Takbeer is as follows, “Allaahu Akbar,
Allaahu Akbar, La ilaaha illallaah, wallaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar walillaahil
hamd.” It is also recommended for the pilgrims and others to perform many
good deeds in the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. The Messenger of Allaah
sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said, “There
are no days in which good deeds are dearer to Allaah than in these days (i.e.
the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah).” The Companions asked, “O
Messenger of Allaah! Not even Jihaad in the way of Allaah?” He replied, “Not even Jihaad in the way of Allaah, except for a man who
goes out for Jihaad with his life and wealth and comes back with none of the
two.” (Bukhaari & Muslim)
Fellow
Muslims! The first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are the best days in the
sight of Allaah; He terms them “the well-known days” in His Book, according to Ibn
‘Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased with him. It is recommended, therefore, to
remember Allaah much in the mosques, streets, marketplaces and everywhere
during this period.
The
day of ‘Arafah occurs in these days and if you do not have the
opportunity to be at ‘Arafah on that day, you can fast. The Messenger of
Allaah sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam was asked about the fasting of that
day, so he said, “It erases the sins of the
previous year and the present one.” (Muslim)
Dear
pilgrim! Allaah says which means, “Hajj is
(during) well-known months, so whoever has made Hajj 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 during Hajj. And whatever good
you do – Allaah knows it. And take provision, but indeed, the best provision is
fear of Allaah. And fear Me, O you of understanding.” (Al-Baqarah:
197)
Hold fast unto the sublime Islaamic manners and let your Hajj be an act of repentance from (previous) sins, and (a source of) reform and piety for the rest of your life. Thank Allaah and praise Him for His bountiful blessings of peace, faith and worldly commodities; and (also for) the opportunities He affords you to do righteous deeds and for the disasters He has averted from befalling you.