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The
intention of performing Hajj has fixed
times, namely within the months of Shawwal and Dhul-Qi`dah and the
first days of Dhul-Hijjah; a Muslim cannot intend Hajj except
within such appointed times. There are also fixed places for
intending Hajj (dependent on the pilgrim's residence),
which a Muslim pilgrim cannot pass without being in the state of
ihram. At these places the pilgrims perform ritual purification,
pray two rak`ahs, make the intention of Hajj or `Umrah,
and raise their voices while chanting the Talbiyah. After
that, the pilgrims have to avoid all the acts that harm their
Hajj, such as wearing sewn clothes [this for men only], wearing
perfume, shaving the head or cutting the hair, trimming the nails,
killing game animals, cutting down trees, etc.
Just
like pilgrims who begin their way to the Ka`bah by ihram, Muslims
can begin their way to Allah by sincere repentance, as Almighty
Allah generally commands when He says: [And turn unto Allah
together, O believers, in order that ye may succeed] (An-Nur
24:31). True repentance is represented in quitting sins,
regretting them, determining never to commit them again, and
following the righteous way steadfastly. Repentance is not true if
there is determination to return to the concerned sin, for mere
quitting does not mean sincere repentance. For example, a person
may quit a sin for some other reasons, such as giving up a sin for
being unable to commit it or quitting drinking due to its physical
harms while still being attached to it. This is not regarded as
repentance, for repentance is a spiritual act followed by physical
submission, seeking the pleasure and forgiveness of Almighty
Allah.
To
blot out any trace of sin through repentance, Muslims should
observe piety and deeds of righteousness, for good deeds annul
evil ones, as Almighty Allah says: [Establish Prayer at the two
ends of the day and in some watches of the night. Lo! good deeds
annul ill deeds. This is a reminder for the mindful] (Hud
11:114).
Another
condition for repentance is that if the concerned person owes
people any usurped rights, he or she should return them or seek
their forgiveness. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be
upon him) once asked his Companions, "Do you know who the
insolvent is?" They (the Companions) replied, "An
insolvent man among us is one who has neither dirham with him nor
wealth." The Prophet said,
"The insolvent of my Ummah would be the one who would come on
the Day of Judgment with prayers and fasts and zakah but (he would
find himself bankrupt on that day as he would have exhausted his
funds of virtues since) he hurled abuses upon others, brought
calumny against others, unlawfully consumed the wealth of others,
shed the blood of others and beat others. Thus, every one of them
would be given of his good deeds (i.e., his virtues would be
credited to the account of those who suffered at his hand). And if
his good deeds fall short to clear the account, then he would be
given of their sins and he would be thrown into the
Hellfire."
When
Muslims start their way to Almighty Allah through sincere
repentance, they begin spiritually rising from the stage of
evil-commanding soul to that of the self-reproaching soul until
finally they reach the stage of the tranquil (righteous) soul. The
evil-commanding soul is accompanied by Satan, who leads it astray,
gives it false promises and dreams, blinds it to ugliness, and
carries it off to abyss. However, the self-reproaching soul
reproaches one for negligence of one's duties toward Allah,
pushing one forward to righteousness and obedience and leading one
to safety from the Hellfire. As for the tranquil, righteous soul,
it is the one that is reassured by wisdom and decrees of Almighty
Allah and follows in the footsteps of the prophets and the
righteous; therefore it deserves Almighty Allah's reassurance when
He says: [O (thou) soul at peace! Come back thou to thy Lord,-
well pleased (thyself), and well-pleasing unto Him! Enter thou,
then, among My devotees! Yea, enter thou My Heaven!] (Al-Fajr
89:27-30).
*
Professor of Islamic creed and philosophy at Al-Azhar University |
