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Requirements of Acceptable Hajj
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By
Sheikh `Abdul-Bari
Ath-Thubaiti |
2005/01/11
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Muslim
pilgrims go for Hajj in response to the call of Prophet Ibrahim
(peace and blessings be upon him) and in compliance to Almighty
Allah’s order. They performed, and continue to perform this
ordinance, submitting themselves heart and soul to Almighty Allah
alone, until the Day of Judgment.
Meditating
upon the huge numbers of pilgrims who come from different parts of
the world and assemble in Makkah to perform Hajj, one realizes
clearly that however cunningly the enemies of Islam intrigue
against the Muslim Ummah, it will remain united, deriving its
eternity from the eternity of the message of Islam and the Divine
Book.
Almighty
Allah has undertaken to guarantee the safety of pilgrims. There is
a hadith reported to the effect that the Prophet (peace and
blessings be upon him) said: “Three (people) are guaranteed
(safety) by Almighty Allah: one who goes to a mosque (to worship
Allah therein), one who goes out to fight in Allah’s cause, and
one who goes out to make pilgrimage (to Allah’s Sacred House)”
(Al-Hamidi).
Hence,
there are some things that I would like my fellow pilgrims to bear
in mind while going for Hajj.
I
would like you, pilgrim fellows, to know that in every step you
take on the way to pilgrimage you get a reward from Almighty
Allah. This is clearly referred to in the hadith to the effect
that “whenever the camel of a pilgrim lifts up a leg or
places another on earth (on the way to pilgrimage), Almighty Allah
makes this either a good deed in the pilgrim’s record, or causes
it to wipe a bad deed (he may have committed), or uplifts thereby
his rank” (Al-Bayhaqi).
Listening
to the Prophet’s hadith: “Accepted Hajj has no reward but
Paradise” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim), pilgrims’ souls yearn
to get that sublime and great reward. Hence, they wonder how they
can attain this accepted Hajj. But before answering this question,
let us contemplate what Ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him)
answered Mujahid when the latter said during a season of Hajj,
“How great is the number of pilgrims!” Ibn `Umar said, “The
true pilgrims are, in fact, few. You may say instead, ‘How great
is the number of the riders.’”
To
attain this high rank one has to heed the following requirements:
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The
first requirement of accepted Hajj is to seek to perform it,
heart and soul, for Allah’s sake. He who goes for Hajj out
of showing off and getting the prestige enjoyed by pilgrims in
people’s eyes, his Hajj will not be accepted. Almighty Allah
says in a Qudsi hadith, “If anyone does anything in which
he associates anyone else with Me, I shall leave him to the
one whom he associates with Me” (Muslim). The Prophet
(peace and blessings be upon him) would warn the Muslims
against offering a deed out of showing off. He (peace and
blessings be upon him) would invoke Almighty Allah saying,
“O Allah, (enable me to make) Hajj with no riya’ (showing
off with the desire that others witness ones good acts) or sum`ah
(showing off with the desire that others hear about
one’s good acts)” (Ibn Majah on the authority of Anas
ibn Malik).
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Pilgrims
should perform acts of worship during Hajj with complete
submission to Almighty Allah, seeking sincerely to purify
their hearts of conceit and self-esteem. They are to regard
the deeds they offer for Allah’s sake as little in
comparison to the bounties and blessings that Almighty Allah
bestows on them.
Acts
of Hajj are highly venerable and offered in great sacred places.
So pilgrims are to hold these places in high esteem and never
attempt to violate their sanctity. It is really unfortunate and
abominable that some evil people disguise themselves in the garb
of pilgrims and come to the Sacred Sanctuaries to rob people,
smuggle in harmful drugs, and spread their corrupted ideas. (It
is about those that) Almighty Allah says: [Whosoever
seeketh wrongful partiality therein, him, We shall cause to
taste a painful chastisement] (Al-Hajj 22:25).
In
order for pilgrims’ Hajj to be accepted, they are to seek to
follow in the footsteps of the Prophet (peace and blessings be
upon him), without ever disobeying a teaching of his Sunnah.
Every act and statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings be
upon him) has been authentically conveyed to his nation. He
(peace and blessings be upon him) would say, “Learn (how to
perform) the rituals from me.” Should pilgrims
become slack at following the acts of Sunnah during Hajj, this
may lead them to become slack at performing the obligatory acts,
and repeated mistakes in this regard may corrupt their Hajj. So,
it is of a great benefit and blessing for pilgrims to adhere to
the Prophet’s Sunnah.
It
befits true pilgrims to comply heart and soul with the teachings
of Almighty Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon
him) even if they do not know the wisdom behind them. Mind in
this respect what `Umar ibn Al-Kattab (may Allah be pleased with
him) said when he was to kiss the Black Stone, “No doubt, I
know that you are no more than a stone that neither inflicts
harm nor grants benefit. Had I not seen Allah’s Messenger
(peace and blessings be upon him) kissing you, I would have
never kissed you” (Al-Bukhari).
People
who aspire to get accepted Hajj must be able to afford it out of
lawfully earned money. Illicit money spent in any act offered to
Almighty Allah renders the act unacceptable altogether
Pilgrims
are to spend their time during Hajj uttering dhikr,
reciting the Glorious Qur’an, seeking purification of hearts
through beseeching Almighty Allah to forgive them, doing good
acts, and calling unto the right path. Spending time during Hajj
in offering acts of obedience keeps pilgrims from falling into
mistakes and increases their faith. Days of Hajj are blessed and
rewards are doubled therein. The righteous predecessors would
make use of these blessed days by offering extra acts of
worship. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was
reported to have said, “The fighter in Almighty Allah’s
cause and the pilgrim who goes for Hajj or `Umrah are Almighty
Allah’s visitors. He, Almighty, has invited them and they have
answered His invitation, (so when) they ask Him, He, Almighty,
will grant them (what they ask for)” (Ibn Majah). It was
also reported that when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon
him) was asked about the accepted Hajj, he (peace and blessings
be upon him) said, “It is to give food and to spread salam
(the Muslim salutation) among people” (Imam Ahmad).
True
pilgrims are characterized by serenity and good behavior while
dealing with their fellow Muslims. They are to offer the rituals
of Hajj and other acts of worship in a calm manner and try to
lower their voices so that they do not disturb their brethren.
Talbiyah
during Hajj carries many significant and sublime meanings that
pilgrims are always to bear in mind and contemplate upon. Let us
meditate upon its words: “Here I am at Your service, O Allah.
Here I am. You have no partner. Here I am at Your service.
Surely all praise, grace, and dominion are Yours, and You have
no partner.” Recalling these words and attempting earnestly to
apply their meanings in one’s life reforms one and uplifts
one’s soul. These words symbolize a declaration of submission
and obedience to Almighty Allah.
Also,
taking good and righteous companions during Hajj strengthens
pilgrims’ faith, helps them stick to the right path, and avoid
falling into sins.
Pilgrims
who seek to attain accepted Hajj are to apply the teachings
implied in the Prophet’s hadith that whoever performs Hajj and
does not approach his wife for sexual relations or commit sins
(while performing Hajj), he will go back as sinless as a newborn
child. This is to say, pilgrims who want their Hajj to be
accepted are to discipline themselves, lower their gaze, avoid
uttering bad words, not harm others or harbor hatred and envy
against anyone.
Accepted
Hajj requires one to show respect to the old, mercy to the
young, and kindness to the weak. One is also to observe the
proprieties of cleanliness in body, clothes, and place. Allah
Almighty says: [Allah loves those who turn to Him constantly
and He loves those who keep themselves pure and clean]
(Al-Baqarah 2:222).
*
The Imam and preacher of
the Prophet’s Mosque |
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