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Those
whom Allah favored to perform Hajj and `Umrah, should be thankful
to Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, Who has chosen them from
among His servants to perform these acts of worship, and they
should implore Almighty Allah to accept their good deeds. That is
very important, for it reflects their belief that being so favored
by Allah to accomplish the task of traveling to the
Sacred
Land
to perform Hajj and Umrah is a favor that deserves gratitude to
Allah.
We also urge the pilgrim, after returning from the Sacred Land, to
keep his mind and soul attached to Allah, remembering Him
constantly because Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, says, [And
when ye have completed your devotions, then remember Allah as ye
remember your fathers or with a more lively remembrance…]
(Al-Baqarah 2:200)
The new Hajji should be very keen to avoid evil and shameful deeds
especially after Allah has obliterated them and forgave all his
sins, as a reward of performing Hajj. This is based on the Hadith
in which the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The
reward of Hajj Mabrur (the one accepted by Allah) is nothing but
Paradise
.” He also said, "(The performance of) `Umrah is an
expiation for the sins committed between it and the previous
one.”
Therefore, it behooves every Hajji to forward due gratitude to
Allah for being chosen to perform those acts of worship and, at
the same time, to beseech Him for acceptance.
We advice such a person, upon returning home, to be conscious of
Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, when performing all what Allah
has obligated him to do of the other worships such as Prayers,
Zakah, Fasting, dutifulness to his parents, visiting kith and kin,
being charitable and benevolent to Allah’s creatures,
experiencing the etiquettes of Islam, taking the morals of the
Qur’an as a model and the like of what the Muslim should do.
The reason for all what we have said above is that the more Hajj
is considered an honor and a blessing, the more it entails
responsibility on which man will be asked concerning on the Day of
Judgment in case he misbehaves after returning from Hajj. Almighty
Allah says, [Lo!
Allah enjoineth justice and kindness, and giving to kinsfolk, and
forbiddeth lewdness and abomination and wickedness. He exhorteth
you in order that ye may take heed. Fulfill the covenant of Allah
when ye have covenanted, and break not your oaths after the
asseveration of them, and after ye have made Allah surety over
you. Lo! Allah knoweth what ye do.]
(An-Nahl 16:90-91)
The epitome of this is that this worship (Hajj) is obligated once
in lifetime. So, the pilgrim should take that as a golden
opportunity which he will make use of for the rest of his life,
reminiscing about the sacred places and all rituals (of Hajj), for
that will strengthen his faith and help him to obey Allah.
*Professor
of Islamic Comparative Jurisprudence, at
Al-Azhar
University. |
