Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam is an obligatory pilgrimage for Muslims. Here we talk about the importance of Hajj in our lives and also touch upon some of the history in the light of Quran.
لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لاَ شَرِيْكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ لاَشَرِيْكَ لَكَ
“Here I am at Thy service O God, here I am. Here I am at Thy service and Thou hast no partners. Thine alone is All Praise and All Bounty, and Thine alone is The Sovereignty. Thou hast no partners.”
This talbiyah from respected Hujjaj shows many shades. It is the acceptance of being a worshiper. It is a display of Allah’s greatness and confession of his oneness.
Importance of Hajj
With reference to Hazrat Abu Hurrairah (رضي الله عنه). Our beloved Prophet (ﷺ) said:
He who performs Hajj for Allah and does not perform bad deeds, on return of hajj is like one whose mother gave birth to him/her today (Allah has forgiven all his sins)
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Sahih Al-Muslim
This hadith shows the importance of Hajj and how it clears all the sins – Allah O Akbar. It is important that during the Hajj the Haji doesn’t perform any bad deeds and is engaged in his ibadaat like zikr, prayer, helping needy etc.
Hajj‘s obligation is established from Quran, Hadith and consensus among the Ummah is like the obligation we have for Tauheed (Believe in oneness of Allah), Salah (prayer), Sawm (Fasting), Zakat (Annual Charity to the poor). He who doesn’t believe in Hajj is not a believer.
When Hazrat Amr bin Aas (رضي الله عنه) was at his death bed he cried at lot. Then he turned his face towards the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaabawall. At this his son asked few questions. Hazrat Amr (رضي الله عنه) then said after telling his story of accepting Islam that:
When Allah wanted to enlighten my heart with the light of Imaan, I went to Hazrat Muhammad (ﷺ) and said to him to show me his hand so that I can do the bay’ah (pledge of allegiance). The Prophet (ﷺ) extended his hand and then I pulled my hand. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, O’ Amr what happened to you. I said: I have a condition. Prophet said what is your condition. I said that I want to be forgiven. Prophet said don’t you know that coming into the fold of Islam clears all the sins done previously, Migration (In the name of Allah) clears all sins and Hajj clears all the previously done sins.
Sahih Al-Muslim
Hazrat Ibn e Abbas (رضي الله عنه) said that Prophet (ﷺ) said that:
Perform Umrah and Hajj regularly because they both wipe out sins and poverty (material, spiritual) likewise a fire kiln wipes out rust from iron.
Al-Muajjm Awsat
In another hadith Hazrat Abu Hurrairah (رضي الله عنه) said that Prophet (ﷺ) said that:
Any one who performs Hajj for Allah and doesn’t said any bad word and doesn’t perform any sin then that person (after Hajj clearing all his sins) returns to his home like his/her mother gave birth to him/her today.
Sahih Al-Bukhari
Hajj, one of the pillar of islam
Prophet (ﷺ) said:
Foundation of islam is on 5 things. To testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and Hazrat Muhammad (ﷺ) is his prophet, offer prayer, pay zakat, perform Hajj and fasting in Ramadan.
Sahih Al-Bukhari
Hajj-e-Mabroor
With reference to Hazrat Abu Hurrairah (رضي الله عنه). Prophet was asked which of the deeds are good. Prophet (ﷺ) said:
To believe in Allah and his Prophet (Muhammad ﷺ). We asked then? Prophet said to do jihad. We asked then? Prophet said Hajj-e-Mabroor.
Sahih Al-Bukhari
Hajje-Maboor has many meaning. Some of these are:
- Hajj which is acceptable to Allah
- No bad deed happens during Hajj from you
- Hajj which is performed not to show off, not done for self praise but only to please Allah
- After returning back to home, there is no repetitions of sins and one becomes more pious
- Reduction in love of the world / wealth and show more eagerness of how to succeed on the day of judgement
Reward of Hajj-e-Mabroor
With reference to Hazrat Abu Hurrairah (رضي الله عنه). Our beloved Prophet (ﷺ) said:
One umrah compensates the sins till the next umrah, which happens between them and the reward of Hajj-e-Mabroor is only heaven
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Sahih Al-Muslim
In another hadith Hazrat Abu Hurrairah (رضي الله عنه) said that Prophet (ﷺ) said that:
The jihad of eldery or a weak person or a women is Hajj or Umrah
Musnad Ahmed, Baheeqi, Al-sunan Kubra
Mother of believers, Hazrar Aysha (رضي الله عنها) said.
I asked Prophet (ﷺ) that O Prophet of Allah shouldn’t we participate in jihad or battles (in which Prophet participated). Prophet said that the best jihad is Hajj-e-Mabroor. Hazrat Ayesha said that till the moment I heard this from the Prophet I have never missed Hajj.
Sahih Al-Bukhari
Ibn Umar said that:
People who perform Hajj or Umrah are the guest of Allah. Allah grant them what they ask, accepts their supplications, accepts their intercession and raises their reward on good deeds to thousand times. Prophet (ﷺ) said that a Mujahid in the path of Allah or one performing Hajj or Umrah are guests of Allah. Allah called them hence they said Labbayk and they have asked Allah hence Allah has given this to them.
Ibn-e-Maja
Hajj and Hazrat Ibrahim عليه السلام in Quran
Sanctuary for Mankind
وَإِذْ جَعَلْنَا الْبَيْتَ مَثَابَةً لِّلنَّاسِ وَأَمْنًا وَاتَّخِذُوا مِن مَّقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى
ۖ وَعَهِدْنَا إِلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ أَن طَهِّرَا بَيْتِيَ لِلطَّائِفِينَ وَالْعَاكِفِينَ وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُودِ
وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ رَبِّ اجْعَلْ هَـٰذَا بَلَدًا آمِنًا وَارْزُقْ أَهْلَهُ
ۖ مِنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ مَنْ آمَنَ مِنْهُم بِاللَّـهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِر ِ
ۖ قَالَ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَأُمَتِّعُهُ قَلِيلًا ثُمَّ أَضْطَرُّهُ إِلَىٰ عَذَابِ النَّارِ ۖ وَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ
وَإِذْ يَرْفَعُ إِبْرَاهِيمُ الْقَوَاعِدَ مِنَ الْبَيْتِ وَإِسْمَاعِيلُ رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
Al-Baqarah: 125-126-127
And remember that We made this House (the Ka’bah) the centre and sanctuary for mankind and enjoined the people to dedicate to worship the place where Abraham used to stand for prayer, and We urged Abraham and Ismail to keep My House pure for those who would go round it and those who would retire to it for devotion and prayer and for those who would bow down and prostrate themselves there in worhsip.
And remember that Abraham prayed, “Lord, make this city a city of peace and security, and provide with every kind of fruit those of its people, who believe in Allah and the Last Day’. Allah answered, “As for the disbelievers, I will also provide them with the necessities of life in this world, though in the Next World I will drag them to the torment of Hell, and that is the worst abode.”
And remember that when Abraham and Ishmael were raising the walls of the House, they prayed, “Lord, accept this service from us; You are All-Hearing and All-Knowing.
Great Pilgrimage
وَأَذَانٌ مِّنَ اللَّـهِ وَرَسُولِهِ إِلَى النَّاسِ يَوْمَ الْحَجِّ الْأَكْبَرِ أَنَّ اللَّـهَ بَرِيءٌ مِّنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ ۙ وَرَسُولُهُ ۚ فَإِن تُبْتُمْ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ ۖ وَإِن تَوَلَّيْتُمْ فَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّكُمْ غَيْرُ مُعْجِزِي اللَّـهِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ
Al-Tauba: 3
This is a public proclamation by Allah and His Messenger to all people on the day of the Great Pilgrimage: “Allah is free from all obligation to those who associate others with Allah in His Divinity; and so is His Messenger. If you repent, it shall be for your own good; but if you turn away, then know well that you will not be able to frustrate Allah. So give glad tidings of a painful chastisement to those who disbelieve.
وَإِذْ بَوَّأْنَا لِإِبْرَاهِيمَ مَكَانَ الْبَيْتِ أَن لَّا تُشْرِكْ بِي شَيْئًا وَطَهِّرْ بَيْتِيَ لِلطَّائِفِينَ وَالْقَائِمِينَ وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُودِ
وَأَذِّن فِي النَّاسِ بِالْحَجِّ يَأْتُوكَ رِجَالًا وَعَلَىٰ كُلِّ ضَامِرٍ يَأْتِينَ مِن كُلِّ فَجٍّ عَمِيقٍ
Al-Tauba: 26, 27
Call to mind when We assigned to Abraham the site of the House (Kabah), directing him: “Do not associate aught with Me” and “Keep My House pure for those who walk around it, and for those who stand and who bow down and who prostrate themselves (in worship), and publicly proclaim Pilgrimage for all mankind so that they come to you on foot and mounted on lean camels from every distant point
Safa and Marwah
إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِن شَعَائِرِ اللَّـهِ ۖ فَمَنْ حَجَّ الْبَيْتَ أَوِ اعْتَمَرَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَن يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا ۚ وَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَإِنَّ اللَّـهَ شَاكِرٌ عَلِيمٌ
Al-Baqarah: 158
Indeed Safa and Marwah are among the emblems of Allah: it is, therefore, no sin for him, who performs Hajj or `Umrah to the House of AIIah, to run between the two hills; and Allah knows and appreciates him who does any good with a willing heart.
Abraham عليه السلام, mighty messenger of Allah
وَمَن يَرْغَبُ عَن مِّلَّةِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِلَّا مَن سَفِهَ نَفْسَهُ ۚ وَلَقَدِ اصْطَفَيْنَاهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَإِنَّهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ لَمِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ
Al-Baqarah: 130
Now, who else can have aversion to the way of Abraham but the one who has debased himself with folly and ignorance? Abraham was the man whom We chose for Our service in this world, and in the Next World he shall be among the righteous.
What not to do during Hajj
الْحَجُّ أَشْهُرٌ مَّعْلُومَاتٌ ۚ فَمَن فَرَضَ فِيهِنَّ الْحَجَّ فَلَا رَفَثَ وَلَا فُسُوقَ وَلَا جِدَالَ فِي الْحَجِّ ۗ وَمَا تَفْعَلُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ يَعْلَمْهُ اللَّـهُ ۗ وَتَزَوَّدُوا فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ الزَّادِ التَّقْوَىٰ ۚ وَاتَّقُونِ يَا أُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ
Al-Baqarah: 197
The months for Hajj are well known to all; whoever makes up his mind to perform Hajj during these fixed months, let him totally abstain from all sorts of sexual indulgence, wickedness and wrangling during the Hajj and remember that Allah knows whatever good you do. Take necessary provisions for Hajj, and piety is the best of all provisions: so refrain from disobeying Me, O men of understanding!
Pilgrimage to the House is a duty
فِيهِ آيَاتٌ بَيِّنَاتٌ مَّقَامُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ۖ وَمَن دَخَلَهُ كَانَ آمِنًا ۗ وَلِلَّـهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا ۚ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّـهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ
Al-Imran: 97
In it there are clear signs and the station of Abraham; whoever enters it becomes secure. Pilgrimage to the House is a duty owed to Allah by all who can make their way to it. As for those who refuse to follow His command, surely Allah does not stand in need of anything.
