By Khandaker Nazneen Sultana
The performance of Haj and Umrah, and these are the best of deeds that may be done. And what indicates their superiority are a number of Ahaadith, one of which is the saying of the Prophet (SAM). Performance of Umrah is an expiation of the sins committed between it and the previous Umrah, and the reward of the Haj which is accepted by Allah, the Most High, is nothing but Paradise.-- (Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)
Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (RA) narrates that Muhammad (SM) said: "Allah Ta'ala accepts the dua of one who performs Hajj and Umrah and if he seeks forgiveness. Allah Ta'ala forgives him." -- (Mishkaat).
Hadhrat Aisha (RA) narrates that Muhammad (SM) said: "Making Tawaaf of Baitullah, to walk between Safa and Marwah and to pelt stones (at the Jimmar) have been ordained for establishing the remembrance of Allah Ta'ala." -- (Abu Dawud).
Hadhrat Aabis Bin Rabeeah (RA) narrates that once Hadhrat Umar (RA) after kissing Hajr-e-Aswad (the Black Stone) said: "I know you are a stone. You can neither benefit me nor harm anyone. If I did not see Muhammad (SM) kissing you, I would not have kissed you." -- (Abu Dawud).
Hadhrat Ibn Umar (RA) narrates that Muhammad (SM) said: "The one who after Hajj visits me after my death (i.e. the Holy Raudah) is like one who has visited me while I was alive." -- (Mishkaat).
Allah has also described about Hajj in many places in the Qur’an, so let us now take a look at what He has in store for the believers.
Hajj is very much important in Islam—
In Surah Al-Baqarah verses no. 125, 158, 196 - 203 Allah says:
2.125. Remember We made the House a place of assembly for men and a place of safety; and take ye the station of Abraham as a place of prayer; and We covenanted with Abraham and Isma'il, that they should sanctify My House for those who compass it round, or use it as a retreat, or bow, or prostrate themselves (therein in prayer).
2.158. Behold! Safa and Marwa are among the Symbols of Allah. So if those who visit the House in the Season or at other times, should compass them round, it is no sin in them. And if any one obeyeth his own impulse to good,- be sure that Allah is He Who recogniseth and knoweth.
2.196. And complete the Hajj or 'umra in the service of Allah. But if ye are prevented (From completing it), send an offering for sacrifice, such as ye may find, and do not shave your heads until the offering reaches the place of sacrifice. And if any of you is ill, or has an ailment in his scalp, (Necessitating shaving), (He should) in compensation either fast, or feed the poor, or offer sacrifice; and when ye are in peaceful conditions (again), if any one wishes to continue the 'umra on to the hajj, He must make an offering, such as he can afford, but if he cannot afford it, He should fast three days during the hajj and seven days on his return, Making ten days in all. This is for those whose household is not in (the precincts of) the Sacred Mosque. And fear Allah, and know that Allah Is strict in punishment.
2.197. For Hajj are the months well known. If any one undertakes that duty therein, Let there be no obscenity, nor wickedness, nor wrangling in the Hajj. And whatever good ye do, (be sure) Allah knoweth it. And take a provision (With you) for the journey, but the best of provisions is right conduct. So fear Me, o ye that are wise.
2.199. Then pass on at a quick pace from the place whence it is usual for the multitude so to do, and ask for Allah’s forgiveness. For Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.
2.200. So when ye have accomplished your holy rites, celebrate the praises of Allah, as ye used to celebrate the praises of your fathers,- yea, with far more Heart and soul. There are men who say: "Our Lord! Give us (Thy bounties) in this world!" but they will have no portion in the Hereafter.
2.201. And there are men who say: "Our Lord! Give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and defend us from the torment of the Fire!"
2.202. To these will be allotted what they have earned; and Allah is quick in account.
2.203. Celebrate the praises of Allah during the Appointed Days. But if any one hastens to leave in two days, there is no blame on him, and if any one stays on, there is no blame on him, if his aim is to do right. Then fear Allah, and know that ye will surely be gathered unto Him.
In Surah Al-i-Imran verses no. 96, 97 Allah mentions:
3.96. The first House (of worship) appointed for men was that at Bakka: Full of blessing and of guidance for all kinds of beings:
3.97. In it are Signs Manifest; (for example), the Station of Abraham; whoever enters it attains security; Pilgrimage thereto is a duty men owe to Allah,- those who can afford the journey; but if any deny faith, Allah stands not in need of any of His creatures.
In Surah Al-Maidah verses no. 1, 2, 95- 97 Allah states:
5.2. O ye who believe! Violate not the sanctity of the symbols of Allah, nor of the sacred month, nor of the animals brought for sacrifice, nor the garlands that mark out such animals, nor the people resorting to the sacred house, seeking of the bounty and good pleasure of their Lord. But when ye are clear of the sacred precincts and of pilgrim garb, ye may hunt and let not the hatred of some people in (once) shutting you out of the Sacred Mosque lead you to transgression (and hostility on your part). Help ye one another in righteousness and piety, but help ye not one another in sin and rancour: fear Allah, for Allah is strict in punishment.
5.95. O ye who believe! Kill not game while in the sacred precincts or in pilgrim garb. If any of you doth so intentionally, the compensation is an offering, brought to the Ka'ba, of a domestic animal equivalent to the one he killed, as adjudged by two just men among you; or by way of atonement, the feeding of the indigent; or its equivalent in fasts: that he may taste of the penalty of his deed. Allah forgives what is past: for repetition Allah will exact from him the penalty. For Allah is Exalted, and Lord of Retribution.
5.97. Allah made the Ka'ba, the Sacred House, an asylum of security for men, as also the Sacred Months, the animals for offerings, and the garlands that mark them: That ye may know that Allah hath knowledge of what is in the heavens and on earth and that Allah is well acquainted with all things.
In Surah At-Tauba verses no. 2, 36, 37 Allah notices:
9.2. Go ye, then, for four months, backwards and forwards, (as ye will), throughout the land, but know ye that ye cannot frustrate Allah (by your falsehood) but that Allah will cover with shame those who reject Him.
9.36. The number of months in the sight of Allah is twelve (in a year)- so ordained by Him the day He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are sacred: that is the straight usage. So wrong not yourselves therein, and fight the Pagans all together as they fight you all together. But know that Allah is with those who restrain themselves.
9.37. Verily the transposing (of a prohibited month) is an addition to Unbelief: the Unbelievers are led to wrong thereby: for they make it lawful one year, and forbidden another year, in order to adjust the number of months forbidden by Allah and make such forbidden ones lawful. The evil of their course seems pleasing to them. But Allah guideth not those who reject Faith.
22.26. Behold! We gave the site, to Abraham, of the (Sacred) House, (saying): "Associate not anything (in worship) with Me; and sanctify My House for those who compass it round, or stand up, or bow, or prostrate themselves (therein in prayer).
22.27. "And proclaim the Pilgrimage among men: they will come to thee on foot and (mounted) on every kind of camel, lean on account of journeys through deep and distant mountain highways;
22.28. "That they may witness the benefits (provided) for them, and celebrate the name of Allah, through the Days appointed, over the cattle which He has provided for them (for sacrifice): then eat ye thereof and feed the distressed ones in want.
22.29. "Then let them complete the rites prescribed for them, perform their vows, and (again) circumambulate the Ancient House."
22.30. Such (is the Pilgrimage): whoever honours the sacred rites of Allah, for him it is good in the Sight of his Lord. Lawful to you (for food in Pilgrimage) are cattle, except those mentioned to you (as exception): but shun the abomination of idols, and shun the word that is false,-
22.31. Being true in faith to Allah, and never assigning partners to Him: if anyone assigns partners to Allah, is as if he had fallen from heaven and been snatched up by birds, or the wind had swooped (like a bird on its prey) and thrown him into a far- distant place.
22.32. Such (is his state): and whoever holds in honour the symbols of Allah, (in the sacrifice of animals), such (honour) should come truly from piety of heart.
22.33. In them ye have benefits for a term appointed: in the end their place of sacrifice is near the Ancient House.
22.36. The sacrificial camels we have made for you as among the symbols from Allah. in them is (much) good for you: then pronounce the name of Allah over them as they line up (for sacrifice): when they are down on their sides (after slaughter), eat ye thereof, and feed such as (beg not but) live in contentment, and such as beg with due humility: thus have We made animals subject to you, that ye may be grateful.
22.37. It is not their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah. it is your piety that reaches Him: He has thus made them subject to you, that ye may glorify Allah for His Guidance to you and proclaim the good news to all who do right.
In Surah Al- Fayh verses no. 27 Allah remarks:
48.27. Truly did Allah fulfil the vision for His Messenger. ye shall enter the Sacred Mosque, if Allah wills, with minds secure, heads shaved, hair cut short, and without fear. For He knew what ye knew not, and He granted, besides this, a speedy victory.
More hadith about Hajj:
It is narrated from Ibn Abbaas (RA) that the Prophet (SAM) said: "There are no days in which righteous deeds done in them are more beloved to Allah than these days, ie the ten days (of Zul-Hijjah). They said: O Messenger of Allah, not even Jihaad in the path of Allah? He said: Not even Jihaad in the Path of Allah, the Most High, except if a man goes out (for Jihaad) with his self and his wealth, then he doesn't return with anything from that." -- (Al-Bukhaaree, Abu Daawood and others. The exact wording is that of Abu Daawood)
Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (RA) narrates that Muhammad (SM) said: "Whoever sets out for Hajj, Umrah or Jihad but dies on the journey (before being able to render these obligations), Allah Ta'ala records for him the thawaab of the ghazi (one who returns victorious from the Jihaad field) and the thawaab of one who has performed the Hajj and Umrah." -- (Mishkaat).
It is narrated from Ibn Umar that the Prophet Muhammad (SM) noticed: "There aren't any days greater, nor any days in which deeds done in them are more beloved to Allah, the Most High, than these ten days (of Zul-Hijjah). So, increase in them the saying of Tahleel (La Ilaaha illa Allah), and Takbeer (Allah Akbar) and Tahmeed (al-Hamdu li-llah)" -- (Musnad Imaam Ahmad)
Epecially in the Day of Arafah, there is no doubt that the act of fasting is one of the best deeds, and it is from what Allah, the Most High, has chosen for himself, as in the Hadith Qudsee: Fasting is for Me, and it is I who give reward for it. Verily, someone gives up his sexual passion, his food and his drink for My sake..." -- (Al-Bukhaaree, Muslim, Maalik, at-Tirmidhee, Nasaa'ee and Ibn Maajah)
Hadhrat Ibn Mas'ood (RA) narrates that Muhammad said: "Unite Hajj and Umrah (during Hajj period). Both (acts of Ibaadat) eliminate poverty and sins in a similar way in which the impurities of gold, silver and iron are eliminated. The reward of Hajj which was performed correctly is nothing other that Jannat." -- (Mishkaat).
Abu Sa'eed al-Khudree who said that the Messenger of Allah told: No servant (of Allah, the Most High) fasts one day in the Path of Allah, except that Allah, the Most High, removes his face from the Fire because of it (the distance of travelling) seventy years. -- (Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)
It is reported about Ibn Umar and Abu Hurairah that: the two of them used to go out to the market place during the ten days (of Zul-Hijjah) saying: Allahu Akbar, causing the people also to say it. -- (Al-Bukhaaree)
In the hadith of Abu Hurairah he said that the Prophet said: Verily Allah has a sense of Ghaira, and Allah's sense of ghaira is provoked when a person does that which Allah has prohibited.-- (Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)
It is authentically reported that The Prophet Muhammad slaughtered (sacrificed) two horned rams, black and white in colour, and said Takbeer (Allahu Akbar), and placed his foot on their sides (while slaughtering them). -- (Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)
It has been narrated from Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Prophet said: If you see the Hilal (new moon) of Zul-Hijjah, and any one of you wants to make a sacrifice, then he should not cut (anything) from his hair and his nails. -- (Muslim and others).
From Abu Qatadah that the Prophet said: Fasting the Day of Arafah will be credited with Allah by forgiving one's sins of the previous year and the following year. -- (Muslim)
Narrated Umar bin Al-Khattab (RA). Once a Jew said to me, "O the chief of believers! There is a verse in your Holy Book which is read by all of you (Muslims), and had it been revealed to us, we would have taken that day (on which it was revealed) as a day of celebration." Umar bin Al-Khattab (RA) asked, "Which is that verse?" The Jew replied,"This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, And have chosen for you Islam as your religion." (5:3)
Umar (RA) replied, "No doubt, we know when and where this verse was revealed to the Prophet (SAW). It was Friday and the Prophet (SAW) was standing at Arafat (i.e. the Day of Hajj)." --(Sahih Al-Bukhari Vol 1).
(This article have published in the ‘Editorial page’ of ‘The News Today’ on
July 23, 2006)
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