Hajj

The word Hajj, linguistically, means heading to a place for the sake of visiting; in Islamic terminology, it implies heading to Makkah to observe the rituals of pilgrimage.

Hajj is obligated by Allah upon every Muslim, male and female, who is physically and financially capable. It is obligatory only once during the lifetime of a Muslim. Allah Almighty Says (what means): “…And [due] to Allah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House – for whoever is able to find thereto a way….” [Quran 3:97] ( سبيال إليه استطاع من البيت الناسحج على (ولله

Hajj

The Prophet said: “Islam is built upon five (pillars): the testimony that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah, the establishment of the prayer, paying Zakah, Hajj to the House (i.e. Ka’bah,) and fasting in Ramadhaan.” [Al-Bukhaari & Muslim]

Hajj was prescribed in the sixth year after Hijrah (migration) upon the revelation of the following verse in which Allah Says (what means): “And complete the Hajj and ‘Umrah for Allah...” [Quran 2:196] ( الحج وأتموا

لله (والعمرة

Hajj

Hajj is not a new institution introduced by Islam, rather it is as old as the Ka'bah itself. Allah Almighty Says (what means): "Indeed, the first House [of worship] established for mankind was that at Bakkah [i.e., Makkah] – blessed and guidance to the worlds.” [Quran 3:96]

Hajj

The whole origin of Hajj is rooted to the acts of devotion of Prophet Ibrahim . This demonstrates that Muhammad did not innovate this institution; all he did was to clear it of all the evil practices that had crept into it. After a few centuries of the death of Ibrahim and his son Ismaeel people abandoned their teachings and gradually went astray, like all other people around them.

Hajj

Hundreds of idols were installed in the Ka’bah, which was built by Ibrahim and Ismaeel, may Allah exalt their mention, as a centre for the worship of the One True God. The descendants of Ibrahim who had himself repudiated all idols began to worship idols. The Ka’bah was turned into a type of temple for idol-worship and superstition. This lasted for about two thousand years, until the advent of Prophet Muhammad .

Hajj

Hajj is rightly said to be the perfection of faith, since it combines in itself all the distinctive qualities of other obligatory acts of prayer, patience, privation of amenities of life, devotion, Zakah (alms), slaughtering the sacrifice and supplication. In fact, the physical pilgrimage is a prelude to the spiritual pilgrimage to Allah when man would bid goodbye to everything of the world and present himself before Him as His humble servant saying: 'Here I am before You, my Lord, as a slave.'

Hajj

Hajj is undertaken in company with all the other pilgrims. The months of Hajj are: Shawwal, Thul-Qi'dah and Thul-Hijjah (the last three months of the Hijri calendar).

Months of Hajj

The Makkan territory is sacred. The pilgrim enters this territory in a state of Ihraam (a state in which one is forbidden to do certain things that are otherwise permissible).

Hajj

Ihraam, for men, entails wearing a special garment. A male pilgrim is not allowed to wear form-fitting clothes or to cover his head or hands with gloves, or his feet with socks or shoes. This is done in order to foster a sense of humility and a feeling of brotherhood among the Muslims.

Hajj

The male pilgrim's garment consists of two sheets of white woollen or cotton cloth, of which one is wrapped around the waist and reaches below the knees and above the ankles, while the other is wrapped around the upper part of the body. The head and the right shoulder are left uncovered during Tawaaf. This attire is for males, whereas females have to cover all of their body except the face and hands. Before donning this dress, the pilgrim is recommended to take a bath (Ghusl). A man in Ihraam is consecrated. He cannot hunt, pick plants, shed blood,.

Cloths of Hajj

In the forenoon of the eighth day of Dhul-Hijjah, a pilgrim purifies himself once again by bathing as he did before ‘Umrah in the place in which he is staying, if convenient. He puts on his Ihram and says: "Here I am for Hajj. Here I am, oh Allah, here I am. Here I am. You have no partner. Here I am. Surely all praise, grace and dominion is yours, and you have no partners.“

لبيك اللهم لبيكلبيك لك شريك ال لبيك

والنعمة الحمد انوالملك لك

لك شريك ال

Rituals of Hajj

If he fears that something will prevent him from completing his Hajj he should make a condition when he makes his intentions, saying: "If I am prevented by any obstacle my place is wherever I am held up." If he has no such fear, he doesn't make this condition.

Hajj

A pilgrim goes to Mina and there prays Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha' and Fajr, shortening his four unit prayers so as to make them two units each, without combining

Hajj

When the sun rises, he goes to Arafah and there prays Dhuhr and Asr combined at the time of Dhuhr, making each one two units. He remains in Namira Mosque until sunset if possible. He remembers Allah and makes as many supplications as possible while facing the Qiblah.The Prophet (peace be upon him) prayed thus: "There is no Deity but Allah alone. He has no partner. All dominion and praise are His and He is powerful over all things.

Hajj

At sunset he goes from Arafah to Muzdalifah and there prays Maghrib, Isha, and Fajr. If he is tired or has little water, it is permissible for him to combine Maghrib and Isha. He remains there, in Muzdalifah, making supplications and remembering Allah till just before sunrise.

Hajj

Near sunrise, a pilgrim goes from Muzdalifah to Mina. Upon reaching it he does the following:

He throws seven consecutive pebbles at Jamrat Al-Aqabah which is the closest monument to Mecca, saying Allah is the Greatest, as he throws each pebble.

He slaughters the sacrificial animal, eats some of it, and gives some to the poor. Slaughter is obligatory. He shaves or clips his hair; shaving is preferable. A woman clips her hair the length of a finger tip.

Hajj

These three should be done in the above order if convenient, but there is no restriction if one precedes another.

With that, one is allowed to come out of Ihram. He can wear other clothing and do everything that was lawful before Ihram.

He goes to Mecca to perform Tawaf Al-lfadah and Sa'i, also for Hajj.

Hajj

With the completion of this Tawaf and Sa'i, a pilgrim is allowed to do everything that was lawful before Ihram, including engaging in marital relations.

After performing Tawaf and Sa'i, he returns to Mina to spend the nights of the eleventh and twelfth days there.

Hajj

He stones the three Jamrah in the afternoon of both the eleventh and twelfth days. He starts with the first Jamrah, which is furthest from Mecca, then the middle one, and lastly Jamrat Al-Aqabah. Each one should be stoned with seven consecutive pebbles accompanied by Takbir. He stops after the first and middle Jamrah to make supplications facing the Qiblah. It is not permissible to stone before noon on these two days. It is best to walk to the Jamrah, but riding is permissible.

Hajj

When he is ready to return to his country, he makes Tawaf Al-Wada', which is seven circuits around the Ka'bah.

Hajj

1. It is one of the best deeds:

Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet was once asked: “What is the best deed?” He replied: “To believe in Allaah and His Messenger.” The enquirer then asked: “What next?” The Prophet replied: “To fight in the cause of Allaah.” He again asked: “What is the next best thing?” He replied: “Hajj ‘Mabroor’ (i.e., the Hajj that is free of sin and all its pillars and conditions are fulfilled).” [Al-Bukhaari]

The excellence of Hajj:

Al-Hasan Ibn ‘Ali and his father, said that a man came to the Prophet and said: "I am a coward and a weak person. Is there anything I can do?" The Prophet replied: "You may go for a Jihaad that involves no fighting, that is, Hajj." [‘Abdur-Razzaaq & At-Tabaraani] The Prophet also said: "Hajj is the Jihaad for the old, the weak and the women." [An-Nasaa'i]

2. It is a form of Jihaad:

Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet said: "He who performs Hajj seeking Allaah's pleasure and avoids all lewdness and sins (therein) will return after Hajj free from all sins, just as he was on the day his mother gave birth to him." [Al-Bukhaari & Muslim]

3. It wipes away past sins:

The Prophet said: "Pilgrims and those performing 'Umrah are Allaah's guests; their prayers are answered and their supplications for forgiveness are granted.” [An-Nasaa'i & Ibn Maajah]

4. Pilgrims are the Guests of Allaah:

The Prophet said: "All sins committed in between the performance of one 'Umrah and the next are expiated and erased, and the reward of Hajj ‘Mabroor’ is nothing save Paradise." [Al-Bukhaari & Muslim]

5. The Reward of Hajj is Paradise: