Hajj

Arafah: the main day of Hajj. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said in one hadith: “Hajj IS Arafah.” [Sunan Abu Dawud, book 10, #1944] How true that is–if you go to Arafah, but miss everything else, your Hajj is sound; and if you do everything else, but miss Arafah, your Hajj is not valid.

How much more important can you get than that?

Arafah, the day when millions of poeple gather in one place at one time to praise and supplicate to Allah.

Take a look at the following picture. What do you see?

Most people will say they see the black dot. Not the whole field of white dots.

That’s people for you! Despite all the white dots around us–our health, wealth, youth, our household, our family, our fine clothing–we only see the black dots. That guy at work who’s always talking on the phone. That punk at school who keeps stealing your cookies. That drip-dripping tap that never stops.

Bismillah

How many times have we heard this duaa in our lives: Rabbana aatina fid-dunya hasanah, wa fil-akhirati hasanah, wa qinaa athaban naar. Have we ever contemplated how complete this duaa is?

Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) says

Translation: And among the people is he who says, “our Lord, give us in this world,” and he will have in the Hereafter no share. But among them is he who says, “our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.” [Suratul-Baqarah, verses 200-201]

What is tawaf, how do you do it, and what’s the best way to go about it?

Tawaf, Islamically, means circling around the Ka’bah for Hajj in the way the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) did and told us to do. The requirements of tawaf are simple–be in a state of wudoo.

The mechanics of tawaf are:

• You walk around the ka’bah, seven times
• Start at the Black Stone corner (from outside, it has a green light); raise your hand towards the Black Stone and say “Allahu Akbar” (or, if you can reach it, touch the black stone and say Allahu Akbar)
• For men, if possible, you walk quickly (raml, in Arabic) the first three times
• Make du’a, recite Qur’an, or make dhikr as you walk.
• Whenever you reach the Yemeni corner, make the du’a: Rabbana aatiynaa fid-dunya hasanatan, wa fil-akhirati hasanatan, wa kinaa adhaaban-naar (O our Lord! Give us goodness in this life, goodness in the Akhira, and protect us from the Punishment of the Fire.)
• Don’t push, jab, bite, or hurt anybody.
• Once you’re done, drink some Zam-Zam, pour a little over your head, and pray two rakahs behind Maqama Ibrahim

Some tips to make your tawaf easier:

Hajj is an amazing act of ibadah–one that requires everything: mind, body, and wealth. People invest so much time, so much energy, and so much money into Hajj–and for what? What do they get out of it?

For a properly-intentioned, well-planned and correctly-executed Hajj–one free of, for example, arguing, pushing, and harming other Muslims, full of patience–there are five jackpots you cash out on when you perform Hajj:

1. Deeds: The Messenger of Allah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said: “Whoever performs Hajj to this house–the Ka’bah–and does not commit any obscenity and wrongdoing, he, or she, will come out as the day he or she was born,pure and free from sins.” [Saheeh Muslim, 7/3129]
2. Salaah: When you pray in Masjid al-Harram in Mecca, your salaah is multiplied by 100,000 times [Tabarani]. If you’re there a brief span of two weeks (14 days), and you pray all five prayers in the masjid, that’s equivalent in reward to praying more then 3800 years!
3. Wealth: The Messenger of Allah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said: “Keep on doing Hajj and Umrah, for they eliminate poverty and sin just as the bellows eliminate impurities from iron and gold and silver.” [Tirmidhi and Nasa’i] [1] While we may not understand how, surely, the words of the Messenger of Allah are true. And, if you realize that everything you spend for Hajj is multiplied by 700 times, then that means a $5000 package is equivalent in reward to spending $3.5 million in the way of Allah. [Imam Anwar al-Awlaki]
4. Sabr: In Hajj, the unimaginable happens. Buses show up eight hours late. An eight kilometer ride becomes a twelve-hour imprisonment–stuck in a hot metal cabin with no air-conditioning in the desert. People push you, shove you, jab you with their elbows, steal your shoes, your phone, and your fruit juice. Your fellow Hujjaj will wrong you, the government will wrong you, your Hajj group will wrong you. Nothing teaches sabr like Hajj–and if you carry the lessons back into your life, you can reap the rewards of super sabr for your whole life.
5. Du’a: Of the biggest jackpots is du’a. Because the Messenger of Allah said: “The best du’a you can make is on the day of Arafaat.” [Tirmidhi] [2] If you plan properly–and bring your 16-page du’a list–you can make du’a for yourself, your family, your friends, your co-workers and fellow students, your community, the Muslim ummah, the planet. The whole course of lives can change. If you remember Allah, He remembers you in a better gathering–and what gathering is better then one of millions of hujjaj? The angels will say “ameen, and for you something similar,” when you make du’a for your brother or sister in their absence. So go for it! You may never get another chance. (On top of that, the du’a of a traveler is also accepted, guaranteed.)

So if you’ve made Hajj, rejoice! You’ve hit not one, not two, but five different and amazing jackpots. And if you’re planning to go for Hajj, plan it properly–prepare your du’a list ahead of time, make the intention to pray in Masjid Al-Harram as much as possible, and above all, be patient–because Hajj takes every drop of patience you have.

Did you know:

1. The literal meaning of hajj is ‘desire’?
   1. Hajj is one of the main five pillars and all muslims desire to go for hajj.
   2. We should hasten to do it/plan for it as early as possible. [1]
   3. Hajj is expensive, but ALHAMDULILAH we have been given glad tidings: by the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم), who said, it eliminates poverty and sin! [2]

   <li>
     <span class="gem">Those not going for hajj can earn a lot of reward and forgiveness during the hajj days</span>, as they are <strong>the best days of the year</strong>. [3] We should benefit by:
   </li>
   <ol>
     <li>
       <strong>Fasting these 10 days,</strong> especially on the 9th of dhullhijjah. [4]
     </li>
     <li>
       <strong>Sacrificing a lamb/sheep</strong> (distribute portion or all of it to needy, family members)
     </li>
     <li>
       Growing our nail/hair during these 10 days and cut them afterwards. (This also ‘unites’ us with what rest of the hajees are doing in mecca) [5]
     </li>
     <li>
       Saying Takbeer (&#8220;Allaahu akbar&#8221;), Tahmeed (&#8220;Al-hamdu Lillaah&#8221;), Tahleel (&#8220;La ilaha ill-Allaah&#8221;) and Tasbeeh (&#8220;Subhaan Allaah&#8221;) during these days. [6]
     </li>
   </ol>
   
   <li>
     This is the only pillar that involves, all aspects of worship: i.e. Money/charity, physical aspects of worship, spiritual aspects of worship, etc.
   </li>
   <li>
     Freakily enough, a hajjee without good intentions or the one who shows off, <em>may have <strong>NO HAJJ</strong></em>.
   </li></ol> 
   <p>
     May Allah forgive us and grant us an accepted hajj and highest level of paradise (Ameen wa ajma&#8217;een). Please keep us in dua’s … May Allah forgive us too (Ameen)! Please do read the relevant proofs for them, as referenced below.
   </p>
   
   <p>
     Also, here are other amazing articles with good ayats/ahadith on hajj. Please read and benefit: [<a href="http://www.islamicawakening.com/articles.php?subcatID=43&#038;">Articles</a>]
   </p>
   
   <hr />
   
   <p>
     <strong>Hadith to the above points:</strong>
   </p>
   
   <p>
     [1]: Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said: “Whoever wants to go for Hajj, let him hasten to do it, because he may fall ill or some other problems may arise.”
   </p>
   
   <p>
     [2]: Also, hajj and umrah actually increases our blessings and wealth. The Messenger of Allaah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said: “Keep on doing Hajj and ‘Umrah, for they eliminate poverty and sin just as the bellows eliminate impurities from iron and gold and silver.” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 810; al-Nasaa’i, 2631. The hadeeth was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani – may Allaah have mercy on him – in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah, 1200).
   </p>
   
   <p>
     [3]: Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said: &#8220;There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allaah than these ten days.&#8221; The people asked, &#8220;Not even jihaad for the sake of Allaah?&#8221; He said, &#8220;Not even jihaad for the sake of Allaah, except in the case of a man who went out to fight giving himself and his wealth up for the cause, and came back with nothing.&#8221; (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 2/457).
   </p>
   
   <p>
     [4]: &#8220;The Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) used to fast on the ninth of Dhu’l-Hijjah, on the day of ‘Aashooraa’, on three days of each month, and on the first two Mondays and Thursdays of each month.&#8221; (Reported by al-Nisaa’i, 4/205 and by Abu Dawud; classified by al-Albaani as saheeh in Saheeh Abi Dawud, 2/462).
   </p>
   
   <p>
     [5]:The Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said: &#8220;When you see the new moon of Dhu’l-Hijjah, if any one of you wants to offer a sacrifice, then he should stop cutting his hair and nails until he has offered his sacrifice.&#8221;
   </p>
   
   <p>
     [6]: Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): &#8220;That they might witness things that are of benefit to them (i.e., reward of Hajj in the Hereafter, and also some worldly gain from trade, etc.), and mention the name of Allaah on appointed days, over the beast of cattle that He has provided for them (for sacrifice)&#8230;&#8221; [al-Hajj 22:28]
   </p>
   

Hajj is coming. Less then two weeks remaining! But what’s the deal with Hajj shopping? Everybody tells you to take different things. Take suitcases. No, don’t take suitcases. Take lots of clothes. No, take a few clothes. Take medicine.

Confusion abounds.

How would you like a sneak peak at the shopping list of someone who attended Hajj several times in the last few years? Someone who changed their focus from attending Hajj to helping others excel at Hajj?