WHAT ARE SOME OF THE RITUALS THAT PILGRIMS PERFORM?
Pilgrims make the intention to perform Hajj and they enter a state of “ihram.” Being in ihram includes abiding by certain rules and prohibitions. For instance, men are not to wear regular sewn or stitched clothes that encircle the body, such as shirts, during ihram; there are simple ihram cloth garments for men instead. Scholars say the intention is to discard luxuries and vanity, shed worldly status symbols and immerse the pilgrim in humility and devotion to God.
A spiritual highlight of Hajj for many is the standing on the plain of Arafat, where pilgrims praise God, plead for forgiveness and make supplications.
Other rituals include performing “tawaf,” circumambulating, or circling the Kaaba in Mecca counterclockwise seven times.
Muslims do not worship the Kaaba, a cube-shaped structure that they consider the metaphorical house of God; it’s the focal point toward which devout Muslims face during their daily prayers from anywhere in the world.
Pilgrims also trace the path of Hagar, or Hajar, the wife of Prophet Ibrahim, Abraham to Jews and Christians, who Muslims believe ran between two hills seven times searching for water for her son.
Among other rituals, pilgrims throw pebbles in a symbolic stoning of the devil.
WHAT IS EID AL-ADHA?
Eid al-Adha, or the “Feast of Sacrifice,” is the Islamic holiday that begins on the 10th day of the Islamic lunar month of Dhul-Hijja, during Hajj.
Celebrated by Muslims around the world, Eid al-Adha marks Prophet Ibrahim’s test of faith and his willingness to sacrifice his son as an act of submission to God. During the festive holiday, Muslims slaughter sheep or cattle and distribute some meat to the poor.
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Virtues of Hajj
here are many hadiths that speak about the virtues and rewards of Hajj, including the following:
It is narrated by Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked which deed was best, so he replied, “Belief in Allah and His Messenger.” He was asked what was the next in excellence, and he said, “Jihad for the sake of Allah.” He was asked about the next one and he (peace and blessings be upon him) replied, “An accepted Hajj” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
An accepted Hajj denotes that:
a. It must be paid for with legal earnings.
b. One should keep away from evil, sin, and unjust disputes during it.
c. One should observe all its rituals according to the Sunnah.
d. One should not show off by doing Hajj; it should be done purely and sincerely for the sake of Allah.
e. One should not follow it with acts of disobedience and sin.
Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) say, “Whoever does Hajj for the sake of Allah, shunning (during his Hajj) all sexual matters, and keeping away from sins, will come back as (free from sins) as he was on the day his mother gave birth to him” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) also reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “(Performing an) `Umrah after another is an expiation for the sins committed between them, and the accepted Hajj has no less a reward than Paradise” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
`A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), “O Messenger of Allah, can we not go out on campaigns and fight in jihad with you?” He said, “Yours is the best and most beautiful of jihad, an accepted Hajj.” `A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said, “I never stopped going for Hajj after I heard that from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)” (Al-Bukhari).
`Amr ibn Al-`Aas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Hajj wipes out whatever (sins) came before it” (Muslim).
`Abdullah ibn Mas`ud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Keep on doing Hajj and `Umrah (following one with another), for they eliminate poverty and sins just as the bellows eliminates impurities from iron, gold, and silver” (At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa’i).
Ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “The one who fights for the sake of Allah and the pilgrim who goes for Hajj or `Umrah are all guests of Allah. He called them and they responded; they ask of Him and He will give them” (Ibn Majah)
Virtues of Hajj-e-Mabrur
Saying of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم: ‘اَلْحَجُّ الْمَبْرُوْرُ لَيْسَ لَهُ جَزَاءٌ إِلَّا الْجَنَّةُ’. Translation: The reward for Hajj Mabroor is nothing else but Jannah [Paradise]. (Sahih Bukhari, vol. 1, pp. 586, Hadees 1773)
It means that the reward for accepted Hajj will not only be worldly benefits and the forgiveness of sins or salvation from Hell or reduction in torment, but one will definitely get Jannah. (Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 4, pp. 96)
What is Hajj Mabroor?
Mabroor [مَبْرُور] has formed from ‘بِرٌّ’ which means: That obedience and great virtue through which closeness to Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ is attained. Hajj Mabroor can also be called “Hajj Maqbool”. ‘Ulama [Islamic scholars] have mentioned its different definitions:
1 Hajj Mabroor is the Hajj in which a person refrains from sins.
2 That Hajj in which one refrains from pretentiousness, fame and showing off.
3 That Hajj after which a pilgrim refrains from sins till his death and does not commit a deed which wastes his Hajj.
4 Hajj Mabroor is the one which softens the heart of a Haji so that his heart remains grieved and eyes remain tearful.
5 Hajj Mabroor is: Perfectly fulfilling those commandments (Arkaan, conditions, Wajib acts, etc.) of Hajj which a person has been commanded to fulfil.
6 Sayyiduna Khuwajah Hasan Basri رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه has stated: Hajj Maqbool is the one after which a Haji becomes uninterested in Dunya, and interested in the matters of the Hereafter. (Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 5, pp. 441; Fath-ul-Baari, vol. 4, pp. 329, Taht-al-Hadees: 1521)
O devotees of Rasool! Every Haji should wish that his Hajj is accepted in the court of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ.
How can a Hajj be Mabroor?
Those deeds which are helpful in Hajj being accepted:
1 A person should do Hajj from Tahir [pure] and Halal [lawful] wealth. (Zurqaani ‘alal Muwatta Imam Maalik, vol. 2, pp. 376, Taht-al-Hadees: 783)
2 A person should refrain from sins.
3 A person should show goodness to people.
4 He should serve them food.
5 He should talk to them politely.
6 He should say Salam [to people] extensively. (‘Umda-tul-Qaari, vol. 7, pp. 402, Taht-al-Hadees: 1779)
7 He should keep food more than his need so that he keeps helping his companions and giving it to Faqeers [the poor]. (Bahar-e-Shari’at, vol. 1, pp. 1051)
Signs of Hajj Mabroor
Hujjat-ul-Islam, Sayyiduna Imam Muhammad Ghazali رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه has stated: The following are the signs of Hajj being accepted:
1 If a person suffers a loss or physical or financial trouble, he should accept it contentedly.
2 A person should abandon the sins he used to commit.
3 A person should abandon the friendship of bad friends and make friendship with pious people.
4 A person should abandon the gatherings of “fun and frolic” and heedlessness, and he should join the gatherings of Zikr and wakefulness. (Ihya-ul-‘Uloom, vol. 1, pp. 354)
5 After his return, a person should become uninterested in Dunya and pay attention to the Hereafter; and after beholding Baytullah [بَیْتُ اللّٰە], he should prepare for meeting his Rab عَزَّوَجَلَّ. (Ihya-ul-‘Uloom, vol. 1, pp. 349)
Hajj is not a permission letter to commit sins in the future
After Hajj, if a person does not carry out the missed acts of worship and does not fulfil the unfulfilled rights of people, he will start bearing the burden of all these sins again. Delaying fulfilling the unfulfilled rights is a new sin. Hajj washes away previous sins; it is not a permission letter for committing sins in the future. The sign of Hajj Mabroor is that a person returns after becoming better than before. (Derived from: Fatawa Razawiyyah, vol. 24, pp. 466)
Refrain from disobedience
Sayyiduna Fudayl [فُضَیْل] Bin Iyaad رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه said to a Haji: O Haji! Certainly, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ puts a stamp of Noor [light] on deed of a Haji; therefore, refrain from breaking this stamp by committing disobedience to Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. (Ar-Raud-ul-Faaiq, pp. 55)
Make intention
O Hajis! Make the intention: I will make tremendous efforts to refrain from sins not only during this sacred journey but even after it.
Adopt good company
Remember! The desire to refrain from sins while being in a bad company is similar to the desire that clothes do not get wet after jumping into water! It is a Madani advice that adopt the company of devotees of Rasool by getting associated with the Madani environment of Dawat-e-Islami; اِنْ شَـآءَ اللّٰە, along with other blessings, you will develop the yearning for refraining from sins, and yearning for carrying out virtuous deeds and respectfully paying a visit to Makkah and Madinah again and again. May Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ bless us with the privilege of Hajj Mabroor again and again.
اٰمِيۡن بِجَاهِ النَّبِيِّ الۡاَمِيۡن صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيۡهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم
Forgiveness for the One Who Performs Hajj
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say: “Whoever performs Hajj and does not utter obscenities or commit sin, will come back as on the day when his mother bore him.” (Narrated by al-Bukhari, 1521; Muslim, 1350).
And he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “From one ‘Umrah to the next is an expiation for whatever (sins) came between them, and for an accepted Hajj there is no reward but Paradise.” (Narrated by al-Bukhari, 1773; Muslim, 1349).
Hajj and other righteous deeds are means of expiation of sins, if a person does them in the manner prescribed in the Shari’ah.
The majority of scholars are of the view that righteous deeds only expiate for minor sins. With regard to major sins, it is essential to repent. They quote as evidence for this view the hadith narrated by Muslim from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), according to which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The five daily prayers, from one Jumu’ah to the next and from one Ramadan to the next is expiation for whatever (sins) come in between them, so long as you avoid major sins.” (Narrated by Muslim, 1/209)
Imam Ibn al-Mundhir (may Allah have mercy on him) and a group of scholars are of the view that an accepted Hajj expiates for all sins , because of the apparent meaning of the two hadiths quoted above.
And Allah knows best.