Blessings of Haj

Haj is a great article of Islam, which is obligatory (Fardh) once in a lifetime on every Muslim who can afford it.  Allah Ta’ala says:

 

the Pilgrimage to this House is prescribed for the people for the sake of Allah whoever may afford its journey; and whoever denies (it) then indeed, Allah is Self-Sufficient, Beyond Need of all the worlds.  Surah Al Imran (3:97)

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has described the special excellence of this great form of worship.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:

 

Translation of Hadith: Whoever performs Haj only to please Allah Ta’ala and does not commit any indecency and does not commit transgressions/sins, he (or she) will return from Haj cleansed from all sins the way when his (or her) mother had given birth to him (or her).  (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No. 1521; Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 3357)

 

There is a Hadith in Musnad Bazzaar, Jame’ Ul Ahadith, Jame’ Kabeer, Majma Uz Zawaaid and Kanz Ul Ummal:

 

Translation of Hadith:  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  The one who performs Haj will intercede for 400 of his families or the narrator says: ……for 400 members of the family.

 

For these reasons, it is the heartfelt wish of every Momin (believer) to perform Haj and visit the blessed sanctuary (Rauza) of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) at least once in this fleeting life.  For this reason, Muslims gather in Makkah from the very ends of the world.

 

These are the words of Mufti Syed Ziauddin Naqshbandi Qadri, Associate Professor, Islamic Law, Jamia Nizamia, Founder/Director Abul Hasanaat Islamic Research Center in the weekly lecture at Masjid Abul Hasanaat, Phool Bagh, Jahanuma, Hyderabad.

 

Mufti Sahab said that the stay at Arafaat (Wuquf-e-Arafaat) is the most important article of Haj.  On this day, Allah Ta’ala grants His pardon to innumerable sinners.

 

Mufti Sahab quoted a Hadith from Sharh Sunnah, Mishkaat Ul Masabeeh and Zujajatul Masabeeh that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:

 

Translation of Hadith: On the day of Arafah, Allah Ta’ala graces the worldly skies with His presence and expresses His pleasure before the angels at all those who gather in the plain of Arafaat and says:  O angels!  You look at my slaves.  With disheveled hair and dust-covered faces, they have come here from afar through wide and narrow paths and are supplicating to me with their Tasbeeh and Tahleel, Dhikr and Talbeeh (the special recitation of Haj).  O angels!  You be witness! I have forgiven them all.

 

On listening to this, the angels will entreat: O my Lord! So and so man and woman are also here who are sinners.  The Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: On listening to this, Allah Ta’ala says: Listen! Along with the pious, I have forgiven them as well.  After this the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: On no day are so many people released from hell as many are released on the day of Arafah.

 

Mufti Sahab said that some people in spite of Haj being Fardh on them, delay and hesitate for silly reasons and end up missing that Fardh and being deprived of a great blessing.  There is a Hadith in Jame’ Tirmidhi:

Translation of Hadith: Whoever has the money required for the journey and a mount (i.e. a means of conveyance), which will take him to Baitullah and even then that person dies without performing Haj, then that person may as well die as a Jew or a Christian, as he wishes to.  (Jame’ Tirmidhi, Hadith No. 817)