Hajj - A great article of Islam

Hajj is a great obligation and a majestic article of Islamic worship.  Hajj is Obligatory (Fardh) on every adult, sane, affluent Muslim.  Once Hajj has become Obligatory, it shouldn’t be delayed.  Those affluent folk who delay the performance of this great article of worship, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has given strict warnings for them.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:

 

Translation: The person who has provisions and a mount that can take him (or her) to the House of Allah Most High and still doesn’t perform Hajj, then it doesn’t make a difference whether that person dies as a Jew or as a Christian.  Almighty Allah says about this person:  Surah Al Imran-97.  (Jame’ Tirmidhi, Hadith No. 817)

 

These are the words of Mufti Syed Ziauddin Naqshbandi, Shaykh Ul Fiqh, Jamia Nizamia and Founder-Director, Abul Hasanaat Islamic Research Center, in the weekly lecture under the auspices of AHIRC at Masjid Abul Hasanaat.

 

The revered Mufti said in light of the aforementioned verse that Hajj should be done to seek Allah’s pleasure and approval.  Showing off and ostentation should never be the aim.

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has given glad tidings about those people who perform Hajj only for the pleasure of Allah and save themselves from indecency and transgressions.  He said:

 

Translation: The person who performs Hajj for the pleasure of Allah Most High, and neither does any indecent thing nor transgressed, that person will return purified of sins as if his mother bore him just then.  (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No. 1521)

 

The revered Mufti described in detail the eligibility criteria of Hajj.  He cited a Hadith from Jame’ Tirmidhi that a person came to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and asked:  O Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)!  What makes Hajj Compulsory?  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Provisions for the journey and a mount.  (Jame’ Tirmidhi, Hadith No. 818)

 

The revered Mufti said that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) didn’t specify any mount of those times.  The word He used, “Rihlah” is such a comprehensive word that it includes all kinds of mounts – be them mounts of land, water or air.

 

The revered Mufti said that those people are lucky indeed who go for Hajj and visitation of the sacred grave of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  The Ka’aba itself prays for those who circumambulate it.  The Ka’aba requested the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam):

 

Translation: O Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)!  You don’t worry about 3 kinds of people:  The person who circumambulates me, the person who set out from home with the intention of coming to me but couldn’t reach me and the person who desires to reach me but doesn’t have the means of doing so.  (Nuzhatul Majalis, Babu Fadhlil Hajj)

 

Apart from scholars, research scholars, a large number of people were present.

 

The session ended with Salaam and Dua.  Maulana Hafidh Syed Ahmed Ghouri, Teacher, Jamia Nizamia, led the proceedings.