Hajj - A great honor

 The Day of ‘Arafah – Day of Satan’s bewilderment and Hajis’ accomplishment

 

 

Hajj is a great honor for a believer.  A Hajj not only gives the Hajis the glad tiding of forgiveness, it also grants them the title of “Guests of Allah.”  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: Those who go for Hajj and ‘Umrah are delegations of Allah.  If they supplicate Allah, the Lord Almighty accepts their supplications and if they ask for His forgiveness, He forgives them.  Those who go to Hajj are those who answered to the call of Hadhrat Ibrahim (May peace be upon him).

 

These are the words of Mufti Syed Ziauddin Naqshbandi, Professor, Islamic Law, Jamia Nizamia, Founder-Director Abul Hasanaat Islamic Research Center, in the weekly lecture at Masjid Abul Hasanaat, Jahanuma, which is held under the auspices of AHIRC.

 

        The revered Mufti quoted from Hakim and Durre Manthur that when Hadhrat Ibrahim (May peace be upon him) finished the construction of the Ka’aba, Almighty Allah ordered him to give the call for Hajj.  He pleaded:  How will my voice reach anyone?  Almighty Allah answered:  Giving the call is your task and making it heard is Ours.  Hadhrat Ibrahim (May peace be upon him) gave the call from the top of the mountain of Abu Qubais:  Indeed!  Almighty Allah has made Hajj Obligatory (Fardh) on you.  So answer the call of your Lord.  On this call, even from the backs of men and the wombs of women, people recited the Talbiya and accepted it.  Until the Day of Judgment, any Haji who goes for Hajj is one of those who had answered that call.

 

The revered Mufti said that the Day of ‘Arafah is a day of Satan’s bewilderment and Hajis’ accomplishment.  On this day, Almighty Allah grants forgiveness to innumerable sinners.  The Mufti related a Hadith that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  On the day of ‘Arafah, Almighty Allah graces the worldly skies with His Presence and expresses His Pride on those who have gathered in the Plain of ‘Arafah.

 

The Lord Almighty says:  O angels!  See My slaves who have come to My Presence through far, narrow and wide paths, with disheveled hair and dust-laden faces and are calling Me with My praise and glorification.  O angels!  You be witness!  I have forgiven them.

 

On this the angels will say:  O Lord Almighty!  Among them is so and so son or daughter or so and so and he/she is a sinner.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  On this, Almighty Allah says:  Listen!  Along with the pious, I have forgiven them as well.

 

After saying this, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  On no other day are so many slaves of Allah freed from hell as on the Day of ‘Arafah.

 

On seeing the sweeping abundance and the general forgiveness, Satan cries and wails and in a state of bewilderment, it pours dust on its head and face.

 

        The revered Mufti described in detail the method of Hajj and its related rules and issues.  He told in detail what the Hajis will face and what they have to keep in mind in Mina, ‘Arafah, Muzdalifa.

 

The revered Mufti said that before the Hajj, we have to analyze ourselves and learn the articles and rules of Hajj properly.  If we have missed Salaat and fasts, then we should make up for them.  We should repent profusely.  We should fulfill those rights of others which are binding on us.  If we have hurt anybody, we should ask their forgiveness.

 

Apart from the intended Hajis and scholars, etc. a large number of people attended the lecture.  Maulana Hafidh Syed Ahmed Ghouri, Teacher, Jamia Nizamia, led the proceedings.