|
Upon becoming Muslim, one must perform
Hajj once in his lifetime. Hajj is the pilgrimage one makes to the
Sacred House of Allah (the Ka’bah) in order to perform certain rites at
specific places at specific times. This pillar of Islam is obligatory
upon every Muslim, male or female, who is sane and has reached the age
of puberty, once in a lifetime if they have the physical and financial
ability. If a person has an incurable disease which prevents him from
performing Hajj, but has enough money, he must assign someone to perform
Hajj for him. But if a person does not have enough money to fulfill his
daily requirements or to support those whom he supports, Hajj is not an
obligation upon him. Allah says:
"And Hajj to the House (Ka’bah) is a duty that
mankind owes to Allah, those who can afford the expenses; and whoever
disbelieves, then Allah stands not in need of any of the ‘Aalameen
(Mankind and Jinns)." (3:97)
There are many reasons and great
wisdoms why Hajj has been prescribed. From them are the following:
-
To increase one’s good
deeds due to his act of obedience, for the reward of Hajj which has
been accepted by Allah is nothing but Jannah. The
Messenger of Allah said:
“An ‘Umrah followed by another is an expiation
for the lesser sins one performed between them, and there is no
reward for a Hajj which has been accepted by Allah except Jannah.” (Bukhari
#1683 and Muslim #1349)
-
To realize the unity of the
Muslims, for Hajj is the largest Islamic gathering. Muslims from all
over come together at one place, at one time, calling the same Lord,
wearing the same clothes, performing the same rituals. There is no
difference between the rich and poor, the noble and ignoble, the
white and black, Arab and non-Arab. They are all equal; there is no
difference between them except in piety (taqwaa). This is nothing
but an emphasis of the brotherhood of all Muslims and the unity of
their hopes and feelings.
-
It is a spiritual exercise which
trains one to exert his efforts, physically and financially, in the
way of Allah and seeking His Pleasure.
-
It is a purification of
one’s sins and wrongdoings. The
Prophet said:
“Whoever performs Hajj to this House (the Ka’bah)
and does not and does not have sexual relations, he will return
[sin-free] like the day he was born.” (Bukhari #1723 & Muslim #1350
)
How to
Perform Hajj?
There are three types of Hajj; each one has its
specific rites. The best type is Tamattu’, wherein one performs Hajj and
‘Umrah separately, in the Sacred Months of Hajj. It is done as follows:
-
1- One should enter the state of Ihraam from the
Miqat before the 8th of Dhu’l-Hijjah. He should enter state of
Ihram, saying:
“Labbayk-Allahumma ‘Umratan
mutamitti’an bihaa ilal-Hajj.”
Meaning: Here I am at your service, O Allah,
performing ‘Umrah and then a Hajj [separately].
-
2- After entering Makkah, he
should perform Tawaaf around the Ka’bah and perform the Sa‘i for ‘Umrah,
and then shave or shorten the hair. Women should clip her hair equal
to a third of a finger’s length.
-
-
3- On the eighth day of
Dhul-Hijjah, which is called the day of Tarwiyah, one should enter
the state of Ihraam at the time of Duhaa´ , from the place he is in.
He should then go to Minaa´, and there he should perform Dhuhr, ‘Asr,
Maghrib, and ‘Ishaa´ prayers. He should shorten Dhuhr, ‘Asr and ‘Ishaa´
prayers [as a traveler does] but he should not combine them.
-
-
4- After the sun has risen on the
ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah, which is the Day of ‘Arafah, one should
leave Minaa´ and head towards ‘Arafah. He should pray Dhuhr and ‘Asr
at the time of Dhuhr, both two rak‘ahs. After completing them, he
should spend his time remembering Allah and supplicating him with
sincere humility. One should ask Allah whatever he wishes raising
his hands while facing the Qiblah.
-
-
5- When the sun sets on the Day of
‘Arafah, one should set out for Muzdalifah. Once he has reached, he
should pray the Maghrib and ‘Ishaa´ prayers, combining both prayers
together, making the ‘Ishaa´ prayer two rak’aat only. He should
spend the night in Muzdalifah. He should pray Fajr prayer in its
earliest acceptable time, and then he should spend his time
supplicating until the sky appears bright.
-
-
6- But before the sun has risen,
he should leave for Minaa´. Once he arrives, he should throw seven
pebbles at Jamrat-ul-’Aqabah , saying “Allahu Akbar” with each
throw. The pebbles should be the size of a chickpea.
-
-
7- After this, he should slaughter
his sacrificial animal, and then shave or shorten the hair. Shaving
is better for men, but as for women, she should clip her hair about
a third of a finger’s length. (She should not shave her head).
-
-
8- With this one would partially
terminate the Ihraam, and remain in a state of lesser Ihraam. He may
wear normal clothes and do everything which is allowed for a normal
person except for having marital relations with his wife.
-
-
9- One should then proceed to
Makkah and perform the Tawaaf and Sa‘i, both for Hajj. Upon
completion, he should return to Minaa´ and spend the nights of the
eleventh and twelfth of Dhul-Hijjah there. During the days, he
should throw seven pebbles at all three Jamaraat, saying “Allahu
Akbar” with each pebble. He should do so after the sun starts to
decline from its zenith. He should begin with the smallest Jamrah,
and then proceed to the middle and then the largest.
-
-
10- Once a person has thrown
pebbles at the Jamaraat on the twelfth day, he may leave Minaa´ or
he may spend another night in Minaa´, throwing pebbles at the three
Jamaraat on the thirteenth day after the sun starts to decline from
its zenith as explained earlier, this is more praiseworthy.
-
-
11- Once one intends to return
home, he should proceed to Makkah and perform Tawaaf al-Wadaa’
(farewell Tawaf). This Tawaaf is not an obligation for a woman
experiencing menses or postpartum bleeding. Once a person has done
this, his Hajj is complete.
|
|
