1. This is a journey that was taken by Prophets and Messengers before you. Those who take the path of the Prophets magnify the Tawheed of Allah and His House. There are those, however, who come to perform Haj and their hearts are attached to other than Allah. They invoke the dead and the righteous, whether present or absent. This is the opposite of Tawheed, it is Shirk no matter what they call it because it is setting up rivals besides Allah. So, free your intention from any kind of devotion to other than Allah. Repent and come with a sincere heart submitting to Allah remembering what Ibrahim and his son Isma’il said when they were raising the foundations of Allah’s House, the Ka’aba.
“O our Rabb! Accept from us and make us submit to You in Islam and show us our Manaasik (all the rite of Haj) and accept our repentance.” – Qur’an 2:128
2. You are set to depart and you may or may not return to your home. Make this journey to Allah’s House as Allah wants it. Think of the next journey that is surely coming, the one that leads to the meeting of Allah, Most High. This raises questions like: What did I prepare for that Day? Am I following Allah’s Commands? Am I a follower of the Sunnah of Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam? Do I really know of Allah? Am I a believer that Allah is above the seven heavens over His ‘arsh as He has stated in His Book and as His Messengers have asserted? Am I a believer that believes Allah has a true Face that suits His Majesty as He has affirmed in the Qur’an and as has been affirmed by His Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam? Am I believer in all of Allah’s Names, Attributes and Actions which He has affirmed in His Book and by His Messengers? Or do I just take and accept by my doubt, rejecting, or distorting (through what is called figurative interpretation of His Attributes) the meanings of Allah’s Attributes and Actions?
And invoke not any other ilaah (god) along with Allah, la ilaaha ilaa huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), Everything will perish save His Face, His is the Decision, and to Him (all) shall be returned. – Qur’an 28:88
3. Know, may Allah’s Mercy upon you, that when you reach the Meeqaat there is another Meeqaat that is still to come. It is the Meeqaat (appointed meeting) on the Day of Resurrection:
Say (O Muhammad): (Yes) verily, those of old, and those of later times. All will surely be gathered together for an appointed Meeting of a known Day. – Qur’an 56:49-50
4. When you start saying the Talbiyah remember the Command of Allah to Prophet Ibrahim:
And proclaim to mankind the Haj. They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel, they will come from deep and distant (wide) mountain highways (to perform Haj). – Qur’an 22:27
The Talbiyah you make is in response to Prophet Ibrahim’s proclamation to visit Allah’s house of worship. Allah is Most Great.
5. Upon entering Makkah remember that you are in the Secure Sanctuary:
Have We not established for them a secure sanctuary (Makkah), to which are brought fruits of all kinds, a provision from Ourselves, but most of them know not. – Qur’an 28:57
Let one commit himself to repentance, having a good opinion of Allah, hoping that Allah will grant him security from His Punishment.
6. You will enter one of the gates of Al-Masjid Al-Haraam. Then there you are before the magnificent House of Allah, Most High, the Ka’aba. Now you see what you hoped to see for a long time. Thank Allah for making this possible and hope that He will grant you the greatest reward of seeing His Majestic Face on the Day of Resurrection. This thankfulness is not just in saying “alhamdu-lillaah,” but also by obeying Allah while on Haj and for the rest of your life.
7. You start your Tawaaf knowing that it is a great time for magnifying Allah the Exalted. Remember Him by His Names, Attributes and Actions. Also while in Tawaaf try to reflect upon the time when Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, was prevented from doing the same thing you are doing today. Then think about what he did in clearing out the site from the symbols signifying worship to other than Allah! All idols were demolished. Busy yourself with du’aa. Ask Allah, the Most Great to make you hold to the correct belief and Path of the Salaf and make you die on it. Ask Allah to save you from all forms of Shirk and Bid’ah.
8. While in Sa’yi, contemplate on Haajar, the mother of Isma’il, when she asked her husband Ibrahim: “Did Allah order you to do this (leaving her and her baby Isma’il in Makkah)? He said: “Yes.” Her great response was: “Then He (Allah) will not neglect us!” Think about this great dependence upon Allah when you are in the Sa’yi walking the same path which Haajar took in search for water and for the means of life around the mounts of Safa and Marwah. Think about her endurance, perseverance and truth in Allah. The Sa’yi exemplifies the strong belief that we are in need for the One Who Sustains and Provides – Allah, the Exalted.
Think about Ibrahim’s invocation on his way to Palestine:
O our Rabb! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in a valley with no cultivation, by Your Sacred House (the Ka’aba at Makkah); in order, O our Rabb, that they may offer prayers perfectly, so fill some hearts among men with love towards them, and (O Allah) provide them with fruits so that they may give thanks. – Qur’an 14:37
Men and fruits came to Makkah from many places. Ibrahim returned to visit and later to share with his son Isma’il the noble task of raising the foundations of the Ka’aba.
9. The standing on ‘Arafaat is the Haj. The crowds should remind you of the Day of Resurrection. Humble yourself to Allah, manifest your ‘Uboodiyyah to Him Alone through du’aa, sincere intention and strong determination to free yourself from the sins of the past and to build up a commitment to rush for doing what is good. Think of becoming a better person when you return. Rid yourself of false pride and showing off because it may ruin what you may gain on this day.
10. You gathered the pebbles and you are about to embark on stoning the Jamaraat. This is an act of obedience and remembrance of Allah, Most Magnificent. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “When you cast the small pebbles (ie at the Jamaraat), it will be a light for you on the Day of Resurrection.”
11. When performing the sacrifice remember that saying of Allah, the Most High:
It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah, but it is your devotion that reaches him. – Qur’an 22:37
12. When you have completed your Haj, do not think that the remembrance of Allah has ended. Listen to what Allah says:
So when you have accomplished your Manaasik (ie the rites of Haj) remember Allah as you remember your forefathers or with a far more remembrance. – Qur’an 2:200
Special note: If you go to Madinah then the objective of your visit should be according to the Sunnah and not Bid’ah. Your intention is to set on a journey to visit the Prophet’s mosque and not his grave. When you reach the mosque and you pray upon entering then you may go to the grave and say, “As-salaama ‘alayka ayyuhan-nabiyy.” The same salaam is also mentioned when you pass by Abu Bakr and ‘Umar without innovations like:
a. Visiting the grave of the Prophet before praying in the mosque.
b. Making du’aa facing the grave.
c. Seeking nearness to Allah by means of the Prophet. This is a prohibited form of tawassul.
d. Seeking intercession from the Prophet.
e. Placing the hands upon the grills around the room containing the Prophet’s grave to seek blessings, etc.
Remember the Prophet’s sayings: “Do not make my grave an ‘Eid (place of celebration)...
“May Allah’s curse be on the Jews and Christians for taking the graves of their Prophets as places of worship.”
“Those before you took the graves of their Prophets as places of worship. Do not take graves as places of worship for verily I forbid you to do so.”
13. The Haj journey is not meant to gain any material reward. It is a selfless sacrifice solely for Allah, Most Majestic. It demands true love and fear of Him. It should be performed with full consciousness of one’s heart, with full humility and submission to Allah. It should not be thought of as a tourist-type excursion or be performed as mere physical rites. It develops sincerity, piety, humility, self-control, sacrifice, and true knowledge of the meaning of submission and obedience to Allah, Most High. It helps the pilgrim to be a better person who is devoted to Allah in every aspect of life.
PRIOR TO HAJ AND/OR ‘UMRAH THE MUSLIM SHOULD:
1. Purify his creed (‘Aqeedah) from any aspects of shirk, greater or lesser, as shirk destroys one’s deeds.
2. Devote his Haj purely and sincerely for Allah.
3. Sincerely repent for all of his sins.
4. Acquire knowledge about Haj and its rites.
5. Use Halaal (lawful) means to support this great journey, taking what he will require (ie not begging while on Haj to meet his needs).
6. Record all of his debts and include them in his Islamic Will.
7. Relieve himself from any kind of injustice which he may have inflicted upon others.
8. Secure the needs of his family members whom he leaves home.
9. Accompany the knowledgeable and righteous Muslims and stay away from the Mubtadi’ah (innovators in Deen).
10. Perform Salaat on time and as prescribed during the journey and in the Haj period.
11. Safeguard his tongue from backbiting, arguing, complaining.
12. Keep his beard and not shave it for Haj or for any other reason, as this is prohibited.
13. Remember that it is unlawful for men to wear gold (rings included).
Note: The position of the scholars regarding visiting the grave sites by women can be summarised as follows:
a. Disliked but not unlawful
b. Allowable, if done infrequently. If a woman is known as being unable to behave herself within the limits of Shariah at a grave site, then she should be prevented from visiting the graves.
c. Forbidden, and
d. A grave sin
Many scholars state that women visiting the Prophet’s Mosque may pronounce their salaam upon the Prophet away from the grave site since it is confirmed by many Ahaadith that the salaam is related to the Prophet wherever the person may be. The Prophet is in a state of Barzakh ( a state of existence that begins with death and lasts until the Day of Resurrection) the nature of which is only known to Allah.
Virtues of the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah
By Shaykh Abdullah Ibn Abdur-Rahman al-Jibreen
All praise is due to Allah, and may He render our Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, safe from every derogatory thing, and exalt his mention, and the mention of his household and Companions.
Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these 10 days.” The people (the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them) asked: “O Messenger of Allah, not even Jihad in the path of Allah?” He, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “Not even Jihad in the path of Allah, except in the case of a man who went out to fight giving himself and his wealth up for the cause, and came back with nothing (lost both his property and life).” [Al-Bukhari]
In another version, Ibn Umar, radiallahu ‘anhumaa, reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: There are no days during which good deeds are greater or more beloved to Allah than these ten days. So recite more often the Tahleel (Laa Ilaaha Illallah) , Takbeer (Allahu Akbar), Tahmeed (Alhamdulillah). (Imam Ahmad)
Jaabir reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: The best day is the Day of Arafah.
Ten Kinds of Observances In These Days
First: Performing Haj and ‘Umrah, which are the best of all observances. Its excellence is signified by many Prophetic traditions. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: Performing ‘Umrah and following it with another expiates sins that are committed in between. And the perfect Haj would be requited with nothing other than Jannah. There are also many authentic traditions to that effect.
Second: Observing fasting on all or some of these days, particularly on the Day of Arafah. There is no doubt that fasting is the best of observances; for it is one of the observances which Allah relates to Himself, according to the holy tradition (hadith Qudsi): Fasting is for Me, and I shall requite it. My slave relinquishes his desires, food, and drink for My sake.
Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri, radiallahu ‘anhu, reported that the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: Any slave of Allah who observes fast of a day in the cause of Allah, Allah would separate between him and the Fire a distance of seventy years on account of observing that day. (Agreed upon).
Abu Qataadah, radiallahu ‘anhu, narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: Observing fasting on the Day of Arafat; I expect Allah to expiate the sins that were committed during the preceding year, and the sins that will be committed in the year after. (Imam Muslim)
Third: Reciting Takbeer, and Dhikr in these days according to the words of Allah, the Exalted: And mention the name of Allah in certain days. [Surah Al-Baqarah 2:203] These certain days are said to be the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. Therefore, scholars recommend Dhikr more often during these days, according to a tradition which is reported by Ibn Umar, radiallahu ‘anhumaa: Therefore, recite more often, Tahleel, Takbeer, and Tahmeed.
Ibn Umar and Abu Hurairah (radiallaahu ‘anhum) used to go out to the marketplaces during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah and recite out loud the Takbeer and people would repeat it after them.
Ishaaq (rahimahullah) reported that the jurists (rahimahumullah) used to recite during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah: “Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Laa Ilaaha illallah, wallahu Akbar, wa lillaahil-hamd.” It is commended to recite them out loud in marketplaces, at homes, roads, mosques and elsewhere. According to the commands of Allah: That you may exalt Allah for having guided you, and that you may be grateful to Him. [Surah Al-Baqarah 2:185]
It is not permissible to recite the Takbeer in unison. That is, when a group of people recite the Takbeer in one voice, for it has never been reported that the Pious Predecessors did so. The proper way, according to the Sunnah, is that everyone recites the Takbeer individually. This applies to all supplications and Dhikr; unless one is ignorant, then someone may teach him and he recites after him. It is permissible to recite whatever forms of Takbeer, Tahmeed, and the rest of the legitimate supplications.
Fourth: Repentance and relinquishing acts of disobedience and all sins, in order to acquire forgiveness and mercy. Acts of disobedience are means of banishing, while acts of obedience are means of gaining favour with Allah. Abu Hurairah, radiallahu ‘anhu, reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: Verily Allah feels jealous, and the jealousy of Allah is aroused when man violates what Allah prohibits. (Agreed upon)
Fifth: Accomplishing more good deeds of voluntary observances, such as: salaat, charity, Jihad, Qur’anic recitation, enjoining the good and forbidding the wrong, and the like; for the rewards of such observances are multiplied during these days. Observances during these days are unsurpassed in excellence and they are better and more beloved to Allah than other excellent observances including Jihad, which is the best of deeds, unless one sacrifices both, his life and his steed.
Sixth: It is legal during these days the recitation of the Takbeer in general at all times, day or night until ‘Eid prayer. The restricted Takbeer is that which is to be recited after the obligatory prayers. As for the non-pilgrims, the Takbeer begins from the Day of Arafah, and for pilgrims it begins from the noon prayer of the Day of Sacrifice and continues until Asr prayer of the last of the days of Tashreeq.
Seventh: Offering the sacrificial animal during the day of sacrifice and the Days of Tashreeq. It is the Sunnah of our father Ibrahim, may Allah exalt his mention, in commemoration of the occasion when Allah ransomed Ibrahim’s son with a large ram. It has been authentically confirmed that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, sacrificed two black and white rams with horns. He killed them with his own hand, and invoked the name of Allah upon them, recited the Takbeer, and placed his foot on their sides, when he killed them. (Agreed upon.)
Eighth: Umm Salamah, may Allah be pleased with her, said: When you see the new moon of Dhul-Hijjah, and one of you wants to sacrifice an animal let him refrain from cutting or shaving his hair or clipping his finger nails, or toenails. In another version: Let him not cut his hair or his fingernails until he has slaughtered his sacrificial animal. This perhaps is enjoined on non-pilgrims to have something in common with the pilgrims who bring along with them their sacrificial animals. Allah, the Exalted, says: And do not shave off your heads until the sacrificial animal is slaughtered. [Surah Al-Baqarah 197] This prohibition seems to apply only to a person who is making the offering, not his dependents, unless one of them has his own sacrificial animal. There is no harm in washing the head even if some hairs fall off.
Ninth: The Muslim must make sure to observe Eid prayer in its designated place, and attend the Khutbah of the Eid. He should also know the purpose of the Eid, and that it’s a day of giving thanks and a chance for accomplishing good deeds. He should not turn it into a day of mischief, disobedience, or an excuse for violating the prohibited things; such as singing music, illegitimate amusements, consuming liquor, or the like. All of these things are detestable and nullify the good deeds that one may have accomplished during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah.
Tenth: After knowing all the above observances, every Muslim, male or female, must utilise these days in obedience to Allah, remembering Him, expressing gratefulness to him, fulfilling all the obligatory observances, avoiding the reprehensible things and taking advantage of this season to acquire His mercy and the pleasure. It Allah alone who grants success and guides to the right path.
May He exalt the mention of Muhammad, and his household, and Companions, and may He render them safe from every derogatory thing.
