Friday Talks
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Hajj 0
Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa.
In the name of Allah most Gracious most Merciful
Thanks be to Allah the Lord of the worlds, and peace and prayers be upon the most honorable of all messengers.
Hajj is that great ritual of our religion. Allah ruled upon his slaves to visit the ancient mosque once in a life time. When asked about what Islam was, the messenger (PPBU) said: {it is to testify that there is only one god, Allah. And the Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. Do the prayers, give the charity, fast Ramadan, and if able then go for pilgrimage (Hajj) to the Mosque}. So this who denies the obligation of Hajj is no longer a believer. And this who accepts it but does or did not do it due to negligence or carelessness then he/she is at danger. Omar ebn-Al-Khattab said: “I was almost at the point to send men to the cities and towns to look into who has what is needed to go to Hajj and did not, and force them to pay the non-Muslim tax. For they are not Muslims, they are not Muslims.” And Ali eb-Abi-Talib said: “Do walk around this mosque (Tawaf) as much as you possibly can before obstacles prevent you from doing so”.
The ancient Mosque (referred to as Kaabah) in the city of Mekkah; is like the light house for monotheism or believing in one God. It was built by the leader of all the monotheists Abraham. He who was ordered by Allah to cleanse and purify his mosque off all bad acts, idols and images.
This ancient mosque has a strange story. Abraham peace be upon him (PBU) brought Hager and her son Ishmael to the site of the ancient Mosque. Hager was still breast feeding her son at that time. Abraham left them near a big tree just over Zamum spring beyond the location Mosque. At the time there were no people in Mekkah and no water. He left them there with some water and some dates and he departed. Hager followed him and repeatedly said: “O’Abraham, where do you go and leave us in this barren valley that has nothing in it”. And Abraham did not answer. Then she asked: “is it Allah that commanded you to do this?” And he answered “yes”. Then she said: “Then He Allah will take care of us.” Abraham left. And just before he lost the sight of the Mosque; and where they could no longer see him; he faced towards it he made the following supplication (duaa): {Our Lord, I have left my offspring in a barren valley with no plants at your Mosque, Lord, so they will do prayers, let souls of people descend to them, and give them fruits and mercies so they may be thankful}. Hager remained there. The water was consumed and the baby Ishmael was breast fed. Eventually all the water was gone and the situation was becoming desperate. As time went on, and with the lack of water, Hager was trying to see if there was anyone passing by at the distance. She went to the higher spots, the two hills: Safa and the Marwa, but she saw nobody. She went back and fore seven times. When she was at the Marwa she heard a sound. It was her baby kicking and pushing the ground with his heels; and the water started seeping out. That water continues to flow till today, and it is known as Zamzum. Hager drank and she breast fed son. An angel spoke at the location of zamzum and said: {have no fear of perishing, for this Mosque will be built by this child and his father.}
And it came to pass that Abraham and his son built the Mosque. Allah commanded Abraham to announce to people to come and make pilgrimage (Hajj) to it. Abraham, said “O’God, how could I announce to people when my voice does not get through to them”, Allah said: “you just make the call, and we shall deliver (or we shall broadcast it)”. Abraham stood at the spot now known to be “Abraham’s stance” or “the standing point”, and other version the story tells that he stood at the hill of Safa, and said: “O’ you people, your Lord has taken up a house or a Mosque, make pilgrimage (hajj) to it.” It was claimed that mountains humbled so the sound of that call could reach out every spot on earth. And all who heard that call did answer, stones, plants, and all those people; that Allah has decided will make pilgrimage at all times till the end of life. Lord, We hear and we obey (áÈíß Çááåã áÈíß).
The prophet (PPBU) encouraged doing Hajj. He outlined that it destroys bad deeds committed before it. The messenger (PPBU) said telling Omr ebn el-as (ÚãÑ ÅÈä ÇáÚÇÕ): {did you not know that Islam forgives all that was before it? And to immigrate to Allah, also gets all that was before it forgiven. And Hajj clears all that was before it.} Indeed, one who does hajj, and during hajj he/she do not argue nor do wrong then he/she will come back from hajj pure and clear of all sins, big and small.
The messenger (PPBU) also said: {Whoever does hajj and does not argue nor does wrong; then he/she will come back like the day he/she was born}. Meaning: with no sins. And he also said: {continue doing pilgrimage (or Hajj) and visit the ancient Mosque (or Amrah), for they eliminate being poor and they eliminate sins, just as the smelting of iron, gold and silver eliminates the impurities. And there is no other reward to a good Hajj except paradise.}
Every person who does hajj has a definite answered prayer. The messenger (PPBU) said: {This who fights in the name of Allah and the one who goes for Hajj (or pilgrimage), or goes for amrah (or a visit to the ancient mosque), are visitors to Allah, HeH called them and they answered, So they asked Him and He gave them. (or and they made a prayer and HE answered)}
The messenger (PPBU) said: {Three are given assurances or guarantees by Allah, one who goes out to Allah’s Mosques, and one who is fighting for the sake of Allah, and one who is out for pilgrimage (Hajj)}
The benefit of Hajj (pilgrimage) is that it cleanses sins. The messenger (PPBU) said: {if you leave your home intending the ancient Mosque, then for each step taken by your ride, Allah writes down a good point or a good deed, and wipes off a sin. And the day you stand at the mountain of Arafah (the peak moment in Hajj), Allah descends down to the nearest sky, and boasts off with the people doing Hajj to his angels and says: “Those are my slaves, they come to me tousled, and dusty from all deep distances in earth, they are hoping for my mercy and they fear my punishment, and they never saw me, imagine if they do see me. If you have as many sins as all the sand on the sea, or as many as there are days in this life, or as many drops of water coming from the skies, then Allah will wash it all off you. For when you throw the pebbles, I am saving the reward for you, and as you shave your hair, for you have a good point for each hair that drops, and as you walk round the Mosque, you will come out of your sins like the day you were born.}
The messenger (PPBU) encouraged Muslims and made many calls in order that they do Hajj. For the rewards and benefits would move a they heart of a static person, and enflame the hearts that seek forgiveness and mercy of Allah.
May Allah forgive all your sins. And thanks be to Allah.
Notes:
- The inhabitants of the city of Almadina that received and supported the messenger (PPBU) when he imigrated from Mekkah in the very early years of Islam.
Ansar (or Al-Ansar):
is a verse of the Koran. Aya (or Ayah):
mountain that represents the climax of the Hajj worship. All doing Hajj must stay at this location on the same day. Arafa (or Arafa or Arafat): is a
talking to Allah; praising him and asking him for help. Duaa: a prayer in the form of
Ferdose: is the highest level of the all the gardens of Eden or paradise. reported that the messenger said. It includes all the speeches and ceremonies he gave. It is usually narrated or told by one of his companions. There is a list of hadeeths approximately 14000 that are reported and checked to be genuine. No more hadeeths are acceptably added to this list. Hadeeth: is something
Hijra: the event of the immigration of the messenger from Mekkah to Madina. This event marks the start of the Islamic calendar. the Islamic calendar has 12 months based on the lunar cycle. Hijra is also used as a name for the Islamic dating system.
Iman: belief
line of Allah in many forms. Includes a very wide scope varying from improving oneself to fighting a defensive war in protection of Allah's word. Jihad: is striving in the
Khalifa: is the Muslim ruler. Head of the Islamic empire. Exact translation: "Successor". peninsula (known now as Saudi Arabia). A city where the messenger had to immigrate to. Madinah: A city in the Arabian
Mekka: is the holiest Mosque for Muslims. Some say it was first built by Adam, and some say Ibraham. It is where all Muslims face in their daily prayers.
Nafilah: a voluntary prayer other than the five obligatory prayers; performed by a believer. Ommah: is the Arabic word for a nation. It usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise specified.
PPBU: Peace and Prayers Be Upon him. Qadr (night of Qadr): The night when the first revelation of the Koran took place. Most likely it happened during in the ten nights of the month of Ramadan.. Sunna: is the way the Messenger PPBU lived, did or said. It includes the way he dressed, ate, drank, prayed, interacted with other people and fought. Basically, sunnah is the life style of the messenger PPBU. It is considered the second source of legislation in Islamic laws and it is considered an important reference to be used for concluding arguments and disputes
Wathoo (wadoo): a washing up ritual done by Muslims before each of the five daily prayers.
Faheem Bukhatwa, my email address is :
faheemfb@gmail.com