Makkah and Hajj: Obligations and its Tremendous Virtues. (Islam Studies 2.8 and 2.9)

Makkah and Hajj: Obligations and its Tremendous Virtues

By Abu Khadeejah ʿAbdul-Wāhid.

All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all creation. May Allah extol the Messenger in the highest company of Angels and grant him peace; and likewise, his family, his Companions and all those who truly follow him until the Day of Resurrection.

The Hajj is the pilgrimage to Makkah and it is the fifth pillar of Islam. The pilgrimage is a sacred physical and spiritual journey made by a Muslim to the revered sites in and around Makkah, for the purpose of worshipping Allah alone. The Muslim follows in those actions, the pilgrimage made to Makkah by the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and the Prophets (peace be upon them) who came before him. This journey is a once-in-a-lifetime obligation for those Muslims who have reached the age of adulthood, are healthy and able-bodied, and have wealth sufficient to perform Hajj.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) stated that the Prophets before him performed Hajj, 70 of them prayed at Masjid al-Khayf in Mina, and Musa (peace be upon him) made Hajj.

For many Muslims it is simply too expensive, so they save up until they are able. During one week each year, from the 8^th to the 13^th of Dhul-Hijjah up to three million Muslims come to the Kaʿbah (and other places in and around Makkah) as a part of the Hajj ritual. 

The Kaʿbah

The Kaʿbah is the cube-shaped building in the Sacred Mosque (Al-Masjid Al-Harām) in Makkah. Makkah is known as Umm al-Qurā which means ‘the mother [or the leader] of all cities’. It is the most sacred place for Muslims on earth. The Qur’an states that the Kaʿbah was the first ‘House of God’ or place of worship that was built on earth for the worship of God alone, meaning Allah alone. It was initially built by the Prophet Ibraheem (peace be upon him) and his son, the Prophet Ismaʿeel (peace be upon him), thousands of years ago. This simple building is the Qiblah (direction of prayer) for all Muslims until the Day of Judgement. It is made of bricks and covered with a black cloth. In later times, after the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) verses of the Qur’aan were embroidered into the cloth in gold, as well as the testimony of faith (the Shahādah).

The Kaʿbah is about 13 metres high and its four corners roughly face the four points of the compass. In the eastern corner, about 1.6 metres from the ground and built into the wall is the ‘Black Stone’ (al-Hajr al-Aswad). It is reported in authentic hadeeths that this stone is from Paradise and it was originally white, but became blackened due to the sins of the people. Touching it washes away sins, and the stone will bear witness on the Day of Judgement for everyone who had touched it as a believer in Allah alone. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The black stone descended from paradise, and it was whiter than milk, but the sins of the descendants of Adam made it black.” (Ahmad and Tirmidhi (graded saheeh by Al-Albani))

Suwaid bin Ghafalah said: I saw the Caliph ʿUmar (Allah be pleased with him) kiss the Black Stone and say: “I know that you are a stone and you cannot cause harm or bring benefit, but I saw [the Prophet Muhammad] Abul-Qasim (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) show respect to you [by kissing you].” (Bukhari and Muslim)

Zaid bin Aslam said that his father said: “I saw [the Caliph] ʿUmar bin Al-Khattāb kissing the Black Stone and he then said to it: ‘Had I not seen Allah’s Messenger kissing you, (i.e., the stone) I would not have kissed you.’” (Bukhari)

The Ihrām: 

All male pilgrims (Hujjāj) must wear special clothing called the Ihrām which usually consists of two white sheets wrapped around the body. Women have no clothing restrictions, but they must wear a “hijāb” as they would do normally which covers the whole body except the face and hands. These garments indicate the equality in worship in front of Allah. They are a sign of purity, humility, humbleness and dedication to Allah.

Muslims are not buried in these Ihrām sheets unless they die in a state of Ihrām. Muslim pilgrims put on the Ihrām before they approach Makkah and wear it till the pilgrimage of ʿUmrah is complete. Then they put it on again on the 8^th Dhul-Hijjah till the Hajj pilgrimage is complete.

Whilst in a state of Ihraam, Muslims must not apply perfume, cut their hair, clip their nails, have sexual relations, get married or make a proposal for marriage, hunt game, cover ones head (for a man), and there are some other restrictions.

The Excellence of Hajj

Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, has said:

لِّيَشْهَدُوا مَنَافِعَ لَهُمْ وَيَذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ فِي أَيَّامٍ مَّعْلُومَاتٍ

“That they may witness benefits for themselves and mention the name of Allah on known days…” (al-Hajj: 28)

And He, the Most High. said:

فِيهِ آيَاتٌ بَيِّنَاتٌ مَّقَامُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ۖ وَمَن دَخَلَهُ كَانَ آمِنًا ۗ وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا ۚ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ

“In it are clear signs [such as] the standing place of Abraham. And whoever enters it shall be safe. And a duty to Allah from the people is a pilgrimage (Hajj) to the House for whoever is able to find thereto a way. But whoever disbelieves – then indeed, Allah is free from need of the worlds.” (Aali ʿImrān: 97)

Allah, the Most High, said:

وَأَذِّن فِي النَّاسِ بِالْحَجِّ يَأْتُوكَ رِجَالًا وَعَلَىٰ كُلِّ ضَامِرٍ يَأْتِينَ مِن كُلِّ فَجٍّ عَمِيقٍ

“And proclaim to the people the Hajj [pilgrimage]. They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel, they will come from every distant [mountain] pass.” (al-Hajj: 27)

It is one of the five pillars of Islam. Ibn ʿUmar (Allah be pleased with him) said that Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

بُنِيَ الْإِسْلَامُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ شَهَادَةِ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَإِقَامِ الصَّلَاةِ وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ وَالْحَجِّ وَصَوْمِ رَمَضَانَ

“Islam is built upon five: To testify that none has the right of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; to establish the Salāh; to pay the Zakāh; to perform Hajj and to fast the month of Ramadān.” (Bukhāri, no. 8. Muslim, no. 16)

Abu Hurairah (Allah be pleased with him) said that Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said in a Khutbah:

خَطَبَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ فَرَضَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمْ الْحَجَّ فَحُجُّوا فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ أَكُلَّ عَامٍ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَسَكَتَ حَتَّى قَالَهَا ثَلَاثًا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَوْ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ لَوَجَبَتْ وَلَمَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ ثُمَّ قَالَ ذَرُونِي مَا تَرَكْتُكُمْ فَإِنَّمَا هَلَكَ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ بِكَثْرَةِ سُؤَالِهِمْ وَاخْتِلَافِهِمْ عَلَى أَنْبِيَائِهِمْ فَإِذَا أَمَرْتُكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ فَأْتُوا مِنْهُ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ وَإِذَا نَهَيْتُكُمْ عَنْ شَيْءٍ فَدَعُوهُ

“O people! Indeed Allah has made Hajj obligatory upon you, so perform the Hajj.” A man said: “Every year, O Allah’s Messenger?” So he stayed quiet, until the man repeated himself three times. So Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “If I say yes, it would become obligatory, and you would not be able.” (Muslim, no. 1337) This shows that it is recommended to make Hajj as often as you can.

In the narration of Ibn Mājah (no. 2884) he said: “No. But if I was to yes it would have become obligatory upon you.”  He also (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Rather it is once and whoever can perform voluntary Hajj [after the one obligation], let him do so.” (Ibn Mājah, no. 2886)

Abu Saʿeed al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

إن الله يقول : إنَّ عبدا أصحَحْتُ له جسمَه و وسَّعْتُ عليه في المعيشة تَمْضِي عليه
خمسَةُ أعوام لا يَفِدُ إليَّ لمحرومٌ

“Allah, the Most High, said: Indeed I have given a servant good health in his body and I have given him  [provision and] an expansive sustenance, yet five years have passed and he has not visited me as one performing Hajj.” (Ibn Hibbān, no. 3703, As-Saheehah 4/22)

All of these verses and narrations show us the importance of Hajj – that it is a Pillar of Islam and a mighty obligation. The most correct opinion of the Scholars is that Hajj becomes an obligation with immediate effect for the one who has the ability. The one who has the ability to reach the House of Allah in Makkah yet refuses to perform Hajj is in a sinful situation. He does not know whether this opportunity will come to him again – so he misses out on this tremendous pillar.

From Ibn ʿAbbās (or al-Fadl) that Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

مَنْ أَرَادَ الْحَجَّ فَلْيَتَعَجَّلْ فَإِنَّهُ قَدْ يَمْرَضُ الْمَرِيضُ وَتَضِلُّ الضَّالَّةُ وَتَعْرِضُ الْحَاجَةُ

“Whoever intends to perform Hajj, then let him make haste, for he may fall sick, lose his mount, or be faced with some need.” (Ibn Mājah, no. 2883)

From The Virtues Of Hajj 

Firstly:

Hajj wipes out whatever sins were previously committed. It is reported from ʿAmr Ibn al-ʿAas (Allah be pleased with him) regarding his becoming a Muslim, that he said: “I remember when no one was more hated to me than Allaah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and there was nothing I wanted more than to overpower him and kill him. If I had died at that time, I would have been one of the people of Hellfire.

But when Allah placed Islam in my heart, I came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and said: “Hold out your right hand so I may pledge my allegiance to you.” So he held out his right hand, but I withdrew my hand. He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “What is the matter O ʿAmr?” I said: “I wish to stipulate a condition.” He said: “What is it that you wish to stipulate?” I said: “That I will be forgiven.” So the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Do you not know, O ʿAmr, that Islam wipes away whatever came before it, Hijrah wipes away whatever came before it, and that Hajj wipes away what came before it?” Thereafter, no man was more beloved to me than the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and no one was dearer in my eyes. I could not even look him in the eye due to awe and reverence. If I was asked to describe him, I could not do so because I could not look him in the eye. If I had died in that state, I hope that I would have been from the People of Paradise. Then we were appointed to positions [of authority] in which I do not know what my status is. If I die, do not let any wailing woman or fire accompany me. When you bury me, fill the gave well, with earth over me – then stay near my grave for the length of time it takes to slaughter a camel and distribute its meat, so that I may be comforted by you and I see how I will answer the messengers of my Lord (the Angels Munkar and Nakeer).” (Muslim, no. 192)

Abu Hurairah (Allah be pleased wth him) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

مَنْ حَجَّ لِلَّهِ فَلَمْ يَرْفُثْ وَلَمْ يَفْسُقْ رَجَعَ كَيَوْمِ وَلَدَتْهُ أُمُّهُ

“Whoever performs Hajj for Allah without indulging in sexual passions and without committing sin, he will return home like the day his mother gave birth to him.” (Bukhari, no. 1521. Muslim, no. 1350)

Secondly: 

Hajj is the most virtuous act after Iman and Jihad.

عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ  أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ سُئِلَ أَيُّ الْعَمَلِ أَفْضَلُ فَقَالَ إِيمَانٌ بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ قِيلَ ثُمَّ مَاذَا قَالَ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ قِيلَ ثُمَّ مَاذَا قَالَ حَجٌّ مَبْرُورٌ

Abu Hurayrah (Allah be pleased with him) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was asked: “Which deed is most virtuous?” He replied: “Iman in Allaah and His Messenger.” It was said: “Then what?” He responded: “Jihad in the Path of Allah.” He was asked: “Then what?” He said: “A righteous sincere Hajj.” (Bukhari, no. 26. Muslim, no. 83)

Thirdly: 

The wealth that is spent upon Hajj multiples the reward for the one who spends it just as the reward of the Mujāhid is multiplied. Buraidah (Allah be pleased wth him) stated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

النَّفَقَةُ فِي الْحَجِّ كَالنَّفَقَةِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِسَبْعِ مِائَةِ ضِعْفٍ

“Spending one’s wealth for Hajj is like spending it in Allah’s cause, multiplied by seven hundred.” (Musnad of Ahmad, 5/355)

Fourthly: 

If one’s Hajj is performed sincerely for Allaah’s sake, in accordance to the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) using wealth from good, pure and Halāl earnings, then the reward is Jannah. Abu Hurairah (Allah be pleased with him) said that Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

الْعُمْرَةُ إِلَى الْعُمْرَةِ كَفَّارَةٌ لِمَا بَيْنَهُمَا وَالْحَجُّ الْمَبْرُورُ لَيْسَ لَهُ جَزَاءٌ إِلَّا الْجَنَّةُ

“An ʿUmrah to an ʿUmrah is an expiation for whatever sins are committed between them, and there is no reward for the righteous accepted Hajj except Paradise.”

Fifthly: 

Performing Hajj and ʿUmrah is from the greatest means of avoiding poverty and gaining wealth. Ibn ʿAbbās (Allah be pleased with him) said that Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

تَابِعُوا بَيْنَ الْحَجِّ وَالْعُمْرَةِ فَإِنَّهُمَا يَنْفِيَانِ الْفَقْرَ وَالذُّنُوبَ كَمَا يَنْفِي الْكِيرُ خَبَثَ الْحَدِيدِ

“Follow up between the Hajj and ʿUmrah consecutively for they remove poverty and sin as the bellows remove impurities from iron.” (An-Nasā’ee, no. 2630)

Abu Khadeejah

The Virtue of the Duʿā of the Hājj (Pilgrim)

Ibn ʿUmar (Allah be pleased with him) said that Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

الْحَاجُّ وَالْمُعْتَمِرُ وَفْدُ اللَّهِ دَعَاهُمْ فَأَجَابُوهُ وَسَأَلُوهُ فَأَعْطَاهُمْ

“The pilgrim performing Hajj and ʿUmrah are a delegation to Allah. He invited them and they answered his invite – and they ask Him and He gives to them.” (Ibn Mājah, no. 2893, Hasan)

Ummud- Dardā (Allah be pleased wth her) said to her son-in-law, Safwān Ibn Abdillāh: “Do you intend to make Hajj this year?” He said: “Yes.” So she said: “Then make duʿā to Allah for us that He grants us goodness because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to say: “The supplication of a man for his brother in his absence will be answered. By his head is an Angel who says Ameen to his supplication. And each time he prays for his brother, the Angel says: ‘Ameen, and the same to you.’” (Ibn Mājah, no. 2895, Saheeh)