Hajj: Its Obligation And Its Tremendous Virtues

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BISMILLAH

Allaah, 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 [due] to Allah from the people is a pilgrimage 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 Imraan: 97)

Allaah, 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)

Ibn Umar (radiyallaahu ‘anhumaa) said that Allaah’s Messenger (salallaahu `alaihi wassallam) said:

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

“Islaam is built upon five: To testify that none has the right of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah; to establish the Salaah; to pay the Zakaah; to perform Hajj and to fast the month of Ramadaan.”

(Bukhaaree, no. 8. Muslim, no. 16)

Abu Hurairah (radiyallaahu `anhu) said that Allaah’s Messenger (salallaahu `alaihi wassallam) 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 Allaah has made Hajj obligatory upon you, so perform the Hajj.” A man said: “Every year, O Allaah’s Messenger?” So he stayed quiet, until the man repeated himself three times. So Allaah’s Messenger (salallaahu `alaihi wassallam) said: “If I say yes, it would become obligatory, and you would not be able.”

(Muslim, no. 1337)

In the narration of Ibn Maajah (2884):

“No. If I was to yes it would have become obligatory upon you.”

And in a narration:

“Rather it is once and whoever can perform voluntary Hajj [after the one obligation] let him do so.”

(Ibn Maajah, no. 2886)

Abu Sa`eed al-Khudree (radiyallaahu `anhu said) that Allaah’s Messenger (salallaahu `alaihi wassallam) said:

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

الصحيحة 4/22

“Allaah, 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.”

As-Saheehah 4/22, Ibn Hibbaan, no. 3703.

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 ability. The one who has ability to reach the House of Allaah in Mecca yet refuses to perform Hajj is in a grave situation. He does not know whether this opportunity will come to him again – so he misses out on this tremendous pillar.

From Ibn Abbaas or al-Fadl that Allaah’s Messenger (salallaahu `alaihi wassallam) 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 Maajah, no. 2883)

From The Virtues Of Hajj 

Firstly: Hajj wipes out whatever sins were previously committed. It is reported from `Amr Ibn al-`Aas (radiyallaahu `anhu) regarding him becoming a Muslim, he said: “I remember when no one was more hated to me than Allaah’s Messenger (salallaahu `alaihi wassallam) 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 the people of Hellfire. But when Allaah placed Islaam in my heart, I came to the Prophet 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 (salallaahu `alaihi wassallam) said: “What is the matter O `Amr?” 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 (salallaahu `alaihi wassallam) said: “Do you not know, O `Amr, that Islaam wipes away whatever came before it, Hijrah wipes away whatever came before it, and that Hajj wipes away what came before it?” Then no man was more beloved to me than the Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu `alaihi wassallam), 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).”

(Muslim, no. 192)

Abu Hurairah (radiyallaahu `anhu) narrated that Allaah’s Messenger (salallaahu `alaihi wassallam) said:

مَنْ حَجَّ لِلَّهِ فَلَمْ يَرْفُثْ وَلَمْ يَفْسُقْ رَجَعَ كَيَوْمِ وَلَدَتْهُ أُمُّهُ

“Whoever performs Hajj for Allaah without indulging in sexual passions and without committing sin, he will return home like the day his mother gave birth to him.”

(Bukhaaree, no. 1521. Muslim, no. 1350)

Secondly: Hajj is the most virtuous act after Imaan and Jihaad.

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 (radiyallaahu `anhu) narrated that Allaah’s Messenger (salallaahu `alaihi wassallam) was asked: “Which deed is most virtuous?” He replied: “Imaan in Allaah and His Messenger.” It was said: “Then what?” He responded: “Jihaad in the Path of Allaah.” He was asked: “Then what?” He said: “A righteous accepted Hajj.”

(Bukhaaree, 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 Mujaahid is multiplied. Buraidah (radiyallaahu `anhu) stated that the Prophet (salallaahu `alaihi wassallam) said:

النَّفَقَةُ فِي الْحَجِّ كَالنَّفَقَةِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِسَبْعِ مِائَةِ ضِعْفٍ

“Spending one’s wealth for Hajj is like spending it in Allaah’s cause, it is 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 (salallaahu `alaihi wassallam) using wealth from good Halaal earnings, then the reward is Jannah. Abu Hurairah (radiyallaahu `anhu) said that Allaah’s Messenger (salallaahu `alaihi wassallam) said:

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

“An `Umrah to an `Umrah 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 `Umrah is from the greatest means of avoiding poverty and gaining wealth. Ibn `Abbaas (radiyallaahu `anhumaa) said that Allaah’s Messenger (salallaahu `alaihi wassallam) said:

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

“Follow up between the Hajj and `Umrah consecutively for they remove poverty and sin as the bellows remove impurities from iron.”

(An-Nasaa’ee, no. 2630)

Virtue of the Du’aa of the Haajj (Pilgrim)

Ibn `Umar (radiyallaahu `anhumaa) said that Allaah’s Messenger (salallaahu `alaihi wassallam) said:

الْحَاجُّ وَالْمُعْتَمِرُ وَفْدُ اللَّهِ دَعَاهُمْ فَأَجَابُوهُ وَسَأَلُوهُ فَأَعْطَاهُمْ

“The pilgrim performing Hajj and `Umrah are a delegation to Allaah. He invited them and they answered his invite – and they ask Him and He gives.”

(Ibn Maajah, no. 2893, Hasan)

Umm Dardaa (radiyallaahu `anhaa) said to her son-in-law, Safwaan Ibn Abdillaah: “Do you intend to make Hajj this year?” He said: “Yes.” So she said: “Then make du`aa to Allaah for us to grant us good for the Prophet (salallaahu `alaihi wassallam) 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 Maajah, no. 2895, Saheeh)


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