"The season of Pilgrimage is the months known; wherefore whosoever ordaineth unto himself the pilgrimage therein, there is no lewdness nor wickedness nor wrangling during the pilgrimage, and whatsoever of good ye do, Allah shall know it. And take provision for the journey, for verily the best provision is abstainment; and fear Me, O men of understanding!" (2:197)
In the verse related to Hajj, the need to perform tawaaf (ritual walk around the Holy Ka'ba), sa'ee (ritual walk between the hills of Safa and Marwa), stoning of the shayaateen are not mentioned, rather Allah سبحانه وتعالى mentions the need to abstain from 3 acts :
1. Lewd talk
This means any talk which is rude, indecent, offensive or vulgar. To speak in such a manner violates the sanctity of Hajj. It does not befit a Muslim to speak in a lewd manner - it only suggests a filthy heart and mind. This prohibition during Hajj also includes speaking of conjugal relations between husband and wife which under normal circumstances would be permissible.
2. Sinning
This includes any act of disobedience to Allah سبحانه وتعالى especially not lowering one's gaze. During Hajj, being such a large gathering of men and women, the need to lower one's gaze becomes all the more important. Not lowering one's gaze not only destroys the sanctity of Hajj, but one's attention is diverted from Allah سبحانه وتعالى to the creation. Nothing is achieved by the stray gaze - it is an arrow which only returns to pierce one's own heart.
3. Arguing
The Hajj journey makes the most patient and forbearing of people irritable because one's sleeping and eating patterns are disrupted. In such a state and in such a large gathering of people one may be easily provoked and get into an argument. At such times one should exercise patience and self-discipline and remind himself by saying 'I am in Hajj' i.e. I am in a sanctified state.
These 3 sins reflect the 3 categories of sins a Muslim should avoid throughout his life i.e.• Sins of the tongue• Sins of the flesh• Sins against fellow Muslims
During Hajj these 3 sins are especially dangerous yet so easy to commit. If a person engages in any of these there is a great danger that all of the reward for Hajj will be destroyed. As well as fulfilling all the rites and rituals of Hajj, it is necessary to refrain from the above sins for an accepted Hajj.
[This short excerpt is based on a dars held by Shaykh Abu Yusuf Riyadh ul Haq on 6th February 2001]
Some Advices From The Discourses Of Shaykh Zulfiqar Ahmed Tasawwuf .org
A Journey of Trial
Hajj is not a luxury tour or vacation, and Allahswt.gif has made hardship a necessary factor in Hajj. Those who depart with the mindset that Hajj is supposed to be easy get impatient and start complaining at the slightest inconvenience. Hence pilgrims need to begin their journey with the knowledge and intention that Hajj is a journey of trials and not one of luxury. We are lovers and not the beloved but yet we expect our every need to be catered to just like we were the beloved. This is a journey only for lovers, and whoever wants to travel as if he is the beloved will find that he will never get the opportunity for this grand journey.
Hadrat Ghulam Habib i used to say that he and the pilgrims would depart for Hajj by ship and reach Arabia after a grueling month's journey. Once reaching Jeddah the ship would remain at port for three days while immigration and immunization status would be verified. Today this same process does not even take a full three hours let alone three days. Advances in technology such as the aircraft have nullified the trials and tribulations that existed in those times and made travel easy for us but people still complain. Today the luxury exists for us to complete the entire Hajj trip in twenty days or less. The pilgrim should not be desirous of hardship but nevertheless be steadfast and prepared for it.
Correcting our Outlook
The lifestyle that we have become accustomed to has spoiled us and we except a limousine to be waiting at the airport to whisk us away and drop us right outside the Haram. There is a system to everything that we must realize and we must be prepared to allow it to run its own course. We need to realize that we are servants whom the Master is allowing to come visit His House and not the other way around.
Presidents and kings of this worthless and temporary world make their visitors wait for hours without explanation and we expect the Master of the universe to cater to our every need. To be allowed to come to Hajj is indeed a blessing for which we should be ready to bear double if not triple the usual burden.
Hajj is a journey and act of worship and there is always trial in worship no matter what form. If people desire luxury and comfort they are welcome to stay in their beds because no one is forcing them to go to Hajj. However, people must be prepared for hardship if they have already taken the first steps toward anything.
Correcting our Intention
The above is a very poignant reason for keeping our complaining tongue in check for the few days that we are at Hajj. Wherever there is great benefit there will undoubtedly be shortcomings of many kinds because Hajj demands a monumental task of preparation in every field from transportation to sleeping arrangements for the pilgrims.
We need to keep focused on the purpose of this sacred journey and consider every shortcoming and trial as a blessing for us. Allahswt.gif is allowing filthy sinners like us to come to His House and so there is no need to make any comments about anything. There have been countless people much more pious than us who have not been fortunate enough to see Bait Ullah. This is a journey of trials and not the luxury that we have unfortunately become accustomed to.
For a sincere and pious worshipper these complaints are only for not seeing the House of Allahswt.gif and disappear immediately once he or she looks upon the Kaaba. The House of Allahswt.gif has such a brilliant magnetism and awe that one does not consider a hardship as a hardship anymore because a believer realizes true peace and security in the House of Allahswt.gif just as a child finds security and love in its mother's arms. Furthermore, Hadrat Ashraf Ali Thanvi i writes that the righteous find peace upon seeing Bait Ullah just as the believers will find peace when they enter Paradise. Here they forget all past worries and trials.
Sincerity and Sacrifice
The next important thing that pilgrims need to evaluate is sincerity. Undoubtedly sincerity is an essential requirement of every act of worship, but this requirement is given more emphasis here for the auspicious worship of Hajj. The simple reasoning for this is that Hajj is an act that is required only once a lifetime. A worship such as prayer is observed five times a day so if one prayer was offered without sincerity the person can try harder for the next prayer, but Hajj is a special occasion that only comes once a lifetime for most. Hence people need to be extra careful about what might seem to be the smallest issues.
Disputes and arguments are a very normal part of life, which may intensify because Hajj is a long journey that people have to undertake together. Arguments may increase between friends or between family and relatives because unfortunately people do not want to listen but want to lead. We need to keep in mind that this journey is sacred and cannot easily be repeated and so there is no need for any kind of argument or dispute whatsoever.
We are Muslims and only temporary travelers in this life, so it is not always necessary that we absolutely have to have the best seat on the bus or the best room in the hotel. We should try and make sure that others in our party are more comfortable than we are rather than inconveniencing them so that we are more at ease. This is a journey of trials and we need to learn to compromise.
Invaluable Advice
Pilgrims must make sure that they are never verbally critical of anything on this sacred journey. Hadrat Ghulam Habib i once told a story about a pilgrim who was shopping in the market in Madinah for groceries. A vendor suggested that he also buy some yogurt but the man declined saying that the yogurt in Madinah is sour. He proceeded about his day and that night the Messengersws.gif of Allah appeared to him in a dream. The Prophetsws.gif was angry and said, "You say the yogurt in my town is sour? Get out of Madinah!"
This pilgrim woke up very distressed and approached the local scholars (ulama) as to what he might do. Some of the ulama advised him to go to the noble burial site of Hadrat Hamzardanhum.gif and pray to Allahswt.gif for mercy and a possible solution. This man did exactly this and presented himself at Hadrat Hamza'srdanhum.gif tomb where he cried and begged forgiveness for his reckless speech.
That night Hadrat Hamzardanhum.gif appeared in this pilgrim's dream and acknowledged the latter's profuse supplications but put them aside. Hadrat Hamzardanhum.gif said sternly, "Once the beloved of Allahswt.gif has told you to leave you no longer have permission to stay. Leave now or you will be in danger of losing your faith." Hence this person had no avenue but to leave.
Here are some beneficial reminders for our brothers and sisters performing Hajj this year...
1. Intention:
There is a Hadeeth which states, in the latter days, the people will go for hajj but their object will be four. The rulers will go to increase their power, the rich for trade and commerce, the poor for begging and the learned for name and fame.
These things can be earned but if Hajj is performed with these objects, no reward is acquired for Hajj. Therefore first and foremost we must rectify and polish upon our intentions.
2. Virtues:
The prophet (salallahu alaihi wasalam) said, "There is no reward except paradise for an accepted hajj." He (salallahu alaihi wasalam) also said,
"He whose sins are greatest is a person who thinks at Arafah that Allah has not forgiven his sins."
Subhanallah these two Ahadith are sufficient to explain the extensive reward and forgiveness Allah offers a sincere Pilgrim.
3. During hajj:
-Good deeds: One good deed in Makkah brings 100,000 rewards. As for Madinah, the Prophet (salallahu alaihi wasalam) said, one prayer in my mosque brings rewards one thousand times more than the prayer in other mosques except the mosque of Makkah. This is true in the case of all good deeds done here.
-Tawaaf: Rasulullah (salallahu alaihi wasalam) said, "Make much Tawaaf because it is such a great thing that you will find it in your book of deeds on the day of resurrection and for which people will envy you. "
-Sins: Sinning in the blessed lands is far more detrimental then sinning elsewhere thus we should remain extra cautious. Hadhrat Ibn Masud (radhiallahu anhu) said, there is no such city except Makkah wherein the people will be punished for niyyat before actions. Then he read this verse, "If a man wishes therein to do extensive oppression, he will be given grievous punishment." This is only for the Kaabah.
-Patience: Bear with pleasure sacrifices of the loss that is caused in the matter of properties or the occurrence of any calamity, because it is a proof of the acceptance of hajj. The troubles and calamities on the way to pilgrimage are like expense in the way of Allah and the expense of a dirham at that time is equal to the expense of 700 dirhams. That is the reward of bearing hardships in the way of jihad.
Return:
Hadhrat Umar (radhiyallahu anhu) said, a pilgrim is forgiven and also the man for whom he seeks forgiveness in Dhul Hijjah, Muharram, Safar or the first part of Rabiul-awal. Take advantage of such accepted prayers!
Signs of acceptance:
Last but not least...It is said that if one gives up sins and bad company and takes up good company and gives up the assembly of useless talks and takes to the assemblies of zikr, they are the signs of acceptance of hajj.
May Allah accept the Hajj of all the blessed pilgrims and allow them to experience the signs of acceptance immediately upon return. Ameen
(Derived from the teachings of Imam Gazzalis Ihyaa Ulum-ud-Deen)
idealwoman.org
This cannot be undone and I am sure it will be greatly appreciated.
We apologise but you have been denied access to report posts in this thread. This could be due to excessively reporting posts and not understanding our forum rules. For assistance or information, please use the forum help thread to request more information. Jazakallah
