Shaykh Saaleh bin Fawzaan al-Fawzaan [May Allaah Preserve
him]
Member of Permanent Committee of Senior Scholars
All Praise be for Allaah, the One Who Legislated for us to
do the Hajj to His Sacred House. The One Who Made it a pillar of al-Islaam.
I bear witness that there is no God worthy of worship except
Allaah without any partner, He is Allaah and there is no god except Him,
al-Malik, al-Qudoos as-Salaam.
And I bear witness that Muhammad is His Slave and His
Messenger. He was sent to explain the symbols of al-Islaam to his Ummah, May
the Blessings of Allaah be Upon him, his family, his companions who were the
leaders of the leaders, and the Peace of Allaah Upon them in abundance.
To Proceed:
Oh people! Fear Allaah, the Most High, and worship Him
making the religion only for Him as He has Ordered you to do so in His Clear
Book.
Oh Slave of Allaah! In these blessed days, the Muslims are
preparing to travel to perform the Hajj to the Sacred House, some of them
performing an optional Hajj and others preforming the Hajj of al-Islaam (i.e.
the obligatory one). And there is no doubt that this all needs a great deal of
preparation, in wealth, health and having a firm intent. It also requires one
to be prepared in his ability to spend so that he can perform the Hajj from his
surplus wealth so that he doesn’t financially rely on others, as Allaah, the
Most High, says:
“And take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the best
provision is At-Taqwa (piety, righteousness, etc.). So
fear Me, O men of understanding!” [2: 197
al-Baqarah]
So He has Ordered, the Glorified, to take precautions, this
means one has enough provisions that are necessary for his ability to travel;
leaving, returning, maintenance of transport and whatever provisions that are
needed that will help him reach the House of Allaah, and whatever is needed to
ensure his return him. Allaah, the Most High, says:
“And Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) to the
House (Ka'bah) is a duty that mankind owes to Allah, those who can afford the
expenses (for one's conveyance, provision and residence); and whoever
disbelieves [i.e. denies Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah), then he is
a disbeliever of Allah], then Allah stands not in need of any of the 'Alamin (mankind and jinns).” [aal-‘Imraan 3:97]
‘Afford the means’ here is a conditions for ability; which
means one is only considered as being able to perform the Hajj if he has enough
provisions for sufficient transportation (to perform the Hajj). When people
began to perform the Hajj without any provisions, they were inflicted with
illnesses but they said, ‘We are those who have Tawakkul. ’ Allaah then
Prohibited them from doing this and He Ordered them to take their provisions so
that they won’t depend on others.
Allaah, the Most High, says:
“And take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the best
provision is At-Taqwa (piety, righteousness, etc.). So
fear Me, O men of understanding!” [2: 197
al-Baqarah]
When people began to think that trading and making an
earnings whilst at Hajj was not permissible, Allaah, the Most High, revealed:
“There is no sin on you if you seek the Bounty of your Lord
(during pilgrimage by trading, etc.).” [al-Baqarah 2:198]
Here, the Glorified, in these two noble Aayaat that is
absolutely necessary that one takes what is sufficient in provisions,
provisions needed in his Dunyaa such as food and drink as much as what is
necessary from beginning to the end of his journey.
One must also make sure he has sufficient provisions for his
Aakhirah; and this is that one travels with good deeds and making sure he
distant from sins.
Then He, the Glorified, Explained that trade, seeking a
living and gaining provisions is permissible and that it doesn’t contradict the
fact that he has gone there for worship as long as it doesn’t become
preoccupied in his time with it. Likewise trading doesn’t nullfiy ones Tawakkul
(in Allaah for provision).
Therefore is necessary for the pilgrim to leave his family
with what is sufficient for them in provisions (and whatever they need) for the
period until his return to them. It is not permissible to leave ones family
without any provisions or leave them with little provisions so that they are
left with what doesn’t suffice them. In this scenario one will be sinful and he
will not gain any reward as the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon
him] said, “It is sufficient of a sin that a man doesn’t fulfill his
responsibilities.” [Narrated by an-Nasaa’ee]
Likewise, if a the pilgrim has a need to pay off a debt that
he has taken or he needs to save up in order to pay back a loan. If this person
doesn’t have enough wealth which will help him pay off his debt as well as
preform the Hajj at the same time, then he should give precedence in paying off
his debt, and it is not permissible to perform the Hajj in this situation.
Likewise, it is obligatory upon the pilgrim to spend whilst
doing the Hajj from wealth that is Halaal, this will mean that his Hajj will be
accepted and an expiation for his sins.
It is narrated on the authority of Aboo Hurayrah [May Allaah
be Pleased with him] that the Messenger of Allaah [Peace and Blessings of
Allaah be Upon him] said, “If the pilgrim departs to perform his Hajj, spending
from the best of his wealth and then places his foot on his saddle. Then he
proclaims ‘لبيك اللهم لبيك
‘ (Oh Allaah! I am at Your Service, I am at Your Service). Then a caller calls
out from the heavens saying, ‘At your service and your pleasure! Your
provisions are Halaal and your transportation is Halaal. Your Hajj will be
accepted and you will not be sinful in it.’ And if the pilgrim sets out with
the worst of his wealth and then places his foot on his saddle and then
proclaims, ‘لبيك’ (at Your Service). A caller calls out from the heavens saying,
‘At your service but not at your pleasure. Your provision is Haraam and your
transportation is Haraam. Your Hajj is sinful and not accepted.’” [Narrated by
at-Tabaraanee]
So spending during the Hajj, if it is from Halaal earning,
is then included in spending for the Sake of Allaah, as, Allaah the Most High,
says:
“And spend in the Cause of Allah (i.e. Jihad of all kinds, etc.) and do not
throw yourselves into destruction (by not spending your wealth in the Cause of
Allah), and do good. Truly, Allah loves Al-Muhsinun (the good-doers).” [al-Baqarah 2: 195]
This noble Aayah is a proof that spending for the Hajj is
spending for the Sake of Allaah, as it spending for the Hajj and the ‘Umrah has
been combined in its mention with the generality of spending for the Sake of
Allaah.
(Also as evidence), some of the Companions [May Allaah be
Pleased with them all] (once) endowed their camels for the Sake of Allaah, and
with these camels a woman wanted to perform the Hajj with them, so the Prophet
[Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] told her, “Perform Hajj on them, it
will be the Hajj for the Sake of Allaah”. [Narrated in the Sunnan and
elsewhere].
Based on this, some of the scholars, and it is the view of
Imaam Ahmad, that those performing the Hajj are entitled to the Zakaat because
they fall under the generality of ‘the Sake of Allaah’, so the Hajj is part of
being Sake of Allaah. Therefore, one may give their Zakaat to those who haven’t
performed the Hajj for them to perform the obligatory Hajj.
It is also obligatory upon those who want to perform the
Hajj to repent and turn to Allaah from all the sins (they may have
committed).If one has (ever) oppresses someone then he must go back to them and
seek their forgiveness. This is because one must proceed his Hajj with sincere
Tawbah from all forms of oppression. It is also obligatory (for the pilgrim) to
abstain from any sins or acts of disobedience and that he must preserve his
five daily prayers as well as all the other obligations upon him. This is
something that is obligatory upon the pilgrim in every aspect of his life
however it is even more so during his performance of this great act of worship.
So it is absolutely necessary that one doesn’t enter into it (the Hajj) with
any form of sin or disobedience connected to him, or whilst he is sinning or
disobeying during the Hajj. Allaah, the Most High, says:
“So whosoever intends to perform Hajj therein by assuming Ihram), then he should not have
sexual relations (with his wife), nor commit sin, nor dispute unjustly during
the Hajj. And whatever
good you do, (be sure) Allah knows it. And take a provision (with you) for the
journey, but the best provision is At-Taqwa (piety, righteousness, etc.). So
fear Me, O men of understanding!” [al-Baqarah
2:197]
It is also narrated on that the Prophet [Peace and Blessings
of Allaah be Upon him] said, “Whoever preforms Hajj to the House and he doesn’t
perform sexual intercourse and doesn’t sin then sins will be removed from him
like (the status of) the day his mother gave birth to him.”
So having ones sins forgiven by performing the Hajj and
entering into the Jannah is a consequence of having an accepted Hajj. One can
only have an accepted Hajj if two factors are present:
Firstly, if one does righteous deeds; from them (includes)
being helpful to people with piety, being cooperative and having good manners
towards them. When the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] was
asked about piety, he said, “It is good manners”. So this is extensively
necessary during the Hajj, so that one can deal with the people with goodness,
talking to them and treating them kindly.
It is narrated (in the Musnad of Imaam Ahmad)on the
authority of Jaabir bin ‘Abdullah [May Allaah be Pleased with him] that the
Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] said, “An accepted Hajj
brings no reward except Hajj”. They asked, “And what is acceptance, oh
Messenger of Allaah?” He replied, “Feeding food and spreading the Salaam (i.e.
the greetings as well as not being harmful to others)”.
It was asked to Sa’eed bin Jubayr [May Allaah have Mercy on
him], “Which is the best type of Hajj?” He replied “Whoever feeds the poor and
withholds his tongue”.
These narrations prove that the person needs these
characteristics whilst travelling, especially when travelling to perform the
Hajj. Whoever perfects them will then perfect his Hajj. In general: be good to
people, be beneficial for the people and be patient when they harm you, just as
Allaah has described those who have Taqwaa to be. He says:
“Those
who spend [in Allah's Cause - deeds of charity, alms, etc.] in prosperity and
in adversity, who repress anger, and who pardon men; verily, Allah loves Al-Muhsinun (the good-doers).” [aal-‘Imraan 3:134]
Secondly, and this is from the greatest forms of piety (one
can have) during the Hajj, to remember Allaah, the Most High, during it.
Allaah, the Most High, has Commanded that He is constantly remembered during
the establishment of the Hajj, especially whilst one is in Ihraam, during the
Talbiyyah and the Takbeer.
So there is no greater provision that the pilgrim can take
and there is nothing greater in provision than the pilgrim having at-Taqwaa.
At-Taqwaa combines and brings about all forms of goodness. So it is obligatory
upon the pilgrim to be sincere to Allaah in his intention whilst performing the
Hajj, expelling the feelings of showing-off, seeking reputation or any form of
worldly benefit.
Allaah, the Most High, says:
“And perform properly (i.e. all the ceremonies according to the
ways of Prophet Muhammad), the Hajj and 'Umrah (i.e. the pilgrimage to Makkah)
for Allah” [al-Baqarah 2:196]
Completing the Hajj means that one complete the rituals in
the manner it has been legislated.
The wording, ‘For Allaah’: means that one should be sincere
in his intention, one worshipping Him Alone without falling into major or minor
shirk. (It also means that) there should be no showing-off, seeking of
reputation, pride, arrogance or self-importance. One should be humble is Hajj.
For indeed the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] (performed
the Hajj) and his cloak wasn’t even worth four dirhams (approx. £2), (despite this) he
said, “Oh Allaah! Make it a Hajj without showing-off nor reputation.”
So it is a must upon the pilgrim that they are patient with
difficulties and that one doesn’t seek to be luxurious during the Hajj. Some
people nowadays are abundant in splendor so they take with them many luxuries.
Cars, furniture, tents that are big which take up space from other pilgrims.
Others don’t (even)stay in Minaa during the Days of at-Tashreeq, they stay in
furnished flats, residing outside (the bounds of) Minaa. They (try) to use as
proof that there is no space to stay in Minaa.
The answer to this is that the pilgrim must seek a place to
stay in Minaa. If he doesn’t find anywhere to stay, after looking, then he
should stay in the closest place to Minaa. Being with the pilgrims and that he
should set up a tent far away from it. Rather, his tent should be set up with
the rest of the pilgrims, as much as he is able to get closer to Minaa, because
this person has loss ability (to stay in Minaa). Allaah, the Most High, has
said:
“So keep your duty to Allah and fear Him as much as you can” [at-Taghaabun 64:16]
So it is obligatory upon the pilgrim, before he sets out to
perform the Hajj, to make a record of any debts he may have, or the wealth of
others or anything that he has been entrusted with. This is because if he was
to die during his journey or something happens which prevents him from
returning home, then by recording it, he would have left these trusts with
someone who can dispose of them, and thus he is free from any blame.
So fear Allaah - oh Slaves of Allaah - and prepare for your
Hajj with whatever is needed to complete it in the Legislated manner.
Complete your rituals! Be sincere to Allaah in your
intentions for Allaah, whilst submitting to Him and tranquil and humble during
the Hajj to Allaah.
Be kind to your brothers from the pilgrims and do not harm
them. Do not make constrains for them.
Be patient upon the difficulties and whatever tires you, (because)
indeed this is all from Jihaad. And Jihaad consist of difficulty and tiredness.
I seek refuge in Allaah from the rejected Shaytaan:
“The Hajj (pilgrimage) is (in) the
well-known (lunar year) months (i.e. the 10th month, the 11th month and the
first ten days of the 12th month of the Islamic calendar, i.e. two months and
ten days). So whosoever intends to perform Hajj therein by assuming Ihram), then he should not have
sexual relations (with his wife), nor commit sin, nor dispute unjustly during
the Hajj. And whatever
good you do, (be sure) Allah knows it. And take a provision (with you) for the
journey, but the best provision is At-Taqwa (piety, righteousness, etc.). So
fear Me, O men of understanding!” [al-Baqarah
2:197]
May Allaah Bless me and you with the Glorious Quraan.
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