Shaykh Saaleh bin Fawzaan al-Fawzaan [May Allaah Preserve him]
Member of Committee of Senior Scholars and Permanent Council of Research and Fatwaa.
It is upon the Muslim to fear Allaah, The Glorified, The Most High, to rectify his deeds and to repent to Him from his sins, so that he returns in a better state than he was before the Hajj. So he must return to Allaah, repenting and returning to Him.
He must protect the obligations upon him and to increase in doing optional good deeds. He must refrain from what Allaah has Forbidden, because the Hajj increases one in obedience and Taqwaa of Allaah and it opens the future (of the pilgrim) to righteous deeds and to be steadfast upon them.
As for what some people say, ‘Hajj expiates ones sins so he can do whatever he wants after preforming it because he has been purified’ then this is from ignorance and deception, Allaah’s Refuge is sought. What is obligatory is actually the opposite of this. Truly, the one who performs the Hajj, then he should be in a better state than he was before it, by following the Hajj with good deeds, repentance to Allaah, abstaining from what is forbidden and that one remains steadfast on the religion until death approaches him. Allaah, the Most High, says:
So if one returns to sinning and disobedience after the Hajj then this has an impact on the Hajj and at times it may even nullify his Hajj, such as one who does Shirk with Allaah, the Exalted and Magnified.
So Hajj increases the believer in Tawqaa of Allaah, the Exalted and Magnified and that he returns home like the day his mother bore him, free from sins as the Prophet said, “Whoever performs Hajj and he doesn’t have intercourse or sin, then he returns like the day his mother gave birth to him”.
So Allaah has taken away your sins and has accepted your repentance, so don’t return to sin after this. By doing so, this is clear loss. So it is upon you to be pleased and rejoice with this favour and to be constant in repentance (or turning to Him) and obedience to Him, the Exalted and Magnified.
It is also upon you to enjoin what is good and to forbid what is prohibited and be a guide for your people when you return to them.
Explain to them what they need to understand from the rulings of the religion. To explain to your brothers and your family, the correct path. So call to Allaah, the Exalted and Magnified, and give caution to mistakes that they have fallen into. The Most High says:
“ And remember Allah during the appointed Days. But whosoever hastens to leave in two days, there is no sin on him and whosoever stays on, there is no sin on him, if his aim is to do good and obey Allah (fear Him), and know that you will surely be gathered unto Him.” [al-Baqarah 2:203]
At-Taqwaa is to obey Allaah, the Most High, with Light (i.e. knowledge) from Him, the Exalted and Magnified, seeking His Reward. It also means that one should leave sinning, fearing His Punishment. This is the definition of at-Taqwaa. It is called at-Taqwaa because it protects one from the punishment, so then He said:
”And Obey Allaah (i.e. fear Allaah)…” [al-Baqarah 2: 203]
This is affair of at-Taqwaa. Fear Allaah by doing what He has Commanded you and abstaining from what He has Prohibited. Be constant on this after the Hajj, in every moment.
Then He said after that:
“and know that you will surely be gathered unto Him” [al-Baqarah 2:203]
Meaning, you will be gathered on the Day of Judgement in front of Allaah, the Exalted and Magnified; a day when the first and the last will be gathered, on one plain, all of them standing in front of the Lord of all of creation. Barefooted, naked and uncircumcised. Then they will be reckoned for what they did and their deeds will be weighed on the scales:
“Then, those whose scales (of good deeds) are heavy, - these, they are the successful. And those whose scales (of good deeds) are light, they are those who lose their ownselves, in Hell will they abide.”
[al-Mu’minoon 23:102-103]
Then they will be given their records in the right hand or in the left hand, then they will be presented with the Siraat, which is a bridge that lies above the hellfire. There is nothing that will help one to cross the Siraat except ones deeds, as the Most High, says:
“There is not one of you but will pass over it (Hell); this is with your Lord; a Decree which must be accomplished.” [Maryam 19:71]
Every one of us will pass it, and Allaah’s help is sought.
This is wisdom behind it is in His Statement:
“and know that you will surely be gathered unto Him” [al-Baqarah 2:203]
When you see the variety of people who speak different languages, gather on the day of ‘Arafah, variation in their nationalities and colours, and you see the extreme crowding, then you should (also) remember Gathering (i.e. on the Day of Judgement). In fact, the Gathering (i.e. on the Day of Judgement) will be even more severe in massing. So the Gathering (i.e. on the Day of Judgement) will be an even greater gathering than the gathering of the Hajj. It (i.e. on the Day of Judgement) will gather from the first to the very last, all in one place. So if you saw the way they gathered during the Hajj, and you witnessed the variation in their languages and colours, you will also realise that they all differed in accordance to their deeds and ranks. You saw them all gathered. So this should remind you of the greatest gathering on the Day of Judgement, so prepare for it with doing righteous deeds.
Then, He says:
“And of mankind there is he whose speech may please you (O Muhammad ), in this worldly life, and he calls Allah to witness as to that which is in his heart, yet he is the most quarrelsome of the opponents.
205. And when he turns away (from you "O Muhammad"), his effort in the land is to make mischief therein and to destroy the crops and the cattle, and Allah likes not mischief.
206. And when it is said to him, "Fear Allah", he is led by arrogance to (more) crime. So enough for him is Hell, and worst indeed is that place to rest!
207. And of mankind is he who would sell himself, seeking the Pleasure of Allah. And Allah is full of Kindness to (His) slaves.” [al-Baqarah 2: 204-207]
So look to see which group you belong to? Are you from the group which cling to the earth and corrupt it? Or are you from those who trade themselves to seek the Pleasure of Allaah? Trade: meaning they sell themselves to seek the Pleasure of Allaah, by striving for the sake of Allaah; preforming acts of obedience, being patient in times of difficulty, to seek the reward of Allaah, the Exalted and Magnified. So look! Are you from these or them?
So it is upon you to fear Allaah, the Glorified and the Most High, and to account yourself. That you return (after the Hajj) in a state that is better than before it, so that your Hajj will be an accepted Hajj, a toiling which has been met with thankfulness (from Allaah) and an expiation for sins.
And one should not say, ‘I have performed the Hajj and I can now rely on that.’ These people are deceived by their Hajj and their deeds. These people have not performed in relation to the Rights of Allaah except something very little. And this is IF Allaah has accepted it from you! Rather, the Rights of Allaah are far greater upon you, however He, the Glorified and the Most High, Makes the little that you do into something very big. He Multiplies your righteous deeds as a virtue and a favour from Him. (And on top of this) He Admits people into Jannah from His Favour and Mercy. If we were to depend on our deeds alone then we would perish! This is because what we accomplish is very little in comparison to the favour of Allaah upon us, however Allaah, the Glorified and the Most High, is ash-Shakoor (Appreciative), al-Haleem (Enduring on peoples mistakes), al-Gahfoor (Forgiving), ar-Raheem (Merciful).
So it is obligatory upon us to have good thoughts about Allaah, that we rely upon Him, The Glorified and The High. That we go back to in a better state then before, in obedience to Him and Taqwaa, and to place ourselves in front of Him so that the Hajj has a positive impact on our lives.
That we change our manners and degree of steadfastness. That we call to Allaah in our lands, explaining matters to our brothers and our families. That we remind them of Allaah, The Glorified and The Exalted. That we order them to obey Allaah and we forbid them from disobeying Allaah, so that our Hajj is accepted, our toiling is met with thankfulness (from Allaah) and our sins expiated.
With this I ask Allaah, The Glorified and The Magnified, that He Gives us and you Strength and Acceptance. That He Makes us firm on the truth and Make us die upon the truth. That He Shelters us and you from misguidance and al-Fitnah, from the worst of al-Fitnahs, that which is apparent and what is hidden.
May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, upon his Family and all his Companions.
http://af.org.sa/en/node/2669
