Hajj : A Spiritual Journey

HAJJ is among the five pillars of Islam. The literal meaning of "Hajj" is to intend or plan for and according to Shar'ee terminology it means to halt at 'Arafaat (the vast expense near Makkah where major Hajj rite is performed on 9th Zilhij after having adopted "Ehraam"(unstitched cloths) and to perform circumambulation of "Ka'bah" (the House of Allah). Performance of some rites, ceremonies and worships at various sacred sites in Makkah also come under Hajj. Hajj is Fard once in a lifetime as mentioned in the Ahadith below.



Hadith #1
Hadrat ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhuma reported that :
Messenger of Allah (SallAllaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam) stated, “‘O People! Allah has made Hajj incumbent upon you.’
Hadrat Aqra’ ibn Habis stood up and inquired, ‘O Messenger of Allah! Is it incumbent each year?’
The Messenger of Allah(SallAllaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam) said, ‘If I say ‘yes’ then it would be made obligatory and incumbent upon you
each year, and if it was to be made incumbent each year you would not be able to fulfill this religious duty. Thus, Hajj is only once in the lifetime
and those who exceed this (do more than once) then the (extra) is nafl (optional).’” �[Mishkat, Kitab al-Manasik, Page 221]



From this we understand that the Holy Prophet(peace be upon him) has full power, control and authority on Shari’ah and Sacred Islamic Laws. If the
Messenger of Allah (SallAllaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam) desired, he could have made Hajj obligatory and incumbent each year.

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Hastening to do Hajj
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Hadith #1
Hadrat ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhuma reported that the Messenger of Allah SallAllaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam said,
“He who intends to perform hajj should hasten to do so.”�[Sunan Darimi, Vol. 2, Page 27]

Hadith #2
Hadrat ‘Ali Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu reported that the Messenger of Allah (SallAllaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam said, “If anyone possesses enough
provision and an animal to mount on (or any other conveyance) to take him to the House of Allah and (despite this) does not perform the pilgrimage,
there is no difference whether he dies as a Jew or a Christian. This is because Allah the Most Exalted has stated, ‘Pilgrimage to the House is a duty men
owe to Allah, those who can afford the journey’.”�[Sunan Tirmidhi, Baab Ma Ja'a minat Taghleedh, Vol. 1, Page 167]
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Rewards of doing HAJJ
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Hadith #1
Hadrat ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu reported that the Messenger of Allah SallAllaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam said,
“Make the Hajj and the Umrah follow each other closely, (wear the Ihram for Qiran, in which the intention of Hajj and ‘Umrah is done or perform
both the Hajj and ‘Umrah consecutively) for they remove poverty and sins as a furnace removes impurities from iron, gold and silver; and Hajj
which is accepted, its reward is Paradise.” �[Sunan Tirmidhi, Abwab al-Hajj, Vol. 1, Page 167]



Hadith #2
Hadrat Abu Hurairah Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu reported that the Messenger of Allah SallAllaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam said,
“Anyone who went out (of his house) with the intention of performing Hajj, ‘Umrah or fighting in the Path of Allah, and then passed away as he was
on his way,then Allah the Most Exalted shall forever write for him the reward of a Haji, one who performs ‘Umrah and a mujahid.”
�[Mishkaat, Kitab al-Manasik, Page 223]



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Performing HAJJ on behalf of others
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Hadith #1
Hadrat Abu Razin al-‘Uqayli Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu came to the Messenger of Allah SallAllaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam and asked,
“My father is very old, he cannot perform Hajj and Umrah himself; nor can he ride on any conveyance.”
He said, “Perform Hajj and Umrah on behalf of your father.” �[Sunan Abi Dawood, Baab al-Rajul Yahujju 'an Ghayrih, Vol. 1, Page 252]



Hadith #2
Hadrat ibn ‘Abbas Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhuma reported that: A man came to the Holy Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam) and said,
“My sister vowed to perform the Hajj, but she died (before fulfilling it).”
The Holy Prophet(SallAllaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam) said, “Would you not have paid her debts if she had any?”

The man said, “Yes.”

So, the Holy Prophet(SallAllaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam ) said, “So pay Allah's Rights, as He is more entitled that His rights be fulfilled.”
�[Sahih Bukhari, Kitab an-Nudhur, Vol. 2, Page 991]