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WELCOME TO |
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MADRASA AL-HIDAYA |
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MUSLIM SCHOOL OF RIGHT GUIDANCE |
HAJJ
- Hajj, the annual Muslim Pilgrimage to Makka, is the fifth pillar of Islam.
- Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam) taught us how to perform Hajj. He taught us all about Islam.
- Hajj is fard (obligatory) once in a life-time for those who can afford to go for Hajj.
- First let us look at some of the teachings of Hajj.
- Hajj teaches us that everybody in Islam is equal. While on Hajj, all men wear the same Ihram clothes. Ihram clothing consists only of two unsewn pieces of white clothing.
- In Ihram clothing everyone becomes humble. Everyone also becomes humble sleeping on the floor in tents in Mina and Arafat.
- Hajj also teaches us to wear decent clothing. Women are privileged not to be in Ihram clothing but they have to be modestly dressed, and cover themselves properly.
- We learn that all Muslims are brothers and sisters.
- When we go for Hajj, we learn that Islam has spread all over the world by seeing different people of different nations. Every year more than a million people go for Hajj.
- Even non-Muslims marvel at the Hajj Pilgrimage.
- Hajj brings us closer to Allah.
- Hajj teaches us the love of Allah and the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam).
- While on Hajj, we are worshipping Allah all the time. Our hearts are becoming clean.
- While on Hajj, we recite the Qur’an as much as we can. This fills us with joy and happiness.
- While on Hajj, we are praying to Allah all the time hoping that Allah will answer our prayers.
- Hajj teaches us the history of Islam. For instance, we learn about the history of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him), and Prophet Ismail (peace be upon him). They built the Ka‘ba in Makkah to worship Allah.
- We also learn about the history of Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam). We visit many historical places around Makkah and Madina and learn about the history of Islam.
- Many books and religious poems have been written about Hajj and about Makkah and Madina.
- Hajj teaches us about patience and sacrifice as it reminds us of the patience and sacrifices of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam), and of his Family and Companions (may Allah be pleased with them).
- By looking at Sayidatina Hajra’s (Alayhassalam) history, we learn about patience and sacrifice.
- Hajj teaches us to give to the poor by sacrificing a lamb or a goat while on Hajj.
- Hajj also teaches us to be pure and clean all the time.
- Hajj teaches us to form the habit of praying five times a day.
- Hajj teaches us to disobey Shaitan, meaning to reject Shaitan’s evil ways and to stand against him.
- On the day of Hajj in Arafat, more people are forgiven than on any other day. This shows that Allah is Most Merciful.
- Hajj is Jihad for women according to a Saying of Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam).
- Hajj teaches us to be kind, gentle, truthful, helpful, and to live a life free of sins. We should not quarrel, especially while we are on Hajj.
- We learn to share our food with others.
- The water of Zam Zam in Makkah is a special gift from Allah to Muslims till the Day of Judgement.
- Now we come to an explanation of how Hajj is performed.
- Before you go for Hajj, you must be sure that if someone has been hurt by you, he must forgive you. You must also leave enough money for your family if they are not accompanying you for Hajj. You must repay your debts if you have any.
- Hajj is the big Pilgrimage and Umrah is the small Pilgrimage.
- Hajj comes at a certain time of the year, in Dhul Hijjah, the twelfth month in the Islamic calendar, but Umrah can be done at any time of the year.
- If you get the invitation from Allah to go for Hajj, you should say, “Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik” which means, “I’m here, O Allah, here I am”. This is called the Talbiya.
- When you perform Hajj, you can perform Umrah as well.
- To perform Umrah, you:
- make the niyyah (intention) in a state of wudu.
- be in a state of Ihram.
- enter the Grand Masjid in Makkah through Bab-us-Salam (the door of peace).
- perform tawaf of the Ka‘ba by going around it seven times. You should try to kiss the Hajar al-Aswad (the Black Stone) in the Ka‘ba but if you can’t do that because of the rush, you should blow it a kiss.
- pray the two rak‘ah Sunnah Prayer at Maqam Ibrahim.
- drink the water of Zam Zam.
- run between the hills of Safa and Marwa seven times because Sayyidatina Hajra (Alayhassalam) did that while searching for water for her baby Ismail (Alayhissalam).
- finally clip or shave your hair. Women only need to clip a little bit of their hair.
- Once you have done all this, you have completed your Umrah. Now you can remove the Ihram clothing and put on your normal clothes.
- This is a step by step procedure of performing Hajj.
- make the niyyah for Hajj in a state of wudu.
- men must wear Ihram clothing but ladies can wear their own dresses, covering themselves properly.
- say Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik.
- perform the rites of Umrah in Makkah.
- on the eighth of Dhul Hijjah, go to Mina which is seventeen miles away from Makkah and pray Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha prayers there and on the ninth of Dhul Hijjah, pray the Fajr prayer in Mina.
- after Fajr on the ninth, go to the Plain of Arafat.
- pray Zuhr and then pray Asr right after in Arafat. On that day, we are forgiven by Allah.
- you have to be at the Plain of Arafat anytime between Zuhr and Maghrib. This is fard (compulsory). The Khutba (sermon) of Hajj takes place on the ninth of Dhul Hijjah at Arafat.
- make dua as much as you can before the sun sets. Recite the Kalima Shahadah and Surah Ikhlas as much as you can.
- after the sun sets, leave for Muzdalifa.
- combine the Maghrib and Isha prayers at the time of Isha at Muzdalifa.
- at Muzdalifa, collect forty-nine pebbles or more to throw at the pillars in Mina. These pillars symbolize shaytan.
- on the morning of the tenth, pray the Fajr prayer at Muzdalifa.
- leave for Mina after sunrise.
- on the tenth (the day of Eid), throw seven pebbles at the big pillar in Mina after Zuhr. The big pillar represents the big shaytan in Mina.
- in Mina, each person has to sacrifice one lamb or goat. This is called Udhiya. This can be done on the tenth, eleventh or twelfth of Dhul Hijjah.
- after you have sacrificed an animal, shave or clip your hair. Now the restrictions of the Ihram come to an end. You come out of Ihram clothing and put on your usual clothes.
- go back to Makkah and perform Tawaf. This Tawaf is fard (compulsory). Also run between Safa and Marwa seven times. Then come back to Mina.
- on the eleventh, after Zuhr prayers, you throw seven pebbles at each of the three pillars in Mina.
- on the twelfth again, after Zuhr prayers, you throw seven pebbles at each pillar.
- once that is done, you can return to Makkah.
- before you leave Makkah, you have to make Tawaf-ul-Wida (the farewell Tawaf).
- then you go to Madina and stay there for eight days and pray forty Salah in Masjid Nabawi and say salaat and salaams to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam) at his Rawda.
- Those who have performed Hajj tell us of their wonderful experiences.
- They tell us of their joy when they first saw the Ka‘ba.
- They tell us of their joy listening to the melodious adhan in Makkah and Madina.
- They tell us of their joy of being with Muslims from all over the world.
- They tell us of the love and respect that Hajis show for Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam) at his Rawda in Masjid Nabawi in Madina.
- They bring gifts of dates and Zam Zam water.
- Truly, Hajj is a journey of a life-time.
- When we go for Hajj, we feel so fortunate and blessed.
- Once we come back from Hajj, we have to be even more responsible. We have to avoid sins and lead a pious life.
- May Allah accept the Hajj of all the Muslims, Amin.