hope
10-15-2006, 04:39 AM
KHUTBAH: The Virtues and Rulings of Hajj
by Sheikh 'Ali Al-Huthayfi Imam of the Haram in Madinah
Fellow Muslims! Fear Allaah and be dutiful to Him, for
piety is the best provision for the Last Day and by
it, Allaah improves the affairs of His servants, as He
says which means, “…And whoever fears Allaah – He will
make for him of his matter ease.” (At-Talaaq: 4)
Brethren in Faith! Be aware that worship is the right
of Allaah alone and it is an obligation upon mankind
and the jinn. Allaah says which means, “And I did not
create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.”
(Adh-Dhaariyaat: 56)
Acts of worship are the best deeds with which Allaah
honors His slaves and by which He elevates the pious
among them. They illuminate the hearts, refine the
souls, reform one’s manners and please the Lord; acts
of reverence also raise one’s rank in Paradise,
expiate the sins and multiply the rewards.
Furthermore, it is from Allaah’s favors upon us that
He sent to us, the best of His creation in order to
explain to us sayings, deeds and beliefs that can make
us win the pleasure of our Lord, and to warn us
against all that can make Him displeased with us.
Allaah says which means, “Just as We have sent among
you a messenger from yourselves reciting to you Our
verses and purifying you and teaching you the Book and
wisdom and teaching you that which you did not know.
So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful
to Me and do not deny Me.” (Al-Baqarah: 151-152)
Had Allaah not sent the Messengers and revealed the
Books, mankind would have been worse than animals, but
He blessed humanity by establishing a religion and
laying out the straight path for them; so, the
fortunate ones received guidance and the wretched ones
went astray.
Among the blessings of Allaah upon His slaves is that
He ordained for them acts of worship that can reform
their souls, like prayer, alms giving, fasting, Hajj
(major pilgrimage) and other such deeds so that man
may become fully nurtured and purified in all aspects.
Allaah says which means, “…Allaah does not intend to
make difficulty for you, but He intends to purify you
and complete His favor upon you that you may be
grateful.” (Al-Maa’idah: 6)
Hajj is a pillar of Islaam in which Allaah has
combined all types of ‘Ibaadah (worship). It comprises
the testimony that there is no God but Allaah and that
Muhammad sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam is His
Messenger, as well as prayer, spending in the way of
Allaah, fasting (for those who cannot afford to pay
for the sacrificial animal), enjoining good and
forbidding evil, (characteristics of) patience,
perseverance, mercy and abstention from forbidden
things.
Hajj is one of the greatest signs of Allaah that what
Muhammad sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam has come with,
is in reality the religion of truth, for no human
power can gather pilgrims every year from all parts of
the world; (pilgrims) with hearts full of yearning and
love, who experience difficulties yet rejoice at
leaving their homes and families, feeling that the
hours of performing Hajj are the greatest of their
lives and spending generously for this purpose.
Indeed, it is only Allaah who can bring about such a
situation. He says which means, “And proclaim to the
people the Hajj (pilgrimage); they will come to you on
foot and on every lean camel; they will come from
every distant pass – That they may witness (i.e.,
attend) benefits for themselves and mention the Name
of Allaah on known (i.e., specific) days over what He
has provided for them of (sacrificial) animals. So eat
of them and feed the miserable and poor.” (Al-Hajj:
27-28)
The interpreter Ibn Jareer, may Allaah have mercy upon
him, and others, reported that Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allaah
be pleased with him, said, “When Allaah commanded
Prophet Ibraaheem to proclaim Hajj among people, he
said: ‘My Lord, how can I convey the message to the
people as my voice cannot reach them?’ Allaah said,
‘You call; it is Our duty to make it reach
(everyone)!’ So, he stood in his position and said, ‘O
you people! Your Lord has chosen a House, so perform
pilgrimage to it.’ It was said that the mountains
became leveled and his voice reached all parts of the
earth and all that are in the wombs and loins of men
were made to hear the call and everything that heard
it, responded. So those for whom Allaah has decreed to
perform Hajj till the Day of Judgment responded with
the saying, ‘Labbayka Allaahumma Labbayk (Here I am at
your service, O Allaah, here I am).’ ”
Dear Muslims! Purify your intention for Allah in your
Hajj and emulate the Messenger of Allaah in all its
rites, for he, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, has
said, “Take your Hajj rites from me.” (Muslim) If you
do so, your Hajj will be accepted; the Messenger of
Allaah sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said, “Whoever
performs Hajj and does not engage in sexual relations
nor acts sinfully, he will return (after Hajj free
from all sins) like (he was) the day his mother gave
birth to him.” (Bukhaari & Muslim) He also said,
“Performing ‘Umrah after ‘Umrah will erase the sins
committed between them and the well-performed Hajj has
no reward but < I>Paradise.” (Bukhaari & Muslim) The
good Hajj is the one done with sincerity, according to
Prophetic guidance and in which one abstains from sins
and harming other Muslims.
It is obligatory for the pilgrims to be aware of the
rituals of Hajj and to perform its pillars
accordingly. The pillars of Hajj are: Ihraam (the
state of a pilgrim in which he performs Hajj and
‘Umrah, and during which he is prohibited from certain
acts that are lawful otherwise), staying at ‘Arafah,
the Tawaaf Al-Ifaadhah (circumambulation of the Ka’bah
on the tenth day of Dhul-Hijjah) and the pacing
between Safa and Marwah. He should also perform the
obligatory acts of Hajj which are: Ihraam from the
Meeqaat (the place from where people must get into the
state of Ihraam), standing at ‘Arafah till sunset,
passing the night at Muzdalifah, throwing the stones
(at the Jamaraat, i.e., three stone-built pillars in
Mina), shaving or trimming of the hair, spending the n
ights at Mina, sacrificing an animal if necessary
(according to the type of Hajj one is performing) and
doing the farewell Tawaaf (circumambulation).
On the day of slaughtering (i.e., the 10th day of
Dhul-Hijjah), the pilgrim throws stones at the Jamrat
Al-‘Aqabah, slaughters, runs between Safa and Marwah
and performs Tawaaf Al-Ifaadhah. Once he does the
first three acts, all the prohibitions stipulated by
Ihraam are removed for him except sexual intercourse.
However, if he has performed Tawaaf Al-Ifaadhah in
addition to that, everything becomes permissible for
him again, including sexual relations.
It is recommended for the pilgrim to increase in the
performance of acts of worship and in Talbiyah (a
prayer recited by pilgrims going to Makkah) till he
starts throwing the stones at ‘Aqabah. He should
endeavor to read the Qur’aan and supplicate much,
especially on the day of ‘Arafah, for the Messenger of
Allaah sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said, “The best
supplication is that of (the day of) ‘Arafah, and the
best word that I and all Prophets have said on the day
of ‘Arafah is, ‘Laa ilaaha illallaah wahdahu laa
shareeka lahu lahul-mulk walahul hamd, wahuwa ‘alaa
kulli shay’in qadeer’ (None has the right to be
worshipped but Allaah alone, Who has no partner. His
is the dominion and His is the praise, and He is Able
to do all things).” (Tirmidhi) The pilgrim should also
guard his tongue and abstain from backbiting, fighting
and arguments.
The Muslim should also recite the prescribed Takbeer
from right after Fajr (dawn) prayer on the day of
‘Arafah till the afternoon of the 13th day of
Dhul-Hijjah. The Takbeer is as follows, “Allaahu
Akbar, Allaahu Akbar, La ilaaha illallaah, wallaahu
akbar, Allaahu akbar walillaahil hamd.” It is also
recommended for the pilgrims and others to perform
many good deeds in the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah.
The Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam
said, “There are no days in which good deeds are
dearer to Allaah than in these days (i.e. the first
ten days of Dhul-Hijjah).” The Companions asked, “O
Messenger of Allaah! Not even Jihaad in the way of
Allaah?” He replied, “Not even Jihaad in the way of
Allaah, except fo r a man who goes out for Jihaad with
his life and wealth and comes back with none of the
two.” (Bukhaari & Muslim)
Fellow Muslims! The first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are
the best days in the sight of Allaah; He terms them
“the well-known days” in His Book, according to Ibn
‘Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased with him. It is
recommended, therefore, to remember Allaah much in the
mosques, streets, marketplaces and everywhere during
this period.
The day of ‘Arafah occurs in these days and if you do
not have the opportunity to be at ‘Arafah on that day,
you can fast. The Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu
'alayhi wa sallam was asked about the fasting of that
day, so he said, “It erases the sins of the previous
year and the present one.” (Muslim)
Dear pilgrim! Allaah says which means, “Hajj is
(during) well-known months, so whoever has made Hajj
obligatory upon himself therein (by entering the state
of Ihraam), there is (to be for him) no sexual
relations and no disobedience and no disputing during
Hajj. And whatever good you do – Allaah knows it. And
take provision, but indeed, the best provision is fear
of Allaah. And fear Me, O you of understanding.”
(Al-Baqarah: 197)
Hold fast unto the sublime Islaamic manners and let
your Hajj be an act of repentance from (previous)
sins, and (a source of) reform and piety for the rest
of your life. Thank Allaah and praise Him for His
bountiful blessings of peace, faith and worldly
commodities; and (also for) the opportunities He
affords you to do righteous deeds and for the
disasters He has averted from befalling you.
Summary
1) Worship is the exclusive right of Allaah
2) The virtues of worship
3) The merits of this Ummah
4) It is from the mercy of Allaah that He sent
messengers and legislated different acts of worship
5) Hajj is one of the pillars (of Islaam)
6) The virtue of Hajj
7) Hajj is proof that Islaam is the true religion
8) Which is the perfect Hajj?
9) The pillars and obligatory aspects of Hajj
10) The virtue of the day of An-Nahr (sacrifice)
11) Recommended acts and etiquettes
12) The virtue of the ten days of Dhul- Hijjah
13) Fasting the day of ‘Arafah
:hope:
by Sheikh 'Ali Al-Huthayfi Imam of the Haram in Madinah
Fellow Muslims! Fear Allaah and be dutiful to Him, for
piety is the best provision for the Last Day and by
it, Allaah improves the affairs of His servants, as He
says which means, “…And whoever fears Allaah – He will
make for him of his matter ease.” (At-Talaaq: 4)
Brethren in Faith! Be aware that worship is the right
of Allaah alone and it is an obligation upon mankind
and the jinn. Allaah says which means, “And I did not
create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.”
(Adh-Dhaariyaat: 56)
Acts of worship are the best deeds with which Allaah
honors His slaves and by which He elevates the pious
among them. They illuminate the hearts, refine the
souls, reform one’s manners and please the Lord; acts
of reverence also raise one’s rank in Paradise,
expiate the sins and multiply the rewards.
Furthermore, it is from Allaah’s favors upon us that
He sent to us, the best of His creation in order to
explain to us sayings, deeds and beliefs that can make
us win the pleasure of our Lord, and to warn us
against all that can make Him displeased with us.
Allaah says which means, “Just as We have sent among
you a messenger from yourselves reciting to you Our
verses and purifying you and teaching you the Book and
wisdom and teaching you that which you did not know.
So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful
to Me and do not deny Me.” (Al-Baqarah: 151-152)
Had Allaah not sent the Messengers and revealed the
Books, mankind would have been worse than animals, but
He blessed humanity by establishing a religion and
laying out the straight path for them; so, the
fortunate ones received guidance and the wretched ones
went astray.
Among the blessings of Allaah upon His slaves is that
He ordained for them acts of worship that can reform
their souls, like prayer, alms giving, fasting, Hajj
(major pilgrimage) and other such deeds so that man
may become fully nurtured and purified in all aspects.
Allaah says which means, “…Allaah does not intend to
make difficulty for you, but He intends to purify you
and complete His favor upon you that you may be
grateful.” (Al-Maa’idah: 6)
Hajj is a pillar of Islaam in which Allaah has
combined all types of ‘Ibaadah (worship). It comprises
the testimony that there is no God but Allaah and that
Muhammad sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam is His
Messenger, as well as prayer, spending in the way of
Allaah, fasting (for those who cannot afford to pay
for the sacrificial animal), enjoining good and
forbidding evil, (characteristics of) patience,
perseverance, mercy and abstention from forbidden
things.
Hajj is one of the greatest signs of Allaah that what
Muhammad sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam has come with,
is in reality the religion of truth, for no human
power can gather pilgrims every year from all parts of
the world; (pilgrims) with hearts full of yearning and
love, who experience difficulties yet rejoice at
leaving their homes and families, feeling that the
hours of performing Hajj are the greatest of their
lives and spending generously for this purpose.
Indeed, it is only Allaah who can bring about such a
situation. He says which means, “And proclaim to the
people the Hajj (pilgrimage); they will come to you on
foot and on every lean camel; they will come from
every distant pass – That they may witness (i.e.,
attend) benefits for themselves and mention the Name
of Allaah on known (i.e., specific) days over what He
has provided for them of (sacrificial) animals. So eat
of them and feed the miserable and poor.” (Al-Hajj:
27-28)
The interpreter Ibn Jareer, may Allaah have mercy upon
him, and others, reported that Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allaah
be pleased with him, said, “When Allaah commanded
Prophet Ibraaheem to proclaim Hajj among people, he
said: ‘My Lord, how can I convey the message to the
people as my voice cannot reach them?’ Allaah said,
‘You call; it is Our duty to make it reach
(everyone)!’ So, he stood in his position and said, ‘O
you people! Your Lord has chosen a House, so perform
pilgrimage to it.’ It was said that the mountains
became leveled and his voice reached all parts of the
earth and all that are in the wombs and loins of men
were made to hear the call and everything that heard
it, responded. So those for whom Allaah has decreed to
perform Hajj till the Day of Judgment responded with
the saying, ‘Labbayka Allaahumma Labbayk (Here I am at
your service, O Allaah, here I am).’ ”
Dear Muslims! Purify your intention for Allah in your
Hajj and emulate the Messenger of Allaah in all its
rites, for he, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, has
said, “Take your Hajj rites from me.” (Muslim) If you
do so, your Hajj will be accepted; the Messenger of
Allaah sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said, “Whoever
performs Hajj and does not engage in sexual relations
nor acts sinfully, he will return (after Hajj free
from all sins) like (he was) the day his mother gave
birth to him.” (Bukhaari & Muslim) He also said,
“Performing ‘Umrah after ‘Umrah will erase the sins
committed between them and the well-performed Hajj has
no reward but < I>Paradise.” (Bukhaari & Muslim) The
good Hajj is the one done with sincerity, according to
Prophetic guidance and in which one abstains from sins
and harming other Muslims.
It is obligatory for the pilgrims to be aware of the
rituals of Hajj and to perform its pillars
accordingly. The pillars of Hajj are: Ihraam (the
state of a pilgrim in which he performs Hajj and
‘Umrah, and during which he is prohibited from certain
acts that are lawful otherwise), staying at ‘Arafah,
the Tawaaf Al-Ifaadhah (circumambulation of the Ka’bah
on the tenth day of Dhul-Hijjah) and the pacing
between Safa and Marwah. He should also perform the
obligatory acts of Hajj which are: Ihraam from the
Meeqaat (the place from where people must get into the
state of Ihraam), standing at ‘Arafah till sunset,
passing the night at Muzdalifah, throwing the stones
(at the Jamaraat, i.e., three stone-built pillars in
Mina), shaving or trimming of the hair, spending the n
ights at Mina, sacrificing an animal if necessary
(according to the type of Hajj one is performing) and
doing the farewell Tawaaf (circumambulation).
On the day of slaughtering (i.e., the 10th day of
Dhul-Hijjah), the pilgrim throws stones at the Jamrat
Al-‘Aqabah, slaughters, runs between Safa and Marwah
and performs Tawaaf Al-Ifaadhah. Once he does the
first three acts, all the prohibitions stipulated by
Ihraam are removed for him except sexual intercourse.
However, if he has performed Tawaaf Al-Ifaadhah in
addition to that, everything becomes permissible for
him again, including sexual relations.
It is recommended for the pilgrim to increase in the
performance of acts of worship and in Talbiyah (a
prayer recited by pilgrims going to Makkah) till he
starts throwing the stones at ‘Aqabah. He should
endeavor to read the Qur’aan and supplicate much,
especially on the day of ‘Arafah, for the Messenger of
Allaah sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said, “The best
supplication is that of (the day of) ‘Arafah, and the
best word that I and all Prophets have said on the day
of ‘Arafah is, ‘Laa ilaaha illallaah wahdahu laa
shareeka lahu lahul-mulk walahul hamd, wahuwa ‘alaa
kulli shay’in qadeer’ (None has the right to be
worshipped but Allaah alone, Who has no partner. His
is the dominion and His is the praise, and He is Able
to do all things).” (Tirmidhi) The pilgrim should also
guard his tongue and abstain from backbiting, fighting
and arguments.
The Muslim should also recite the prescribed Takbeer
from right after Fajr (dawn) prayer on the day of
‘Arafah till the afternoon of the 13th day of
Dhul-Hijjah. The Takbeer is as follows, “Allaahu
Akbar, Allaahu Akbar, La ilaaha illallaah, wallaahu
akbar, Allaahu akbar walillaahil hamd.” It is also
recommended for the pilgrims and others to perform
many good deeds in the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah.
The Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam
said, “There are no days in which good deeds are
dearer to Allaah than in these days (i.e. the first
ten days of Dhul-Hijjah).” The Companions asked, “O
Messenger of Allaah! Not even Jihaad in the way of
Allaah?” He replied, “Not even Jihaad in the way of
Allaah, except fo r a man who goes out for Jihaad with
his life and wealth and comes back with none of the
two.” (Bukhaari & Muslim)
Fellow Muslims! The first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are
the best days in the sight of Allaah; He terms them
“the well-known days” in His Book, according to Ibn
‘Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased with him. It is
recommended, therefore, to remember Allaah much in the
mosques, streets, marketplaces and everywhere during
this period.
The day of ‘Arafah occurs in these days and if you do
not have the opportunity to be at ‘Arafah on that day,
you can fast. The Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu
'alayhi wa sallam was asked about the fasting of that
day, so he said, “It erases the sins of the previous
year and the present one.” (Muslim)
Dear pilgrim! Allaah says which means, “Hajj is
(during) well-known months, so whoever has made Hajj
obligatory upon himself therein (by entering the state
of Ihraam), there is (to be for him) no sexual
relations and no disobedience and no disputing during
Hajj. And whatever good you do – Allaah knows it. And
take provision, but indeed, the best provision is fear
of Allaah. And fear Me, O you of understanding.”
(Al-Baqarah: 197)
Hold fast unto the sublime Islaamic manners and let
your Hajj be an act of repentance from (previous)
sins, and (a source of) reform and piety for the rest
of your life. Thank Allaah and praise Him for His
bountiful blessings of peace, faith and worldly
commodities; and (also for) the opportunities He
affords you to do righteous deeds and for the
disasters He has averted from befalling you.
Summary
1) Worship is the exclusive right of Allaah
2) The virtues of worship
3) The merits of this Ummah
4) It is from the mercy of Allaah that He sent
messengers and legislated different acts of worship
5) Hajj is one of the pillars (of Islaam)
6) The virtue of Hajj
7) Hajj is proof that Islaam is the true religion
8) Which is the perfect Hajj?
9) The pillars and obligatory aspects of Hajj
10) The virtue of the day of An-Nahr (sacrifice)
11) Recommended acts and etiquettes
12) The virtue of the ten days of Dhul- Hijjah
13) Fasting the day of ‘Arafah
:hope: