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Friday Talks |
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145 |
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Grace of Hajj
Written by: Sk. Omar Kadrawi
Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa.
21 Thul-Qadah 1431h
29th October 2010ac
All thanks be to Allah who declared Hajj (pilgrimage) worship to His holy mosque; and made as a consequence of that a tremendous amount of reward and plenty of mercies. For whoever makes hajj (pilgrimage) to the mosque in Mecca and does not get involved in obscene arguments and does not commit wrong then comes out of Hajj like the day he or she was born; free and clear and clean of all sins and misdeeds. And an accepted Hajj has no reward other than paradise.
In the next few days we shall meet a great season of mercies and blessings, and days that are some of the most loved days to Allah. A deed during those days is more loved to Allah than the same deed in other days. The messenger ppbu said: {there are no other days during which a deed is more loved to Allah than in those days} he was referring to the those first ten days of the month of Thul-Hejjah. They asked the messenger ppbu: “Not even jihad in the way of fighting in the line of Allah?” He said: {Not even fighting in the line of Allah except for a man who goes out with his soul and his money and returns with non of that}.
These are the first ten days of the month of Thul-Hejah; the last month in the Islamic calendar. A month during which Allah ruled for a Muslim to get even closer to Allah and be more obedient, more inferior and more repentant and more grateful through praising Him and glorifying Him and giving thanks to Him. The messenger ppbu said: {No other days during which a good deed is greater and is more loved to Allah than during those ten days. So do a plenty of praising, glorifying and thanking}
Fasting is permissible in those days; and the most affirmed: is the day of Arafa which is the ninth day of the month of Thul-Hejjah. Fasting here only applies to this that is not doing the Hajj worship. The day of Arafa is absolutely the best day in the year, just as the night of Qadr is absolutely the best night in the year. The messenger ppbu said: {fasting the day of Arafa in my expectation (my view) as far as Allah is concerned is that it clears off sins of the entire year before it and the year after it}. And here he means clearing all sins which are not considered major sins. Major sins can only be cleared by remorsefulness and an accepted repentance. Allah says: {.. and those who when they commit a major sin or wrong against themselves they remember Allah and they repent (asking for forgiveness for) from their sins. And who forgives sins other than Allah. And they do not, knowingly, insist or continue on doing what they did}. The messenger ppbu said: {the five daily prayers, and from one Friday prayer to the next, and from one Ramadan to the following Ramadan; are clearers of sins which are committed between them, as long as major sins are not committed}
Those days bring with them the holy atmosphere of Hajj to the holy and honoured land of Mecca. Whoever is chosen to perform this great Hajj ritual is a real lucky and is the real winner. Hajj is the fifth pillar of the faith of Islam for whoever has the ability to do it. Allah say: {it is Allah’s right upon people that whoever is able is to go for pilgrimage (Hajj) to the mosque is to do so. And whoever denies it then Allah is in no need for the entire worlds}. Here “whoever denies” means whoever objects to; or refuses Hajj. The word denies refers to: not accepting faith and it is a strong way of warning against refusing Hajj. The messenger ppbu said: {Islam is: to testify that there is no other God other than Allah, and to do the prayers, and to bring in charity and to fast Ramadan and to do pilgrimage to the mosque if you are able to do so}
The messenger ppbu told that Islam is built upon those five foundations. In a way the Islamic faith of any person is not really complete until he or she goes for Hajj. And his or her Islam is only fully supported after Hajj. Omar ebn Al-Khuttab once said: “I almost intend to send men into the land, they investigate and find whoever has financial ability to do hajj and didn’t and make them pay the non-Muslim tax. For they are not Muslims, they are not Muslims” .
Islam has imposed a number of worships. Some are characterised as being physical worships and some are as being financial worships. And some combine between both being physical and financial worship. The five prayers and fasting are physical worships. Zakah or charity is a financial worship. While Hajj combines both. Hajj is a physical, practical and also a financial worship. One at Hajj endures physical effort and travels from home to the holy land. And lives a simple life where he or she will sleep it rough in a tent in the town of Mena, and may go to sleep on the ground with the sky being the only blanket used. Leaving behind all means of leisure and comfort in his or her normal life and going through the difficulties met during performing Hajj. Walking round Kabba doing Tawaf ritual, and waking ritual between the two hill tops Safa and Marwa. All this requires a physical effort.
On the other hand Hajj requires money to travel and live in the holy land. Allah did not insist on walking to Hajj, so one will require a mean of transport. All this is conditioned by the ability to do so. That is one has to have the means to pay for that, including the means of travel, and expenses of the keep and food during that period, at an acceptable level or style. Which means spending is neither to be over done; nor to keep things too tight. Also, an individual leaving a family behind must not leave the family out of pocket either. Therefore; Hajj is considered to be both physical and financial worship. And because Hajj is so costly in both physical and financial terms; Allah has made it compulsory to be done only once in a life time.
The prayer worship is a daily worship; Zakah (or charity) is annual worship. Fasting is a month on annual bases, while Hajj is once in a life time. The companions used to call prayers the daily scale, meaning if done correctly then things look well on the daily scale. And they used to call Friday as the weekly scale. And Ramadan was known as the annual scale, and Hajj was known to them as the life scale.
The messenger ppbu said: {people, Hajj has been imposed on to you, so do go for Hajj} and a man asked: is it to be done every year? The messenger ppbu did not answer. The man asked again and again. After the third time the messenger ppbu said: {if I say Yes then it becomes compulsory to do so, and you would not be able for it}. So, Allah commanded Hajj to be done once, in order only to ease matters for His slaves. Allah says in His book: {Allah does not put a responsibly on to a soul of (or hold a soul responsible for) more than it can bear}. No, Allah does not impose on to a human more than the human can bear in matters of life or matters of faith.
Dear brothers and sister, if you have the capability, do not put off going for Hajj. Remember it is compulsory for who ever is capable physically and financially. This who has the ability then let them hurry up and do it while they are able for one never knows if he or she will continue to have health, or continue to have money or continue to have secure travel or continue to have the right circumstances and conditions enabling them to do Hajj. Do not be with those who always say: I will, I will. One never knows if he or she will still be alive to do Hajj the following year. Are you going to be here alive next year? May be, Or may be not?
Notes:
Adhan - The call to prayer.
- The inhabitants of the city of Al-Medina that received and supported the messenger (PPBU) when he immigrated from Mekkah in the very early years of Islam.
Ansar (or Al-Ansar):
Assalam Alaikum - The Islamic greeting, literately means: Peace be with you. Used when approaching or leaving. When used during approaching it will be like saying: I bring no harm to you . and when said during leaving somebody it will mean: No harm will come to you after I leave.
- is a verse of the Koran. It also means a miracle or a sign from God.
Aya (or Ayah):
- is a mountain outside the city of Mecca that represents the climax of the Hajj worship. All doing Hajj must stay at this location on the same day.
Arafa (or Arafah or Arafat):
Badr - The place of the first significant battle between the Muslims and the pagans of the Quraish. It is located in Saudi Arabia.
Caliph - A Muslim ruler. See: (Khalifa)
Dajjal - Antichrist or the False Massiah.
Dawah - The proliferation of Islamic teachings through word and deed.
Deen (Din) - Religion or way of life.
- talking to Allah; praising him and asking him for help.
Duaa: a prayer in the form of
Fatwa - Legal verdict given based on the Qur'an (Koran) and the Sunnah which are the recorded sayings and deeds of Muhammad.
Ferdose: is the highest level of the all the gardens of Eden or paradise.
Fiqh - Religious law.
Hadeeth: is something reported that the messenger have said. It includes all the speeches and ceremonies he gave. It is usually narrated or told by one of his companions. There is a list of hadeeths approximately 14000 that are reported and checked to be genuine. No more hadeeths are acceptably added to this list.
Hajar - The Black Stone set into the corner of the Ka'aba in Mecca. It is said to be a stone from Heaven.
Hajj - The pilgrimage to Mecca which takes place in the last month of the Islamic calendar. One of the five pillars of Islam.
Hasana or hasanas: is the reward for a good deed. a hasana is a point or a merit for a good deed.
Hadith - The sayings and not deeds of the prophet Muhammad recorded by his followers. Considered authoritative and perfect.
Hajj: is the worship of pilgrimage.
Hijra (or Hejrah): the event of the immigration of the messenger from Mekkah to Madina. This event marks the start of the Islamic calendar. the Islamic calendar has 12 months based on the lunar cycle, each is 29.5 days. Hijra is also used as a name for the Islamic dating system.
Ibadah - Worship. All the words and deeds with which Allah is pleased. These deeds could be prayer and charity.
Iblis - (Ibleese): On of Satan's names.
Ibn (Ebn): the son of. Used by Arabs as part of an individual's name. Example: Ali whose father is Omar or the son of Omar, would be called: Ali Ibn Omar.
Imam (or Emam)- The leader for a prayer. In the Shiaa sect, an Imam is the individual who has the religious authority.
Iman: belief or faith
Injil (Enjeel) - The Bible. The book inspired to Jesus for the Christians.
Islam - Submission, the religion of all the prophets of Allah culminating in Muhammad.
Jannah - The heavenly garden, Paradise. The place of the faithful in the afterlife.
Jihad: is striving in the line of Allah in many forms. Includes a very wide scope varying from improving oneself to fighting a defensive war in protection of Allah's word. The greatest Jihad is the fight one's self against temptations. It also means "holy war."
Jinn - Supernatural, invisible beings race of beings, below angels. They were made from fire. Like humans, there amongst them are the faithful and the non beleivers and Jinn shall be judged on Judgment Day.
Ka'aba: A cube shaped building in Mecca containing a stone laid there by Abraham and Ishmael. Some say Ka'aba was first built by Adam, and some say by Abraham. It is the holiest place for Muslims. It is where all Muslims face in their daily prayers. Ka'aba also makes a major part of the pilgrimage in a ritual known as Tawaf.
Khalifa: is the Muslim ruler. Head of the Islamic empire. Exact translation: "Successor".
Khutbah - A sermon given in a Mosque, usually on Friday.
Kufr - Denial or Disbelief. A term Muslims use for anyone who denies existence of Allah or the prophecy of Muhammed.
Koran - Also spelled Qur'an. The holy book of Islam revealed to Muhammad by Allah through the Archangel Gabriel. Koran literally means "the recital." It is the final revelation of Allah given to the prophet Muhammad. It consists of 114 surahs (or chapters.)
Madinah - (Medinah): A city in the Arabian peninsula (in the country known now as Saudi Arabia). A city where the messenger had to immigrate to. Then it was called Yathrib.
Masjid - A center for Muslim activity. It is referred to as a mosque.
Masiah - A sin, or a sinful act
Mecca or Makkah: is the holiest city for Muslims. It contains the Ka'aba mosque with the famous black cubical shape. Mecca is the birth place of the messenger (PPBU).
Mosque - A Muslim house of worship.
Muhajir - (Muhajireen) Immigrant, one who leaves his home town due to lack of religious freedom. It was first used to describe early Muslims immigrating from Mecca to Median and Ethiopia.
Muhammad - the final messenger and prophet of God whose message abrogated all previous revelations. He received the Koran through the angel Gabriel over a 23 year period. Born in Mecca and died in Medina at the age of 63. His full name: Muhammad ibn Abd-Allah
Muslim - One who holds faith to the religion of Islam.
Nafilah: a voluntary prayer other than the five obligatory prayers; performed at any time.
Nasara - Christians. Nasrani: A Christian individual. Nasraniah: Christianity.
Ommah: is the Arabic word for a nation. It usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise specified.
Paradise - Another word for heaven. A garden of bliss, fruits, rivers and all forms of pleasures imaginable and imaginable. No suffering, disease or death. Service is provided by angels. All live in it an ever lasting youthful life. Promised by Almighty Allah to all faithful, true Jews, true Christians and True Muslims. Paradise is one of two places every person will go to, either Paradise or Hellfire.
PPBU (P.B.U.H.) : Peace and Prayers Be Upon him. A statement Muslims use any time they mention the name of the messenger or make a reference to him.
Qadar - Fate. Preordainment is the teaching that all things, good and bad, are preordained to occur.
Qadr - (night of Qadr): The night when the first revelation of the Koran took place. Most likely it happened during one of the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan. Or when the Koran was brought down to the nearest heaven in one go, and from there it was brought down in bits and few verses at a time over a period of 23 years. This night is considered the holiest night for Muslims with tremendous advantages.
Qibla - The direction which Muslims turn for daily prayers, towards Mecca.
Quraish - An ancient Arab tribe to which the messenger Muhammad belonged.
Ramadan - The ninth month of the Islamic calendar which is the month of the fast. The holiest month in the Muslim colander.
Salat - Prayers. Generally it covers all forms of worship, but more specifically refers to the Muslim rituals which is performed to worship Allah five times daily.
Shiaa: A sect of Islam that teaches that a religion leader (Imam) should be the political ruler and must be direct descendants of the messenger (PPBU). Therefore, disapproving of all Muslim leaders who ruled After the messenger (PPBU) except Ali, the messenger's grandson.
Shirk - Associating another god with Allah. Or associating anyone or anything with Allah. Or using anyone or anything as a medium to Allah. The opposite of Monotheism or Tawheed.
Siam or Soam- Fasting
Sunni: is a the title of those Muslims who are suppose to be following the life style of the messenger. This differentiates them from the Shiaa of Iran.
Sunna (Sunnah): Is how the Messenger PPBU lived, what he did or said. It includes the way he dressed, ate, drank, prayed, interacted with other people and fought. Basically, sunnah is the life style of the messenger PPBU. It is considered the second source of legislation in Islamic laws and it is considered to be an important reference to be used for concluding arguments and disputes. It is also a title give to the main stream Muslims who make 90% if all Muslims.
Surah - A chapter of the Koran.
Tawaf: part of the pilgrimage (Hajj) ritual. It involves walking round the Ka'aba Mosque in anti-clock wise direction a number of seven circles.
Tauhid - Tawheed - Monotheism, in Islam is the teaching that there is only one God who alone is worthy of worship. The first requirement of becoming a Muslim. It is included in the testimony of faith for new Muslims when declaring that God is one: (No God but Allah)
Taqwah - Proper fear and veneration of Allah. A divine spark that enables the person to understand God.
Taurat: The old Testaments and scriptures of Mosa.
Ummah - the word means: a Nation. Usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise stated.
Umrah - (Amrah): A mini hajj. A Minor form of pilgrimage to Mecca. Unlike Hajj which can only be done on the 12th month of the Islamic year, Umrah can be performed at any time.
Wathoo (wadoo): a washing up ritual done by Muslims before each of the five daily prayers known as ablution.
Zaboor - The Psalms
Zakat - The third pillar of Islam. Alms giving, charity that is given to the poor.
