Makkah & Madina: 'Hajj' & 'Ziarat'

 Hajj: the Sacrifice of Abraham (as)

Whenever Hajj is evoked, the Sacrifice of Abraham (as) is also evoked. It is reported that the Holy Prophet (pbuh) said: “When anyone of you intends to sacrifice the animal and enter in the month of Dhul-Hijjah (since the first of Dhul-Hijjah), he should not get his hair cut or nails pared till he has offered his sacrifice.” (Muslim).

So it is recommended for all those taking part in the animals (the Qurbani) not to cut their hair from the 1^st of Dhul-Hijjah. Note that the days and nights of Dhul-Hijjah are sacred and therefore fast (maximise this time in fasting) and do good works. Do not have suspicions, and do not make palavers, do not argue because all this is the work of Satan. Allah and His angels do not stay among those categories of people. Respect the elders, have love and obedience for them, supplicate Allah (Duahs) and remember Him (Zikrullah), read the Qur’an, try to transform yourselves, move away from evil deeds, replace all bad deeds with good deeds, so that you can have the love of Allah and that Allah (swt) be pleased with you.

It is Allah Who is the Almighty, the Creator of all things. He does not need our prayers and our actions as He clearly tells us in the Holy Qur’an:

“The first House (of worship) appointed for men was that at Bakkah (i.e. Makkah): Full of blessing and of guidance for all the worlds (for all people): In it are clear signs (such as) the standing place of Abraham. And whoever enters it shall be safe. Pilgrimage thereto is a duty men owe to Allah - for whoever is able to find thereto a way. And whoever disbelieves, then surely Allah is not in need of (any of His) creation.” (Al-Imran 3: 97-98).

In many other verses this concept is clearly exposed to humanity that Allah (swt) has no need of creatures and their prayers. This is also repeated in a Hadith Qudsi (Sacred Hadith) where Allah says:

“O My servants, you will not attain harming Me so as to harm Me, and you will not attain benefiting Me so as to benefit Me. O my servants, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you to become as pious as the most pious heart of any one man of you, that would not increase My kingdom in anything. O My servants, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you to be as wicked as the most wicked heart of any one man of you, that would not decrease My kingdom in anything. O My servants, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you to rise up in one place and make a request of Me, and were I to give everyone what he requested, that would not decrease what I have, any more than a needle decreases the sea if put into it.” (Muslim, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah).

We can conclude that the obligations established in Islam as well as the forbidden actions are based on the knowledge and wisdom of Allah (swt) in perfect harmony with the nature of man as created by Him (swt) and the mission and goals of man in this world have been assigned to him so that he is rewarded accordingly in the afterlife. In a nutshell, do’s and don’ts are meant to benefit humanity and society in general.

Once this is clear to our mind, the Hajj being a pillar of Islam clearly demonstrates the tremendous spiritual, mental, physical and even financial benefits to humanity as a whole and society.

Prayers and forms of devotion in Islam have a direct bearing on our spiritual as well as material life as mentioned in the following verses:

“Seek the forgiveness of your Lord, and turn to Him in repentance, that He may grant you good enjoyment…” (Hud 11 : 4).

“O my people! Ask forgiveness of your Lord, and turn to Him (in repentance): He will send you the skies pouring abundant rain, and add strength to your strength.” (Hud 11 : 53).

As it is also mentioned in the traditions of the Holy Prophet (pbuh): “If anyone constantly seeks pardon (from Allah), Allah will appoint for him a way out of every distress and a relief from every anxiety, and will provide sustenance for him from where he expects not.” (Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah)

The verses of the Quran are also in the same wavelength as this Hadith: “Perform Hajj and Umrah consecutively; for they remove poverty and sin as bellows remove impurity from iron.” (An-Nasai).

The benefits of Hajj: 

The Holy Prophet (pbuh) said concerning the fifth pillar of Islam: “Whoever performs Hajj for Allah’s pleasure and does not have sexual relations with his wife, and does not do evil or sins then he will return (after Hajj free from all sins) as if he were born anew.” (Bukhari)

To accomplish the Umrah is an atonement for the sins committed (between the previous Umrah, and the new one). And the reward of a Hajj Mabrur (accepted by Allah) is none other than paradise. (Bukhari).

We can notice that our beloved prophet (pbuh) insisted, in the two Hadiths mentioned, on the conditions for us to enjoy the benefits of Hajj: He who abstains from sex with his wife and does not commit any sin.

An Accepted Hajj: Therefore, we must be vigilant during the Hajj not to commit sin, as this is a condition specified by the Holy Prophet (pbuh), in order to be able to enjoy the benefits associated with this pillar of Islam. Insha-Allah.

Pious Visit (Ziarat) to Medina Sharif:

When you go for Hajj and Umrah, you should also take the opportunity to go to the city of the Holy Prophet (pbuh): Madina Al-Munawara.

The city of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) is located about 600 Km north of Mecca. This is the city to which the Holy Prophet (pbuh) emigrated from Mecca. This emigration marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar: Al-Hijjah which means Emigration.

The city is also universally known as MADINAT-UL-MUNAWARA (The City of Light), because the Holy Prophet (pbuh) is himself “light” (Nur). And it was from there that light and guidance were propagated to all humanity. Visiting this place is one of the greatest blessings that Allah has reserved for the believer because the Holy Prophet’s Mosque (pbuh) is there and it is the most sacred of all mosques after the Ka’aba Sharif, the first mosque for Humanity.

Moreover, whoever, after having accomplished the Hajj, finds in himself the immense desire to offer duahs for the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) at the Rawdah Mubarak where he (pbuh) rests must do so with devotion and respect without the least trace of Shirk. This involves a huge reward that one cannot fathom/ imagine.

According to a Hadith of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) concerning his mosque in Medina, reported by Hazrat Abu Huraira (ra), the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: 

“A Salat (prayer) in my Mosque is better than a thousand Salat in another mosque, with the exception of the Sacred Mosque (Ka’aba Shareef).” (Bukhari & Muslim).

The Holy Prophet (pbuh) said: “The space between my pulpit (Minbar) and my house is one of the gardens of paradise.” (Bukhari & Muslim) This place is known as Rawda-ul-Jannah.

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) also said: “Whoever accomplishes the hajj and visits my tomb after my death is like the one who visited me during my lifetime.” (Baihaqi, Tabarani).

In my humble opinion, everyone should make a special effort to recite the Darood Sharif extensively. The more Darood Sharif is read, the more benefits will be derived and the greater our love for the Messenger of Allah Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) will increase. The recitation of Darood Sharif is not reserved for those who perform Hajj or Umrah. It is prescribed for all believers throughout their lives. But during the Hajj period, it is recommended to recite it as much as you can, especially for those who visit the Prophet’s city before or after Hajj or Umrah.

When you approach Madina Sharif, do it with the utmost respect and be extremely polite, do not argue, do not squabble by raising your voice, insulting your brothers or sisters. You must at least have respect for this sacred city. Do not let your visit to the most sacred places in the world be in vain. Recite as much Darood Sharif as you can. Enter the Masjid-an-Nabawi with the right foot. Then go to Riyadh-ul-Jannah, which is located between the Rawdah and the Prophet Muhammad’s pulpit (minbar) and make 2 Rakat of Tahiyatul Masjid (i.e. prayer upon entering the mosque). Thank Allah the Exalted for giving you this great opportunity.

While reading the Darood Sharif move closer to the Rawdah Mubarak of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh), then go a little to the right and pray (perform duahs) for Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (ra) the 1^st Caliph of Islam, and then for Hazrat Umar (ra) the 2^nd Caliph during your stay in the Holy City of Medina.

Madina Sharif’s pious visit (Ziarat) is in several stages, as there are so many historical places to visit, the places and events that marked Islam at its beginning. There are among others:

• Jannatul- Baqi
• Masjid-e-Quba
• Masjid-e-Qiblatain
• Masjid-e-Jummah
• Masjid-e-Ghamama
• Masjid-e-Ali
• Masjid-e-Umar

The cemetery of Jannat-ul-Baqi is the cemetery where a large number of companions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) are buried. For example, Hazrat Uthman (ra) the 3^rd Caliph of Islam, Hazrat Abbas (ra) the paternal uncle of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh), Hazrat Aisha (ra) the mother of the believers, Hazrat Bibi Fatima (ra) daughter the Messenger of Allah (pbuh), etc.

In this blessed period of Hajj, I pray for all Hajjis (pilgrims) that Allah may accept their Hajj, forgive them and inspire them to remain faithful to their reformation in this blessed time and live their lives in the pleasure of Allah and to die also in the pleasure of Allah. Ameen. May their journey to fulfil the fifth pillar of Islam be filled with divine mercy and may Allah inspire them and their descendants to recognize His signs and manifestations in the most perfect form/ way. Insha-Allah. Ameen.

--- Extracts from the Friday Sermon of 17 August 2018 (05 Dhul-Hijjah 1439 AH) delivered by Hadhrat Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius.