Hajj: Fifth Pillar of Islam

The Month of Hajj: Dhul-Hijjah

The twelfth and last month of the Islamic calendar is the month of the pilgrimage (Hajj), commonly known as ‘Dhul Hijjah’. It is a month full of blessings and as the name indicates, it is in this holy month that we, Muslims perform the Hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam. In this blessed month, one must make maximum of acts of worship (Ibaadat), such as: supererogatory (Nafil) prayers (Salaat), Tilawat-ul-Quran, fasting, reciting the Takbir and Tasbih and giving Sadaqaat etc. because there are many blessings and rewards in these works, especially during its first 10 days.

Hadhrat Hafsa (ra) said that there were four things that the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) never missed, and these include:

1. To fast the Day of Ashura (10^th of Muharram);

2. To fast from 1^st to 9^th day of Dhul-Hijjah;

3. To fast three days (13^th, 14^th and 15^th) every month (except the 13^th Dhul-Hijjah which is prohibited);

4. To perform before the mandatory Fajr Salaat two cycles of Sunnah prayers (Salaat).

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) demonstrated the virtues of the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah.

Mecca Tragedy: Revelations on Victims

In his Friday Sermon of September 18, 2015 (04 Dhul-Hijjah 1436 Hijri) the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius shared his thoughts on the recent tragic event in Mecca where a crane crash caused the death and injuries for hundreds of pilgrims who flocked to the City of God for the annual pilgrimage of Hajj. Based on his fervent prayers for the victims of this tragedy and the subsequent Divine revelations in this context, the Khalifatullah (atba) ruminates on the meaning of life and death for believers in the complex conditions of our times.

Read the Extracts from the Friday Sermon Below:    

...And as I’ve said, here in Mauritius we received on Friday night, 11 September 2015 the sad news of the tragedy that occurred at the Grand Mosque of Mecca where 107 people died after a huge crane collapsed and in which more than 230 people were also injured. It happened a few days before the great pilgrimage that drew hundreds of thousands of faithful around the world. 

A crane on the Great Mosque in Mecca collapsed in a storm. Its presence there was because of the expansion work in the area around the Grand Mosque in order to further accommodate 2.2 million people for the forthcoming Hajj. And so, this is the worst tragedy that has overcome the holy sites in Saudi Arabia for years. But Insha-Allah, it will not affect the beginning of the Hajj, on 21^st September. 

According to news received, all Muslims from the different nations who were there, they all mobilized to give a helping hand to the wounded and make all arrangements for our brothers and sisters who have died. At that very moment, there was the image of united Muslims, where everyone volunteered to donate blood to save the lives of their Muslim brothers and sisters.

On hearing this news, my heart became heavy with grief, and by the grace of Allah, I turned to Allah in prayer for our brothers and sisters afflicted in Mecca and who were injured. I never fail to recall them in my Namaz (Salat), and especially the Tahajjud where I begged Allah as follows: 

“As’alul laahal Azeem, Rabbal Arshil Azeem, an yashfi-yaka”

- I beg Allah, The Great, the Lord of the Great Throne, to grant them cure.

Never Insult the Beliefs of Others

"...I would like to briefly address on the unfortunate incident which has transpired last week (04-05 September 2015) at Rivière des Anguilles in the South of Mauritius. The Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam and this humble self strongly condemn what some strong-headed and senseless “Muslims” have done at the Amma Tookay Temple, wrecking some idols found there under alcohol influence.

Islam is a tolerant religion, and preaches no compulsion in religion and respect for others. Both Allah, our Glorious Creator and our perfect role model, Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) have both condemned such acts because, when one, in occurrence a person who says he is Muslim abuses and wrecks the idols of other faiths on his own, then he is in fact inviting the other party to abuse Allah and Islam and to wreck the perfect teachings of Islam.

And secondly, alcoholic drinks are absolutely forbidden in Islam. Thus the acts of these people are not Islamic at all. Instead they are presenting a dirty image of Islam and its teachings. May Allah protect His Deen-e-Islam from such senseless people who are only “Muslims” in name and who portray Islam as tolerating violence and terrorism. Ameen..."  (From the Friday Sermon of September 11, 2015)

Never Insult Others

It is very unfortunate to see what had happened in the south of Mauritius, as I told you last week how a few idiots spoiled the image of Islam and its teaching. Was all that they did Islamic? First, by the despicable way they behaved, they disobeyed the commandments of Allah and His Messenger (pbuh). So these kinds of people cannot say that they are Muslims. 

I ask those who have the habit of giving fatwas (judgements) on who are Muslims or not, therefore, with such vile actions – and from the teachings of Islam vis-à-vis other religions – can these people still be considered Muslims? 

The religion of Islam has never granted permission to insult, provoke or denigrate people or their beliefs. 

Rather Islam teaches Muslims that tolerance in religion (Islam) is a virtue, and therefore, a Muslim by the belief he professes, he must be someone friendly and who ensures protection for the life, honour and property of his countrymen.

He must not do anything wrong to harm the reputation of others and should respect the beliefs of others and their places of worship.

The Holy Prophet (saws) said that the best Muslim is the one whose hand and tongue do not harm anyone.