In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Our lives, often engrossed and nearly entirely occupied with dunya, the external material world of forms and appearances, leads to heedlessness, unconsciousness and loss of focus, also known as ghaflah. One of the most important reasons for the Hajj in Makkah is to assert focus and to regain consciousness.
Every Muslim who fulfills the following conditions must perform Hajj at least once in his lifetime:
-- He must be of sound mind, and in full control of his mental faculties.
-- He must be old enough, and mature enough to understand the full import, and significance of what he is setting out to do.
-- He must be financially sound enough to be able not only to bear all of his expenses for Hajj but also to provide adequately for his dependents during his absence and until his return.
إِنَّ أَوَّلَ بَيْتٍ وُضِعَ لِلنَّاسِ لَلَّذِى بِبَكَّةَ مُبَارَكًا وَهُدًى لِّلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ﴿٩٦﴾ فِيهِ ءَايَـٰتٌۢ بَيِّنَـٰتٌ مَّقَامُ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ ۖ وَمَن دَخَلَهُۥ كَانَ ءَامِنًا ۗ وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ حِجُّ ٱلْبَيْتِ مَنِ ٱسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا ۚ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَنِىٌّ عَنِ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ﴿٩٧[Qur'an, Ale ‘Imraan 3:96-97]
Indeed, the first House [of worship] established for mankind was that at Makkah - blessed and a guidance for the worlds. (96) In it are clear signs [such as] the standing place of Abraham. And whoever enters it shall be safe. And [due] to Allah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House - for whoever is able to find thereto a way. But whoever disbelieves - then indeed, Allah is free from need of the worlds. (97)
The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) tells us, “A perfect Hajj has no reward at the Sight of Allah except Paradise.”
This should be an encouragement for those who haven't made hajj to plan to do so.
For those who have the ability to make hajj this year, delaying this pillar of Islam is a kind of heedessness, which could be a great regret for a person in the Day of Judgement.
Ibn 'Abbas, the great commentator of Qur'an, said, "Whoever had money in his life and did not go to Hajj or pay Zakat on it, he, or she, will ask Allah to return to life when time for death comes." Hearing this a man said, " O Ibn 'Abbas heed Allah! Only the disbeliever who will ask that!" Ibn 'Abbas replied, "I will read for you a proof from the Qur'an:
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تُلْهِكُمْ أَمْوَٰلُكُمْ وَلَآ أَوْلَـٰدُكُمْ عَن ذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْخَـٰسِرُونَ ﴿٩﴾ وَأَنفِقُوا۟ مِن مَّا رَزَقْنَـٰكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِىَ أَحَدَكُمُ ٱلْمَوْتُ فَيَقُولَ رَبِّ لَوْلَآ أَخَّرْتَنِىٓ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ قَرِيبٍ فَأَصَّدَّقَ وَأَكُن مِّنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ ﴿١٠﴾ وَلَن يُؤَخِّرَ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِذَا جَآءَ أَجَلُهَا ۚ وَٱللَّهُ خَبِيرٌۢ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿١١
O you who have believed, let not your wealth and your children divert you from remembrance of Allah. And whoever does that - then those are the losers. (9) And spend [in the way of Allah] from what We have provided you before death approaches one of you and he says, "My Lord, if only You would delay me for a brief term so I would give charity and be among the righteous." (10) But never will Allah delay a soul when its time has come. And Allah is Acquainted with what you do. (11) [Qur'an, Al-Munafiqun, 63:9-11]
In fact, Ibn 'Abbas was right because Allah is addressing believers in this context and warning them from being distracted by the worldly life because the time of death is unknown to us and it usually hits abruptly. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said,
"Hasten going for Hajj - meaning performing the duty- for none of you knows what will happen in the future." [Ahmad, Abu Dawud, ibn Maajah, and al-Bayhaqi].
The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) also said,
"Whosoever dies without performing Hajj while he is not under some difficult circumstances - whereby it's impossible to go for Hajj - or is not allowed to leave because of an unjust ruler, or is chronically sick - or seriously sick during the Hajj season - then let him die if he wants as a Jew or a Christian." [Related by ad-Daarimi and al-Bayhaqi]
If you ask people who have not performed Hajj yet, “When do you want to perform your Hajj?” Majority of them will say. “After I have finished my graduation, after my Masters, after my PHD, after I get married, after my children are grown up so that we can all go along as a ‘whole happy family’!” and so many fail to achieve this.
For those who are going to make hajj this year, we pray that Allah grant you an easy and safe trip and accepted hajj. Please include us in your du'as.
For those who are staying behind, may Allah grant you a visit or another visit to His House next year. Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
No comments:
Post a Comment