Allah The Almighty enjoined upon His slaves performing Hajj to His Ancient House at least once in a lifetime. He made it one of the five pillars of Islam upon which it is established. The Messenger of Allah, , said: "Islam is based on five (principles): … and to perform Hajj (i.e. Pilgrimage to the Sacred House of Allah)." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Hajj is an obligation by virtue of the Noble Quran, the Sunnah (Prophetic tradition) and the consensus: The one who denies that Hajj is obligatory, while he is living among the Muslims, is a disbeliever; whereas the one who abandons it while believing that it is obligatory is not a disbeliever according to the most correct opinion. However, such a person is considered guilty of committing one of the gravest of major sins.Since people are naturally attached to their homelands and detest leaving them, Allah The Almighty greatly encouraged Hajj and prescribed for it supreme virtues and ample rewards, for it involves leaving one's homeland and familiar things such as family, money, friends and kinsmen. The great rewards associated with Hajj spur slaves to head towards the Sacred House to visit it and perform Hajj, and make them long to witness the landmarks where revelation took place and where the message was revealed.
A believer should perform Hajj without delay, as Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {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.}[Quran 3:97]
The Prophet, ,said: “Hasten to perform your obligatory Hajj, for no one knows what may happen to him.”[Ahmad and Abu Daawood] He, ,also said: “Whoever wants to go for Hajj, let him hasten to do it, because he may fall ill, lose his riding animal or an excuse may arise to him.” [Ahmad and Ibn Maajah; Al-Albaani: Hasan]
‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "I was about to send some men to these regions to see those who are capable of performing Hajj but did not perform it to prescribe upon them Jizyah. They are not Muslims! They are not Muslims!" [Ibn Hajar: Saheeh]
‘Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "Make Tawaaf(circumambulation) around this House frequently before you are prevented access to it."
Al-Hasan, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "People will continue to be religiously committed as long as they perform Hajj to the House and head towards the Qiblah (the direction that must be faced while praying, which is towards the Ka‘bah in Makkah)."
Hajj obliterates all that precedes it:‘Amr ibn Al-‘Aas, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "When Allah instilled the love of Islam in my heart, I came to the Messenger of Allah and said, ‘Stretch out your right hand so that I may pledge my allegiance to you.’ He stretched out his right hand, I withdrew my hand. The Prophet said: ‘What is the matter, ‘Amr?’I replied, ‘I intend to lay down some conditions.’ He asked: ‘What condition do you intend to put forward?’ I said, ‘That I should be granted pardon.’ The Prophet observed: ‘Are you not aware of the fact that Islam wipes out all the previous (misdeeds)? Verily migration wipes out all the previous (misdeeds), and verily Hajj (pilgrimage) wipes out all the previous (misdeeds).’" [Muslim]
Hajj purifies people from all their sins: Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated, “I heard the Messenger of Allah saying: ‘Whoever performs Hajj without Rafath nor Fusooq (i.e. without approaching his wife for sexual relations nor committing sins while performing Hajj), he will come out as sinless as a newly-born child (i.e. just delivered by his mother).’”(This is the wording of Al-Bukhari) The wording of Muslim is: "He who came to this house (Ka‘bah)”which also includes ‘Umrah (minor pilgrimage). The narration of Ad-Daaraqutni reads: "Whoever performs Hajj or ‘Umrah". “Rafath” means: sexual intercourse or explicitly mentioning it or speaking indecent language.
Al-Azhari, may Allah have mercy upon him, said, “Rafath is a term that encompasses all that men want from women. Fusooq means committing acts of disobedience. The expression ‘like the day he was delivered by his mother’ signifies being sinless.” Ibn Hajar said, “The apparent meaning is forgiving minor sins, major sins and injustices.”
Hajj is among the best acts of righteousness: Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated: the Messenger of Allah, , was asked,“What is the best deed?" He replied:"To believe in Allah and His Apostle (Muhammad).”Then the questioner asked, "What is the next (in goodness)?” He replied:"To participate in Jihaad in the cause of Allah." Again, the questioner asked, "What is the next (in goodness)?"He replied:"To perform Hajj Mabroor (which is accepted by Allah and is performed with the intention of seeking the pleasure of Allah only and not to show off, and without committing a sin and in accordance with the traditions of the Prophet)." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Abu Ash-Sha‘thaa’ said, "I considered the acts of righteousness; I found that prayer exhausts the body as well as fasting, and charity consumes money while Hajj consumes both."
(To be continued)