O pilgrim who intends to come to the Ancient House (of Allah) and visit the sacred precincts. May the peace, mercy and blessing of Allah be upon you.
These are some messages for you which are related to the inviolability of the sacred precincts of Makkah and the rituals of Hajj.
They are messages of love and exaltation for each pilgrim who has the desire to visit these blessed places and sacred precincts to assert his allegiance to Allah The Almighty and testify that he is a Muslim who is asking for the forgiveness and pardon of Allah. Along with other believers, he seeks joy through obeying Allah and keeping away from disobeying Him.
The First Message: A Pillar and Origin:
Observing Hajj is the fifth pillar in Islam. The Prophet said: "Islam is built upon five (pillars)." He mentioned Hajj to the Sacred House of Allah as one of these pillars. It is a great pillar by means of which the hearts of Muslims come together, all differences are laid aside and pilgrims come from the farthest parts of the earth. There is no difference between an Arab and a non-Arab, rich and poor, old and young, ruler and ruled. Rather, all people come to the sacred precincts with the same dress, the same goal and the same task.
Hajj is one of the fundamentals of Islam. It is a basis to discard all worldly differences and refine belief and creed as well as wishes and hopes. It is a basis to purify one from all aspects of Shirk (polytheism) and its people and to purify one from all sins and misdeeds. In a Hadeeth, the Prophet (may Allah exalt his mention), said: "Whoever performs Hajj, during which he neither commits sexual intercourse (with his spouse) nor sins, will return as sinless as a newborn child on the very day his mother delivered him."
It is a means of entering Paradise and attaining salvation from Hell. The Prophet said: "(Entering) Paradise is the reward of a valid and accepted Hajj." The Prophet also said: "There is no other day on which Allah frees more slaves from Hell than on the Day of ‘Arafah."
Dear pilgrim, Hajj is a basis for great acts of worship which Allah has honored you with. Thus, you should spare no effort to win the virtues and excellence of these acts of worship. You have the chance to do so, the goal is before you and the consequences are praiseworthy and great.
The Second Message: Glad Tidings:
Texts from the Sunnah of the Prophet give glad tidings for each pilgrim, man and woman. I give you these glad tidings with sincere supplications for you to be one of those who receive them.
1- It was narrated that when ‘Amr Ibn Al-‘Aas, may Allah be pleased with him, went to see the Prophet to declare his Islam, he, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "Extend your right hand, so that I may pledge allegiance to you." The Prophet then stretched his right hand, but ‘Amr, may Allah be pleased with him, withdrew his hand. The Prophet asked: "What is the matter, ‘Amr?" He, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "I wish to lay down a condition." He asked: "What condition do you wish to put forward?" ‘Amr, may Allah be pleased with him, replied, "To be granted forgiveness." He said: "Do you not know that (embracing) Islam wipes out all what is before it (of previous misdeeds), that emigration wipes out all what is before it and that Hajj wipes out all what is before it?"
2- Ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet said: "When you go out of your house intending (to reach) the Sacred House, with each step by your mount, Allah records a good deed for you and wipes out one of your misdeeds; when you stand at ‘Arafah, Allah descends to the lowest heaven and boasts of you before the angels Saying, 'These are My slaves. They came to Me unkempt and dusty from the farthest parts of the earth hoping for My mercy and fearing My punishment, although they did not see Me. How would they be if they saw Me!' Your misdeeds will be forgiven even if they are (as numerous as) the days of the worldly life or the drops of rain; when you cast the pebbles, this is saved for you (for the Hereafter); when you shave your head, a reward will be recorded for you with each hair that drops; when you perform Tawaaf (circumambulating the Ka‘bah), you will return as sinless as a newborn child on the very day your mother delivered you." [At-Tabaraani; Al-Albaani: Hasan (Sound)]
What do you think?
The Third Message: Prosperity with no Poverty Thereafter:
It was narrated on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah said: "Perform Hajj and ‘Umrah (lesser pilgrimage) successively for they wipe out poverty and sins just as fire wipes out the filth of iron, gold and silver." [At-Tirmithi]
Given the text of the Hadeeth, Hajj is a way to attain wealth and security from poverty. No matter how much the pilgrim spends on Hajj, he will be compensated with a doubled and multiplied compensation. Hajj is security against poverty and need. Since the means of transportation now are modern and comfortable, tents are huge and spacious which secure a tranquil residence and humble worship for the pilgrim, this makes it more obligatory and necessary to achieve the sought after goal. Sorrow and procrastination in performing Hajj for fear of poverty, crowdedness, heat or cold, in fact reflects negligence and deception by Satan. It was narrated that ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "Whoever is (physically and financially) able to perform Hajj but does not do so, you have to demand him to pay the Jizyah (a non-Muslim tax). He is (considered) a non-Muslim." [Al-Bayhaqi]
Dear pilgrim, Hajj is a great fortune for you in both worlds. While you are postponing Hajj for fear of poverty, it could happen that you die and become among the residents of the graves the next year.
Remember, hasten and set out for Hajj before it is too late. The fortune is before you, the promise is from Allah, the guarantor is the Messenger of Allah the witnesses are the angels. The worldly reward is prosperity and entering Paradise is the consequence in the Hereafter.
Messages for the Pilgrim - III
To be continued …