The worship of the Prophet (peace be upon him) during Hajj

Praise be to Allah who made the word of Tawhid to His Servants a protection and made the Sacred House a direction and security for the people. He attributed the Sacred House to Himself for honoring it, made visiting the House a screen from torment, and made the accepted Hajj an expiation from sins and a way for Paradise. Peace be upon Prophet Muhammad, the Prophet of mercy and the master of the nation, and upon his Companions, the leaders of the truth and the masters of creations.

Hajj is a life-time worship and one of the greatest pillars of Islam. It is the completion of Islam and the perfection of religion, and concerning which Allah (Glory be to Him) revealed: "This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion." [Surat Al Ma'idah: 3].

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Hasten to Hajj -which means: The obligatory-, for you do not know what obstacles may emerge to you." [Reported by Ahmad Ibn on the authority of Ibn Abbas].

It is the market of worship and the season of good deeds, where great rewards are given and generous favors are granted to urge pure souls and high vigor to rush to win Paradise and achieve forgiveness as was authentically reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him) that he said: "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." [Reported by Al Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of Abu Hurayrah].

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "(The performance of)` Umrah is an expiation for the sins committed (between it and the previous one). And the reward of Hajj Mabrur (the Hajj which is accepted by Allah) is nothing except Paradise." [Reported by Al Bukhari and Muslim]. `A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated: "I said: O Messenger of Allah, we see the best work of jihad, should not we go for jihad? He said: But the best Jihad is accepted Hajj." [Reported by Al Bukhari].

When people leave for Hajj and we stay or they draw closer and we keep away, how can we be sure that we are not included in Allah's Saying: "but Allah was averse to their being sent forth, so He made them lag behind, and it was said (to them), Sit you among those who sit (at home)." [Surat At-Tawbah: 46].

O Allah, grant us safety. The mercy of Allah is ample and hoping Him does not cease, so whoever misses Hajj this year, perhaps Allah would facilitate for him the next year and he should make up his mind and dedicate his intention to Allah to receive His Reward and high degrees.

Those who want to perform Hajj must know its rulings and description, pillars, obligations desirable matters, and prohibitions to fulfill his rites in the best manner. When he does so, he should hope for the erase of sins, the pardon of his pitfalls, and passing the Sirat. A person must pay for Hajj from a lawful earned money and should be free of worldly business that distracts the heart so that all concerns would be directed to Allah alone and the heart is directed to the mention of Allah and glorifying His Rites.

You will find all these published in the section of Hajj on Alukah Website along with all a pilgrim needs to know about Hajj. However, I wanted to shed lights on that pillar which a wise man must not miss to abide by the Prophet's command: "Take from me your pilgrimage rites." [Reported by Muslim].

These are some bright examples from the Prophet's guidance and conditions during Hajj, by other means, the Prophet's servitude during Hajj, i.e., being a servant in charge who responds to Allah (Glory be to Him) and performing His Rites.

The first example is: Submission to His Creator, Giver, and Provider in the fulfillment to monotheism and true worship: Of its features are: The slogan of Hajj is Talbiyah and keeping to it in the following form: "Labbayka Allahumma labbayk, Labbayka la sharika Laka labbayk, Inna Al Hamda Wan-Ni`mat Laka Wal Mulk, La Sharika Lak." Taking into account sincerity which must become evident in his invocation: (O Allah, grant me Hajj which has no hypocrisy or show off).

Of which is his invocation on As-Safa and Al Marwah mountains when he said: "La Ilaha Ila Allah Wahdah La Shrika Lah, Lahul-Mulku Walahul-Hamd Yuhyi wa Yumit wa huwa `Ala Kulli Shay'in Qadir. La Ilaha Illa Allah Wahdah, Anjaza wa`dah, Wa nasara `Abdah, wa hazamal Ahzaba wahdah." [There is no deity but Allah alone without partner, to Him belongs sovereignty and praise, gives life, causes death, and He is over all things wholly capable, There is no god but Allah Alone, He fulfilled His Promise, made His Servant victorious, and He alone defeated all the enemy tribes].

Of which is frequent invocations during all rites and situations: In circumambulation, he said: "Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the torment of the Fire!" on As-Safa, Al Marwah, on the day of `Arafah from the decline of the sun until sunset, in Muzdalifah in Al Mash`ar Al Haram when he prayed Fajr until sunrise, and after throwing the pebbles.

Of which is glorifying the rites of Hajj when he started with performing Ghusl and applying perfume to wear ihram and enter Makkah. Then, applying perfume for Al Ifadah circumambulation on the Day of Sacrifice, driving Hady (animals that will be slaughtered in Hajj) and his glorification to the Black Stone when he kissed it until he wept for that.

Of which is reverence and tranquility. The Prophet (peace be upon him) was the most worshipping person and the most God-fearing. In his Hajj, he was a live example for the attentiveness of the heart, submission to Allah, and crying, he used to say: "O people, keep to tranquility, for piety is not by speed paces." [Reported by Al Bukhari].

Of which is his keenness to disagree with the polytheists and freeing himself of them when he said on the Day of `Arafah: "Lo! Everything pertaining to the Pre-Islamic Period has been put under my feet and claims for blood vengeance belonging to the Pre-Islamic Period have been abolished. The first of those murdered among us whose blood vengeance I permit is the blood vengeance of the son of Rabi'ah ibn Al Harith ibn 'Abdul-Muttalib) who was suckled among Banu Sa`d (i.e., he was brought up among Bani Sa`d) and then killed by Hudhayl. The usury of the pre Islamic period is abolished and the first of usury I abolish is our usury, the usury of `Abbas ibn 'Abdul-Muttalib for it is all abolished." [Reported by Muslim].

Of which is his intense quest and his keen desire on the performance of full rituals including desirable matters without placing hardship on the nation, but his slogan was "Do without any harm" as long as a person does not leave a pillar or an obligatory matter.

The second example is the Prophet's treatment with his nation in Hajj as a guide, adviser, merciful, and facilitating, enjoining good and forbidding evil. The Prophet (peace be upon him) did great functions for his nation in Hajj, where he was an instructor that cannot be left and no questioner is pushed away from his gathering. He was keen to deliver the message and incite vigor for righteous deeds by all verbal and practical means. So, he urged with his words such as his saying: "The best kind of invocation to be said is the invocation of the Day of `Arafah, and the best of what I and the Prophets said is: La Ilaha Illa Allah wahdahu La sharika Lah, Lahulmulk walahul-Hamd, wahuwa `Ala Killi Shya'in Qadir."

Furthermore, he explained the virtue of circumambulation, touched the Black Stone and others by actions and words such as standing as a preacher and raising his hands on the Day of `Arafah from the decline of the sun until sunset.

When he came from `Arafah, he used to walk moderately, and when he found a gap, he walked quickly.

The third example is with his wives and his family. He accompanied with him his nine women. The Prophet (peace be upon him) was the most merciful with his family and wives which is shown in countless situations, of which are:

- When `A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) menstruated while she was in the state of Ihram, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said to her: "And do so all the pilgrims do, except that you should not circumambulate the Hose (the Ka`bah) and should not pray." [Reported by Al Bukhari and Muslim].

- "She said: 'O Messenger of Allah, are the people going to go back with two rewards while I go back with only one?' So He commanded `Abdur-Rahman ibn Abu Bakr to take her out to At-Tan`im."

- Jabir ibn `Abdullah said: "The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) was a person of gentle disposition, so when she (`A'ishah) wished for a thing, he accepted it (provided it did not contravene the teachings of Islam)." [Reported by Muslim].

- He had dialogue with Hafsah, the Mother of the Believers, when she asked: "O Allah's Messenger! Why have the people finished their Ihram after performing `Umrah but you have not finished your Ihram after performing `Umrah?" He replied: "I have matted my hair and garlanded my Hadi. So I will not finish my Ihram till I have slaughtered (my Hady)." [Reported by Al Bukhari and Muslim].

Today, Muslims need to recognize the worship of the Prophet (peace be upon him) in Hajj and these bright examples of prophetic guidance, the great Qur'anic manners, the content soul, and the pure fountain of the Prophet who subdued to his Creator and Master until he gave a good example to the near the far, the old and the young, and the male and female.

How much we need to follow our Prophet (peace be upon him) in this great mission which is heavy except for a person of noble origin. A pilgrim is required to teach people and guide them to goodness along with performing the rites of Hajj. He should inculcate into their souls following the example of the Prophet (peace be upon him) which needs spaciousness of bosom because of the large number of pilgrims and hardship, but a pilgrim who seeks the reward and the Hereafter should be enjoining good and forbidding evil with wisdom and knowledge.

This is the nearest way to fix the crack, suppress heresies, and treat ignorance spread at most pilgrims.

Reformers of scholars, students, and preachers have a great responsibility in calling people to follow the example of the Prophet (peace be upon him), but they do not fulfill the purpose and fix the crack because of the wide gap. Therefore, each qualified pilgrim should perform his role in enjoining good and forbidding evil in response to the Prophet's command: "Whoever amongst you sees an evil, he must change it with his hand; if he is unable to do so, then with his tongue; and if he is unable to do so, then with his heart; and that is the weakest form of Faith." [Reported by Muslim].

I ask Allah, Almighty, with His Beautiful Names and High Attributes to guide all people for things that contain reform and righteousness in their religion as well as their world, to accept the Hajj and expenditure of all pilgrims, and to make them return safely to their countries after the pardon of their sins and after releasing them from Hell-Fire. I invoke Allah to guide all Muslims to perform Hajj and `Umrah.