Take From Me Your Rites of Hajj

The Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said:

“Take From Me Your Rites of Hajj” "خذوا عني مناسِكَكُمْ "

Hajj is an act of worship that must be devoted only to Allah. It is a declaration and a manifestation of the belief in the Oneness (tawheed) of Allah. It is a time to call upon Allah to purify the self from any worship to other than Him. The Muslim who declares the talbiyah: (Labbaika Allahumma labbaik. labbaika laa shareeka laka labbaik; innal-hamda wan-ni'mata laka wal mulk, laa shareeka lak) understands that it is a du’aa that means:

“Here I am O Allah, here I am. Here I am, You have no partner, here I am. Surely all praise is due to You, and every bounty is from You, and all dominion is Yours, and You have no partner.”

The Muslim, therefore, should submit himself completely (mentally, spiritually, and physically) to Allah Alone. No worship should be devoted to statues, tombs, religious leaders, righteous men (dead or alive) or any part of the creation!

The tawheed of Allah requires the Muslim to follow the perfect way of worship. This is the way (sunnah) of Muhammad (SallAllahu ‘alahi wa sallam) as understood by the sahaabah (the companions of the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam), who were the best of mankind.

Hajj is to set out for Makkah to worship Allah by performing certain religious rites in accordance with the Prophet's sunnah. Allah (‘Azza Wajall)[1] says:

 “And Pilgrimage to the House is a duty on mankind [owed] to Allah for whoever can find a way there.” (Qur’an, Surah Al-‘Imran, 3:97).

“And properly perform the hajj and ‘umrah for Allah.” (Qur’an, Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:196).

The Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said:

"من حج البيت ولم یرفث ولم یفسق رجع آما ولدته أمه "

“Whoever performs hajj (solely for Allah) and in the course of it abstains from sensual and sinful acts, he will return as pure as on the day his mother gave birth to him.”[2]

Hajj and ‘Uboodiyyah to Allah

Hajj is an act of ‘uboodiyyah to Allah. ‘Uboodiyyah is a comprehensive term that asserts the meaning of the aayah:

“You Alone do we worship and You Alone do we seek for Help.” (Qur’an, Surah Al-Fatihah, 1:5).

It comprises the slavery of the heart, tongue, and limbs to Allah تعالى . The slavery of the heart includes both the qawl (sayings of the heart) and ‘amaal (actions of the heart). The qawl of the heart is the belief (i’tiqaad) in what Allah has informed about His Self, His Names and Attributes, His Actions, His Angels, and all that which He revealed in His Book and sent upon the tongue of His Messenger Muhammad (SallAllahu ‘alahi wa sallam).

The ‘amaal of the heart include love for Allah, reliance upon Him, turning to Him in repentance, fearing Him, having hope in him, devoting the deen sincerely to Him, having patience in what He orders and forbids, having patience with His decrees and being pleased with them, having allegiance for His pleasure, having humility for Him and humbling oneself in front of Him, and becoming tranquil with Him.

The qawl (saying) of the tongue is to convey what Allah has revealed (in the Qur’an and in the authentic sunnah regarding Himself, His Names and Attributes, His Actions, His Commands, His Prohibitions, and all that is related to this deen), to call to it, defend it, to expose the false innovations which oppose it, and to establish its remembrance and to convey what it orders.

The ‘amaal (actions) of the limbs include the salaat (prayers), hajj, jihaad, attending the jumu’ah prayers and the rest of the jamaa’aat (congregational prayers), assisting the weak, acting with goodness and kindness to the creation, and other such acts.

This comprehensive meaning of the ‘uboodiyyah (or “of slavery” to Allah) is a specific type of ‘uboodiyyah. The people who fall under this type of ‘uboodiyyah are the believers who obey, love, and sincerely follow the deen of Allah, Most High.

The second type of ‘uboodiyyah is the general one in which all creatures in the heavens and in the earth are subdued to Allah’s sovereign Authority and Power; everything is subservient to His Will, and Authority; nothing occurs or ceases to occur except by His leave; His is the Kingdom and He disposes the affairs as He pleases. This type of ‘uboodiyyah is known as the ‘uboodiyyah of qahr (Subduing) and mulk (Sovereignty, Kingship, Possession, Mastership, etc.)

So, the part of the aayah signifying “You do we worship” asserts the adherence to the four principles of the ‘uboodiyyah:

(1) The sayings of the heart,

(2) The actions of the heart,

(3) The sayings of the tongue, and

(4) The actions of the limbs.

The other part, “You Alone do we seek for Help,” stresses the fact that the believer must ask Allah alone to help him establish the ‘uboodiyyah and succeed in executing all what it requires.[3]