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

Praise be to Allah who made the word of Tawhid to His Servants as a protection and made the Sacred House a direction and security for the people. He attributed the Sacred House to Himself to honor it, and made the visit of 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. Moreover, it is the completion of Islam and the perfection of religion and concerning which Allah (Glory be to Him) says: "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 may emerge to you (obstacle)." [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 hope in 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 that 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 achieving monotheism and true worship: Of its features are: The slogan of Hajj which is Talbiyah and keeping to it: "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 at As-Safa and Al Marwah mounts 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 of 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 miss a pillar or an obligatory matter.

The second example is the Prophet 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 or a 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 is the invocation of the day of `Arafah, and the best words I and the Prophets before me said are: La Ilaha Illa Allah Wahdahu La sharika Lahu, Lahul-Mulku wa Lahul-Hamdu wa Huwa `Ala Killi shay'in Qadir.

Moreover, he explained the virtue of circumambulation, touching the black stone, and other actions such as standing as a preacher on the day of `Arafah from the decline of the sun until sunset.

When he came down from `Arafah, he used to walk moderately and when he found a hope, he used to accelerate.

The third example is with his wives and household where he accompanied with him his nine wives.

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was the best of people regarding his family and household and that is signified in some cases, of which are:

When `A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) got her menses while she was in the state of Ihram, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said to her: Do as a pilgrim does but do not circumambulate the Ka`bah and do not offer Salah. [Reported by Al Bukhari and Muslim].

When she said to him: O Messenger of Allah, will the people go back with two rewards and I go back with one reward? He sent her with her brother `Abdur-Rahman to start a `Umrah from At-Tan`im.

Jabir ibn `Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: The Prophet (peace be upon him) was a lenient person and when she [`A'ishah] desired something, he would meet her demands. [Reported by Muslim].

He had dialogue with Hafsah, the mother of the believers, when she said to him that the people terminated their Ihram after Sa`y and why have not you done so. He said: "I have matted my hair and garlanded my Hadi. So I will not finish my Ihram unless I have slaughtered my Hady." [Reported by Al Bukhari and Muslim].

How bad Muslims need to follow the example of the Prophet (peace be upon him) in Hajj! These bright images of Prophetic guidance and Qur'anic manners embodied in the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his obedience to his Lord.

How bad we need to follow the example of the Prophet (peace be upon him) in this big mission! A pilgrim is required to teach the people along with performing the rites of Hajj and to inculcate in their souls following the example of the Prophet (peace be upon him). A pilgrim who seeks the reward of the world and the Hereafter enjoins good and forbids by wisdom, knowledge, and patience.

This is the close way to fix errors, suppress heresies, and handling ignorance spread in most pilgrims. Reforms among scholars, knowledge seekers, and callers to Allah have big responsibilities to call people to follow the example of the Prophet (peace be upon him) in response to the Prophet's call: "Whoever among you sees an evil action, let him change it with his hand (by taking action); if he cannot, then with his tongue (by speaking out) ; and if he cannot, then with his heart (by hating it and feeling it is wrong), and that is the weakest of faith." [Reported by Muslim].

I ask Allah by His Beautiful Names and High Attributes to guide all pilgrims to things that reform their conditions in this world and in the Hereafter and to accept their Hajj, `Umrah, and expenditure, and to make them return safely to their countries after their sins are forgiven and their souls are rescued from Hell-Fire. I also ask Him to guide all Muslims to perform Hajj and `Umrah.