Hajj to the Sacred House of Allah

Praise be to Allah who legislated for His Servants Hajj to His House and made it an obligatory rite on the entire nation that is performed every year as it is one of the pillars of Islam.

I praise Him frequently as He created and destined, legislated and facilitated, and made Hajj an obligation upon every able person once in lifetime, and whoever increases his visits to the House increases his chances of goodness.

I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone who has no partner. He boasts of pilgrims on the night of `Arafah before His Angels, makes them witness on His Forgiveness, gives them their needs, and achieves their hopes.

I bear witness that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger, the best person ever performed Hajj and `Umrah, circumambulated the House, went between Al Safa and Al Marwah (mountains in Makkah), stood at `Arafah and Al-Mash'ar-il-Harâm, cast pebbles, and slaughtered sacrifices (may Allah send peace and blessings upon him, his family, and his Companions).

O people, fear Allah (may He be Exalted) obey Him, perform pilgrimage, glorify it, and take Satan as an enemy and vex him by hastening to good deeds, repenting to Allah of mistakes, mentioning Allah all the time, and standing -if possible- with pilgrims in `Arafat (mountain near Makkah). It was authentically reported from Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "When the day of `Arafah comes, Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) descends to the lowest heaven, takes pride in praising His servants before the angels and says to them: 'Look at these servants of Mine! They have come to Me in the morning in a scruffy state with dusty hair, having crossed every deep valley (in a state of love-sickness for Allah). I call you to witness that I have forgiven them.' The angels submit to Him, 'O Lord, there was also Such-and-such among them who was arrogant and also Such-and-such and So-and-so.' Allah (SWT) says: 'I have forgiven him as well (for the sake of these lovers).'" The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, "There is no other day on which more people are set free from the Fire than the day of `Arafah."

It was authentically reported from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: "The Prophet (peace be upon him stopped at `Arafat, and almost the sun was about to set, he said: O Bilal, make the people listen to me. Bilal stood and said: O people, listen to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). People kept silent, and he (the Prophet) said: O people, Gabriel came to me earlier and told me that my Lord sends His Salam (peace) to me, and said: Verily, Allah has forgiven the sins of the people of `Arafah and the people of Al Mash`ar Al Haram and removed the consequences of their sins. Thereupon, `Umar ibn Al Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) said: O Messenger of Allah, is this special to us? He said: This is for you and for those who will come after you until the Day of Recompense. `Umar said: The goodness of Allah has become plenty and good."

It is reported in Al Muwatta' with an authentic chain of narration on the authority of Talhah ibn `Abdullah ibn Kariz that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Satan is not considered more abased or more cast out or more contemptible or more angry on any day than on the Day of `Arafah. That is only because he sees the descent of the Mercy and Allah's disregard for great wrong actions. That is except from what he was shown on the Day of Badr."

O servants of Allah, to witness these great virtues and benefits, Allah ordained upon Muslims Hajj as long as they can afford it and made it voluntarily until the establishment of the Hour. Allah (Glory be to Him) said: "And Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) to the House (Ka`bah) is a duty that mankind owes to Allâh, those who can afford the expenses (for one's conveyance, provision and residence)." [Surat Al `Imran: 97].

He also said: "And proclaim to mankind the Hajj (pilgrimage). They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel, they will come from every deep and distant (wide) mountain highway (to perform Hajj). * That they may witness things that are of benefit to them (i.e. reward of Hajj in the Hereafter, and also some worldly gain from trade, etc.), and mention the Name of Allah on appointed days (i.e. 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th day of Dhul-Hijjah)." [Surat Al Hajj: 27 - 28].

It was authentically reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him) that he said: "O people, Hajj has been enjoined upon you, so perform Hajj. A man said: Is it every year, O Messenger of Allah? He remained silent, until the man said it three times. Then the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: If I said yes, it would become obligatory, and you would not be able to do it. Then he said: Leave me as I have left you; for those who came before you were doomed because of their questions and differences with their Prophets. If I command you to do something, then do as much of it as you can, and if I forbid you to do something, then refrain from it." The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Hajj is only performed once, but if you want to do it more than once, it will be voluntarily." This reflects the mercy of Allah with His Servants and His Kindness the are embodied in their world as well as in the Hereafter.

O Muslims, Hajj is a venerable act of worship and a great obligation that includes all types of drawing near to Allah (may He be Exalted) and show humbleness to Him in different times and places. For witnessing these rites, a Muslim troubles himself with these difficult actions, spends a lot of money, faces troubles, leaves his country, and separates from his family, children, and friends all these for the sake of Allah and to draw nearer to Him. Therefore, Allah (Glory be to Him) honors His Servants by rewarding them the best for these difficult actions as was reported in many narrations.

It was reported in Sahih Al Bukhari and Sahih Muslim on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) who narrated that the Messenger of Allah (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 one accepted by Allah) is nothing except Paradise."

It was also reported in Sahih Al Bukhari and Sahih Muslim on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) 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."

It was reported from Ibn Mas`ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Make the Hajj and `Umrah follow each other closely, because they remove poverty and sins like a blacksmith's bellows remove impurities from iron, gold, and silver. And the reward for Hajj Mabrur (one which is accepted) is no less than Paradise."

It was also narrated from the Prophet (peace be upon him) that he said: "This House is the pole of Islam, so whoever leaves his house heading to this House whether to perform Hajj or `Umrah shall surely enter Paradise as promised by Allah, but if he returns home safely, he returns with reward and winning."

O believers, during the rites of Hajj and standing in Al Mash`ar Al Haram, a person feels strong desire to do goodness and different types of righteous deeds, such as: Salah, circumambulation, charities, Dhikr, reciting the Qur'an, doing good for people, enjoining good and forbidding evil, and delivering advice for Muslims so that his ranks rise in heavens and his sins are removed.

It was authentically reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him) that he said: "Performing Salah in Al Masjid Al Haram (the Sacred Mosque in Makkah) is better than a hundred thousand Salah elsewhere."

If this is the case of Salah, all other actions shall be doubled due to the honor and the virtue of the place and time.

It was authentically reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him) that he said: "Whoever guides someone to virtue will be rewarded equivalent to him who practices that good action."

He also said: "Whoever calls others to guidance will have a reward like that of those who follow it, without that detracting from their reward in the slightest. And whoever calls others to misguidance will have a burden of sin like that of those who follow it, without it detracting from their burden in the slightest."

He also said: "By Allah, if Allah gives guidance to somebody through you, it is better for you than possessing red camels."

So, fear Allah, O servants of Allah, and come to witness these benefits, increase the desire to meet your Lord, and do righteously, for Allah loves the benevolent.

May Allah benefit you and me from His Book and make you and me from His Righteous Servants and beloved ones.

These are my words to you, and I seek Allah's Forgiveness from every single sin. So, seek His Forgiveness, for He is the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.