By Quran Schooling | 29 June 2022
Hajj is one of Islam's five pillars, and it is a pilgrimage to Mecca that every physically and financially sound Muslim should do at least once in their lifetime. It is the greatest spiritual event a Muslim can have, with ceremonies performed in the most hallowed places in the Islamic world.
The Hajj is a pillar of Islam that all Muslims must do at least once in their lives. It is a physically hard pilgrimage that Muslims believe allows them to cleanse themselves of past misdeeds and begin anew in their relationship with God. On the Hajj, pilgrims attempt to enhance their connection with Allah.
It is claimed that those who perform Hajj with a pure heart return home free of the sins of their past life. Hajj, a re-enactment of Prophet Ibrahim's (AS) obedience and sacrifice to Allah SWT, is the highest kind of respect bestowed upon a Muslim.
"Proclaim to men the pilgrimage: they will come to thee on foot and every lean camel, arriving from every remote way," the Quran declares when urging Muslims to make the Hajj. The Hajj rites are thought to retrace events from the lives of essential prophets like Ibrahim and Ismail.
The Hajj is a declaration of faith that all Muslims must do at least once in their lives. It is a physically hard pilgrimage that Muslims believe allows them to cleanse themselves of past misdeeds and begin anew in their relationship with God.
“And announce to mankind the Hajj. They will come to you on foot and every sinewy camel; they will come from every deep and distant (to perform hajj)”. (22:27)
"We have accomplished the shrine (The Holy Kaaba) a focal point for the people and a safe sanctum. You may use Abraham's shrine as a prayer house. We empower Abraham and Ismail: "You shall purify My house for those who visit, those who live there, and those who nod and prostate."(2:125)
"They ask you about the facet of the moon! Say, "They provide a timing contrivance for the people, and determine the time of Hajj." It is not creditable to beat around the bush; righteousness is acquired by upholding the commandments and being straightforward. You shall observe GOD that you may succeed". (2:158)
"The ridge of Safa and Marwah are among the rites decreed by God. Anyone who observes Hajj or Umrah commits no error by traversing the distance between them. If one volunteers more righteous works, then GOD is Appreciative, Omniscient. (2:189)
"O you who believe! Kill no game while you are in a state of ihram for pilgrimage. Whoever of you kills it deliberately, the amends is atonement, brought to the Kabah, of an edible animal equivalent to the one he killed, as arbitrate by two just men among you; or, for reprisal, he should feed poor person, or it's equivalent in fasting, that he may taste the punishment of his deed. Allah has forgiven what is prior, but whoever contravenes it again, Allah will take comeuppance from him. And Allah is Almighty, Al-able of comeuppance". (5:95)
From the verses of the Quran, we can clearly understand the importance of Hajj, and in return, Allah SWT gives excellent rewards in this life and hereafter.
Prophet SAW performed only one Hajj in His PBUH life. His PBUH declared Hajj a JIHAD for women, children, older people, and week. Many hadith on Hajj explains the importance of Hajj; some of the hadith about Hajj are as follows:
Ibn e Umar R.A. said the Prophet of Allah PBUH said: "Islam is built upon five pillars: testifying that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad SAW is the Messenger of Allah, subsidizing regular prayer, paying Zakah, Hajj and fasting Ramadan." (Al- Bukhari 8; Muslim 16)
"Abu Hurayrah R.A. narrated that Prophet PBUH was asked which deed is the best. He said, "Belief in Allah and His messenger." He was asked, then what? He said, "Jihad for the sake of Allah." He was asked, then what? He said, "An accepted Hajj." (Al- Bukhari 26; Muslim 83)
Abu Hurayrah R.A. narrated that Allah's Messenger SAW said: "Umrah is reparation for the time between it and the previous Umrah, and an accepted hajj has no less a reward than Paradise." (Muslim 1349)
Ibn e Umar R.A. reported that Hazrat Muhammad SAW said: "The one who fights for the sake of Allah and the pilgrim who goes for Hajj or Umrah are all guests of Allah. He called them, and they reciprocate; they ask of Him, and He will give them". (Ibn e Majah 2893)
Abu Hurayrah R.A. said: I heard the Prophet PBUH say: "He who came to this House (Ka'ba) (with the intention of performing Pilgrimage), and neither spoke indecently nor did he act wickedly. would return (free from sin) as on the (very first day) his mother bore him." (Muslim 1350)
The Messenger of Allah exhorted and said: "O people, Allah has admonished Hajj upon you, so do Hajj." A man said, Is it every year, O Messenger of Allah? He hovers silently until the man has said it three times; then, he says, if I say yes, it will become mandatory, and you will not be able to do it." Then he said, "Do not push me to tell you more than what I had left you with, for those who came before you were destroyed because they asked too many questions and quibble with their Prophets. If I command you to do a thing, do as much of it as you can, and if I proscribe you to do something, then avoid it". (Muslim 1337)
Abu Hurayrah R.A. said that Prophet SAW gave a sermon and said: "O people, Allah has decree Hajj upon you, so do Hajj." (Muslim 1337)
Hazrat Abdullah Ibn e Masood RA narrated that Prophet PBUH said: "keep on doing Hajj and Umrah, for they wipe out poverty and sin Justas the bawl eliminate defilement from iron and gold and silver." (Sunan an-Nasa'i 2630)
From all of these Hadith, we can see how important Hajj is: it cleanses us of our sins, and Allah SWT rewards pilgrims in exchange. Whoever performs it with a pure desire for the exclusive purpose of Allah Almighty will have his Hajj accepted by Allah.
The Hajj is an Islamic pillar that all Muslims must do at least once in their lifetime. It is a physically demanding journey that Muslims believe permits them to purge themselves of past transgressions and restart their relationship with God. Pilgrims strive to improve their religion during the Hajj, with some women adopting the "hijab," a head covering.