Virtues of Hajj
Hajj & Umrah
Lesson One
THE IMPORTANCE AND EXCELLENCE OF HAJJ
Allah Almighty says… “Hajj to the House is a duty owed to Allah by all mankind – those who can find a way to do it…” (Holy Quran 3:97 – Tafseer Jalalayn)
Sayyidina Ibn ‘Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Islam is based on five: the testimony that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, performing the prayer, paying the zakat, hajj to the House and fasting Ramadan.” [Agreed upon]
Sayyidina Abu Hurayra (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “The Messenger of Allah, May Allah bless him and grant him peace, addressed us and said, ‘O people. Allah has made the hajj obligatory for you, so go on hajj.’ A man said, ‘Every year, Messenger of Allah?’ He was silent until the man had said it three times. The Messenger of Allah, May Allah bless him and grant him peace, then said, ‘If I said yes, it would become obligatory and you would be unable to do it.’ Then he said, ‘Let me be when I refrain from mentioning something to you. Those before you were destroyed by the quantity of their questions and their disagreement with their Prophets. When I command you to do something, then do it as much as you can. When I forbid you to do something, then leave off doing it.'” [Muslim]
Sayyidina Abu Hurayra (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, ‘Whoever goes on hajj for Allah alone and does not have sexual intercourse or commit any outrage will return as he was on the day his mother bore him.'” [Agreed upon]
Sayyidina Abu Hurayra (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “From one ‘umra to the next is expiation for everything in between them and there is no reward for an accepted hajj other than the Garden.” [Agreed upon]
Sayyidah A’isha, Umm al-Mu’minin, (May Allah be pleased with her) said, “Messenger of Allah, we see that jihad is the best action so should we not do jihad?” He said, “No. However, the best jihad is an accepted hajj (for women).” [al-Bukhari] Sayyidah A’isha (May Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “There is no day on which Allah frees more slaves from the Fire than the Day of ‘Arafat.” [Muslim]
Sayyidina Ibn ‘Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “An ‘umra in Ramadan is equivalent to hajj – or a hajj with me.” [Agreed upon]
Sayyidina Ibn ‘Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that a woman said, “Messenger of Allah, Allah has made going on hajj obligatory for His slaves and my father is a very old man and cannot remain firm in his seat when riding. Can I go on hajj for him?” He said, “Yes.” [Agreed upon]
Sayyidina Laqit ibn ‘Amir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that he came to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and said, “My father is an old man who cannot do hajj or ‘umra nor travel.” He said, “Do hajj and ‘umra for your father.” [Abu Dawud and at-Tirmidhi]
Sayyidina Ibn ‘Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, met a group of people at ar-Rawha’ and said, “Who are these people?” They said, “Muslims.” and then asked, “Who are you?” He said, “The Messenger of Allah.” A woman lifted up a child and said, “Can this one go on hajj?” He said, “Yes, and you will have the reward.” [Muslim]
Sayyidina Anas reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, went on hajj on a camel which was his pack-animal. [al-Bukhari]