The Fifth Pillar Of Islam: Pilgrimage (Hajj)

Hajj, the 5th pillar of islam, is a pilgrimage undertaken to the holy metropolis of makkah all through the month of zul-ḥijjah. The date of hajj in islamic calendar starts at the 8th of dhul hijjah and lasts till the 13th of dhul hijjah. This profound adventure, marked by way of its challenges, is an obligatory endeavour for financially and bodily succesful muslims.

It entails completing the distinct rituals of hajj in honor of allah عَزَّ وَجَلَّ. People who successfully accomplish this voyage earn the esteemed title of ḥaji. Every year, hundreds of thousands of muslims accumulated in makkah for hajj festival – the sacred muslim pilgrimage yearly, underscoring the team spirit of humanity and their equal devotion before allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ.

1. A Significant Religious Gathering
2. Types of Hajj
3. The privilege of hajj tawaf in the rain in conjunction with holy prophet ﷺ
4. Rewards & blessings of an everyday pilgrimage
5. Indications of an Accepted Haj

A Significant Religious Gathering

As a essential and 5th pillar of Islam, hajj holds tremendous importance as an act of worship. Each year, multitudes of muslims wear simple and identical apparel, transcending differences in colour and race, putting apart discord to gather inside the sanctified precincts of the haram. The world stands surprised at this superb show of harmony.

This juncture bestows unheard of blessings upon the pilgrims, endowing them with allah's عَزَّوَجَلَّ unique favour. The gifts bestowed upon these lucky people in return for their hajj revel in arouse a profound longing amongst much less privileged Muslims, igniting a fervent aspiration to embark on a sacred adventure in their very own.

Hajj, the sacred pilgrimage to the holy metropolis of mecca, holds profound advantages that expand beyond the bodily journey. The spiritual blessings of hajj are manifold, as it offers a completely unique opportunity for Muslims to cleanse their souls and searching for forgiveness for his or her past transgressions. The act of appearing hajj is an illustration of devotion and submission to Allah's will, emphasizing the significance of humility and harmony among believers.

The significance of hajj in Quran and hadith is underscored, with verses highlighting its pivotal role inside the non secular boom and development of a Muslim. The Quran and hadith stress the transformative power of hajj, emphasizing its potential to purify the heart and renew one's religion. The rituals finished in the course of hajj represent the pains and tribulations faced by means of the prophet Ibrahim علیہ السلام and his circle of relatives, exemplifying the unwavering consider in Allah's providence.

Consequently, the significance of hajj resonates deeply inside the islamic subculture, serving as a method of drawing closer to allah, searching for forgiveness, and fostering a experience of communal harmony amongst muslims from various backgrounds.

Types of Hajj

There are three types of Pilgrimage in Islam:

1. Qiran

This is the maximum favored shape of hajj, termed as qiran. The ones embarking in this hajj are known as qarin. On this kind, the pilgrim declares the aim for each hajj and umrah simultaneously upon coming into the nation of ihram

Goal of Hajj Qiran

The Qarin is needed to formulate the goal for each hajj and umrah the use of the following wording:

“Ya Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ! I make the goal of hajj and umrah, make both of them easy for me and be given them from me. I have made the purpose of hajj and umrah and have put on the ihram of each just for the sake of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ.”

2. Tamattu

A pilgrim venture this shape of hajj is called a mutamatte. The ones coming back from past the miqat all through the hajj months are eligible to carry out this type. As an example, people from the indo-pak place commonly opt for tamattu. The advantage lies within the truth that a mutamatte, having completed umrah, is permitted to undergo halq or qasr and thereby go out the kingdom of ihram. Sooner or later, on the eighth of zul-hijjah or earlier, the pilgrim assumes the hajj ihram.

3. Ifrad

The character venture this transformation of hajj is referred to as a mufrid. This category of hajj entirely involves assuming the ihram for hajj without incorporating umrah. Those living within makkah and hilli, basically the region among the haram location and miqat (which include the population of jeddah), opt for hajj ifrad. This type is also open to individuals coming back from foreign nations.

Intention of Hajj

After placing at the ihrm of hajj, the mufrid ought to make the following purpose. In addition, after setting on ihram, the mutamatte’ must also make the subsequent goal on 8th zul-hijjah or earlier than it.

“Ya Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ! I make the goal of hajj, make it clean for me and accept it from me. Assist me in presenting it and make it blessed for me. I have made the purpose for hajj and feature worn its ihram for the sake of allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ.”

The Privilege of Hajj Tawaf in the Rain in Conjunction with Holy Prophet ﷺ

What a awesome enjoy it's far to interact in tawaf at the same time as being blessed via rain! Sayyiduna abu iqaal رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ has expressed: “i used to be as soon as privileged to perform tawaf with sayyiduna anas bin malik رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ within the rain. When we provided two rakat salah at maqaam ibrahim.” sayyiduna anas رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ said to me, “start your deeds anew. Indeed, your preceding sins had been forgiven. The beloved prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم gave the same excellent information to us and we were privileged to carry out tawaf with him within the rain.” (ibn majah, vol. 3, pp. 524, hadees 3118)

Rewards & Blessings of an Everyday Pilgrimage

The sacred ahadith approximately hajj elaborates the hajj significance and merits of hajj-e-mabroor.

1. The prophet hazrat muhammad صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has conveyed: “the reward of an typical hajj isn't always less than paradise.” it changed into humbly asked, “what is supposed by maqbool (general)?” it become replied, “the hajj wherein food is given and desirable verbal exchange is made.” (al-mujam-ul-awsat, vol. 6, pp. 173, hadees 8405)

2. Moreover, the prophet of mercy صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has said: “the reward for an accepted hajj is paradise.” the blessed companions humbly asked, “ya rasoolallah صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! What is an customary hajj?” it become replied, “the hajj in which the hungry are fed and salam is to be promoted.” (kanz-ul-ummal, vol. 3, pp. 7, hadees 11830)

Indications of an Accepted Haj

Hujjat-ul-islam, imam muhammad ghazali رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has expressed: it's miles narrated, “one of the symptoms of an ordinary hajj is that a haji gives up all the ones acts of disobedience that he was indulged inside the beyond, he quits the employer of awful buddies and continues the enterprise of pious humans, he abandons the gatherings of sports and entertainments, and attends the gatherings of zikr and fikr (contemplation) and the gatherings in which the zikr of allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and his liked prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is accomplished abundantly.” (ihya-ul-uloom, vol. 1, pp. 803)

Imam e ahle sunnat, maulana shah imam ahmad raza khan رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه, famously called ala hadrat, has said: “the sign of a hajj-e-mabroor (an common hajj) is that the haji becomes higher than earlier than when he returns.” (fatawa razawiyyah, vol. 24, 467)

Allamah maulana mufti muhammad amjad ali azami رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه, a prominent and prominent student of shariah and tareeqah, conveyed: “the haji have to take provisions extra than his want so that he can assist his fellow travellers and supply sadaqah (charity) to the poor. That is also a signal of an widely wide-spread hajj.” (bahar-e-shariat, component 6, vol. 1, pp. 1051, slightly changed)

The revered ‘allamah ‘abdul mustafa azami رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه, a prominent authority in hadees studies, has expressed: “an frequent hajj is a hajj for the duration of which the haji does now not commit any sinful act, neither is there any doubt of displaying-off nor repute, alternatively, suitable deeds are carried out only for the pleasure of allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ .” (bihisht ki kunjiyan, pp. 107, barely modified)

Mufti ahmad yar khan رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه, a outstanding interpreter and a profound thinker of the ummah, has also mentioned indicators of an commonplace pilgrimage in various times. He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه noted:

·        “an accepted hajj is that hajj that is loose from quarrels, sins and displaying-off and is completed successfully.” (mirat-ul-manajih, vol. 4, pp. 87)

·        “an familiar hajj is the hajj that is carried out after imparting salah etc.” (mirat-ul-manajih, vol. 4, pp. 146)

·        “an commonplace hajj refers to a hajj wherein one abstains from sins or the hajj wherein one abstains from displaying-off and repute or”

·        “it's miles a hajj, and then, the haji abstains from sins until his demise and does not carry out any act that ruins his hajj.”

·        “sayyiduna hasan basri رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has stated: an general hajj is one of these hajj, and then, the haji dreams the hereafter and now not the arena.”

·        “it's miles a hajj that softens the coronary heart of the haji and he has sorrow in his heart and wetness in his eyes” (mirat-ul-manajih, vol. Five, pp. 441)

·        “an time-honored hajj is one that is completed efficiently with halal profits, this is completed with sincerity and the haji does no longer perform this kind of act till his death that ruins his hajj, that is, the reward of an usual hajj will no longer be handiest within the shape of worldly meals and forgiveness from sins or salvation from hell or remedy in torment, however paradise must be granted.” (mirat-ul-manajih, vol. 4, pp. Ninety six)