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Secrets of Pilgrimage: Al Hajj by Imam Ghazali (R.A.) PART ONE Following is the slightly edited partial translation of Imam Ghazali's chapter on Al-Hajj in Ihya Al-Uloom ud-Din Duties of Hajj Two things are necessary for the health of Hajj-time and Islam. There are five conditions of Hajj which are obligatory: 1.To be a Muslim 2. To be a free man 3. To be intelligent and able 4. To be a major 5. To make Hajj in time. One must be in sound health and the route must be safe and sound. He must have sufficient money to go and to be back from journey and for the maintenance of the family in the mean time. If a man is unable to make pilgrimage on account of his physical illness or bodily infirmity from which he has got no hope of recovery, he must send his representative with expense to make pilgrimage on his behalf. If a man dies before making pilgrimage inspite of his solvency, there will be grievous punishmen for him. Hadrat Sayeed ibn Jubair, Ibrhaim Nakhyi, Mujahed, and Taus said: If we knew that a certain man died without making Hajj, we did not say funeral prayer for him. Hadrat ibn Abbas said: If a man dies without Hajj and without paying Zakat, he will pray for return to the world. Then he read this verse: O my Lord, send me again that I may do good deeds which I left undone. Five compulsory duties of Hajj - To don Ihram, to make Tawaf, to make Sayee, to wait at Arafat and then to shave hairs. These are also compulsory in Umrah except waiting in Umrah. Six wajeb of Hajj 1.To don Ihram at the appointed place 2.throw pebbles at Mina 3.To wait at Arafat until sunset 4.To spend the night at Muzdalafah 5.To stay at Mina 6.To make Tawaf of the Ka'ba at the time of farewell. Modes of Hajj. Hajj can be performed in three modes-Ifrad, Qeran, and Tamattu. The mode of making pilgrimage by Ifrad is the best. Ifrad is a kind of pilgrimage in which Ihram is doned with the sole intention of Hajj and not Umrah, and Ihram is remained after the necessary duties are performed. Then Ihram is put on for Umrah. In the Qeran Hajj, Ihram is put on for both Hajj and Umrah at the same time. In Tamattu Hajj, first Ihram is put on for Hajj before it actually takes place. Ihram is put on at the fixed place and then the pilgrim comes to Mecca and removes it. Just before Hajj, he again puts on Ihram and removes it after Hajj and thereafter makes Tawaf. When there is no Ihram, everything can be enjoyed, even sexual intercourse with wife. There are some conditions to Tamattu Hajj: a. Not to be included within the people of Ka'ba b. To make Umrah before Hajj c. To make Umrah in the months of pilgrimage d. Not to go to a distance for doning Ihram for Hajj e. To make Hajj and Umrah by the same person. It is compulsory for such a pilgrim to sacrifice a goat. If he cannot do it, he will fast before sacrifice for three days separately or consecutively when he returns home, he will fast seven days in the same manner. Prohibited Things in Hajj and Umarah During Hajj and Umrah, it is prohibited to put on shirt, trousers, socks, turban. A wearing apparel without stitch and sandal may be used. One should not cover his head, as head is included within Ihram. A woman can wear stitched cloth but her face will remain uncovered. 1. He shall not use scents of any kind. 2. He shall not shave the hairs of head and not manicure nails. 3. He shall not have sexual intercourse before the end of Ihram 4. It is unlawful to kiss, embrace or to marry or get married during Ihram. 5. It is unlawful to sacrifice game of land except game of sea. SECTION II Eight duties of Hajj from First to Last There are eight duties when one comes out of his house until he dons Ihram. He shall make Tawba, pay compensation to the oppressed and clear off his debts and give expense of maintenance for his family members till his return. He shall return the trusts entrusted to him and take legally earned money sufficient for his journey expenses till his return along with the additional sum for the poor, the destitute, and the weak. He shall spend something in charity before he starts. He shall seek a religious companion. He will seek your good and help you. He will remind you if you forget. Take farewell from relatives, friends, and neighbours, and seek their blessings and give your blessings to them by saying: I am entrusting to God your religion and your trust and the end of your actions. The Prophet used to pray for the man who wished to perform Hajj: May God keep you in His protection. May He give you provision of God-fear. May He forgive your sins, and may He keep your face towards good wherever you are. Pray two rak'ats of prayer before starting from home with Fatiha and Surah Kaferun in the first rak'at and Surah Ikhlas in the second rak'at. When you finish your prayer, raise your two hands and seek blessings with this du'a: Oh God, you are my friend in this journey, you are my successor for my properties, children, and friends; save me and them all from calamities. O God, I seek from you in this journey virtues, God-fear, and actions pleasing to you. O God, make the world narrow for me, make my journey easy and give me provision of health of good body, religion, and safety of properties and take us for pilgrimage to Your house and for visiting the grave of your Prophet Muhammad (P.H). O God, I seek refuge to you from the troubles of journey, from change of conditions and from the evil looks of the family members and friends. O God, give us and them the blessings of your nearness, don't deprive us and them of your blessings and don't change your kindness on us and on them. When you will come near the door of your house say: In the name of God, I rely on God, there is no power and might except in God. O Lord, I seek refuge to Thee that I may not be misguided, that I may not misguide anybody, that I may not slip or that I may not cause anybody to slip, that I may not be oppressed or that I may not oppress anybody, that nobody may ascribe ignorance to me, nor may I ascribe ignorance to anybody. I seek refuge to Thee from all these matters. When you get on board of your conveyance, say: In the name of God and with God, God is the greatest. I rely on God, the Great, the Mighty. There is no power and no might except in God. Whatever God wills comes into being. God has made this conveyance subservient to us. We shall have to return to our Lord. When you sit on the conveyance, recite seven times: All praise is due to god who showed me path for it. We would not have found guidance if God did not show us guidance. O God, Thou art our carrier on backs and Thou art our helper in all our affairs. Most of your journey should be at night. The Prophet said: You should travel at night, as the earth becomes narrow at night and not at day. Sleep little during the night that you may be helper in journey. When you reach a high place, say: O God, Lord of seven heavens and that which casts shade, Lord of seven earths and that which reduces it, Lord of the devils and those whom they misguide, Lord of air and on what it blows upon, Lord of sea and what I blows upon, I seek good of the inhabitants of this place, I seek refuge to Thee from their evils. When you land at any place, pray two rak'ats. You should not travel during daytime. Don't walk alone and don't go out of your company and keep a watch at the time of your sleep at night. Spread out your hands if you sleep at the early part of night. If you sleep by the later part of night, place your head on the palm of your hand. Thus the Prophet used to sleep in his journey in order to guard against the loss of prayer. The loss of prayer is more severe than the loss of pilgrimage. When you get on a high place on the way, recite Takbir thrice and then recite: O God, Thy honour is above all honours, Thine is all praise and all glory. When you get down, recite Tasbih. Duties from Miqat to Entry into Mecca Take bath with the intention of doning Ihram, comb your hairs and head, manicure your nails, clip your moustache, and do everything as described in the chapter on purity and cleanliness. Put on two pieces of unsewn Ihram cloth. White cloth is dearest to God. Use scent on body and cloth. Take journey if your walk on foot. Now make niyyat of either Ifrad, Qeran, or Tamattu Hajj and say Talbiyah-present to Thee, O God, present to Thee, there is no partner for Thee, al praise and gifts are for Thee, there is no partner for Thee. When you enter into Ihram, recite the following: O God, I make niyyat for pilgrimage. O God, make it easy for me, help me in fulfilling its duties, accept it from me. There are other invocations also. It is commendable to recite Talbiah in a loud voice at the time of ascending, descending, riding on conveyance. It is as follows: O God, I am present to Thee, I am present to Thee. There is no partner for Thee. All praise, gifts, and lordship are for Thee. Thou hast got no partner. Whenever anything astonished the Prophet, he used to say: Labbaik, the life of the next world is true life. Duties After Entry into Mecca till Tawaf Take a bath to enter Mecca. When you enter the first boundary of Harem outside Mecca, then recite: Oh God, this is Thy sacred sanctuary, Thy safe place. So save my blood, my hairs, and my body from Hell. Save me from Thy chastisement on the day Thou will resurrect Thy servants and include me in the company of Thy friends and those subservient to Thee. Enter Mecca by the high place of Mecca, come out of it by its low place. When you enter Mecca and come near the Ka'ba, recite the following: There is no deity but God. God is the Greatest. O God, Thou art peace, from Thee peace, and Thine abode is the abode of peace. Blessed art Thou, O Possessor of Glory and Honour. O God, this is Thy house. Though hast made it sacred and honourable. So increase its honour, respect, and awe. O God, open for me the doors of Thy mercy and admit me in Thy Paradise and give me refuge from the accursed devil. When you enter the Ka'ba, enter it through the door of Banu Shaibah and recite: In the name of God, with God, from God, towards God, in the way of God, and upon the religion of the Apostle of God. When you will come near the Ka'ba, recite: O God, accept my repentance, forgive my faults, reduce my burden. All praise is due to God who has taken me to His scared House, who has made it the refuge of men and their safe place and a guide to the universe. O God, I am Thy servant. This is Thy city, this is Thy sanctuary, and this is Thy house. I am present to Thee. I beseech Thy mercy and I inform Thee of the invocation of one afflicted, I seek Thy forgiveness and Thy pleasure. Then touch the Black Stone by your right hand, kiss it, and recite: O God, I have fulfilled Thy trust and my promise. Bear witness of my fulfillment. Forth duty-Tawaf (Circumbulation). Observe seven rules in Tawaf: Observe the conditions of prayer in Tawaf. In other words, be pure from all sorts of uncleanliness and cover your private parts. Tawaf is like the prayer except that conversation is allowed therein. It shall be done with Ihram dress as prescribed. Then wait at the Black Stone which is the preliminary point of circling the Ka'ba. Recite at the start of Tawaf: In the name of God, God is Greatest. O God, I begin this circling after putting faith in Thee, testifying to the truth of Thy Book, fulfilling promise with Thee and following the ways of Thy Apostle Muhammad (peace be on him). After crossing the Black Stone, recite when you reach the door of Ka'ba: O God, this House is Thine, this sanctuary is Thine, this safe place is Thine and this place is the place of refuge from Hell to Thee. Thus there are recitations at every point round the Ka'ba as prescribed and you will go round the Ka'ba seven times. After finishing Tawaf, pray two rak'ats at Muqame Ibrahim following the Prophet and make invocations. The Prophet said: He who makes Tawaf of the Ka'ba seven times and then prays two rak'ats will get the rewards of setting free a slave. Fifth Duty-Sa'yi (Running between Safa and Merwa) After finishing Tawaf, take to running between the two hillocks-Safa and Merwa seven times and recite the following before doing it: There is no deity but He. There is no partner for Him. His is the kingdom and His is all praise. He giveth life and taketh life and He is eternal without death. All good is in His hands, and He is powerful over all things. There is no deity but God. He is single. He has proved true to His promise, helped his servant and honoured His army and routed the enemies. There is no deity but God, be sincere to Him in worship though the polytheists dislike it. Then at the beginning of running, recite: O Lord, forgive and show mercy and pardon what Thou knowest. Thou art majestic and honourable. O God, our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the hereafter and save us from Hell. Sixth Duty-Waiting at Arafat The waiting time at Arafat is form noon of the 9th Dhul-Haj to the early dawn of the 10th Dhul-Haj. After reaching Mina, recite the following: O God, this is Mina, bestow grace on me as Thou has bestowed grace here on Thy friends and those who were obedient to Thee. Reaching at Arafat, fix you tent and wait there with great penitent and mind and recite invocations and supplications as much as possible and seek forgiveness and mercy of God. Seventh Duty-Other Institutions of Hajj At sunrise the next day, start from Arafat and reach Mazdalafah and recite the following: O God, this is Mazdalafah, people from different tongues have gathered here seeking different necessary things from Thee. Make me one of those who have sought from Thee and Thou hast granted them. Then pray Maghrib and Isha together with out Athan and two Aqamats. Stay here for one night as it is included within the institution of Hajj. Next day, start for Mina and reach the place of stone throwing and throw seven stones there as prescribed. Then sacrifice an animal and then shave your head. Then return to Mecca and make Tawaf of the Ka'ba. Then return to Mina again. Eighth and Ninth Duties-Umrah, Tawaf of Farewell He who intends to make Umrah before or after Hajj, let him take bath, put on Ihram dress and wear Ihram from its appointed place. When you enter Mecca, go round the Ka'ba seven times reciting the prescribed invocations and run between Safa and Merwa. Then it ends with the shaving of head. After finishing all rites of Hajj and Umrah, make Tawaf of the Ka'ba seven times before you start for home an seek forgiveness from God and express gratefulness for getting the opportunity to make Hajj and Umrah. Tenth Duty-Visit to Medina The Prophet said: Whoso visits my grave after my death has met me as it were during my lifetime. He also said: He who does not visit me inspite of having means, oppresses me. He also said: Whoso does not come to me except with the object of visiting me, it is the duty of God that I become his intercessor. He also said: He who wishes to visit Medina, should send much blessings upon the Prophet on his way to Medina. When the walls and trees of Medina fall to his eyes, he will recite: O God, this is the sanctuary of Thy Apostle. So make it a shield for saving me from Hell and a safe place from punishment and bad account. When you enter Medina, recite the following: In the name of God and upon the religion of Apostle of God. O Lord, enter me a true entry and take me out a true taking out and send for me from Thee a strong helper. Then pray two rak'ats after entering the mosque and then wait near the grave of the Holy Prophet and send profuse Darud and blessings on him as prescribed. The Prophet said: The place between my grave and pulpit is one of the gardens and my pulpit is upon my fountain. Then visit Jannatul Baqiy, the place of burials of the martyrs and of Hadrat Osman, Imam HasanImam Zain-al Abedin,Imam Imam Baquir, Imam Jafa As- Sadiq, Hadrat Fatema. Then observe prayer at the Qubba mosque as the Prophet said: He who comes out of his house an comes to the mosque of Qubba and says prayer there, the rewards of an Umrah are written for him. The Prophet said: He who can die at Medina should do it, as I shall be an intercessor for one who dies at Medina. Then visit the grave of the Prophet when leaving Medina. © 2007 Islamic Studies and Research Association (ISRA) |