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Don't delay Hajj
anymore
By Asma bint Shameem
Every one knows that Hajj is the fifth and final pillar of Islam. And
performing Hajj is one of the obligations that Allaah has put upon His
believing slaves if they have the means. But how many of us really pay
attention to this command?
Now I am not talking about those of us who are sick, or financially unable
to afford it. I am talking about those of us who have a steady job, a good
enough income, Alhamdulillaah. And we have health and the physical and
other means to go for Hajj.
But we just don't think about it.
Sure we have all that money saved up but we are either saving it for that
trip to Disney Land or that vacation to Hawaii. Perhaps it is for a bigger
house or a fancier car. Or we are just so busy in our jobs and day to day
lives that even the thought of going to Hajj doesn't cross our minds.
Although Allaah tells us in the Qur'aan that Hajj is fardh on every Muslim
once in lifetime, provided they are able to perform it.
"And Hajj to the House (Ka`bah) is a duty that mankind owes to Allah,
those who can afford the expenses; and whoever disbelieves [i.e., denies
Hajj, then he is a disbeliever of Allah], then Allah stands not in need of
any of the `Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists).'' (Surah
Aale-Imraan:97)
And the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said during a Khutbah: "O
people! Hajj has been made incumbent upon you, so perform Hajj.'' (Muslim)
From this we can conclude that hajj is obligatory on whoever has the
(physical, financial, and circumstantial) ability to reach the sacred
precincts of the Kaa'bah in Makkah.
But somehow, we don't realize that delaying Hajj for no specific reason is
so wrong.
The Ulama tell us that those who have the ability to go for Hajj but delay
it for no specific reason, are concurring a major sin. That's right...a
major sin!
In fact, ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “I was
about to send envoys to the towns to check on all those who have the means
to make Hajj but do not perform it, in order to demand them to pay Jizyah;
they are not Muslims, they are not Muslims”.
Subhaan Allaah! What strong words and we didn't even think it was such a
big deal.
Ibn Qudaamah said: "If a person is obliged to do Hajj and is able to do
it, he must do it straight away and it is not permissible for him to delay
it." (al-Mughni)
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen was asked about Hajj and whether one can delay it.
He replied: "The correct view is that it must be done straight away and it
is not permissible for a person who is able to go on Hajj to the Sacred
House of Allaah to delay it. The same applies to all the duties enjoined
by sharee’ah: if there is no set time or reason, they must be done
immediately." (Fataawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen)
But come to think of it, why would one want to delay it anyway?
Wouldn't you want to have your sins...and I mean, ALL your sins forgiven?
The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: "Whoever performs Hajj
to this house - Kaa'bah- and does not commit any obscenity and wrongdoing,
he, or she, will come out as the day he, or she, was born - pure and free
from sins." (Bukhaari, Muslim)
Just imagine! Pure and free from sin...as the day you were born!
Wouldn't you want to be free from Hell Fire?
The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: "There is no day on
which Allah sets free more slaves from Hell than He does on the Day of `Arafah.''
[Muslim].
Sure, it is a rigorous journey. But isn't Jannah worth it?
The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: "The reward of Hajj
Mabrur (i.e., one accepted) is nothing but Jannah.'' [Bukhaari, Muslim].
And don't think spending for Hajj will decrease your wealth or make you
poor in any way. For not only does Hajj wipe away sins, but it also gets
rid of poverty. The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:
“Keep on doing Hajj and ‘Umrah, for they eliminate poverty and sin just as
the bellows eliminate impurities from iron and gold and silver.” (Tirmidhi,
al-Nasaa’i, saheeh by al-Albaani)
And you don't have to worry about anything when you go there, because you
are Allaah's guest and He will take care of you. Imagine...Allaah's guest!
What more could one want?!!
“The one who fights for the sake of Allaah and the pilgrim who goes for
Hajj or ‘Umrah are all guests of Allaah. He called them and they
responded; they ask of Him and He will give them.” (Ibn Maajah-- hasan by
al-Albaani.
And imagine the reward for all this? Nothing but Jannah.
Also, the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) encouraged us to go for
Hajj as quickly as we can and fulfill this duty and not delay it. He (Sal
Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:
“Hasten to do Hajj – meaning the obligatory Hajj – for none of you knows
what will happen to him.” (Ahmad- hasan by al-Albaani)
So hasten to the 'maghfirah' of your Lord...rush to seek His Bounty, His
Mercy, His Pleasure....and race to a Jannah whose width is as wide as the
heavens and the earth. For you never know what is in store for us. We are
alive today but we may not be here tomorrow. We might be healthy today,
but we be sick tomorrow.
The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:
“Take benefit of five before five: your youth before your old age, your
health before your sickness,your wealth before your poverty,your free-time
before your preoccupation, and your life before your death.”(Hakim-saheeh)
Have you ever thought what it is like to pray in al-Haram...with the
Kaa'bah right in front of your very eyes?This is where the Prophet (Sal
Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) sat, walked, prayed. This where the Sahabah
were. What a magnificent place to be in! And you can multiply your good
deeds there. And Tawaaf and Saa’ee cannot be done anywhere in the world
except here.
The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: "One prayer in al-Masjid
al-Haraam is better than one hundred thousand prayers anywhere else.” (Ibn
Maajah, Ahmad, Saheeh)
Hajj is the perfection of faith and true surrender to the Almighty. It is
a reminder of the purpose of life and man's ultimate end. It is a stage in
which you can develop yourself spiritually. It is a time when you forget
your home, your comfort, your families...your wealth, your friends,
relatives and everything you possess, purely for the sake of Allaah. It is
the time when you train yourself for absolute and complete surrender to
the Divine Command of the Almighty. It is a perfect chance to earn Jannah.
So surely, that trip to Disney Land can wait, that house can be bought
next year, that vacation can be postponed.
Make the intention for hajj now. And don't just make the intention. Do
something about it. Ask your boss for time off for Hajj. Work out your
finances and other arrangements. And make lots of dua to Almighty. Surely
He will make a way out for you if you are sincere. And even if you have
been for hajj some years ago, go ahead and repeat your Hajj. Because the
Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:
“Keep on doing Hajj and ‘Umrah, for they eliminate poverty and sin...." (Tirmidhi)
So plan for Hajj today. Don't delay it any further. There is still time
for you to make it this year.
Go for Hajj to earn the pleasure of your Lord, and come back with all your
sins forgiven.
"Race one with another in hastening towards Forgiveness from your Lord,
and towards Paradise, the width whereof is as the width of heaven and
earth, prepared for those who believe in Allaah and His Messengers. That
is the Grace of Allaah which He bestows on whom He pleases. And Allaah is
the Owner of Great Bounty." (Surah Hadeed:21)
Note: "The definition of being able to go for Hajj is: a person should be
physically healthy; he should have the means of traveling to the Sacred
House of Allaah by plane, car or riding-beast, or have the money to pay
for transportation; and he should have sufficient provision (food) for the
journey there and back. This should be over and above what he needs to
cover the costs of expenses for those whom he is obliged to spend on until
he comes back from his Hajj." (Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah)
In case of debt: "Whoever owes a debt and is being asked to repay it in
the sense that his creditors will not let him go for Hajj until after he
has paid off the debt should not go for Hajj, because he is not able to.
But if they are not asking him to repay and he knows that they don't mind,
then he may go for Hajj and his Hajj will be valid. It is also permissible
to go for Hajj if there is no set time limit for repayment of the debt and
he is allowed to repay when it is easy for him. Hajj may be a good thing
that may lead to his paying off the debt." (Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah)
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