Let’s make a new beginning
After returning from Hajj a person should be a role model for other Muslims in the society.
Dr Fiaz Maqbool Fazili on the essence of Hajj and living a new life on return.Hajis are returning home, Inshaallah with the ultimate reward. Prophet (PBUH) said, “And there is no reward for an accepted Hajj … except Jannah!” Preparations for reception of Hajis and celebrations will be seen, and till these acts don’t cross barriers of permissibility, such reactions are acceptable. Many times the philosophy of Hajj is reduced to the ritual of prefix Haji. Let us remind our Hajis of their responsibilities; the character; their role in the society, and what is expected from them after the completion of Hajj.
Adriana Decker, a young lady Doctor from Canada was among two million Muslims who stood in Arafat seeking forgiveness. She remembers her hard journey from a catholic nun to a devout Muslim seven years ago. We believe that she has returned home with a clean slate and a mission and message for others. As Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) says that a person who performs Hajj properly “will return as a newly born baby (free of all sins)” All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger. Allah, the exalted one says: “The first house of worship appointed for men was that at Bakka (Bakka is one of the names of Makkah), full of blessings and guidance for all kinds of beings. In it are signs manifest, for example the station of Abraham-whoever enters it attains security. Pilgrimage thereafter is a duty men owe to Allah— those who can afford the journey. But if any one denies faith, Allah stands not in need of any of his creatures” (Qur,an 3;96-97).
Hajj is Islam’s fifth principle (Rukn). It is an obligation upon every Muslim, who is physically and financially capable to afford it. In other words, it is obligatory to go and visit the Kaba- al- muazzama once in a lifetime. The lexical meaning of hajj is ‘to mean, to do, to wish’. How fortunate are these souls who are blessed with the following words from Prophet (PBUH), “Whoever performs Hajj for the Pleasure of Allah and therein utters no word of evil, nor commits any evil deed, shall return from it (free from sin) as the day on which his mother gave birth to him.” (Bukhaari, Muslim). “Verily there shall be no reward for a Mabroor (the one accepted by Allah) Hajj except Jannah.” (Bukhaari, Muslim). Hajj is a preparation for our mission of Islam because the pilgrim starts his or her Hajj with repeating the slogan of “labayk,” which means, “I am here to listen and obey.” So the Hajj training is supposed to train us to carry this mission of Islam when we are back.
Unfortunately many of us have witnessed actions and celebrations after Hajj which are in total contradistinction to the philosophy of Hajj. Religious scholars throughout the world have cautioned Muslim pilgrims against these practices. Those whom Allah has favored to perform Hajj and Umrah should be thankful to Allah (glorified and exalted be He) Who has chosen them from among His servants to perform these acts of worship, and they should implore Almighty Allah to accept their good deeds, as it is believed that Hajj provides an opportunity to seek forgiveness of sins accumulated throughout ones life. It is hoped that all the pilgrims were sincere in their intentions and had traveled great distances only to secure the pleasure of Allah by fulfilling their obligation. Nevertheless, it is worth drawing the attention of the pilgrims towards certain points that are necessary and of utmost importance. Firstly the sincerity of intention should remain even after the performance of Hajj. There should be no pomp or show. One should not wish to be called or recognized as a Hajji, which with time unfortunately is reduced to a status symbol. Many people adopt the habit of talking frequently about their journey in order that people may come to know of their Hajj. They talk about the expenses incurred in the way of Allah, their charity amongst the poor and needy, their devotion and worship, their assisting the weak and the old, etc. This is a deceit from Shaytaan who ruins the ibaadat without the person even knowing about it. It is therefore of great importance that the pilgrim does not talk about his Hajj unless required as it may lead to ‘Riyaa’ (exhibitionism, show, insincerity). Although its importance and formalities are generally known and talked about, its essence, spirit, and impact on a performer’s behavior and personality are not generally understood or remembered.
The point we should ponder over is why Allah and His Messenger granted so much importance to Hajj. What is the most significant aspect of this worship? Is it performance of certain rites and rituals, the special dress worn, and visitation of certain places that make it the most rewarding act of worship? Or, like other acts or worship in Islam, is it the changes that Hajj makes in the performer’s personality, attitude, and outlook that is the essence of Hajj? The Hadith that explains that the sign of a ‘Mabroor Hajj’ or an accepted Hajj, is that upon return one should become more concerned about the Hereafter and less interested in the pleasures of this life. He should be punctual in fulfilling the commands of Allah Ta’aala. Therefore, it is essential that the pilgrim is mindful of his actions and tries utmost to instill in himself good characters and refrain from all types of evil. He should try his best to fulfill the obligations laid down by Allah and avoid all the things forbidden by Him after returning from the Sacred Land. Muslim scholars debate over whether someone who performs Hajj should be called a Haji; as to call some Muslim as “Nimazi” contributes to ‘Riyaa’ (exhibitionism, show), acts which are not permissible. Some of them believe that it is not something found in the Sunnah, rather it has an interesting background in our cultural history. Allah knows the best.
In the past when someone decided to perform Hajj, it was synonymous with bidding farewell to life on earth. This was due to the treacherous obstacles of traveling in the desert - trials such as sickness, starvation, and the struggles of encountering different situations. An entire village would gather to bid farewell to those people who would leave for Hajj. When someone would go through such a remarkable journey and return alive, he would dedicate this life on returning to the worship and obedience of Allah. He would not indulge in cheating or lying nor would he miss any Salah. He was now a Hajji—a completely reformed man. Modern facilities have made this pilgrimage an easy task and within the reach of most of us, yet we have tendency to delay it by one pretext or other. Some might complain that there are no mattress beds in Mina, or the arrangements as advertised by many private tour operators are found wanting. But who provided us with all the blessing that we are living in? It is the same Allah that has tested you on the plains of Arafah/Muzdalifah. The slave of Allah can truly understand the favor of Allah upon him when it is taken away from him. And never forget those sacred moments when you departed from Arafat, remember Allah at AlMash’ar AlHaram. And remember Him as He has guided you, for indeed you were before that among those astray. Indeed the greatest blessing that Allah has favored us with is Islam, and it alone suffices as a favor.
Hajj, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said in the Hadith, purifies sins and makes a person like a newborn and thus closer to Allah. It is therefore important for Hajis to try their best to preserve this pure state, as best as they can to keep their minds and souls attached to Allah. And remember Him constantly as Almighty Allah says, “And when ye have completed your devotions, then remember Allah as ye remember your fathers or with a more lively remembrance…” (Al-Baqarah: 200). Eminent religious scholars have suggested few tips for enhancing our iman (faith) after Hajj:
1. Try to be consistent in zikr (remembrance of Allah), for Zikr helps us to come closer to the Lord and repels Satan.
2. Be regular in performing your daily Prayers, committed to mosque.
3. Read and ponder over Qur’an on a daily basis.
4. Keep company of righteous Muslims.
5. Spend time performing good deeds as much as possible.
6. Keep away from the haram (forbidden) because after Hajj. A person should start a new life that is supposed to be clean.
7. Carry the message of Islam by inviting people to it and leading by example.
8. Pray to Allah to make your heart steadfast in obeying Him in the manner of the Prophet (PBUH).
Sheikh Kutty recommends the following du‘aa’ (supplication): Allaahumma yaa muqalliba al-quloobi thabbit qalbee ‘alaa ta’atika. (O Allah! You are the twister of hearts! Make my heart firm on obedience to You!). “They should be very keen to avoid evil and shameful deeds especially after Allah has obliterated them and forgiven all their sins, as a reward of performing Hajj. This is based on the Hadith in which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “The reward of Hajj Mabrur (the one accepted by Allah) is nothing but Paradise.” He also said, “(The performance of) ‘Umrah is an expiation for the sins committed between it and the previous one.” There are many aspects of Hajj whose significance man cannot conceive by his limited intellectual powers, but the fact is that their answers are beyond man’s limited faculty, and only what he is required to say is: “I hear and obey Your Command, O Allah! Yours is to order and mine is to obey.” Therefore, it behooves every Hajji to forward due gratitude to Allah for being chosen to perform those acts of worship and, at the same time, to beseech Him for acceptance. Thus a person, upon returning home should be conscious of Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) when performing all that Allah has obligated him to do including other worships such as Salah (Prayers), Zakah, Fasting, dutifulness to his parents, visiting kith and kin, being charitable and benevolent to Allah’s creatures, experiencing the etiquettes of Islam, and taking the morals of the Qur’an as lessons for life.
Hajj is considered an honor and a blessing. It entails responsibility on man and he will be asked on the Day of Judgment in case he deviates after returning from Hajj. Almighty Allah says, “Lo! Allah enjoineth justice and kindness, and giving to kinsfolk, and forbiddeth lewdness and abomination and wickedness. He exhorteth you in order that ye may take heed. Fulfill the covenant of Allah when ye have covenanted, and break not your oaths after the asseveration of them, and after ye have made Allah surety over you. Lo! Allah knoweth what ye do.” (An-Nahl: 90-91). Hajj is a once in lifetime obligation. Hajj is a golden opportunity to have one’s sins forgiven, one’s soul refined, and one’s heart filled with iman and tranquility. So, the pilgrim will make use of this for the rest of his life, reminiscing about the sacred places and all rituals (of Hajj), for that will strengthen his faith and help him to obey Allah. The one who performs Hajj is supposed to be a role model for other people in the society.
