What are you waiting for? ..PERFORM HAJJ

What are you waiting for? PERFORM HAJJ There is no point waiting. When you are young, you can afford what else do you need to bag the blessings. If you haven’t done it, make a pledge. Do it as soon as you can, writes Dr. Fiaz Fazili. Hajj Season Has Begun. Congregational lines at the Prophet's Mosque are beginning to be filled during every daily prayer, buses move constantly in and out of the holy city of Makkah, and hotels as well as place of accommodation in the surrounding area are being occupied, a clear sign that the Hajj season for the year 1429 Hijrah has began. Back home some pilgrims are waiting for their turn to get transported. While someone who didn't perform Hajj till now, I dare to ask , Why you didn't perform Hajj this year? Lots of people have very strange beliefs when it comes to Hajj and it's my personal opinion that these beliefs are culturally dictated. I could be wrong. Hajj is an obligation on every Muslim capable of performing it as long as the requisite conditions are fulfilled, a view upheld by the majority of scholars. Almighty Allah says, {Pilgrimage thereto is a duty people owe to Allah, those who can afford the journey) (Quran 3:97). Prophet (pbuh) has encouraged Muslims to take advantage of their health, and financial ability to make Hajj before getting sick or financial conditions may change. Prophet (pbuh) had said "Make Hajj, you never know what will happen." There is tremendous change in the attitude and preferences of both the urban and rural Kashmiri Muslims, leading to a shift in their lifestyles. Even the religious education reflects the changing lifestyle among the valley's Muslim society. Declining enrolment in the local religious madrassa ("darsgahs") is quite discernible in valley. Many of those who were teaching in the local madrassas are now doing alternative jobs .Unlike the past generation which attended the local madrassa (darsgah) and read Quran and receive Islamic education for its application in daily life; the current generation is more comfortable with Personal computer, CD, s and TV channels. Though Islam is often seen as a religion of "traditional," the present lifestyle is essentially something new as Muslims begin to disentangle themselves from cultural cling-ons and traditional practices that are not endorsed by Islamic teachings. Whether it is education, food habits, dress sense, or social interactions like marriage, the present lifestyles in our valley has become very competitive, demanding, and futuristic. Like any other State subjects, the Muslims are extremely busy to excel in their career and business and becoming as materialistic as any other community, with the result the final pillar, pilgrimage to Makkah has not remained their first preference even for those believers who fulfill the requisite conditions. Whether the continuous disturbing messages on the economic front had an influence or the corporate world is finding innovative methods to lure every segment of the society. One definition of "lifestyle" suggests that it is "a composite of motivations, needs, and wants and is influenced by factors such as culture, family, reference groups and social class. It is not possible that the Muslim community remains unaffected. But the question is can the Muslim community afford to become materialistic and as futuristic as any other to defer their religious obligations like Hajj. The number one reason that Muslims cannot go to Hajj is because they cannot afford it as those who serve in Government services may have a valid reason for their postponement of Hajj till their superannuation. The irony is to perform Hajj has always been a formidable challenge even for many believers who already have enough saving for the Holy pilgrimage. The most common misperception that I have encountered is by people who believe you should first get married, have children, raise your family, make your career and when you have completed all of such obligations then go for Hajj. No matter, obviously, by then you'll be older and may have some other ailments affecting your health, which may deprive you from long travel. Young people shouldn't go for Hajj if they are single. Personally, I don't believe this. For me, it doesn't make sense to postpone for such reasons. I believe it is better for a believer to perform Hajj pilgrimage when you are young and agile as this is the age when Shaitan deviates you the most. In case you qualify for performing Hajj, the age factor and fragility shall not be constraints to perform rituals of Hajj as per Sunnah. Also, who knows, you could be dead tomorrow or next year and you wouldn't have gone for Hajj for what good reason?? The human body degenerates with age and might not be physically fit to undertake the arduous tasks of Hajj rituals. I remember a young adult, just had turned 21, when he first blurted out expressing his desire to perform Hajj during that time to a group of friends. They all looked at him as if he was a weirdo. Upon hearing their expressions, most of them ad advised him that he should put a hold on it until the old age. Back then, they had the idea that Hajj was for the older and mature Muslims. According to the perception they held that time, Hajj might deprive chances to advance in career and at a young age, there were too much work obligations hence, retirement age was a perfect age to perform Hajj. There is a belief amongst some believers that they need more time to reform themselves in order to achieve a certain level before performing it.Personally; I think these are all just lame excuses out of ignorance to get out of performing Hajj.Although it is encouraging to see some youngsters adhering strongly to religious practices, while you feel disappointed to hear similar discouraging statements from similar others, according to them young people should enjoy life full of entertainments, leaving Hajj for their old age, believing that the holy rites of Hajj will automatically wipe out previous sins. Indeed, such perception and understanding about Hajj, believing that it is meant only for the older Muslims (of which are supposedly according to those with such view, are more mature and learned Muslims), is not right. Such thinking still manifests not only in the minds of young generation, but some elderly people also excuse themselves under such explanations. The fact is, older Muslims are normally more mature than the younger ones but, they may not be necessarily learned people, particularly in Islamic knowledge. Hajj is a symbol of submission to Allah and Muslim Unity, for which you don't need such preparations. Every year more than two million Muslims, from 70 different countries, travel to Makkah and Medina with the purpose of undertaking the great obligation of Hajj. It is an exemplary scene and gathering of equality and unity when the pilgrims gather together for Hajj. Besides fulfilling the religious obligation, indeed, you learn patience, tolerance, perseverance, sacrifice, unity and equality. The whole process of Hajj teaches and trains a believer for the present and world after. Hajj is "FARZ", once in a lifetime upon every adult, male and female. The conditions that make Hajj FARZ are well documented in shariah books, and on their fulfillment, it becomes obligatory upon such a person to perform Hajj during the first available Hajj period. Delaying the Hajj will be a sinful act. May Allah save us all from the traps of Satan and enlighten our hearts with the light of Islam! Most of the time, the hindrance to Hajj is mental—it is all in the mind. So, if we missed Hajj this year, let us start planning now and, Insha Allah , if we put our minds to it, we will make it next year, I hope the above explanations help you and other Muslim brethren in preparing yourself, your friends and family for the Hajj pilgrimage. "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. Verily there shall be no reward for a Mabroor (Accepted) Hajj except Jannah." (Bukhari, Muslim) (Feedback at fiazmfazili@yahoo.com)