Hajj: Rehearsal for the last journey.

In the name of Allah,

All praise is due to whom in his hands is my life.

فِيهِ ءَايَـٰتُۢ بَيِّنَـٰتٌ۬ مَّقَامُ إِبۡرَٲهِيمَ‌ۖ وَمَن دَخَلَهُ ۥ كَانَ ءَامِنً۬ا‌ۗ وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ حِجُّ ٱلۡبَيۡتِ مَنِ ٱسۡتَطَاعَ إِلَيۡهِ سَبِيلاً۬‌ۚ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَنِىٌّ عَنِ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ (٩٧)

"In it are signs manifest; (for example), the Station of Abraham; whoever enters it attains security; pilgrimage thereto is a duty men owe to Allah―those who can afford the journey; but if any deny faith; Allah stands not in need of any of His creatures." (Quran 3:97)

Allah's Messenger (p.b.u.h.) said, "He who is not prevented from performing the pilgrimage by an obvious necessity, a tyrannical ruler, or a disease which confines him at home, and dies without having performed the pilgrimage, may die if he wishes as a Jew, or if he wishes as a Christian." (Tirmidhi: 2535, Narrated Abu Umamah) (Darimi transmitted it)

When I was young I was told that Hajj is something you do once in a life time, and you can do it anytime in your life. They recommended to do it in the last days of life, because it will be easier to refrain from sin after that. During Hajj, there is a commitment to Allah that we repent for our sins, and repentence is only accepted if the intention is to never do that sin.

Recently, I found out that Hajj becomes fardh upon us once we are adult, and can afford it, and there is no physical limiations. This made me realize that I had no reason not to go for Hajj. So, I am intending to depart on Hajj tomorrow, InshaAllah. I would like to suggest you all who haven't perform hajj, and are able to go to make intention for next year. You don't have to follow Indian/Pakistani culture where people sin, sin, and sin, untill old age when sinning becomes difficult, then they go to Hajj. No offense intended to whom that follow this logic, but it is a little risky one.

So, what is the purpose for Hajj? Hajj rituals are very similar to what will happen to us on the day of judgement. We all will be in large crowd, moving, standing, reflecting on our lives. We will be moved to the grounds of arafat, and will stand before Allah. There will be no duties on that day except to be attentive to Allah.

Hence, it is a rehearsal for the difficult day to come. Allah, with his mercy, has allowed us the sneak preview for the movie to be released. On top of that, we are given opportunity to improve our results on that day by realizing our faults, promise to stop them, ask forgiveness, and promise to never repeat them. Practice makes perfect, so get on the practice suit and go to Hajj.

One who delays hajj intentionally is similar to the one who receives a letter of large inheritance from a distant relative, and delays responding to the letter. As a muslim, we inherited the internal knowledge of how we can ammend our lives, but this dunya keeps us distracted.

Also, like any other deeds, intention is what makes that deed count. So, if the person sincerely cut the ties from the world during the Hajj, and repent for the sins, and keeps the promise made during Hajj may have their Hajj accepted.

In fact, if you are not going to hajj this year, you also have an opportunity to gain tons of rewards by fasting on first 9 days, or atleast on 9th Dhul-Hijja (Arafat day). And, do good deeds during these days.

"By the dawn; by the 10 nights" [Noble Quran 89:1-2]

Ibn Abbas, Ibn al-Zubayr, Mujahid and others of the earlier and later generations said that this refers to the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. Ibn Kathir said: "This is the correct opinion." [Tafsir Ibn Kathir, 8/413]

Narrated Ibn Abbas:

The Prophet said, "No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these (first ten days of Dhul Hijja)." Then some companions of the Prophet said, "Not even Jihad?" He replied, "Not even Jihad, except that of a man who does it by putting himself and his property in danger (for Allah's sake) and does not return with any of those things." (Bukhari Volume 2, Book 15, Number 86)


"...I seek from Allah that fasting on the day of 'Arafa may atone for the sins of the preceding and the coming years. " (Muslim Book 006, Number 2602)

If you beleive in Allah, and the last day, I recommend the following article in details and follow as much as you can.

http://www.islamicfinder.org/articles/article.php?id=420&lang

I ask forgiveness from you all for any sins I commited against you. Please show mercy upon me, and Allah will show mercy upon you.

If you have a specific dua that you want me to beg from Allah, please reply to this, and give me names and details, as you feel comfortable. Please pray for my Hajj to become Hajj Mabrur.

Jazakallah Khairin
AbuArman
A struggling muslim.