Don't Delay Hajj Anymore

 

 

Don't Delay Hajj Anymore

Every one knows that Hajj is the fifth and final pillar of Islam. And performing Hajj is one of the obligations that Allah (The One & Only God) 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 (All praise be to God). 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 doesnt cross our minds.
Although Allah (The One God) tells us in the Holy Quran that Hajj is farz (obligatory) on every Muslim once in lifetime, provided they are able to perform it.

"And Hajj to the House (Kabah) 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)."

(Holy Quran Surah Aale-Imraan:97)

And the Holy 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 Kaabah in Makkah.
But somehow, we don't realize that delaying Hajj for no specific reason is so wrong.

The Ulama (Islamic Scholars) tell us that those who have the ability to go for Hajj but delay it for no specific reason, are concurring a major sin. Thats 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".
What strong words and we didnt 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 Allah (The One God) to delay it. The same applies to all the duties enjoined by shareeah (Islamic jurisprudence): 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?
Wouldnt you want to have your sins...and I mean, ALL your sins forgiven?

The Holy Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: "Whoever performs Hajj to this house - Kaabah- 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!
Wouldnt you want to be free from Hell Fire?

The Holy 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 isnt Paradise worth it?
The Holy Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:"The reward of Hajj Mabrur (i.e., one accepted) is nothing but Paradise." [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 Holy 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-Nasaai, saheeh by al-Albaani)

And you don't have to worry about anything when you go there, because you are Allah's (The One God's) guest and He will take care of you. Imagine...Allah's guest! What more could one want?!!

"The one who fights for the sake of Allah and the pilgrim who goes for Hajj or Umrah are all guests of Allah. 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 Paradise.

Also, the Holy 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 Paradise 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 Holy 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 Kaabah right in front of your very eyes? This is where the Holy 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 Saaee cannot be done anywhere in the world except here.

The Holy 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 Allah (The One & Only God). 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 Paradise.

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 supplication 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 Holy 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 Allah and His Messengers. That is the Grace of Allah which He bestows on whom He pleases. And Allah 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 Allah 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-Daaimah)

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-Daaimah)

Some LAME Excuses people use for Not going to Hajj

 

 

Some LAME Excuses people use

for Not going to Hajj

Hajj which is the Fifth Pillar of Islam , we find ways how to postpone it or simply ignore it.

Excuse # 1:

I am too busy with Work

Some people delay Hajj because they say they can't find time to take off from work. But don't they see the very fact that they didn't take time out for Hajj is the reason why Allah (The One & Only God) kept them so busy with work?

The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Allah says: 'Son of Adam: Fill your time with My worship and I will fill your heart with richness, and end off your poverty. But if you don't, I would make your hands fully busy (i.e. in worldly affairs) and I would not end off your poverty.'"[Sunan Ibn Maajah; Musnad Ahmed; Sunan at - Tirmidhi, who said that it is a Hasan (good) hadeeth; as quoted in 'The Creation is in Need of Allah' by Dr. Saleh as-Saleh]

And he (peace be upon him) said: "Verily Allah tests His servant with what He has given him. So whoever is content with whatever he has been assigned, then Allah will bless him in it, and give him more! But whoever is not content (with what he has been given), then he will not be blessed in it ." [Musnad Ahmad (5/24); with anauthentic chain, as mentioned in al-Sahihah, Number 1658; as quoted in 'The True Richness'by Shaykh Abû Ammâr Yasir al-Qadhî]

If you make your intention sincerely for the sake of Allah (The One God) and do your best to take time from work, Allah will provide it for you. "..And whosoever fears Allah (The One God) and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allah, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allah will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allah has set a measure for all things." [The Noble Qur'an, Soorah At-Talaq 65:3]

If we don't make time for Allah (The One God), how can we expect Him to make time for us?

Excuse # 2:

I am not spiritually ready

Some people say I am not spiritually strong, I am not much of a believer and thus not ready to go or they say I think I should only do Hajj when I have figured out Salah and Zakah and I am practicing Islam fully...

Don't you see? That is the whispering of the Shaytan (Devil) in your heart. He does not want you to go and earn all the reward and Jannah (Paradise). Allah, the Most High, says in the Holy Qur'an, "(Iblîs the satan) said: "Because You have sent me astray, surely I will sit in wait against them (human beings) on Your Straight Path. Then I will come to them from before them and behind them, from their right and from their left, and You will not find most of them as thankful ones (i.e. they will not be dutiful to You)." [The Noble Qur'an, Soorah Al-A'raf 7:16 - 17]

Narrated Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him); Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said:"Iblees (the satan) places his throne upon water; he then sends detachments (for creating dissension) ; the nearer to him in tank are those who are most notorious in creating dissension. One of them comes and says: I did so and so. And he says: You have done nothing. Then one amongst them comes and says: I did not spare so and so until I sowed the seed of discord between a husband and a wife. The Satan goes near him and says: 'You have done well. A'mash said: He then embraces him." [Saheeh Muslim, Book 039, Number 6755]

All you got to do is to try hard to improve yourself, putting your trust in Him and surely He will guide you. "As for those who strive hard in Us (Our Cause), We will surely guide them to Our Paths (i.e. Allah's Religion - Islâmic Monotheism). And verily, Allah is with the Muhsinûn (good doers)." [The Noble Qur'an, Soorah Al-'Ankabut 29:69]

We all know people who weren't fully practicing Muslims prior to making the Hajj, yet once they came back from Hajj they went under this amazing transformation and Alhamdulillah (All praise be to God) they are now practicing fully. So don't think like that, just go.

And also remember that no one is perfect, we all make errors, but the key is to strive to do our best. Allah, the Most High, says, "So keep your duty to Allah and fear Him as much as you can;.. [The Noble Qur'an, Soorah At-Taghabun 64:16]

Narrated Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him): The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "..if I order you to do something, then do of it as much as you can." [Saheeh Bukhaari, Volume 9, Book 92, Number 391; Saheeh Muslim, Book 007, Number 3095]

Excuse # 3:

Yeah, Insha'Allah next year...next year...then next year

Subhan'Allah, some people have no excuse not to go for Hajj. Yet when you ask them when they are going for hajj, they say "yeah, Insha'Allah next year. But somehow that 'next year' never comes.

Don't be like those people. Make your intention to go for Hajj NOW. Don't even wait till tomorrow. Do it now and prepare for this journey, while you have the ability. For you never know when death will overtake you or some other trial may befall you that will unable you to go. The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Make the most of five things before five (other things happen): your life before you die, your good health before you become sick; your free time before you become busy; your youth before you grow old; and your wealth before you become poor." [al-Haakim; Classed as Saheeh (authentic) by Sheikh al - Albaani in Saheeh wa Da'eef al-Jaami' al-Sagheer. Also refer to Saheeh al-Jaami', no. 1077]

Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) once stood at the head of a grave and said to his companion, "If he had a chance to return to this life, what do you think he would do?" His companion replied, "He would do nothing but good deeds." Ali then said, "If it is not going to be him, then let it be you." [As quoted in'Portrait of a Traveller' by Muhammad al - Shareef]

And some scholars say that if you make sincere intention, but die before you can perform Hajj (or any other good deed), Insha'Allah (God Willing) you will still get the reward. There are many evidences for this, for example, Narrated Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him); The Messenger of Allah (peace he upon him) said: "Whoever seeks martyrdom with sincerity shall get its reward, though he may not achieve it." And in a similar narration, from Sahl b. Aba Umama b. Sahl b. Hunaif, it says, "Who sought martyrdom with sincerity will be ranked by Allah among the martyrs even if he died on his bed." [Saheeh Muslim, Book 020, Number 4694 & 4695]

Excuse # 4:

When Allah (The One God) wants me to come, Allah will call me

Sure, guidance is in Allah's (The One God's) Hands. Yet you have to work hard to qualify for that guidance. Remember that Allah will not throw the guidance in your lap from up above. It is YOU who has to make the effort. Just like if you are hungry- Allah (The One God) will not throw the food down from the sky. You have to get up and cook that food.

Allah, the Most High, orders us to make that effort. Allah (The One God) says: "O you who believe! Do your duty to Allah and fear Him. Seek the means of approach to Him, and strive hard in His Cause as much as you can. So that you may be successful."[The Noble Qur'an, Soorah Al-Ma'idah 5:35]

When you walk towards Allah (The One & Only God), he rushes towards you; Narrate Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him); Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said, " Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, said: I live in the thought of My servant and I am with him as he remembers Me. (The Holy Prophet) further said: By Allah, Allah is more pleased wth the repentance of His servant than what one of you would do on finding the lost camel in the waterless desert. When he draws near Me by the span of his hand. I draw near him by the length of a cubit and when he draws near Me by the length of a cubit. I draw near him by the length of a fathom and when he draws near Me walking I draw close to him hurriedly."[Saheeh Muslim, Book 037, Number 6610] - But you need to take the first step.

Excuse # 5:

It's too much hard work

Do you realize how much hard work we do for the Dunya (world)? Most of our lives we spend working hard for our studies, our livelihood, our families, our businesses, and we can't bear to work hard for the Aakhirah (hereafter)? Sure, Hajj is hard work but then, isn't Jannah (paradise) worth it?

Narrated Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him): Allah's Apostle (peace be upon him) said, "(The performance of) 'Umra is an expiation for the sins committed (between it and the previous one). And the reward of Hajj Mabrur (the one accepted by Allah) is nothing except Paradise." [(Agreed Upon); Saheeh Bukhaari, Volume 3, Book 27, Number 1;Saheeh Muslim, Book 007, Number 3127]

Allah, the Most High, says, "And whoever desires the Hereafter and strives for it, with the necessary effort due for it (i.e. do righteous deeds of Allah's Obedience) while he is a believer (in the Oneness of Allah & Islâmic Monotheism), then such are the ones whose striving shall be appreciated, thanked and rewarded (by Allah)." [The Noble Qur'an, Soorah Al-Isra 17:19]

'Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allah be pleased with him) is quoted as saying, "I seek Allah's protection from the time when the 'fasiq' or disobedient will have much energy and enthusiasm and the righteous will be lazy." [As quoted in 'Lazy Boy - It's All in Your Mind!' by Muhammad al - Shareef]

Excuse # 6:

It takes too long

Some people use the length of Hajj as an excuse each year for delaying or not going. How long does it take?! Just 2-3 weeks! As if they haven't taken that much time for vacations?!

To them I want to say, planning is everything. If you plan from now for Hajj next year, you can save up your vacation time and use it for the most important journey of your life. Or you cam just choose an express Hajj package (about 10-14 days). And remember that the stay in Medinah is not a part of Hajj.

Excuse # 7:

It's too hot

A Canadian may say it's too cold. An African will say it's too hot. Both are making excuses for not doing good actions. Remember, it was summer in the desert during the time of the Battle of Tabuk, and the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) was rallying his troops for an exhaustive trip that, back then, would have taken them months. That's when the hypocrites told the people 'do not go out in the heat'. Allah, the Most High, says, "Those who stayed away (from Tabuk expedition) rejoiced in their staying behind the Messenger of Allah; they hated to strive and fight with their properties and their lives in the Cause of Allah, and they said: "March not forth in the heat." Say: "The Fire of Hell is more intense in heat", if only they could understand!" [The Noble Qur'an, Soorah At-Tawbah 9:81]

Excuse # 8:

I'll wait until my kids are older/get married

Similarly, Muslims might delay Hajj and give themselves time by saying, "let me wait till my kids are older or till my daughter gets married (and their daughter may only be 5 years old!)... let me wait till I do this, let me wait till I do that."

This is also just a way of procrastination and nothing else. Remember that hajj is an obligation in Islam. It is farz (obligatory) upon you. If you have the means and you have not yet done your obligatory hajj, the scholars say that it is better for you to do Hajj, rather than delaying it if your kids are young.

Narrated Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him); The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) said,"Hasten to do good deeds before Fitaan (trials and tribulations) come like patches of dark night, where a man will be a believer in the morning and will be a kaafir (disbeliever) by evening, or he will be a believer in the evening and a kaafir by the morning, and one of you will sell his (or her) religion for some trifling worldly gain." [Saheeh Muslim, Book 001, Number 0213; Musnad Ahmad; Sunan at - Tirmidhi; Refer to Saheeh al - Jaami as - Sagheer, 3/4]

Obviously, for the one whose kids are of marriageable age and has just enough money for either Hajj or marriage, the scholars say: "If there is a conflict between the father's Hajj and the son's getting married, because the father only has enough money for one of them, then he should look to see whether his son's marriage is essential right now, or can it be delayed? If the son needs to get married and fears that he may do something Haraam (forbidden), then getting him married takes precedence over the father's doing Hajj."

[http://www.islam-qa.com/index.php?ref=83191&ln=eng]

Beware of Lame Excuses

In a hadeeth, a person came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and asked him, "O Messenger of Allah! Narrate to me a hadith, and make it short!" So he (peace be upon him) replied, "Pray your prayer as if it is your last, as if you are seeing Him (Allah), for even if you do not see Him then He sees you. And give up hope (of obtaining) what other's possess, then you will live a rich life. And beware of anything that you might (later) have to make an excuse for." [Imam Bukhari in his al-Tarikh(3/216), and al-Tabarani in his al- Awsat (# 4588) and others]

Al-Haythami, in his Majma al-Zawaid (10/ 229) said: "There are, in its chain, people that I do not know." However, this narration has supporting evidences, including the hadith of Sa d ibn Abi Waqqas, and 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (in al-Tabarani's al-Awsat, # 5907), due to which Sheikh al-Albaani considered it acceptable in his al-Sahihah (# 1914); As quoted in 'The True Richness' by Shaykh Abû Ammâr Yasir al-Qadhî]

Some practical tips for a Hajj Mabroor

 

 

Some practical tips for a Hajj Mabroor

Hajj is the Ultimate journey. They say it is the journey of a lifetime. Yet I see so many people, brothers and sisters, confused, angry, frustrated or just simply ignorant. So here is a piece of sincere advice for all of the brothers and sisters going for Hajj this year.

1. Educate yourself before you go

This is the most important point. They say "Knowledge is Power." And how true that is. I see people confused, not knowing what to do, looking left and right...bewildered. And in the end, they just follow what the rest of the crowd is doing without even knowing whether what they are doing is even from the Shareeah of Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) or not!

Indeed, I know people who have gone and come back from Hajj, and yet they dont know what kind of Hajj they performed, how many minimum days one is required to stay in Mina....in fact, they dont even know that it takes seven rounds around the Kaabah to make one Tawaaf!

Going to Hajj without knowing the basics of how to perform Hajj and Umrah is like placing someone who doesnt know how to offer Salah, in the middle of people praying in congregation. He may follow their movements in ruku and sujood, but does he really know how to pray? Did such a prayer even count?
So study the rituals of Hajj before you go. Learn how to perform this magnificent journey closest to the Sunnah. Because the closer to the Sunnah it will be, the more acceptable it will be to Allah (The One & Only God).

Know the various rulings about the Meeqaat, Ihraam, Tawaaf, staying in Mina, stoning the Jamaraat, visiting the Holy Prophet's Mosque, etc.

Educate yourself on the various common mistakes done by the pilgrim, so you can be aware of them and avoid them. And Insha Allah (God Willing), you will be able to perform your Hajj with confidence, according to the Sunnah (Way of Prophet), hoping for it to be accepted by Allah (The One God).

2. Go with a prepared heart

Every year at Hajj, you see only two kinds of people. So for example, when stuck in traffic for 5 hours, you will see the first kind of people, sitting there calm and cool, with patience, wisely utilizing his time making zikr of Allah (The One God) or reading Holy Quran....while the other kind of person will grumble and complain, fidget restlessly in his seat, cuss at the bus driver and waste his whole time fighting with whoever is sitting next to him. Why is that? Because the first kind of person came with a prepared heart and the second one didnt.

You see, Hajj is not only a journey of the body to the house of Allah (The One God)...it is also a journey of the heart and soul. And just as it is important to know the manners of performing Hajj, it is equally important to prepare yourself spiritually.

Remember, this is Hajj.... an act of worship....the fifth pillar of the religion of Islam....something Allah (The One God) loves. So have khushoo (clarity of intension) in your worship....submit your heart and soul to Him, to the One Who has invited you to His Honorable House. Reflect on why you are here.  Have tawakkul (trust) in Him and complete faith. Be sure to know that He will take care of you. Be kind to His slaves, have patience and forbearance, take everything in stride and look for the positive in everything, even if it seems bleak.

So when the bus breaks down, its okay....it was the Will of Allah (The One God) that it happened. And when the guy next to you pushes you, or your shoes get stolen, forgive him. And if your luggage gets lost for a day or two, be patient. And if you get stuck in traffic for 8 hours, remind yourself...whatever time Allah (The One God) has decreed for me to get there, I will get there, not a second before and not a second after.

3. Know Salatul Janazah

There is hardly any obligatory prayer in the Haram, that is not followed by the prayer for Janazah. And I see so many brothers and sisters who just sit there and not participate in this great act of worship, just because they dont know how.

The Holy Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:
"Whoever attends the janazah until he offers the prayer will have one qeeraat (of reward), and whoever attends until (the deceased) is buried will have two qeeraats."

It was said, " Messenger of Allah, what are the two qeeraats?" He said, "Like two great mountains," meaning, of reward. (Saheeh - agreed upon)
.
And remember the reward of a prayer in al masjid al-Haram is equal to 100,000 prayers anywhere else. [Tabarani]. So dont miss out on this great opportunity to add to your good deeds.

4. Dont get overwhelmed with the crowd

When you look at the large number of people there for Hajj, dont get overwhelmed or bothered. Instead, raise your head up high, feel proud and thank Allah (The One God). After all, all those people are none, but your own brothers and sisters in Islam.

This is the Ummah of your beloved Prophet, Muhammad (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam). They are from you and you are from them. They are a part of you, just as much as you are a part of them. All of you are there for one and one purpose only....to worship One God, Allah, Subhaanahu wa Taala. So love them...and have mercy for them....and make supplication for them.

5. Time is precious

Utilize your time to the MAX while in Makkah and Madinah. Do all your 5 prayers in the Mosque, no excuses allowed! When you pray in Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, your salah is multiplied by 100,000 times.

Just imagine, if youre there for about two weeks (14 days), and you pray all five prayers in the mosque, thats equivalent in reward to praying more then 3800 years! Subhaan Allah (Glory be to God)!

When you get to Mina, busy your self with making supplications, zikr, reading Holy Quran, etc. Your stay here is only a few precious days.  You cant waste it by talking, relaxing, doing nothing, as some people do.

And once in Arafah, this is THE day you were waiting for.

This is what Hajj is all about.

The Holy Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said, "Hajj is Arafah." (Abu Dawud)

Put in all you got during the day of Arafah. Take advantage of each hour, minute and second. Do not waste even a single moment. Make a dua list and do lots and lots of dua (supplication), for this is the day to make dua.

The Holy Prophet said: "The best of dua is dua (supplication) on the day of Arafah, and the best thing that I and the Prophets before me said is Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wahdahu laa shareeka lah (There is no god but Allaah alone with no partner or associate). (al-Tirmidhi, hasan by Albaani)

6. Hajj is not your annual vacation trip.

Its an act of worship. Some people forget that they are going for Hajj....they expect Mina to be a five star hotel and the whole journey about relaxation and luxury. So they complain about the food, they complain about the weather, they complain about the crowds, the bus, the beds, the bathrooms, the tents, the A/C in Mina, you name it. They complain about everything under the sun.

Remember this is Hajj...not a cruise or a vacation. Remember when not so long ago people traveled for months through dangerous terrain and rough weather to get to Hajj, not to mention the heat, diseases, thugs and other hardships of travel. They had to draw water from a well and walk to the bushes to relieve themselves.

Look around you, what is there to complain? Alhamdulillaah (All praise be to God), you have flowing water from a tap and running bathrooms. And even if they are not as clean as they should be, at least they are there!  And you have hot food and air conditioned tents, a place to sleep and transportation from one place to another. So be patient and thank Allah (The One God). 

7. Dont just say it.... mean it

When you recite the Talbiyah, dont just say it like a parrot, without knowing what it means and what it implies. Think about the greatness of these words and an even greater Greatness of the One you are saying these words to. You are saying Labbaik, Allaahumma Labbaik....
What do these words imply?
Oh Allah I am here....here to serve You, here to obey You, here to submit my life, my wants, my desires only to You. I am ready for change. Oh Allah, I love you and I worship no one but you. So forgive me and guide me. This is the implication behind these words. So say these words from the heart....mean what you say...and let a tear roll from your eyes when you say it.

And that goes for all the duas (supplications) that you will recite.

8. Be nice

Obviously, everybody wants their Hajj To be Mabroor (accepted)...because the Holy Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said, "..There is no reward for Hajj mabroor except Paradise." (Al-Bukhaari)

They said: "What makes Hajj mabroor, Messenger of Allah?" He said, "Providing food to people and spreading (the greeting of) salam." (Fath al-Bari, 4/446)

Thus we see that being kind to the people, being generous and considerate, serving and helping them is the KEY to having your Hajj accepted.

So go ahead and help that old lady with her luggage, and the older brother across the street. Move over to make room in the saff for your fellow Muslim so that they too can find a place to pray. Distribute candy among the children, pass out glasses of Zam Zam water, smile at everyone and say salam to those you know and those you dont.

In other words, just keep you eyes and ears open for every opportunity to do good and jump at any chance you get to spread khair (welfare), all this for the sake of pleasing Allah (The One & Only God) Alone and Insha Allah (God Willing) your Hajj will be mabroor (accepted).

May Allah (The One God) accept all the Hajj of all the brothers and sisters, and teach the coming Hujjaj (Hajj performers) how to best prepare and earn a Hajj Mabroor. Ameen.

by Asma bint Shameem