When Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) completed the building of the Ka`bah, Almighty Allah commanded him to call people to Hajj.
Prophet Abraham pleaded, “O Allah, how shall my voice reach all humankind?”
Almighty Allah told him that his duty was only to make the call and that it was up to Allah to make it heard by people.
Prophet Abraham then climbed Mount `Arafat and, as loud as he could, yelled, “O People, verily, Allah has prescribed Hajj for you, so perform it.”
The following verse from the Qur’an refers to the fact that Almighty Allah commanded Prophet Abraham to call people to Hajj:
{And proclaim unto humankind the pilgrimage: They will come unto you on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every deep ravine.} (Al-Hajj 22:27)
To this day, millions upon millions of Muslims continue to answer the call of Prophet Abraham. May Allah help us all be among those who answer this noble call.
`Amr ibn Al-`Aas related,
When Islam entered my heart, I went to the Messenger of Allah and said, “Give me your hand so that I may pledge allegiance to you.”
The Prophet extended his hand, but I withdrew mine.
The Prophet said, “What is wrong, `Amr?”
I said, “I want to make a condition.”
The Prophet asked, “And what is that?”
I replied, “That Allah forgive me.”
Upon that, the Messenger of Allah said,
“Did you not know that Islam wipes out what came before it and that Hijrah wipes out what came before it and that Hajj wipes out what came before it?”(Authenticated by Al-Albani)
Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam. Almighty Allah obliges every financially and physically capable Muslim male or female to perform Hajj once in a lifetime. Almighty Allah says,
{And pilgrimage to the House is incumbent upon humankind for the sake of Allah, (upon) everyone who is able to undertake the journey to it, and (for) whoever disbelieves, surely Allah is Self-Sufficient, above any need of the worlds.} (Aal `Imran 3:97)
Virtues of Hajj
Sinless Like Newborns. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that he heard Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) say,
“Whoever performs Hajj and does not commit any obscenity or transgression shall return [free from sins] as he was on the day his mother gave birth to him.” (Al-Bukhari)
One of the greatest deeds. Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet was asked, “Which deed is the best?”
The Prophet said, “Belief in Allah and His Messenger.”
He was asked again, “What is next?.”
The Prophet said, “Jihad [striving] in the cause of Allah.”
He was further asked, “And what is next?”
He said, “Hajj mabroor [i.e. Hajj accepted by Almighty Allah]” (Al-Bukhari).
Abu Ash-Sha`thaa’ (one of the pious successors) said,
“I contemplated the good deeds that a person does, and I found that performing Prayer and fasting are [types of] jihad of the body, and charity is a jihad of the wealth, whereas Hajj is a jihad of both the body and the wealth.”
Women’s Jihad. `A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) asked the Prophet, “As jihad is the best deed, shouldn’t we [women] make jihad?”
The Prophet replied, “The best jihad for you [women] is a Hajj mabroor.”
`A’ishah later said, “I have been keen to regularly perform Hajj since I heard that from the Messenger of Allah” (agreed upon).
Answered Supplication. The Prophet is reported to have said,
“The one striving in the cause of Allah and the one performing Hajj and the one performing `Umrah are all the delegation of Allah. He calls them and they respond to His call, and they ask Him and He answers their supplication.” (Ibn Majah and authenticated by Al-Albani)
A number of books on the history of Islam tell a story related to supplication during Hajj. A man from modern-day Turkmenistan stood on the plains of `Arafat on the Day of `Arafat. To his left, all he could see was Muslims crying and supplicating Almighty Allah. To his right, all he could see was Muslims crying and supplicating Almighty Allah.
As a nonnative, he could not recite the lengthy prayers that others said in Arabic. At this, everything blurred in front of him.
His face reddened and his eyes teared. He then raised his hands and prayed, “O Allah, grant me everything that they are asking for! Grant me everything that they are asking for!” And Allah answered his supplication.
Day of `Arafat. The Prophet is reported to have said,
“There is no day on which Allah frees servants of His from Fire more than [those freed on] the Day of `Arafat. And, verily, He draws near and then proudly speaks about them [i.e. the pilgrims] before the angels, saying, ‘What do these seek?'” (Muslim)
The Prophet also said,
“Verily, Allah proudly speaks about the people of `Arafat before the people of Heaven [i.e. angels], saying, ‘Look to My servants: They have come to Me disheveled and dusty.'” (Al-Haithami and Al-Wadi`i)
`Abdullah ibn Al-Mubarak related,
I went to Sufyan ibn `Uyaynah as the Day of `Arafat was approaching. He was resting on his knees, with his hands raised to the heaven and his cheeks and beard moistened with tears. He looked back and saw me, so I asked him, “Among the people who have gathered here for Hajj, who is in the worst state?” He replied, “He who thinks that Allah will not forgive him.”
`A’ishah would see the Prophet standing for Night Vigil Prayer all night until his feet were cracked and swollen. She asked him, “Why do you do this at a time when Allah has forgiven all your past and future sins?” The Prophet said, “Shall I not be a thankful servant?” (agreed upon).
This is the sublime example of Prophet Muhammad, whose sins were already forgiven. Now, how should we react to the glad tidings of Paradise and forgiveness of sins promised to those who perform Hajj?
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The post Responding to the Precious Call of Hajj (Hadiths & Experiences) appeared first on About Islam.
source https://aboutislam.net/shariah/special-coverage-shariah/hajj-and-umrah/hajj-precious-call/
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