All praises are due to Allah(swt). We praise Him, ask him, and seek his forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from evils of ourselves and mischiefs of our deeds. Whomsoever Allah guides, cannot be misguided. Peace and blessings be upon the Final Messenger Muhammad (saw), on his family and his noble companions.
Allah the Exalted says;
‘’And proclaim to the people the Hajj (pilgrimage); they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every distant pass’’ [Q22:27]
The Scholars of Tafseer said that when Ibrahim(AS) completed building the Sacred House (Ka’aba), Allah the Almighty ordered him to call the people to Hajj. Ibrahim(AS) said, “O Lord, my voice will not reach them?” Allah the Almighty Says, “Call them, and I will make it reach them.” So Ibrahim (AS) ascended the mountain of Abu-Qubays and said, “O mankind! Your Lord has established a House, so come for Hajj (pilgrimage to it)” It is said that the mountains lowered themselves so that his voice would reach all the corners of the earth, and those who were still in their mothers’ wombs and their fathers’ loins would hear the call. The response came from everything that heard him, from stones, trees, and those for whom Allah has decreed to make Hajj, until the Day of Resurrection.
Intending pilgrims are getting ready and longing to answer the call (for Hajj) by declaring the ‘Talbiyyah’ and be the guests of Ar-Rahman at the land of the two holy mosques in Makkah and Madinah. Thus; “We answer your call, O Allah, we answer your call.”
It is stated that the Ka’aba was the first House of Worship for mankind, and that it was built by Ibrahim(AS) and Ismail(AS) on Allah’s instructions.
Allah the Exalted says in the Quran:
“Verily, the first House (of worship) appointed for mankind was that at Bakkah (Makkah), full of blessing, and a guidance for mankind” [Q3:96]
“In it are clear signs and the (Maqama Ibrahim) standing-place of Ibraham. Whoever enters it, is safe. Pilgrimage to this House (Makkah) is an obligation by Allah upon whoever is able among the people. And whoever disbelieves, then surely Allah is not in need of any of His creation” [Q3:97]
Abu Hurairah (RA) reported that the Prophet(saw) said: “The performance of Umrah is expiation for the sins committed between it and the previous ones. And the reward of Hajj Mabrur (accepted Hajj by Allah) is nothing but Paradise.” Also “Whoever performs Hajj and does not commit any obscenity or transgression (sins) will return [free from sins] as he was on the day his mother gave birth to him” (Al-Buhari & Muslim)
Furthermore, the Prophet(saw) said “Perform the Hajj and Umrah one after another, for they both erase poverty and sins just as the furnace removes impurity from Iron, Gold, and Silver. There is no reward for an accepted Hajj but Paradise.” [Jami` at-Tirmidhi 810]
The reward for Hajj and Umrah as listed in these Hadiths are promise of Paradise, and the forgiveness of all your sins, so that you are as free of sins as the day you were born.
While we have to wait until the hereafter to go to Paradise, we can reap other rewards of Hajj in this life – the forgiveness of all the sins we have amounted so far and erasing of poverty and self-contentment.
Caution to pilgrims; Hajj is not a platform for protests, rallies or political polarization, but Hajj is to establish the Tauheed of Allah(swt), Brotherhood and Unity of Muslim Ummah. Far removed from Bigotry, Extremism and Hatred among the Muslim community.
O Allah! the Almighty accept the Hajj of all those that will perform/performed Hajj to your House forgive them, reward them and return them safely to their homelands.
VISIT (ZIYARAH)TO THE PROPHET’S MOSQUE IN MADINAH AND ENVIRONS
Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah (The Enlightened City). A visit to Madinah is not part of Umrah or Hajj, but the deep affection in which the Prophet(saw) held the city and its intimate connection with the birth of Islam puts it on the itinerary of most pilgrims performing Hajj. The feelings and the tranquillity of setting foot in Madinah is unimaginable as the final resting place of the Prophet (saw). The prophet(saw) said a prayer in my Mosque (Madinah) is worth 1,000 times, in Makkah is worth 100,000 times, and a prayer in al-Aqsa mosque is worth 500 times, more than anywhere else”.
Other mosques within the city includes:
Masjid Quba: the Prophet (saw) said “Whoever purifies himself in his house, then comes to the mosque of Quba and prays in it, he will have a reward like the Umrah pilgrimage.”
Masjid Khandaq: Are group of places of prayer (Musallah/Mosque) linked to the Battle of the Trench (Ghazwat al-Khandaq), in the 5th year after Hijrah, the Prophet (saw) and Muslims defending Medina were in these mosques and each mosque is named after the person who was stationed there and lead in prayers (was also referred to as 7 mosques).
Masjid Qiblatain: Masjid al-Qiblatain used to uniquely contain two mehrabs, one in the direction of Masjid al-Aqsa and the other towards Makkah. However, the old mehrab has now been removed.
Other Interesting sites that are worthy of visits;
Uhud Mountain: Where Seventy (70) Shuhada’u Uhud are buried including Hamza(R). The prophet (saw) said we love the Uhud Mountain and he loves us and he is one of the mountains of Paradise.
Baqi’a Cemetery: where most of the Prophet’s wives, children and companions are buried.
The Gharas well: The well that Prophet (saw) drank and made a request to Caliph Ali(R) to get 7 skin full of water from the well to bathed him after his demise.
Uthman’s Well: The famous well owned by a Jew that the prophet (saw) asked if anyone from the Muhajirun or Ansar can obtain the well to ease the water difficulty faced by Muslims than. Which Caliph Uthman (R) gladly bought and offered its water to the everybody free.
Abba Yusuf wrote this piece from Kano – Nigeria
