The Performance
of Hajj
On Whom is the performance of Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca) incumbent?
The performance of Hajj is incumbent
on all Muslims, at least once in a life-time, if circumstances permit,
i.e., if they are in a position both physically and materially to
undertake the journey to Mecca, and make sufficient provision for
their dependents during the period of their absence
2
How do you define Hajj ?
The Pilgrimage to Mecca in the state
of Ihram to be adopted at the Miqat strictly carrying out all that
it imposes, observing wuqoof at 'Arafat, performing the tawaf at
Ka'ba, etc., in accordance with the prescribed laws is called Hajj
3
What is 'Umra?
The visit to Mecca at any time
of the year in the state of Ihram to be adopted at Miqat, performing
the tawaf round Ka'ba in Mecca and accomplishing sa'ee in accordance
witht he prescribed laws is called 'Umra.
4
What do you mean by Ihram ?
The removal of sewn clothes from the
body and wrapping it up in a couple of seamless sheets at the Miqat
with the intention of performing Hajj or 'Umra, and abstaining from
all things that are unlawful for those intending to perform Hajj
or 'Umra signifies Ihram.
5
What do you understand by Tawaf ?
The performance of seven circuits
round the Ka'ba (in Mecca) commencing from the Black Stone and having
the Ka'ba on one's left is called Tawaf.
6
What does the term Sa'ee signify ?
Sa'ee signifies the act of marching
to and from between the two hills of Safa and Marwa (near Ka'ba)
in accordance with the prescribed laws.
7
What is Wuqoof ?
The stay at 'Arafat, at least for
a few minutes, during the time between the declining of the sun
from the meridian on the 9th of Zilhijja (the 12th lunar month)
and before the dawn of the 10th of Zilhijja is called Wuqoof.
8
What territory does Haram constitute ?
The City of Mecca, in which the Ka'ba
is situated along with certain defined outlying territory on all
its sides, is called Haram.
9
What are Miqats?
The boundary lines which the pilgrims
or those who want to perform 'Umra should not cross without adopting
the Ihram are called Miqats.
10
How many Miqats are there? What are their names and for whom do
they indicate the boundary line of Haram ? There
are five Miqats in all :-
1.
Zul-Hulaifa or Bi'r
Ali, which indicates the border line of Haram for those coming
from the side of Medina
2.
Zat-al-Iraq serves
as Miqat for those coming from the side of Iraq or Mesopotamia
3.
Jahfa or Rabigh
is the Miqat for those from Syria
4.
Quran for those
from the side of Najd
5.
Yalamlam for those
from the direction of Yemen, Pakistan, India, etc.
11 How should a male pilgrim
adopt the Ihram ?
When a male pilgrim is about to cross
a Miqat, he should perform Ghusl, divest himself of sewn clothes,
and wrap up the lower portion of his body in a seamless sheet and
cover up the upper part with another one, keeping the head and face
bare. The footgear must be such as to keep the central bones of
the outer parts of his feet open. He must then offer two Rak'ats
of Nafl, and lastly, he must form in his mind the Niyyat and give
utterance of his intention as to the purpose of his adopting the
Ihram.
12 What is the form of Niyyat
for Hajj ?
The form of Niyyat for the Hajj is:-
Allahumma inni uridulhajja fayyassirhu liwa taqabbalhu minni,
nawaitul-hajja wa ahramtu bihi mukhlisan lillahi ta'ala
i.e., 'O Allah! I intend to perform the Hajj. Make Thou the same
easy for me and accept it from me. I have conceived the Niyyat for
Hajj and I have adopted the Iharam sincerely for Allah, the Sublime.
13 What is the form
of Niyyat for 'Umra ?
If one wants to perform only 'Umra he or she should say,
Allahumma inni uridul 'Umrata fayasshirha
li wa taqabbalaha minni, navaitul-'Umrata wa ahramtu biha mukhlisan
lillahi ta'ala i.e., 'O Allah! I intend to perform 'Umra. Make Thou
the same easy for me and accept it from me. I have conceived the
intention for 'Umra and have adopted the Ihram for it, sincerely
for the sake of Allah, the Sublime.'
14 What is the Niyyat for performing
Hajj and 'Umra together ?
It is :-
Allahumma inni uridulhajja wal 'Umrata fayassirhuma li wa taqabbalhumma
minni, nawaitul Hajja wa 'Umrata wa ahramtu bihima mukhlisan lillahi
ta'ala.
i.e., 'O Allah! I intend to perform both Hajj and 'Umra, Make Thou
the same esay and accept them from me. I have conceived the intention
for both Hajj and 'Umra and have adopted the Ihram to perform both
Hajj and 'Umra only for the sake of Allah, the Sublime.
15 What should one do after
one has given utterance to one of the appropriate Niyyats?
After one ahs given utterance to one of the Niyyats, one should say aloud
(these words should be perfectly committed to memory as one will
have to recite them again and again, sitting , standing, mounting
and dismounting):
Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik; labbaika la sharika laka labbaik; innal-hamda
wan ni'-mata laka wal mulka la sharika lak.
i.e., 'Here I am at Thy service. O Allah! Here I am at Thy service;
Here I am at Thy service; There is no partner unto Thee; Here I
am at Thy service; To Thee the glory, the riches and sovereignty
of the world. There is no partner to Thee'.
16 What things become unlawful
for those adopting the Ihram ?
The things that become unlawful for those adopting the Ihram and remain
as such till the object for which the Ihram has been adopted is
accomplished are:
1.
Hunting or aiding
and abetting it.
2.
Sexual intercourse
or its preliminaries.
3.
Cropping or shaving
of hair or paring of nails.
4.
Covering of head
or face in any way whatsoever
5.
Use of gloves or
socks
6.
Wearing of any kinds
of sewn clothes or underwear
7.
Using any perfume
or perfumed preparation.
8.
Deliberated smelling
of perfume or applying it to any part of the body or the sheets
covering it, or even keeping it in any manner on one's person.
(If any aroma of perfumes applied before the conception of Niyyat
remains, it does not matter, for its is permissible).
9.
Killing or even
dislodging and throwing away lice if they happen to find their
way on one's person or the sheets covering it.
17 What is the difference between
the adoption of Ihram by men and women?
The points of difference between the adoption of Ihram by men and women
are:
1.
That a woman can
wear sewn clothes.
2.
She can cover her
head (as a matter of fact she should cover her head in the presence
of all men excepting her husband, as also whilst offering prayers).
3.
she should not put
on a veil in such a manner that the fabric may touch her face
4.
She can put on socks
or gloves.
5.
All the other things
which are unlawful for a man are Laos unlawful for her.
Note:- A woman should not utter "labbaik",
etc., aloud but should say the same in a subdued voice.
18 How is the Tawaf performed
?
The points to be observed in the performance of Tawaf are:
1.
The performer of
Tawaf should stand towards that corner of the Ka'ba where the
black stone is embedded in its wall in such a manner as to have
it on one's and then give utterance to the Niyyat or performing
it in the words:
Allahumma inni uridu tawafa baitikalmuhar-rami fayassirhu li wa
taqabbalhu minni.
i.e., 'O Allah! I intend to perform the tawaf of Thy consecrated
premises. Make Thou the same easy for me and accept it from me'
2.
Then facing the
Black Stone and raising the hands with palm onwards, one should
say:
Bismillahi walhamdu lillahi wallahu Akbar wassalatu was-salamu
'ala Rasoolillah.
i.e., "I begin in the name of Allah, and all Praise is due
to Allah and Allah is Most Great, and peace and blessings be on
Allah's Apostle."
3.
If possible one
should approach the Black stone and give it a kiss, but if it
be not feasible, then one should give it a flying kiss, and recite
the Du'a:-
(a) Allahummaghfirli zunoobi wa tahhir li qalbi wa ashrah li sadri
wa yassir li amri wa 'afini fi man 'afait.
i.e., 'O Allah! forgive me my sins and purify my heard and expand
my chest (i.e., give me spiritual illuminaiton) and make my task
easy and preserve me among those Thou has preserved.'
(b) Then one should proceed towards the Gate of Ka'ba saying:-
Allahumma imanam bika wa tasdiqan bikitabika wa wafa'an bi-'ahdik
wattiba'an li sunnati nabiyyika Muhammadun, sallallahu ta'ala
'alaihi wa sallama, wa ashhadu an la ilaha ill-Allahu wahda-hu
la sharika lahu wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasooluhu,
amantu billahi wa kafartu bil-jibti wattaghoot.
i.e., 'Oh Allah! (I am performing this) with complete Faith in
Thee and Belief in the Truth of Thy Book and in the fulfilmient
of my pledge to Thee, and in the wake of the sunnat of Thy Prophet
Muhammad, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. I bear
witness to the fact that there in no God but Allah and that Muhammad
is His Prophet. I have faith in Allah and do not believe in evil
spirits and ghosts.
Note:- the act of kissing the Black stone and reciting du'a is
called Istilam.
4.
Then, having the
Ka'ba on one's left, one should take a complete round of it, remembering
Allah all the while or reciting Du'a (a and b of 3) in the same
way as before. This completes one circuit.
Note:- One may kiss, if possible the South-West corner of Ka'ba
which is called Rukn-i Yamani.
5.
One should perform
seven rounds in the manner described.
6.
After the completion
of seven rounds one should stand near the gate of Ka'ba and pray
for Allah's blessings.
7.
Lastly, one should offer two Rak'ats of Sunnatut-tawaf, preferably
near Maqam-i-Ibrahim, a spot just near Ka'ba.
19 What acts are culpable during
the performance of tawaf ?
The acts that are culpable during the performance of tawaf are:
1.
Being without ablution.
2.
Uncovering of more
than a quarter part of any limb of the body which must be kept
covered
3.
Performing of the
tawaf either by supporting oneself on someone's shoulder or mounted,
without any cogent reason
4.
Performing the tawaf
in a sitting posture without any cogent reason
5.
Performing the tawaf
with the Ka'ba on one's right
6.
Performing the tawaf
round The Ka'ba exclusive of Hatim (Hatim is the name for the
portion of land in the North of Ka'ba which was left out when
the Ka'ba was rebuilt
7.
Performing a lesser
number of circuits than seven
20 What acts are not permissible
during the performance of Tawaf?
Such acts are:
1.
Discussion of mundane
matters
2.
The performance
of Tawaf in an impure garb
3.
The disregard of
Ramal which signifies marching briskly, moving the shoulders with
chest out, like the gait of a soldier, in the first three circuits
of the Tawaf of 'Umra.
4.
The disregard of
Iztiba'a, which denotes the act of removing the sheet from the
right shoulder and passing it under the right armpit to place
it on the left shoulder, thus keeping bare the right arm in the
Tawaf of 'Umra.
5.
Omission of Istilam.
6.
Pauses between the
circuits of Tawaf (Of course if the Wudu is made void or a congregation
of an Obligatory Prayer is ready, one may discontinue the circuits
to perform the Wudu or to join the congregation and complete them
later on).
7.
The failure to offer two Rak'ats of Nafl after the completion
of each Tawaf, i.e., seven circuits of the Ka'ba (if the time
be, however, one when it is not permissible to offer the prayers,
one is allowed to defer the same till the completion of the second
Tawaf).
SA'EE
21 How should the Sa'ee be
performed ?
In order to perform the Sa'ee one should betake himself to Safa and after
arriving there recite :-
1.
Abda'u bima bada'
Allahu bihi, innas-Safa wal Marwata min sha-'a-'irillahi, faman
hajj-al-baita awi'tamara fala junaha'alaihi anyyat-tawwafa bihima
wa man tatawwa'a khairan fa inn-Allah Shakirun 'Aleem
i.e., 'I commence with that with which Allah commenced. Surely
Safa and Marwa are prominent symbols of Allah. Hence there is
no blame on one who performs the Hajj of the House (of God) or
'Umra if he (or she) marches to and from between them (Safa and
Marwa), and one who does good of one's won accord, verily Allah
is Responsive, Aware'.
2.
Then, raising the
hands to the shoulders, one must say:
(a) Allahu Akbar (thrice), and
(b) La ilaha illallahu wallahu Akbar wa lillahilhamd.
3.
Then one should
give utterance to his or her Niyyat in the words:-
Allahumma inni uridus-Sa'ya bainas-Safa wal Marwati fayassirhu
li wa taqabbalhu minni.
i.e., 'O Allah! I intend to perform the Sa'ee between Safa and
Marwa; make Thou the same easy form me and accept it from me.'
4.
Then one should
march towards Marwa, reciting Du'as all the way.
5.
When one reaches
a green spot one should march quickly till one reaches another
green spot, and in between those spots one should recite the following
Du'a:-
Rabbighfir warham wa tajawaz 'mma ta'lam wa ta'lamu ma la na'-lam
innaka antal-A'az-zul-akram; Allahum-maj'alhu hajjammab-rooran,
wa sa'yam-mashkooran, wa zam bammaghfoora.
i.e., 'O Allah! Forgive me and have mercy upon me and pass off
(my sins) of which Thou are aware, and Thou knowest that of which
we have no knowledge; verily thou art the Most Honorable, and
Most Exalted. O Allah! make it (for me) a Hajj that is acceptable
(to Thee) and an effort that is granted and (a means of) forgiveness
of sin
6.
Arriving at Marwa
one should face Ka'ba and pray for blessings (this complete one
turn).
7.
Then one must go
back to Safa in the same manner, marching quickly between the
two green spots, reciting Du'as, etc., and when Safa is reached
one must again face the Ka'ba and pray for blessing (this will
complete the second turn).
8.
One must take seven such turns, and at the accomplishment of the
seventh, when one arrives at Marwa and offers up the prayer one
is said to have accomplished the Sa'ee.
The Performance of Hajj
22 Can you describe the performance
of Hajj?
Yes, in order to perform Hajj:-
1.
As soon as a pilgrim
approaches the boundary line of the Holy Land, i.e., the Miqat,
he or she enters the state of Ihram with all its accomplishments.
2.
On reaching Mecca
the pilgrim goes to the Grand Mosque round the Ka'ba and then
performs and optional tawaf, called Tawaf-ul-Qudoom.
3.
On the 8th day of
Zilhijja the pilgrim goes to Mina, before the time of Salatuz-Zuhr,
a town three miles from Mecca, and spends there the rest of the
day and the whole night of the 9th of Zilhijja
4.
After the early
morning prayer of the 9th Zilhijja, the pilgrim proceeds to Arafat,
a place about seven miles from Mecca, and stops anywhere in the
Mauqafs (staying places) in the area surrounding the Jabal-i-Rahmat,
(i.e., the Hill of Mercy) in the remembrance of Allah.
5.
Just after the sunset
of the 9th of Zilhijja the pilgrim leaves the Mauqaf without offering
Salatul-Maghrib, and proceeds to Muzdalifa, a place between Mina
and Arafat, where he or she offers Maghrib and Isha Prayers.
6.
The pilgrim then
proceeds from Muzadalifa after the early morning prayers of the
10th of Zilhijja (picking atleast 49 pebbles from there) and comes
to Mina.
7.
The pilgrim then
takes up seven pebbles, and holding each between the index finger
and the thumb of the right hand, throws them one by one at the
pillar called Jamra-tul-Uqubah on the same day, i.e., the 10th
Zilhijja
8.
The pilgrim then,
if he or she can afford, makes a sacrifice of a goat or a sheep
or joins six others in the sacrifice of a camel or a bull, and
shaves off preferably the whole head or at least a quarter head,
or crop the hair equally all over the head, if the pilgrim be
male, and in the case of a female pilgrim, she should cut off
at least an inch of her hair.
9.
The pilgrim then
leaves off the state of Ihram and proceeds to Mecca on the same
day and performs the Tawaf, called Tawaf-ul-Ifada, after which
the pilgrim offers two Rak'ats of Sunnat prayers.
10.
The pilgrim then accomplishes
the Sa'ee.
11.
The pilgrim then returns to
Mina and spends there the night of the 11th of Zilhijja
12.
After the midday of the 11th
and the 12th of Ziljijja the pilgrim approaches in the order mentioned,
the pillars called Jamra-tul-Oola, Jamratul-Wusta and Jamratul-Uqubah,
and throws seven pebbles against each of them, reciting at each
throw: "Bismillahi Allahu Akbar". If a pilgrim stays
on the 13th of Zilhijja as well, he or she throws seven pebbles
at the pillars as on the two previous days.
13.
The pilgrim then returns to
Mecca after the Salatuz-Zuhr on the 12th of Zilhijja. Before leaving
Mecca for one's own country, the pilgrim, performs a departing
tawaf, called Tawaf-ul-Wida'.
Notes:-
1.
During one's stay
at Mecca one may perform as may tawafs as one can, for the performance
of tawafs is the best form of worship during that period.
2.
One can also perform
'Umra as may times as one likes by going out of Mecca to Tan'eem
(a place about three miles form Mecca) and adopting the Ihram
there, return to Mecca and perform the tawaf and sa'ee as is usual
for 'Umra.
23 How does one perform 'Umra?
In order to perform 'Umra one should in the first instance:
1.
Adopt the Ihram
at the Miqat in accordance with the prescribed laws.
2.
After preceding
to Mecca one should betake himself or herself to Ka'ba and affecting
the Iztaiba'a, one should form and given utterance to the Niyyat
for Tawaf and commence the performance of the same.
3.
One should take
care to perform the first three circuits in the style of Ramal
Note:- A woman is, however, exempt both from Iztiba'a and Ramal.
4.
After the completion
of the three circuits, the remaining four are performed in the
normal manner and one should then offer Rak'ats of Sunna-tut-Tawaf.
5.
One should then
preferably proceed to the well of Zamzam and drink a little water.
6.
From thence, betaking
oneself to Safa, one should accomplish the Sa'ee according to
the prescribed laws.
Note:- The performance of 'Umra is
completed after the accomplishment of the Sa'ee. Now if one wants
to perform the Hajj in the very Ihram, one may maintain the same;
but if one does not want to do so, one should shave off at least
a quarter or preferably the whole heard or crop the hair all over
the head. The pilgrim is then free from all the impositions and
restrictions that the state of Ihram imposes.
24 Can Hajj and 'Umra be performed
in the same state of Ihram?
Yes, Hajj and 'Umra can be performed
in the same state of Ihram, in which case the pilgrim should not
leave off the state of Ihram after the performance of 'Umra till
the completion of Hajj.
25 What is Qiran?
When the Hajj and 'Umra is performed
in the same state of Ihram, it is called Qiran.
26 What is Tamattu?
When the 'Umra is performed in the month of Hajj and then Ihram is removed
and re-donned on the 7th of Zilhijja at Mecca for the second time
for Hajj, ita is called Tamattu'.
Note:- One who performs Qiran or Tamattu'
is bound to sacrifice a goat or sheep or join six others in the
sacrifice of a camel or a bull, or observe ten fasts, three before
Hajj and seven after its performance.
27 What is Ifrad?
If one performs Hajj alone and not 'Umra, its is called Ifrad.
Note:- The sacrifice of an animal is not obligatory on one performing
the Hajj alone, i.e., Ifrad.
If anyone of the essential observances
in connection with Ihram, Tawaf or Sa'ee are transgressed, one is
liable for penalties in the shape of either sacrificing a goat or
a sheep, or distributing alms.
28 What should a pilgrim do
after performing Hajj?
It is very commendable for a pilgrim to pay a visit to the Mausoleum of
the Holy Prophet at Medina, and standing there in a reverential
posture facing the tomb of the Great Prophet, to say:-
Assalamu 'alaika ayyuhan-Nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa baraktahu, Assalamu
'alaika ya Rasoolallah! Assalamu 'alaika ya Nabi-Allah! Assalamu
'alaika ya Habib Allah Assalamu 'alaika ya khaira-khalqillah!
Assalamu 'alaika ya Shafi-al-muznibeen! Assalmu 'alaika wa 'ala
alika wa as-habik wa ummatik ajma'een
i.e., 'Peace be on you, O Prophet (of Allah)! and His mercy and
His blessings. Peace be on you, O Apostle of Allah! Peace be on
you O Prophet of Allah! Peace be upon you, O Beloved of Allah!
Peace be on you, O Best in the (whole) Creation of Allah! Peace
be on you, O Pleader for the sinners (before Allah!) Peace be
on you and your descendents and your companions and all your followers.
