Conversations About Pilgrimage

The Significance of Hajj

The pilgrimage, known as Hajj, is one of the five pillars of Islam and is obligatory for those who are physically and financially capable of fulfilling it. It is reported that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) performed Hajj only once during his lifetime. Numerous authentic hadiths concerning Hajj have been documented, and this article will highlight several of these narrations from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Definition of Hajj

In linguistic terms, Hajj means ‘to intend’ or ‘to seek someone.’ The act of performing Hajj signifies the intention to reach a sacred destination. It is also stated that a person who is ‘hajj’ is someone who is intended or sought after. Some define Hajj as a significant intention.

In Islamic jurisprudence, Hajj is defined as the intention of a Muslim to visit a specific location, namely the Holy Kaaba and the area of Arafat, during a specified time, which encompasses the months of Hajj. This is to perform designated rituals, including the standing at Arafat, circumambulation around the Kaaba (Tawaf), and the ritual of Sa’i, in accordance with specific conditions.

Hadiths on Hajj

The Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) includes numerous hadiths that encourage and elucidate the merits of Hajj. Among these are:

From Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him), who reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was asked: “Which actions are the best?” He replied: “Faith in Allah and His Messenger.” It was queried: “Then what?” He answered: “Jihad in the way of Allah.” Again, they asked: “Then what?” He said: “A righteous Hajj.” This hadith indicates that a Hajj performed sincerely for Allah’s sake is the type of pilgrimage that is accepted, as it is void of hypocrisy, pride, and unlawful earnings. The implication here is that Jihad holds a higher rank over regular acts of Hajj, understood primarily in terms of voluntary Hajj rather than obligatory Hajj.
Additionally, Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: “The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: ‘Whoever performs Hajj for Allah and refrains from obscenity and sin, will return as pure as he was on the day his mother gave birth to him.’” This highlights that performing Hajj while avoiding sinful acts leads to the forgiveness of one’s previous sins.
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) stated: “The Jihad of the elderly, the young, the weak, and the women is Hajj and Umrah.” This indicates that those who may be unable to engage in traditional forms of Jihad are still rewarded for performing Hajj and Umrah.
Aisha, the Mother of the Believers (may Allah be pleased with her), asked: “O Messenger of Allah, we see that Jihad is the best of deeds. Should we not engage in it?” He replied: “No, but the best of Jihad is a righteous Hajj.”
Moreover, Amr ibn al-As (may Allah be pleased with him) recounted: “I came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said: ‘Extend your right hand for me to pledge allegiance.’ He extended it, but I withdrew my hand. He asked, ‘What’s wrong, O Amr?’ I said: ‘I wanted to stipulate condition to be forgiven.’ He replied: ‘Did you not know that Islam obliterates all past sins, and migration erases prior transgressions, and Hajj removes what came before it?’”
Furthermore, the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated: “Umrah from one to another expiates what is between them, and an accepted Hajj has no reward except Paradise.” This implies that an accepted Hajj, performed without pride or sin, is promised the reward of Paradise.
He also mentioned: “There is no day in which Allah frees more souls from the Fire than the Day of Arafah. He draws near and boasts about them to the angels, asking: ‘What do these people seek?'” This highlights that the day of Arafah holds unparalleled significance in terms of forgiveness.
The Prophet further advised: “Continue between Hajj and Umrah, for they eliminate poverty and sins just as the furnace removes impurities from iron, gold, and silver, and the reward for an accepted Hajj is only Paradise. Any believer who spends a day in Ihram will have their sins expunged by sunset.” This encourages the connection between Hajj and Umrah for the purification of the soul.
Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: “The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: ‘O people! Allah has mandated Hajj, so perform it.’ A man asked: ‘Is it every year, O Messenger of Allah?’ The Prophet remained silent until he repeated the question three times. He then said: ‘If I had said yes, it would have become obligatory, and you would not be able to comply with it.'” This illustrates that Hajj is a mandatory act for Muslims to perform once in a lifetime if they are capable, demonstrating mercy and ease.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) also stated: “Whoever performs Tawaf around this House (the Kaaba) for a week and counts it, each step he takes removes a sin, and each step he raises earns him a good deed.”
Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was asked, “Which actions are most virtuous?” He replied, “Performing Hajj and slaughtering sacrificial animals.”
Furthermore, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Gabriel came to me and said, ‘O Muhammad, instruct your companions to raise their voices with the Talbiyah, for it is one of the symbols of Hajj.'”

The Rulings of Hajj

Hajj is considered an obligatory act (Fard Ayn) for every accountable Muslim who possesses the means to undertake it, and it is required to be performed at least once in a lifetime. The obligation of Hajj is supported by the Quran, as Allah Almighty states: (And [due] to Allah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House – for whoever is able to make the journey to it. But whoever disbelieves – then indeed, Allah is Free from need of the worlds) (Quran, 3:97). Additionally, the Sunnah affirms this: Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with both of them) reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Islam is built upon five pillars, including the performance of Hajj.” There is also a consensus among Islamic scholars on the necessity of Hajj once in a lifetime for those who are capable.

The Wisdom Behind Hajj

The obligation of Hajj is infused with profound wisdom and benefits, including:

Hajj allows the servant to express humility before Allah, shedding worldly distractions and fully devoting themselves to seeking Allah’s forgiveness and pleasure.
Through the performance of Hajj, individuals show gratitude to Allah for His immense blessings, such as wealth, health, and well-being—two of the greatest bounties bestowed upon a person.
Hajj fosters unity among Muslims from diverse backgrounds as they gather in one place, calling upon the same Lord, devoid of any distinctions—whether of race, color, wealth, or poverty.
The pilgrimage acts as a means of purifying the soul from sins and transgressions.

Types of Hajj

There are three types of Hajj that a pilgrim may choose to undertake:

Ifrad: This entails the pilgrim intending to perform Hajj alone during their Ihram and subsequently undertaking the rituals of Hajj.
Qiran: This involves the pilgrim intending to perform both Hajj and Umrah simultaneously, where it becomes obligatory to offer a sacrifice.
Tamattu: In this case, the pilgrim performs Umrah first in the months of Hajj, completes its rituals, then is released from Ihram and subsequently enters into Ihram for Hajj, also requiring a sacrificial offering.