What is Hajj
Hajj is an act of worship, it is an ibada, we do it with the intention of qurbatan ilallah
Hajj means to intend to visit the house of Allah, al Kaaba
We can define hajj as an act of worship, which is done in the specific time and specific places
Hajj is done in the month of Dhulhajj, in Makka, Arafa, Muzdalifa and Mina
Obligation of Hajj
According to the holy Qur’an, sura al Baqara, verses 96-97
إِنَّ أَوَّلَ بَيْتٍ وُضِعَ لِلنَّاسِ لَلَّذِي بِبَكَّةَ مُبَارَكًا وَهُدًى لِلْعَالَمِينَ
“Most surely the first house appointed for men is the one at Bakka, a blessed place and a guidance for the mankind”.
فِيهِ آيَاتٌ بَيِّنَاتٌ مَقَامُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ۖ وَمَنْ دَخَلَهُ كَانَ آمِنًا ۗ وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا ۚ وَمَنْ كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ{97}
In it are clear signs, the standing place of Ibrahim, and whoever enters it shall be secure, and pilgrimage to the House is incumbent upon men for the sake of Allah, (upon) every one who is able to undertake the journey to it. And whoever disbelieves, then surely Allah stands not in need of any of His creatures.
Hajj is an obligatory for the following people
Hajj is an obligatory for the following people;
Must have attained puberty [baligh\bulugh] girls 9 years of age and boys 15 years of age
2. Must be a’aaqil means being sane and of sound mind
3. Must be free from bondage
4. Must be healthy
5. Must have enough funds
The story of Imam Sajjad and Shibli; AS haj is a spiritual journey.
Before going for haj it is wajib to pay our debts which required to be paid
We need to pay khums if the time is due
We need to leave a will behind
It is a must to be on taqlid; following a marja’
Hajj on niyabah performing Hajj on behalf of others
The person who is going for hajj on niyabah, or on behalf of another person, he/she should be adult, sane, a follower of Ahlulbayt, he should not be obligated to perform an obligatory haj in the year in which he is appointed agent, he should be knowledgeable of haj masail, he does not need to be a person who has done hajj before, it is not necessary to assign a male for a male and a female for a female
3 Types of hajj
Tamattu’
Ifrad
Qiraan
Tamattu’; is wajib on those who reside more than 48 miles from Makka
Hajj tamattu’ which is done by most of us, is divided into 2 parts; umra tamattu’ and hajj tamattu’
The word tamattu’ refers to a break which we take between umra and hajj.
Part one
Umra tamattu’ consists of five things; wearing ihram in meqat, tawaf round al Ka’ba, 2 rak’at prayers after tawaf, going for sa’y between Safa and Marwa and taqseer, to trimsome hair, beard or moustache. Once that has been done you can remove ihram and wait for haj to begin.
Part two; Hajj tamattu’
There are 13 wajib acts for this hajj
Wearing ihram in Makka
Staying in Arafa from noon on the 9th of Dhulhaj till sunset
Staying in Muzdalifa for part of the eve of Eid ul Hajj till sun rise
Stoning jamarat al Aqaba in Mina
Slaughtering an animal on the day of Eid
Shaving the head or removing some hair in Mina. Once all those have been done all those things which were unlawful become lawful except to have sexual intercourse, using perfume and hunting.
Performing tawaf (tawaf al Ziyarah) on returning to Makka
Prayers of 2 raka’at after tawaf
Going for Sa’y between Safa and Marwa. Once all those acts have been done, one can use perfume
Tawafu an Nisa
Prayers after tawaf
Remaining in Minaduring the eve of 11th and 12th of Dhulhaj
Stoning all the three Jamarat on 11th and 12th
Niyyah
Any act we do of hajj has to be with a clear intention and it has to be expressly formed
Ihram
When we wear it we need to do niyyah, intention
Saying talbiyah after wearing ihram, by saying “labbayka Allahumma labbayk…” one time is wajib, but it is Mustahab to say it until when we see the old houses of old Makka
All the time iharam must be tahir from najasaat
Once we wear Ihram 25 things become prohibited
Hunting
Sexual intercourse
Kissing a woman
Touching a woman
Looking at and playing with a woman
Masturbation/istimnaa
Marriage contract
Use of perfume
Wearing sewn clothes by men
25 things
Applying antimony (surma)/applying things for beautification
Looking in a mirror; for purpose of beautification
Wearing Shoes, Socks or Stocking
Outrage [fusouq]
Quarrelling
Killing of insects found on the body
Self beautification
Applying oil
25 things
Removal of hair from the body
Covering of the head for men
Ladies’ face cover
Remaining under shade by men
Removal of blood from the body
Cutting nails
Extraction of teeth
Wearing of arms
Sabr/Patience
We need a lot of patience when we go for Hajj
Allah says in the holy Qur’an sura al Baqara (2:197)
“The pilgrimage is [performed in] the well –known months; so whoever determines the performance of the pilgrimage therein, there shall be no intercourse nor fornication nor quarrelling amongst one another ;and whatever good you do , Allah knows it ; and make provision is the guarding of oneself, and be careful [of your duty]to me, o men of understanding”
