In Allah’s Name
We Stand
United
In the Light of the Qur’an
and Sunnah
“And he has united their (i.e the believers) hearts.
If you had spent all that is in the earth, you could not united their hearts,
but Allah has united them. Certainly, He is Allah Mighty, All-Wise.”
(Al Anfal 8:63)
And Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said:
“He will never be a believer who does not love for his brother what he loves for himself.”
(Al Bukhari, Imam 7, 71, 72)
In the Name of Allah
Most Gracious, Most Merciful
This is for you O Allah
“Verily my Salat (prayer), my service of sacrifice,
my living and my dying, are (all) for Allah,
the Lord of the Alamim (mankind, jinn and all that exist.” (6:162)
Written By:
Eisa ‘Rene’ Saturno – Batallones
The Five Pillars of Faith
1. “Shahada - The Confession” "La ilaha illa llah" "There is no God but God." The Shahada, (Testimoney), Kalima There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah.
2. Salat - Prayer 5 times a day facing Mecca.
3. Zakat – Almsgiving.
4. Fasting - during the month of Ramadan, from sun-up till sundown.
5. Hajj - Pilgrimage to Mecca once a lifetime
“La ilaha illallah” – there is no god except Allah – sums up and encompasses faith. This phrase is the slogan and the basis of Islam.
Allegiance as a term connotes support, love honor, and respect, as well as being “with” those one loves, both outwardly and inwardly. Allegiance for Allah sake is the love of Allah, support his religion and the love and support His allies. A true believer must love Him and His Messenger by giving preference to loving them over all objects of love.
Loving Allah by pronouncing with ikhlas (sincerity of the heart), “La ilaha illallah, {“So know that la illaha illallah (none has the right to be worshiped but Allah), and ask forgiveness for your sins.”} (Muhammad 47: 19).
One must “love” this phrase, “La ilaha illallah,” its implication and its adherents who act according to its meaning. O believing Muslims, brothers and sisters! Standstill, for the Sublime, Allah – SWT, has given you many virtues and superior merits that give a high status to everyone who say this phrase sincerely and Allah will establish for you a secure sanctuary, the Paradise.
And who ever says it without believing in it, his blood is spilled and his wealth is taken, in this world and in the hereafter, and his account is with Allah. “La ilaha illallah, necessitates forgiveness, wipes away sins, and it is the best of good deeds. It breaks through all barriers until it reaches Allah. It is the phrase spoken by the Prophets, it is the best form of remembrance, and it is the best deed, and the deed most multiplied. Saying it is equivalent to freeing slaves and it protects one from the “Shaytan[2]”. It is safety from the terror on the Day of Reckoning and it is the slogan of the believers when they will be raised from the graves. For whoever speaks it, the eight doors of the Paradise are open for him.
The Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said: “When one dies, knowing that indeed none has the right to be worshiped except Allah, he enters Paradise.”
One must not only say this phrase, but he must also believe with “certainty”, confidence, conviction and firmness in his heart that what he is saying is true. That the Holy One, Allah – SWT, truly deserved to be worshipped and that all others taken as gods are false.
And on the other haddith Abu Hurairah, radia Allahu anhu, related that the Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu alayhe wa salam, said: “Whoever you meet behind this wall who testify that indeed none has the right to be worshiped except Allah, with his heart believing in it with certainty, then give him glad tidings of Paradise.” (Recorded by Muslim)
You have to say it “sincerely”, for that sincerity negates shirk, one must perform all deeds and actions, sincerely and purely for Allah, seeking his pleasure. That intention must not be corrupted or polluted in the least.
A Muslim should be “truthful” with Allah in his faith, truthful in his belief, truthful in his saying and truthful in the way he carries the message of Islam. He must submit himself to all that his magnificent phrase requires of him – Allah Almighty says:
“And turn in repentance to your Lord and Submit to Him (in Islam). (Az-Zumar 39:54).
“And whosoever submits his face (himself) to Allah, while he is a Muhsin (good-doer) then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold.” (Luqman 31:22)
“But know, by your Lord, they can have no faith, until they make you (Muhammad) judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission.” (An Nisa 4:65)
Truly, the Muslims will be united on one basis, which results in strength for the Muslims and victory over their enemies. Because unity results when all members of society accept and apply laa illaha illallah, safety and peace will be widespread. Happiness and purity of religion will not only be achieved for the believers, but it will be perpetuated for them, because Allah has promised those who believe in Him, and do righteous good deeds, that He certainly granted it to those before them, and that He grant them the authority to practice their religion, that which He has chosen for them. And He will surely give them in exchange a safety security after they fear they worship, the Holy One, Allah – SWT, and do not associate anything to Him. Hunafa Lillah!
Prayer,
By no Other Name
We Call His Name –
We stand, We pray.
By no other name, we stand and pray(er[3]). Feeling alienated from society, confused about our beliefs, conflicted about our values, guilty about our actions, benumbed of emotion and care, frustrated with our families, or even sick of ourselves all this are normal. Even these stabling blocks of life became fatal chasms of ultimately catastrophe if we have no firm foundation defining who we are. And that just what we don’t have. So when we fall, we have nothing to fall back on. When we stray, we have no point of return to turn toward. When we are shattered, we have no core to hold on to. This is the time; by no other name we call His Name, we stand, we pray and prostrate.
As mentioned in the Holy Qur’an: “And he answered (The Prayers) of those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah – Islamic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds, and give them increase of His bounty. And as far as the disbelievers, theirs will be a severe torment.” (Ash-Shura 42:26)
“Seek help in patience and As-Salat (The Prayer) and truly it is extremely heavy and hard except for Al-Khashi’un [the true believers in Allah –those who obey Allah with full submission, fear much from His punishment, and believe in His promise (Paradise) and His Warnings (Hell)].” (Al Baqarah 2:45)
The Compassionate, Allah – SWT, never leaves His servants without a way. And our road to finding ourselves begins in multitude surrendering by means of prayers to The Holy One, Allah – SWT, side by side, like a building blocks that will never be apart except if it is forcibly remove by means of coercion.
The position of prayer in Islam is very prominent and unequalled by any act of other worships. It is the basic feature of the Faith and the Pillar upholding it. It is like a pole of a tent without which it cannot stand straight, and so is Islam which cannot be set up without prayer.
It is the first duty imposed by Allah upon mankind after believe in Oneness of God. Prayer is also the first act to be accounted for on the Day of Judgment among other deeds carried out by the Servants of Allahn - SWT. The Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said: “Should prayer be marked as perfect, all the other deeds will win the satisfaction of the Merciful Lord. This was the last advice given by the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, before he passed away.
The very moment that the Prophet is passing away as related by At-Tabarani, advising to be hold prayers in peace, during sickness, or even when Muslims are face to face attacking enemies.” And Sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said, “Be keen on your prayers to your utmost extent.” Prayer is the best weapon in many ways, and in a haddith as narrated Salih Khawwat or Sahl bin Abi Hathmah, radia Allahu anhu, concerning those who witness the Fear Prayer, that was performed in the battle of Dhat-ur-Riqa in the company of Allah’s Messenger, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam: ”One batch lined up behind him while another batch that was with him in one Rak’ah, and he stayed in the standing posture while the batch completed their (two rak’at) prayer by themselves and went away, lining in the face of the enemy, while the other batch came and he, the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa salam, offered his remaining rak’ah with them, and then, kept on finished his prayer with taslim along with them.” (Sahih Bukhari vol. 5, Haddith No. 451)
And we all know, we have to realize, that, we are not on the same level of faith (eemam) and, therefore, not at the same level of subsequent activity and deeds (‘amal). Many Muslims abandon prayers, or even sometime believers abandon each other, rightfully, or wrongly, and this action will lead them in conflict and discord and in the end theirs was failure and misguidance.
“Then, there has succeeded them a posterity who have given up As-Salat (prayers) (missed prayers) and followed after lust[4] soon, will they faces Destruction (thrown in Hell).” (Mariam 19: 59)
A Muslim may missed salat al-Fajr on most days, and hardly ever pray it at the right time. Usually, he does not wake up until after the sun has risen, or he didn’t do his best to wake up after the time for praying fajr in jama’ah. But remember, in every problem there is a solution, like others, let me put this in two aspects: “theoretical” and “practical”. The theoretical aspect may be further broken down into two points:
(1) The Muslim should know the great status of salat al-fajr in the sight of Allah - SWT.
The Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa salam, said: “Whoever prays the dawn prayer in congregation, it is as if he had prayed the whole night long.” (Muslim, p. 454, no. 656; al- Tirmidhi, 221).
Also, the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa salam, said: “The most burdensome prayers for the hypocrites are salat al-’isha’ and salat al-fajr, but if they only knew what it contain, they would come even if they had to crawl.” (Reported by Imaam Ahmad, al-Musnad, 2/424; Saheeh al-Jaami’, 133).
“Whoever prays fajr is under the protection of Allah. Do not put yourselves in a situation where Allah has to call you to account for your negligence.” (Reported by al- Tabaraani, 7/267; Saheeh al-Jaami’, no. 6344).
“Angels come to you in shifts by night and by day. They meet at salat al-fajr and salat al-‘asr, then those who had stayed with you at night ascend, and are asked by the One Who knows better than they: ‘How did you find My servants?’ They say, ‘We left them when they were praying, and we came to them when they were praying.’” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, al-Fath, 2/33).
“The best of prayers in the sight of Allah is the dawn prayer on Friday, in congregation.” (Reported by Abu Na’eem in al-Hilyah, 7/207, and in al-Silsilah al- Saheehah, 1566).
According to a saheeh hadeeth: “Whoever prays al-Bardayn[5] will enter Paradise.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, al-Fath, 2/52).
(2) The Muslim should understand the seriousness of missing salat al-fajr. This is explained by the hadeeth already quoted: “The most burdensome prayers for the hypocrites are salat al-’isha’ and salat al-Fajr…”
In al-Saheeh, it is reported that Ibn ‘Umar, radia Allahu anhu, said: “If we did not see a person at fajr and ‘isha prayers, we would think badly of him.” (Reported by al-Tabaraani in al-Mu’jam al-Kabeer, 12/271)
They thought badly of a person who was absent from these two prayers because regular performance of them is an indication of a person’s faith and a measure of his sincerity. Other prayers may be easier to do because they are more convenient to a person’s circumstances and fit in with his work and his sleep, but only those who are determined and sincere, people whom one hopes are good people, will be able to pray Fajr and ‘Isha regularly in congregation.
Another hadeeth which indicates the seriousness of missing salat al-fajr is: “Whoever prays fajr is under the protection of Allah. Do not put yourselves in a situation where Allah has to call you to account for your negligence, because whoever finds himself in this situation will be sorted out and then thrown on his face in the Fire of Hell.” (Reported by Muslim, p. 454).
For this to happen, the community must consciously seek a condition, equilibrium, of I’tilaf and pursue it with utmost sincerity of intention. The knowledgeable and experienced well know, that this intention cannot implant without honest efforts to vanquish personal desires and worldly ends by way of step-by-step obedience to The Holy One, Allah – SWT, and His Messenger, in Allah’s name we stand united, and pray.
Allah tells us, “And of mankind are some who take (for worship) other besides Allah as rivals[6] (to Allah), they love them as they love Allah. But those who believe love Allah more (than anything else). (Al Baqarah 2:165)
The above mentioned two points are sufficient to guarantee that the Muslim’s heart will burn with the concern to ensure that he does not miss fajr. The first motivates him to strive to earn the reward for fajr, and the second acts as a warning that will deter him from committing the sin of negligence.
Zakat,
Bridging Brotherhood
“He (Eisa [Jesus]) said: “Verily I am a slave of Allah, He has given me the Scripture and made me a Prophet. And He has made me blessed wheresoever I be, and He enjoined me Salat (prayers), and Zakat as ZZakat[7] purifies the soul from the selfish love of material possession as well as saving all those in the community unable to earn a decent livelihood from, destitution. The literal meaning of Zakat is ‘to be clean, to grow, to increase.’ It comes from the root letters zay, Kaf, ya, which has several meanings: to be clean, in Qur’an (Chapter 24:21; Chapter 23;4), to pay the obligatory charity (Chapter 2:43), to be pure, innocent (Chapter 19:19; Chapter 18:74), to be better in purity, (Chapter 18:81; Chapter 19:13), to praise oneself, to justify (Chapter 53:32). It has been used in the Holy Qur’an to mean all of these things.
In the haddith: ‘The payment of Zakat is obligatory, as it is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Zakat is the major economic means for establishing social justice and leading the Muslim society to prosperity and security.” (Bukhari, vol.2 Book of Zakat, no. 24)
And in the Holy Book, the Qur’an, states that: “Who believe in the Ghaib and perform As- salat iqamat as-salat) and spend out of what We have provided for them [i.e. give Zakat], spend on themselves, their parents, their children, their wives, etc., and also give charity to the poor and also in Allah’s cause – Jihad.” (Al Baqarah 2:3)
The Holy One, Allah – SWT, has given men nobility through their minds and emotions and longing for what is higher than mere physical means. But when a man has to spend all his waking hours obtaining the mere necessities of life, he is reduced below the level of animal. Even animals generally find their food and drink. Some animals have pride, energy and cheerfulness, some birds can sing, but man, the nobles creation of Allah is robbed of the necessities of life, he is also robbed for his dignity. For then he can neither satisfy his spiritual yearnings nor his intellectual capacities.
Cited in a haddith how the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, when his family suffered tremendously in hunger, yet survive by the will of Allah - SWT, with dignity, pride, graciousness and goodness as well, has reached the status of having perfection in remembering The Holy One, Allah – SWT. Never worried about what lies beyond, it is recommended that the Muslim Community must drawn in with this tradition to build up the so called patience that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, thaught us.
Urwa narrated that A’isha, radia Allahu anha[8], had told him; ‘O my nephew! We used to see the crescent, then the crescent and then the crescent, in this way we saw three crescent in two months with no fire (for cooking) made in the houses of Allah’s apostle. I (Urwa) said: ‘O my aunt! Then what was to sustain you?’ A’isha said: ‘the two black things: dates and water. Our neighbors from Ansar had some gifts and they used to present Allah’s Apostles, peace and blessing be upon him, some of their milk and he used to make us drink.” (Bukhari. Vol. 4, no.6459, p.398)
And The Holy One, Allah – SWT, said: “The believers, men and women, are Auliya’ (helpers, supporters, friends, protectors) of one another: they enjoin (on the people) Al-Ma’ruf and forbid (people) from Al Munkar; they perform as-salat (iqamat-as-salat), and give Zakat, and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah will have His Mercy on them. Surely Allah is All Mighty and Wise.” (At-Tawbah 9:71)
Making Zakat obligatory for every Muslims is one of the obvious merits of Islam. Demonstrating its care for those who adopt it as a way of life, ties of love and brotherhood that strengthened relationship between the rich and poor – people innately love those who are good to them is one of the benefits of Zakat.
Shaykh Abdulaziz ibn Baz, rahim-ul-Allah[9], reminds the Ummah of the Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu alayhe wa salam, in today’s generation who neglect their duty to share with and adhere what something out of the wealth of The Holy One, Allah – SWT, which He has entrusted upon us. “I remind you of the obligation of giving Zakat that many Muslims neglect. Though many may give, some do not give in a way that is legislated.[10]”
By always giving Zakat on time, one makes it habit to be generous and to help the needy that would solidify the brotherhood in Islam. He is blesses in his wealth, and is himself given more for The Holy One, Allah – SWT, says:
“And (also) restricts (it) for him, and whatsoever you spend of anything (in Allah’s cause), He will replace it. And He is the Best of providers.” (Saba 34:39)
Another haddith: “We were with God’s Messenger, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, in the afternoon, when a group of people came to him. They were barefooted, half naked, with torn jackets or cloaks, carrying their swords. Most of them, nay all of them, were of the Mudhar tribe. The face of God’s messenger, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, went pale when he saw how poor they were. He went inside then came out. He ordered Billal to call for prayer, and he prayed. Then he addressed people saying: “O people fear your Lord who created you out of a single soul,”” and continued the verse to its end, “God always watches over you.” He also cited the verse in Surah of Al-Hasr: ‘Fear God let every soul look at what it has provided for the morrow, and fear God.’” He added, ‘A man gives charity out not a single dinar he has, out of a single dirham, a part of his gown, out of his wheat bowl, out of his date bowl,” and so on till he said, “even half a date fruit.” A man of the supporters (Al Ansaar) came with a bundle which his hand could hardly hold. In fact it could not hold it. Other followed, until I could see two piles of food and clothes. I saw the face of the God’s Messenger, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, cheer up and glittered like gold. He said: “Whoever in Islam starts a good tradition; he will have its reward and an equal reward to that of the people who follow his example, without their reward being reduced. And whoever in Islam starts a bad tradition; he will have its burden and an equal burden to that of the people who follow his example, without their burden being reduced.” (Muslim 1017)
The tie that binds us is that, we believe for what the Holy One, Allah – SWT, imparts to his last Messenger, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, the dos and don’ts, the Law that legislated on us, which inscribed in the Qur’an and the Sunnah. That, the “ta’aamun”, mutual support and cooperation is the moral principle by which Muslims relate, not only to one another but all others in the world. We cooperate in one, in all righteousness and with the fear of God but never in sin or in stroking enmity. Whoever seeks good in the world we aid. Whoever desires to glorify God we abet.
And this is all about Zakat, it lingers on the bloodstreams of every individual Muslims, which everyone has its duty to his brother and the rest of the Muslim Ummah who suffered and has been forced to endure from starvation due to degradation.
And The Holy One, Allah – SWT, has given a threat to those who are negligent in paying Zakat and share their wealth that Allah has entrusted to them.
“O you who believe! Verily, many of the (Jewish) rabbis and the (Christian) monks who devour the wealth of mankind in falsehood, and hinder them from the way of Allah. And those who hoard up gold and silver, and spend not in the way of Allah – announce to them a painful torment. On the Day when the (wealth) will be heated in the fire of Hell, and with it will be branded their foreheads, their flanks, and their backs, (and it will be said unto them): ‘This is the treasure which you hoarded for yourselves. Now taste of what you used to hoard.” (At-Tawbah 9:34-35)
In an authentic haddith The Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said: “Any owner of gold and silver who does not pay their due will have plates of fire prepared for him on the Day of Judgment. They will be heated of the Hell Fire, and then his side, his forehead, and his back will be ironed (by those plates). Each time they will cool again, the process is repeated on him in a day whose measure is equal to fifty thousand years, until finally judgment will have been passed among (Allah’s) creatures, and each one sees his course: either to Paradise or to Hell.”
‘And let those who covetously withhold of what which Allah has bestowed on them of His bounty, wealth, think it is good for them. Nay, it will be worse for them,’ so, this is, a very alarming cautionary statement of the Holy One, Allah – SWT, to those who transgress to His boundaries and for those who abandoning Zakat.
Thus, Allah – SWT has commanded Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, to proclaim to all nation, through His Revelation, the Qur’an that He – The Sublime, has ordered all the Messenger to mandate the payment of Zakat in their respective Ummah.
“(O Muhammad), and mention in the Book (the Qur’an) (the story of) Ismail (Ishmael). Verily he was true to what he promised, and he was a Messenger, (and) a Prophet. And he used to enjoin on his family and his people As-Salat (the prayers) and the Zakat, and his Lord was pleased with him.” (Maryam 19: 54-55)
Fasting,
The Harbinger of Good Soul.
Every Muslim knows that almost a full moon of days, the first day of month long journey of challenging our souls into fostering faith, well discipline, and inner peace and balance begins that’s when we people of earth will again have this amazing chance, to fast with over a billion. Souls, hailing from every race, every place in the world, and seeking the same goal, carrying out identical deeds of righteousness, crying from a single Lord’s acceptance, hoping to become better human being, inside and out.
To lead a life of high aims, with certain noble objective of adhering to which conform and legislated to us in performing “ibadah(t)[11]", particularly, the fasting in the month of Ramadhan, that is a sure sign that the young hearts and minds among us are accepting their responsibility and maturing beyond their age.
When was the last time you thank the Holy One, Allah – SWT, for something? Maybe when get your dream car, promoted in your job, increase your salary or maybe it was for the delicious meal you had eaten. Have you ever thought “Saum[12]” (fasting) during the month of Ramahdan[13]? Or indeed whenever we choose to fast, we obviously think of, well, avoiding consumption of food articles and fluids for a certain period of time. From the early hours of dawn to the grey twilight of dusk we control ourselves to eat.
Yet, despite our seemingly authentic comprehension of fasting, we often fail to recognize that we are, in fact, still eating, still consuming nutrients need by our body. Temporarily deprived of nourishment from liquids and solid food, our bodies literally switch into high gear. As food is gracefully and politely denied entrance by the person behind the body, the higher soul still receives sustenance, but now is greater amounts, in a ratio larger than the diminished earthly provision. Fasting is obviously commanded to us by the Holy One, Allah – SWT, for the believing Muslims, men and women to have ‘taqwa’. And Allah said:
“O you who believe! Observing As-Saum (the Fasting) is prescribe for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become”Al-Muttaqun[14]” (pious).
(Al Baqara 2:183)
And in the haddit: Narrated by Abu Hurairah, radia Allahu anhu, Allah’s Messenger, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said: “As-Siyam (the fasting) is “Junnah[15]” so, the person observing Saum (fasting) should avoid sexual relation with his wife and should not behave foolishly and impudently and if somebody fights with him or abuses him, he should say to him twice, “I am fasting.” (Sahih Al Bukhari, Hadith No. 118, Vol. 3)
Fasting is one of God’s ways, one of his beloved ways to teach us to love Him and His Messenger and to see beyond ourselves and find God. It helps us come into communion with God directly by making us realize his blessings and His presence, but also indirectly, by realizing the condition of His other servants, our fellow human being in need.
Fasting is how to overcome our love of our lower selves, and to nurture that part of our souls that yearns for the Divine, for the truth, for the Creator and Sustainer. And to know the worth of the treasure you are about to be offered should infuse your search with enthusiasm and spirit.
Narrated Abu Hurairah, radia Allahu anhu, The Messenger, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said, “Whoever fast the Month of Ramadhan, with faith and anticipation [of God’s forgiveness and reward], whatever sins he has committed shall be forgiven.” (Agreed Upon, Sahih Al Bukhari and Sahih Muslim).
Indeed, fasting is distinguished among all the righteous deeds due to its direct relation to God, as Gods Messenger, sallallahu alayhe wa sall, said, ““By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, the smell coming out from the mouth of a fasting person is better with Allah – SWT, than the smell of musk. (Allah says about the fasting person), He has left his food, drink and desires for My skake. The Saum is for Me. So I will reward (the fasting) person for it and the reward of good deeds is multiplied ten time.” (Sahih Al Bukhari, hadith No. 118, Vol. 3)
The Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said, “Paradise has a door called Al Rayyan. None shall enter it except those given to fasting” (Sahih Al Bukhari and Muslim)
The Holy One, Allah – SWT, the Most Exalted, has said in a Haddith Qudsi: “A servant of Mine gets nearer to Me by performing voluntary deed until I love him. And when I love him, I become his ears with which he hears, and his eyes with which he sees, and his hands with which he hold, and his legs with which he walks. Then, if he seeks My protection, I protect him. And if he ask I give.” (Sahih Al Bukhari).
Moreover, the strengthening of brotherhood lies when each fasting person break its fasts, eat their iftar all together. This is the solid foundation of the community harboring not to abandon the sunna of the Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu alayhe wa salam. The sharing of food to poor family within the community is a hallmark that each and every believing Muslims must possess and should be done for the sake and pleasure of Allah - SWT.
Hajj,
The Believer’s Convention
“O mankind! We have created you from a male and female, and made you into nation and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily the most honorable of you with Allah is the one who has the most taqwa.” (Al Hujarat 49:13)
Hajj[16] is a kind of Islamic convention. Muslim comes to it from all corners of the globe, representing all nationalities, colors, languages – yet they wear uniform clothing, they stand on one level, and they are performing worship in One God. No distinction is made between old and young, between reach and poor, between black and white. And, in Allah’s name… they stand united.
Their hearts aspire to connect and be accepted, dread being rejected, and hope to fill with eeman[17] or faith. With burning desire, every cell in their bodies twinges with the promise of dwelling for a few days in a “valley that is infertile” near the sacred house of Makkah, which they will so humbly and willingly circumambulate, as their Lord has commanded, and trust that they shall be transformed into a better slave, these are the hujjaj[18] that, the Muslim Pilgrims, who come every year from every far away passage, to attest by their stack presence to their unwavering hope in the forgiveness of their creator, and to renew, on behalf of us all, the undivided commitment of their Ummah to its Lord persist its sanctity since it was proclaimed.
Allah commanded his servant, Ibrahim (Abraham), alayhe salam, to proclaim Hajj in the Mount Arrafah[19]:
“And proclaim to mankind the Hajj (pilgrimage). They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every deep and distant (wide) mountain highway to perform Hajj.” (Al-Hajj 22:27
“Hajj is unique in countless ways, and Muslims are encouraged in the Qur’an to give it our most rigorous contemplation. For all acts of Hajj are laden with layers secrets, meanings, and unique outcomes. Here is a sojourn that links earth with Heaven, history with geography, the past with the future. “Hajj” as some knower of truth put it, “is estrangement from one’s self, with oneself, for oneself.
Narrated Abu Hurairah, radiallahu anhu, Allah’s Messenger, sallallahu alayhe wa salam, said: “Whoever perform hajj to this House (Ka’bah) and does not approach his wife for sexual intercourse nor commits sins (while performing Hajj), he will come out as sinless as a newly born child (just delivered by his mother)” (Sahih Al Bukhari, Vol. 3, Haddith No. 45)
Hajj is of everything in this life and the next; it is debt we owe to God and our journey to Him to forgive our sins that we made to Him.
Thus the Lord said: “And Hajj top the House (Ka’bah) is a duty that mankind owes to Allah, those who can afford the expenses (for one’s conveyance, provision and residence.” (Al Imran 3:97)
Hajj is the most intense seminar in community, giving us permanent insight into establishing everlasting ones. In essence, it is about the family, magnifying it centrality, emphasizing the nobility of the mother, the beneficiary of the progeny – the arduous, and often misunderstood, burden of fatherly leadership.
That is why Allah commanded us with regards to our parent because they are our backbone during our childhood and Allah said:
“And that you be dutiful to your parents, if one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them but address them in terms of honor. And lower unto them the wing of submission and humility through mercy, and say: “My Lord! Bestow on them Your Mercy as they did bring me up when I was young.” (Al-Isra 17:23, 24)
Hajj commemorate the family mission of the prophet Abraham, allayhe sallam, rebuilder of the Sacred House, his wife Hajar, who emigrated with him with God’s sake to the end of the desolate earth, and his son Isma’il, contend with God’s decrees, compliant with his father’s struggle to fulfill them.
“And (remember) when We showed Ibrahim (Abraham) the site of the (Sacred) House (the Ka’bah at Makkah) (saying) “Associate not anything (in worship) with Me, [la ilaha illallah], none has the right to be worship that Allah. And sanctify My House for those who circumambulate it” (Al Hajj 22:26)
Hajj is about returning to roots, starting with the purpose of delineating the finish, and asking the two ultimate questions:
“Where does it begin? Where does it end?”
[1] Shahada: The testimony of Faith, to bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
[2] Shaytan: Allah created them from fire. He is the man’s most bitter foe; he tries to lead man astray by worshipping evil thoughts to him. And one of them is Iblis, the cursed one.
[3] Prayer – the 2nd Pillars of Faith in Islam, It should be performed promptly, perfectly, sincerely, and regular at the appointed hour by a Muslim who has to keep it up under all conditions; even at times of travelling and sickness it must be observed with full humility. In this sense, the Holy Qur’an says: [“for such prayers are enjoined on Believers at stated times.”(An-Nisaa 4:103)]
[4] Lust – like drinking alcohol drinks, giving false witness, eating unlawful things – pork’s meat, meat of edible animals not slaughtered according to Allah’s order, taking intoxicants; narcotic drugs like opium, morphine, heroin, cannabis; committing crimes, evil wicked deeds like illegal sexual intercourse, murdering, taking others rights unlawfully, robbing, stealing betraying, backbiting, slandering, telling lies.
[6] Narrated ‘Abdullah, radia Allahu anhu; The Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said one statement and I said another, The Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said: “Whoever dies while still invoking anything other than Allah as a rival to Allah, will enter Hell (Fire).” And I said, “Whoever dies without invoking anything as rival to Allah, will enter Paradise.” (Sahih al Bkhari, Vol6, hadih No. 24)
[7] Zakat is a certain fixed proportion of the wealth and of each and every kind of property liable to Zakat of a Muslim to be paid yearly for the benefit of the poor in the Muslim community. An obligatory act ordained by Allah, the Almighty Creator, to be performed by every adult and able bodied Muslim.
[8] Radia Allahu anha: May Allah be pleased with her.
[9] Rahim-ul-Allah: May Allah have mercy on him.
[10] Shaykh Abdullah ibn baz, Explanation of important Lessons, p.124.
[11]Ibadah (singular), Ibadat (plural): Worship. Broadly speaking, it includes all acts pleasing to Allah, including thoughts, feelings and speech, as well as physical actions and the use of one’s wealth. When contrasted with mu’amalat, human transactions and dealings. Ibadah means acts of devotgional worship, for which there are no substantial worldly benefits; for instance prayer, remembrance of Allah, recitation of the Holy Qur’an, etc.
[12] As Saum means fasting i.e. not to eat or drink, or have sexual relations etc., from the Adhan (call of prayer) of the Fajar (early morning) prayer till the sunset.
[13]The ninth month of Islamic lunar calendar, fasting from dawn until sunset is obligatory during this month on healthy, adult Muslims who are not in excused categories.
[14] Muttaqun: The pious believer of Islamic monotheism who fear Allah much (abstain from kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden) and love Allah much (perform all kinds of good deeds which he has ordained).
[15] Junnah: Protection or shield or a screen or a shelter from the Hell Fire.
[16] Hajj: Lit. Pilgrimage: It is the greater pilgrimage to Makkah, from the 8th to the 13th Dhul Hijja, the 12th month of Islamic Calendar. It is obligatory once in a lifetime on every Muslim able to make the journey.
[17] Eeman: Faith, this is the term used in the Qur’an and the Sunnah for faith. Rather than aqidah, which was introduced by scholars for essentially the same concept? There may be a slight difference in connotation; Aqidah being the intellectual concepts one must believe in for one’s eeman to be authentic. A person may have an intellectual understanding of aqidah yet have a weak eeman, due to sickness of the heart.
[18] Hujjaj: The people who are in the state of Ihram performing the rituals of Hajj.
[19] Mount Arrafah: A mountain wherein Allah, SWT, commanded His Servant and Messenger Ibrahim (Abraham) to stand and call the people to perform Hajj.
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