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Hajj: Leaving Worldly Matters and Preparing for the Hereafter
Author : An Article by the Secretary General Dr. Ahmad Al-Hassanat
Date Added : 25-06-2023

 

Hajj: Leaving Worldly Matters and Preparing for the Hereafter

 

After making the intention of entering into the holy rite of Hajj, a pilgrim takes off worldly pleasures the moment he takes off his clothes and wears the Ihram clothing. He/she resembles the angels in shunning desires and ornaments, and dedicating themselves for worshipping Allah, their Lord. Just as a pilgrim casts off his everyday clothes, he/she should cast off sins and seek refuge in Allah.

 

During this holy rite, people become as equal as the spikes of a comb in the sense that there is no difference between a white man and a black man. A pilgrim answers the call of the truth: "And proclaim the Pilgrimage among men: they will come to thee on foot and (mounted) on every kind of camel, lean on account of journeys through deep and distant mountain highways;" {Al-Hajj, 27} by chanting Talbiyah (“Labbayka Allahumma labbayk (Here I am, O Allah, here I am)." By doing so, he/she seeks the mercy and bounty of Allah to be admitted into Paradise and spared Hellfire.

 

Hajj isn`t a journey for seeing sights and discovering places. Rather, it is about seeking the pleasure of Allah and coming closer to Him. The moment a pilgrim takes off his/her clothes, he/she knows that Allah looks at the hearts and intentions, not the form or appearance. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Allah does not look at your figures, nor at your attire but He looks at your hearts and accomplishments".[Muslim].

 

The heart casting off worldly concerns is what is required in this sacred journey of Hajj and this is the gist of the supplication of Our Father Ibrahim, which reads: "So fill the hearts of some among men with love towards them, and feed them with fruits: so that they may give thanks." {Ibrahim, 37}. During this journey, a pilgrim leaves his/her homeland and family, races to Mecca to which his/her heart yearns, and escapes to Allah seeking His forgiveness.

 

Once a pilgrim arrives in Mecca, it welcomes him/her warmly. On Seeing the Ka’abah for the first time, he/she says the Du`a: "O Allah! Increase this House in honor and reverence and nobility and awe, and increase those who honor and revere it as pilgrims for Hajj and Umrah in nobility and goodness and status and righteousness." 

 

Next, a pilgrim makes the Tawaf of arrival, like a mother hugging her long gone children. During this Tawaf (Circumambulation around the Kabah), he/she makes the Du`a: "O Allah! This House is Yours, this Haram is Yours….."

 

Then, pilgrims go to perform Sa`ee ( the act of Sa'ee refers to the ritual of walking or running between the two hills of Safa and Marwa) with sincere hearts putting their trust in Allah and remember the words of Hajar who said: "Allah won`t cause us to be lost."

 

They perform Sa`ee and ask their Lord for forgiveness and mercy. They keep repeating this seeking to please Allah the Almighty and win Jannah. Allah says {What means}: "And there are others who say, 'Our Lord, give to us in this world good, and good in the Hereafter, and guard us against the chastisement of the Fire'." {Al-Baqarah, 201}.

 

After that, pilgrims gather in the plain of Arafah the land of the mercies of Allah." the day when neither wealth nor children will avail, except him who comes to God with a heart that is sound." {Al-Shu`ara`, 88-89}. Indeed, on that day nothing avails but coming to Allah with a sound heart.

And all perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds.

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Summarized Fatawaa

A woman died at the age of ninety. Her living children are nine: two sons and two daughters. The youngest of her grandchildren, from her son who passed away one year before her, is aged thirty-two. Are these grandchildren entitled to the obligatory bequest although they are aged thirty-two and above?

All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
A Muslim isn`t obligated to leave a bequest to his grandchildren whose father had passed away; rather, this act is recommended. Therefore, if he left a bequest whereby they get less than one third of the estate then Allah will reward him for that. However, if he left no bequest for them then they get nothing because their paternal uncles are alive and they are closer to the deceased and more entitled to inherit him. This is the position of the four schools of Islamic jurisprudence. However, the Personal Status Law didn`t adopt this position; rather, it gave them the same amount to which their father is entitled when alive but his father or mother are dead; provided that it doesn`t exceed one third of the estate. Therefore, we advise them (Grandchildren) to relinquish this share of the inheritance. If not, then we advise their paternal uncles to overlook the amounts taken from their shares and given to their paternal nephews. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.

I have vowed that if Allah gave me what I wanted so bad, I would fast every Monday and Thursday to the rest of my life; unless there is a valid excuse hindering me from doing so. Fortunately, Allah gave me what I wanted, so I started fasting Mondays and Thursdays; however, I stopped out of laziness. What is the Sharia ruling on this?

All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May Allah`s peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
Allah The Almighty described the righteous people of Jannah where He Said (What means): "They perform (their) vows, and they fear a Day whose evil flies far and wide." [Al-Insan/7]. Accordingly, you must do your best to fulfill your vow. However, if you are unable to do so, then feed a poor person for every missed day of fast (About half a JD), and if you are unable to do that, then offer expiation for breaking a vow, which is feeding ten poor Muslims (About half a JD for each), ask Allah for forgiveness and increase remembrance of Him. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.
 

Is it permissible for a young lady to wear a short skirt, which is above her knee, over pants?

All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
In Islam, it isn`t permissible for a woman to wear garment revealing her beautiful shape and arousing men`s sexual desire. This is whether the garment is transparent or skin-tight showing the size of her private parts. A Muslim woman`s garment must be loose and not revealing since she will be accountable for this before Allah The Almighty on the Day of Judgement. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best. 

Is it permissible for a Muslim woman to wear trousers at home?

All Perfect Praise is due to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds 

Is it permissible for the man to put on revealing clothes? Answer: It is impermissible for the man to put on revealing clothes that show his Awrah(private part) which is between his navel and knee, and exercising modesty is better. And Allah Knows Best.