Articles

Hajj-Mabrur: "Its Meaning and Virtues"
Author : His Grace Shiekh Abdulkareem Al-Khasawneh
Date Added : 20-07-2023

 

 

 

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

 

Hajj-Mabrur: "Its Meaning and Virtues"

 

Narrated by Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her), she said: "O Messenger of Allah, we see Jihad as the best deed. Should we not then strive in Jihad?" He said, "The best Jihad (for women) is Hajj-Mabrur (i.e., one accepted by Allah)." {Transmitted by Bukhari}.

Hajj-Mabrur (The pilgrimage in which a person attains full reward) is the best act of worship in Islam after Jihad in the cause of Allah. This is because it is a cornerstone of the religion and one of the five pillars of Islam, without which Islam cannot be complete. It is obligatory on every adult, sane, free Muslim who is capable and has the provisions and means to undertake the journey.

 

Hajj-Mabrur is the one that is free from sin and showing off, or one in which generosity and good manners are observed. This according to a narration in Musnad Ahmad (a Hajj which is accepted will receive no less a reward than paradise). The Prophet (Peace be upon him) was asked about Hajj-Mabrur, and he replied, "Feeding others and spreading peace."

 

Some scholars explain Hajj-Mabrur as the one free from any sin and An-Nawawi opted for this view. Al-Qurtubi mentioned that the various interpretations of Hajj-Mabrur converge in meaning, and the main point is that it is Hajj performed with all its obligatory rites fulfilled as requested from the performer.

To achieve the forgiveness of sins and the promise of Paradise through Hajj, the following should be adhered to:

 

First: Sincere repentance from all sins and disliked actions, as the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, "The one who repents from sin is like one without sin." {Transmitted by Ibn Majah}.

 

Second: The expenditure on Hajj and all its requirements should be from halal (lawful) money without any doubt.

Third: Perform Hajj purely for the sake of Allah, seeking His pleasure and nearness. Fulfill any pending obligations and return any deposits to their rightful owners. Write a will, giving rights to Allah, His servants, and bear witness to it.

 

Fourth: Be kind to relatives, mentors, and neighbors. Fulfill the required maintenance for those dependent on the pilgrim until their return.

 

Fifth: Abstain from immoral conduct during Hajj. Avoid arguments and conflicts while purchasing. It is said, "Good conduct during travel includes providing provisions, minimal disputes among companions, good humor except in things that displease Allah, and patience in the face of adversity."

 

Sixth: To bid farewell to one's family, neighbors, relatives, and acquaintances, and to seek their forgiveness and prayers, and to give charity upon departure.

 

Seventh: Frequently remember Allah (Dhikr) during Hajj, as Allah has commanded to remember Him abundantly during the rites of Hajj, including Talbiyah, Takbir, and Tahleel. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, "The best Hajj is loud Talbiyah and Takbir." {Transmitted by At-Tirmidhi}.

 

Hajj-Mabrur has numerous virtues, including:

 

First: Forgiveness of sins and wrongdoings, as narrated by Amr ibn Al-'As (May Allah be pleased with him), the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, "Islam obliterated what preceded it, Hijrah (Emigration for the sake of Allah) obliterates what preceded it, and Hajj-Mabrur obliterates what preceded it." {Transmitted by Muslim}.

 

The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "Perform Hajj, for it washes away sins just as water washes away dirt." (Reported by Al-Tibrani in "Al-Mu'jam Al-Awsat").

Second: The reward for spending during Hajj is multiplied by seven hundred times. Buraidah (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, "The spending during Hajj is like the spending in the cause of Allah multiplied by seven hundred."{Transmitted by Ahmad and Tabarani in "Al-Mo`jam Al-Waseet}.

 

Third: The performers of Hajj and Umrah are the delegation of Allah; their supplications are answered, and their repentance is accepted. Narrated by Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, "The delegation of Allah are three: The fighter in the cause of Allah, the pilgrim, and the Mu'tamir (the one performing Umrah). They will call upon Allah and He will answer them, and they will seek His forgiveness, and He will forgive them." {Transmitted by An-Nasa'i}.

 

Fourth: Allah guarantees Paradise for the performers of Haj and Umrah upon their meeting with Him. Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, "Whoever performs Hajj and does not commit sexual misconduct or transgress will return (free from sins) as on the day his mother gave birth to him." {Transmitted by Al-Bukhari}.

 

May Allah grant us complete faith, true certainty, humble hearts, praising tongues, accepted deeds, and Hajj-Mabrur….. Amen.

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on entering the toilet with something containing the remembrance of Allah?

It is disliked to bring into the toilet anything containing a reminder of Allah, such as the Quran or a sacred name (like the name of Allah, Muhammad, etc.). If one does that, etiquette dictates that he conceal it so it is not visible while entering the toilet, either by cupping his hands over it, putting it in his pocket, or inside his shirt if it is a necklace or ring. And Allah  the Almighty knows best.

Is it valid to share in the 'aqīqah by contributing a seventh share of a camel or cow?

All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
Yes, it is permissible. If a group of people jointly share in the slaughter of a camel or a cow on behalf of seven individuals, this is valid — regardless of whether all of them intend the 'aqīqah, or some intend the 'aqīqah, others the uḍḥiyyah, and others simply the purchase of meat. And Allah Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling on swearing an oath by the Prophet ﷺ, and does such an oath take effect according to Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal, requiring expiation upon its breach?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Swearing an oath by a created being is disliked (makrūh) in our Shāfiʿī school. Shaykh al-Islām Imām al-Nawawī, may Allah have mercy upon him, states: "Swearing by a created being is disliked — such as swearing by the Prophet, the Kaʿbah, Jibrīl, the Companions, or the Prophet's family. Al-Shāfiʿī, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: 'I fear that swearing by other than Allah the Almighty may constitute an act of disobedience.' The scholars of the school explained this to mean: that is, something forbidden and sinful — indicating that he had some hesitation in the matter. Al-Imām stated: the established position of the school is that it is categorically not forbidden, but rather disliked. Furthermore, whoever swears by a created being, his oath does not take effect and no expiation (kaffārah) is required if he breaks it." [Rawḍat al-Ṭālibīn wa ʿUmdat al-Muftīn, Vol. 11/P.6]
According to the Ḥanbalī school, however, expiation becomes obligatory upon one who swears by our master the Prophet ﷺ and then breaks his oath. Imām al-Bahūtī al-Ḥanbalī, may Allah have mercy upon him, states: "No expiation is required for swearing by other than Allah the Almighty, even if the oath is broken — because expiation was made obligatory for swearing by Allah and His attributes, out of reverence for His names, and nothing else is equal to Him in this regard... except in the case of swearing by our Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ, for expiation becomes obligatory when one swears by him and then breaks the oath. This was explicitly stated in the narration of Abū Ṭālib, because he is one of the two conditions of the two testimonies of faith by which a disbeliever becomes a Muslim. Ibn ʿAqīl held the view that swearing by any of the other prophets, peace and blessings be upon them all, carries the same ruling." [Sharḥ Muntahā al-Irādāt, Vol. 3/P.441]. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on a latecomer who joins the imam during the standing position of the first rakʿah but was unable to complete the recitation of al-Fātiḥah?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
If a latecomer (masbuq) joins the prayer while the imam is standing, he should begin reciting Sūrat al-Fātiḥah immediately, without pausing to recite the opening supplication (duʿāʾ al-istiftāḥ) or the seeking of refuge (taʿawwudh). If the imam bows before he completes al-Fātiḥah, he follows the imam into the bow and leaves whatever remains of al-Fātiḥah — the imam bears it on his behalf.
It is stated in ʿUmdat al-Sālik (p. 47): "If a latecomer finds the imam standing and is confident that he has enough time to recite the taʿawwudh and al-Fātiḥah in full, he may do so. If he is uncertain, he should neither recite the opening supplication nor the taʿawwudh, but rather begin directly with al-Fātiḥah. If the imam bows before he completes it, he follows him into the bow — provided he had not already begun the opening supplication or the taʿawwudh. If he had begun either of them, he continues reciting al-Fātiḥah for as long as he spent on them." And Allah the Almighty knows best.