WHAT IS HAJJ

 

The term ‘Hajj’ means the rendering of certain auspicious rites, accompanied by performing prescribed acts during certain months. These are Shawwal, Zul-Qada and the first ten days of Zul-Hajj. Hajj becomes obligatory on a person once in a lifetime, when the following eight conditions are present:

 

1. One must be a Muslim.

 

2. Sane.

 

3. Mature.

 

4. Freedom.

 

5. Hajj can only be performed during the months of Hajj.

 

6. A person must be able to secure provisions for the journey even though it may suffice only for a modest stay in Makkah only. He should also have enough means for his personal expenses, as well as his family’s expenses (which they would incur during his absence), and necessary assets such as shelter, furniture, instruments of trade etc. In other words Hajj will be incumbent on a person only if he has the financial means over and above these.

 

7. The ability to secure adequate transport which may be owned by the person, or rented. To be allowed the use of another’s transport or borrowing the same will not make Hajj obligatory on one. This will apply to those who do not reside in Makkah or its surrounding regions, if they are easily able to undertake the journey by foot. If such a person cannot walk, it will be necessary for him to acquire adequate transport.

 

8. One living in a non-Islamic state has to know that Hajj if Farz. Living in an Islamic state automatically makes this knowledge obligatory because one cannot claim ignorance, as the former may.

 

Besides these eight pre-requisites, one has to posses the following as well:

 

1. Sound physical health.

 

2. Absence of any physical hindrances.

 

3. A secure passage to Makkah.

 

4. Expiry of a woman’s Iddat.

 

5. For a woman the company of a Mahram, (i.e. a male relative to whom marriage is forbidden) is essential. The Mahram male has to trustworthy, san and mature Muslim. The primary concern in any land or sea voyage is the woman’s safety

.

The obligation of Hajj will be fulfilled by four things:

1. Ihraam and

2. Islam, which are both preliminary clauses. Thereafter the performing of two fundamental injunctions of Hajj, viz:

3. Being in Arafat for even a single moment, while in the state of Ihraam, from midday of the ninth day _of Zul-Hajj) up to the time of Fajr of the Day of Nahr (tenth of Zul-Hajj). In addition the person must not cohabit before this while in Ihraam.

4. The second fundamental injunction is the completion of most of the Tawaafs (circumambulations) of the Ifadah (Ziyaraat) during its time which commences after dawn of the Day of Nahr.

THE WAAJIBAAT OF HAJJ

1.         Wearing the Ihraam from any Meeqaat (boundary).
2.         Prolonging the stay at Arafaat up to sunset.
3.         Staying at Muzdalifah at any time, between, after Fajr of the tenth day to before sunrise of the next day.
4.         Stoning the Jamaraat.
5.         The sacrificing of an animal for performing the Qaarin or Mutamatti Hajj.
6.         Shaving of the head.
7.         The shaving of the head within the precincts of the Haram during the days of Nahr.
8.         Performing the stoning before the shaving.
9.         For the Qaarin or Mutamatti to perform the sacrifice between the acts of stoning and shaving.
10.       Performance of the Tawaf of Ziyaraat within the days of Nahr.
11.       Performing the Sa’ee between Safa and Marwah.
12.       For the Sa’ee to be made after a correct complete Tawaf which was made according to Shari
            standards.
13.       For a person to perform the Sa’ee on foot unless there is a valid reason.
14.       Beginning the Sa’ee at Safa.
15.       The Tawaf of Wida (i.e. the farewell Tawaf).
16.       Beginning every Tawaaf of the Kaabah from the Hajr Aswad.
17.       To begin Tawaaf from the right hand side of the Hajr Aswad (when facing it).
18.       For a person without any handicap to perform the Tawaafs on foot.
19.       Purifying oneself (for the Tawaafs) from both minor and major impurities.
20.       Concealment of the Aurat.
21.       If the majority of the Shouts (rounds) at the Tawaaf Ziyaraat were made on the day of Nahr
            (tenth) then the remaining few also has to be completed on this day.
22.       Abstaining from all forbidden acts such as:
-  A man’s wearing of tight fitting garments.
-  Covering of a man’s head o face.
-  A woman’s allowing a cloth to touch her face.
-  Promiscuous talk.
-  Committing sins.
-  Having arguments and fights.
-  Hunting an animal or pointing it out for another to kill.

THE SUNNATS OF HAJJ

1. To take a bath even though the person is in the state of menstruation or afterbirth before adorning Ihraam. Alternatively Wudhu may be performed when intending to enter in the state of Ihraam.
2. To wear new, white, upper and lower garments.
3. To apply perfume.
4. To perform two Rakaats Salaat.
5. To increase one’s recitation of the Talbiyah after adorning the Ihraam, in a raised voice (for men) whenever performing Salaat or ascending or descending, the Talbiyah should be read at least thrice continuously whenever commenced.
6. Sending Durood upon Rasulullah (saw).
7. To supplicate for Jannat and the companionship of the pious, together with seeking protection from Jahannam.
8. To take a bath for entering Makkah.
9. Preferably to enter Makkah during the daytime from the door of Mu’alla.
10. To recite Takbeer and Kalima before the Ka’bah.
11. To make any dua one pleases upon sighting the Ka’bah. This dua is most certainly accepted.
12. To perform the Tawaaf on Arrival (Tawaaf Quddom) even though it may not be the month of Hajj.
13. To adorn the upper garment of the Ihraam in such a manner that the right shoulder is exposed. (This is only during the Tawaf and only for men. At other times, especially during Salaat, both shoulders should be covered.)
14. To perform Ramal during the first three rounds of every Tawaf which is to be followed by Sa’ee during the months of Hajj (Ramal means to walk briskly with short steps, moving the shoulders from side to side).
15. To jog between the green lights. This, as well as the aforementioned Ramal, apply to men only. The remainder of the Sa’ee should be completed at a normal moderate walking pace.
16. To perform an abundance of Tawaaf which, for a non-resident of Makkah, is superior to Nafl Salaat.
17. The deliverance of a Khutbah after Zuhr on the seventh day of Zul Hajj. This is a single Khutbah with a seated pause in between, wherein the masses are instructed with the various injunctions of Hajj.
18. To leave Makkah after sunrise on the eighth day and move towards Mina.
19. To spend the night at Mina.
20. To leave Mina for Arafaat after sunrise on the ninth day.
21.Deliverance of two Kutbahs, separated by a seated pause, before the joint Salaat of Zuhr and Asr, which are both performed during the time of Zuhr (with the Imam).
22.To exert oneself during both these occasions in humility before Allaah Ta’ala with humble duas concerning one’s personal needs and well-being, as well as for one’s parents, family and the Muslims in general. Any virtuous dua concerning both the worlds can be made with sincerity.
23. Thereafter, to proceed calmly and peacefully after sunset of the same day (ninth) towards Muzdalifah. Here one should take heed not to be in close proximity at the lower valley near the mountain of Kuza.
24. To spend the night of Nahr (tenth) in Muzdalifah.
25. To spend the days of Mina (tenth, eleventh and twelfth) at Mina with all of one’s belongings (which were brought for the days of Hajj). It is Makrooh Tahrimi to despatch one’s belongings to Makkah beforehand while one is still in Mina.
26. To stone Jamaraat standing in such a position that Mina is towards the right and Makkah towards the left.
27. To stone the Jamaraatul Aqabah each time while mounted upon a conveyance. The first Jamaraat and the middle one should be stoned while on foot.
28. To stand at the centre of the circle while stoning.
29. To stone between sunrise and Zawaal and sunset on the remaining days. It is Makrooh to stone between dawn (Subh Saadiq) and sunrise on the first and fourth days. Similarly it is Makrooh to stone during the nights of all three days. Although stoning at nights is Makrooh, it will be deemed valid since all the nights are subordinate to the days which follow them except the night which comes after the day of Arafaat (which is subordinate to the day proceeding it). Therefore, the stay at Arafaat is valid during this night as well. This is the night on Eid.
30. The most appropriate time for stoning on the first day (tenth) is from after Zawaal up to sunset. From the aforementioned discourse the permissible, reprehensible and preferred times for stoning have been made apparent.
31. It is also Sunnah practice for a Mufrid (i.e. one performing only Hajj) to slaughter an animal and eat from it. It is only permissible to consume from this sacrifice ant those which are optional or of Tamattu or Qiraan (i.e. the sacrifice of a misdemeanour viz. Damm/Jinaayat cannot be consumed by the person offering the sacrifice).
32. It is also Sunnah for a Khutbah (sermon) to be delivered on the day of Nahr (tenth); in which the remaining injunctions of Hajj are elucidated. This is the third Khutba of Hajj.
33. It is also Sunnah to leave Mina before sunset on the twelfth day if one desires to do so. If, however, one is still in Mina after sunset on this twelfth day then he would have erred although no penalty will have accrued against him. If he remains at Mina up to daybreak of the fourteenth day it will be necessary for him to stone on that day.
34. It is also Sunnah to camp at a place called Muhassab (also called Abtah) for a short duration after leaving from Mina.
35. Then one should drink Zam Zam to one’s fill while standing facing the Kaabah and gazing at it. Also to pour some on one’s head and body. Whatever dua a person makes when drinking Zam Zam is accepted, whether it concerns the Dunya or the Aakhira.
36. It is also Sunnah to cling to the Multazam placing the chest and face on it. (The Multazam is that portion of the Kaabah between the Hajr Aswad and the Door). One should also hold the cloth covering of the Kaabah while making any supplication desired.
37. One could also kiss the door frame of the Kaabah on entering, with etiquette and respect. After all this, the only remaining act is one of the most virtuous of deeds which is the visiting of Nabi (saw)’s mausoleum in Madinah and those of his Sahaabah (ra). With this intention in mind one should leave Makkah from the door of Subeeka via the Thania Sufla. A separate section deals with the etiquettes of the visitation of the grave (Ziarat) Insha Allaah.