~*~*~*~*~ Al-Hajj ~*~*~*~*~

Nasir on Wed Nov 04, 2009 11:36 am

~*~*~*~*~ Al-Hajj ~*~*~*~*~

The Pilgrimage (Al-Hajj) and Lesser Pilgrimage (Al-Umra) in language and Islamic Jurisprudence

1. The literal meaning of Hajj in Arabic is to set out towards a definite objective. In Islamic law it means to set out for the Ka'ba, the Sacred House, and to fulfill the pilgrimage rites.

2. Umra is derived from I'timar meaning a visit. In Islamic law it means visiting the Sacred House, drawing near to God in accordance with the rules which are subsequently referred to.

The distinctions between Hajj and Umra will be pointed out in due course.

Nasir on Wed Nov 04, 2009 11:39 am

Some Ordinances of the Pilgrimage and Lesser Pilgrimage

1. 1) Pilgrimage is an obligation for Muslims, according to the precepts of the Holy Quran and the Sunna (Practice of the Prophet and Companions).

a. In the Quran God says: "Pilgrimage thereto is a duty men owe' to God, those who are able to make the journey" This means that Pilgrimage is a duty imposed on all Muslims and which they cannot avoid so long as they are able to find the means to do so.

b. As for the Sunna, Ibn `Abbas reported that the Prophet said in one of his speeches: "O people, pilgrimage is ordained for you- so fulfill it." Then al-Aqra' Ibn Habis asked : "Is it to be yearly, O Messenger of God?" To this the Prophet replied "If I say so, it will be taken for an obligation which lies beyond your power... Pilgrimage is to be performed once, and whoever performs it more than once does so voluntarily".

2. According to the above-mentioned hadith (saying of the Prophet), pilgrimage is a duty one owes to God once in the course of one's life to do so more than once is voluntary. All the scholars (`Ulama) have agreed upon this.

3. As for the Lesser Pilgrimage, some scholar state that it is desirable, but not compulsory, quoting Abu Hurayra, who reported that the Prophet said "Pilgrimage is a duty, but the Lesser Pilgrimage is optional." Once a Bedouin came to the Prophet and said : "O Messenger of God tell me about the Umra, is it a duty ?" The Prophet answered : "No, but it is better for you that you perform it".
The Messenger of God recommended the quick fulfillment of the pilgrimage : "He who intends to set out on a pilgrimage must hasten he may fall sick, lose his means of conveyance, or be faced with poverty"

Nasir on Thu Nov 05, 2009 11:00 am

To whom is the Pilgrimage Obligatory?

The pilgrimage is incumbent upon the adult Muslim in full possession of his faculties It is not to be demanded from other than Muslims, nor from children or lunatics, in accordance with the words of the Prophet "The pen is withdrawn from three persons - i.e. which records human acts pending Divine Judgment - "the sleeper till he awakes, the child till he grows up, and the lunatic till he is cured of his insanity".

Nasir on Thu Nov 05, 2009 11:08 am

The pilgrimage is a duty for those who can afford it, as mentioned in the Quran "Pilgrimage to the Ka'ba is a duty men owe to God, those who are able to make the journey".
The `Ulama interpret these words of Allah as the ability to meet the expenses of travel and make provision for themselves and for their families at home. This of course, does not concern the inhabitants of Mecca or its vicinity.
In this connection one should note the tremendous progress-in means of transport such as steamers, planes and trains. So one may assume that "those who are able to make the journey" would mean those who have the money to pay for their fare, and provide for themselves and the members of their household at home.

Nasir on Thu Nov 05, 2009 11:15 am

As has already been mentioned, it is not an obligation for boys to go on the pilgrimage. But if they do accompany their families, it is something laudable ; that does not exempt them from pilgrimage when they come of age.
If boys have not reached the age of discrimination, their parents or their guardians carry out all the rites of Hajj for them. This practice was followed by the Prophet himself, according to a tradition of jabir Ibn Abdallah. According to al-San'ani, the guardian says on his behalf, speaking from the heart "I have placed him in a state of sanctity (Ihram)."

Nasir on Thu Nov 05, 2009 11:26 am

As regards women, there are other further conditions to be taken into account. Some `Ulama insist that women must be accompanied as an escort, by a close relative such as a brother or a son (Maharim). Others are not so adamant on this point, saying that she must perform the pilgrimage whether she has a close relative with her or not.

Nasir on Thu Nov 05, 2009 11:36 am

He who dies without performing his pilgrimage is acquitted of this obligation if his descendants carry out the pilgrimage in his name and with his own money, or if they provide a substitute to do this by proxy .

Nasir on Thu Nov 05, 2009 11:40 am

If any man is incapacitated by old age or incurable disease he may choose some person to perform the pilgrimage on his behalf. Pilgrimage by proxy is not valid unless the person designated has himself already performed the Hajj.

Nasir on Tue Nov 10, 2009 11:37 am

Stations (Mawaqit) of the Pilgrimage and lesser Pilgrimage

The word "Mawaqit" here widens its sense in such a way as to include both the original sense of time and also place. In other words, it signifies the times and the places from which the actual rites of pilgrimage begin.

Nasir on Tue Nov 10, 2009 11:40 am

The Pilgrimage and lesser Pilgrimage

1) Time of Hajj and `Umra.

As regards the pilgrimage, the times referred to are those defined by God in His words "The pilgrimage is in the well-known months". These months are Shawwal, Dhu'l Qa'ada, Dhu'l Hijja. The`Ulama added that only the first ten days of Dhul-Hijja are included. Thus it is not allowed to enter into the state of consecration (lhram) for the pilgrimage before these months, that is to say, before the month of Shawwal. As for the Lesser Pilgrimage, it is not limited to any definite time of the year. Here is one of the distinctions between the Hajj and `Umra. It is said that the Prophet himself performed it once in shawwal and another time in Dhu'l-Qa'da, though he declared that `Umra in Ramadan (the month of fasting) is equal to the Hajj in gaining God's blessing without meaning, of course, that it would replace it.

Nasir on Wed Nov 11, 2009 8:36 am

2) Stations of Assembly (Mawdqit Makaniya)

This refers to the places outside Mecca at which Muslims assemble before entering the Haram. On reaching these assembly points they prepare themselves both physically and spiritually for this sacred duty. These places were defined by religious law, and each is termed a Miqat. The Prophet fixed these places to the South, East and North of Mecca. They are as follows.

Nasir on Wed Nov 11, 2009 8:39 am

Dhu'l-Hulayfa: It is a place situated North of Mecca at a distance of 450 kilometres. It is the station allotted to the inhabitants of Madina and those to the North of it.

Nasir on Wed Nov 11, 2009 8:42 am

al-Juhfa: It is a village North-West of Mecca which was a station for the people of the Levant. This village became ruined long ago, and in its place there is the village of Rabigh, which is the Mikat of the people of the A.R.E. Turkey, the Balkan countries, Syria, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco, and those coming from the North, or North West.

Nasir on Wed Nov 11, 2009 8:50 am

Yalamlam: It is a mountain South of Mecca appointed by the Prophet as a station for the people of Yemen and those coming from countries lying southwards.

Nasir on Wed Nov 11, 2009 8:53 am

Qarn al-Mandzil: It is a mountain East of Mecca, and considered the station of the people of Najd, and those coming from the East.

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