50 Things To Be Done During Hajj
[..1] Smile in another Muslims face
[..2] Say Salam to strangers
[..3] Shake someone’s hand and ask about their health
[..4] Buy tea for someone
[..5] Offer to get someone’s groceries
[..6] Sit with a Hajj group from another country and ask about Islam in their village
[..7] Carry someone’s bags for them
[..8] Guide someone ill to the infirmary
[..9] Shun vain talk
[10] Recite talbiyah loudly, encouraging others
[11] On the days of Eid, walk through the tents reciting Talbiyah loudly reminding others
[12] Gather stones for people
[13] Offer to throw on behalf of unable Hajjis
[14] Guide people to the Jamarat
[15] Lower your gaze
[16] Remind people of the lives of the Sahaabah
[17] Read Qur’an with the Tafseer
[18] Do the authentic Dhikr of the morning and evening
[19] Make dua during your Sajdah
[20] Stand to the side of a gate and offer people water/tea as they leave
Udhiyah – Conditions And Purpose Of The Sacrifice
We would like to stress that udhiyah is one of the great rituals of Islam, in which we remember the Oneness of Allah, His Blessings upon us and the obedience of our father Ibrahim to his Lord, and in this act of udhiyah there is much goodness and blessing. So the Muslims must pay attention to its great importance. The following is a brief look at this important ritual. Udhiyah refers to the animal (camel, cattle or sheep) offered as a sacrifice, and it is an act of worship dedicated solely to gain Allah’s pleasure. Udhiyah takes place in the country in which the person offering the sacrifice lives, during the period from after the Eid prayer on the Day of Nahr or Eid Al-Adha until the last of the Days of Tashreeq (the 13th day of Dhu’l-Hijja), with the intention of offering sacrifice. Allah says: Therefore turn in prayer to your Lord and sacrifice (to Him only). (108:2)
He also says: Say (O Muhammad – peace be upon him ): “Verily, my Salat (prayer), my sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the Aalamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists). (6:162)
“And for every nation We have appointed religious ceremonies, that they may mention the Name of Allah over the beast of cattle that He has given them for food. And your Ilah (God) is One Ilah (God Allah) so you must submit to Him Alone (in Islam)” (22:34)
Udhiyah is a confirmed Sunnah or Sunnah Muakkadah according to the majority of scholars (some scholars say that it is wajib or obligatory).
The basic principle is that it is required at the appointed time from one who is alive on behalf of himself and the members of his household, and he may include in the reward whoever he wishes, living or dead.
Conditions of Udhiyah
1) The animal should have reached the required age, which is six months for a lamb, one year for a goat, two years for a cow and five years for a camel.
2) It should be free of any faults, because the Prophet (peace be upon him) said : “There are four that will not do for sacrifice: a one-eyed animal whose defect is obvious, a sick animal whose sickness is obvious, a lame animal whose limp is obvious and an emaciated animal that has no marrow in its bones.” (Sahih Al-Jami, no. 886). There are milder defects that do not disqualify an animal, but it is makrooh to sacrifice such animals, such as an animal with a horn or ear missing, or an animal with slits in its ears, etc. Udhiyah is an act of worship to Allah, and Allah is Good and accepts only that which is good. Whoever honors the rites of Allah, this has to do with the piety of the heart.
3) It is forbidden to sell it. If an animal has been selected for sacrifice, it is not permissible to sell it or give it away, except in exchange for one that is better. If an animal gives birth, its offspring should be sacrificed along with it. It is also permissible to ride it if necessary. The evidence for this is the report narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim from Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) saw a man leading his camel and told him, “Ride it.” He said, “It is for sacrifice.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Ride it” a second or third time.
Good Deeds In The Ten Days Of Dul Hajj
According to Abu Abbas that the Prophet (PBUH) said: No deeds during the year days are better than the deeds in the ten days of Dul Hajj. They said: Even Jihad in the way of Allah? The Prophet (PBUH) said: Even Jihad except a man goes for Jihad with his wealth and does not return back with any things. Narrated by Bukhary.
These are the days in which the fifth pillar of Islam, Hajj, falls and where delegates of Hajj come from different places to meet. Allah Almighty says in Sura Al Baqarah V:198: Then when you leave, Arafat, member Allah at the mash ar-il-Haram. And remember Him as He has guided you and verily, you were, before, of those who were astray.
And the best day among the 10 days of Dul Hajj is the day of Arafat. That is why the Prophet (PBUH) advises those who are not going for Hajj, to fast this day. According to Abu quatada that when the Prophet (PBUH) was asked about fasting the day of Arafat He said: It clears the sins of current and previous years. Narrated by Muslim. The Prophet (PBUH) also said: Verily, there is no day where the number of people whom Allah will be free from Hell fire, is higher than the day of Arafat. Narrated by Muslim.
According to Abu Abbas that the Prophet (PBUH) said: That Allah Almighty took the pledge from the children of Adam on the day of Arafat and said to them: Am I not your Lord? They said yes we testify, lest you should say on the Day of Judgment. ?Verily we have been unaware of this? narrated by Ahmed. This indicates as if all people recognize their lord on this day and such recognition remains with them unless it is damaged by bad environment.
These days are seasons for purifying our selves and rectifying our conditions therefore, Muslims should not miss such opportunities.
Eid al-Adha Aur Hajj
A New Life After Hajj & Umrah
NO doubt, Hajj is a golden opportunity to have one’s sins forgiven, one’s soul purified, and one’s heart filled with faith and tranquility. The one who performs Hajj is supposed to be a model for others after returning. He or she is to recall throughout the year the matchless experiences gained in Hajj.
We should stress the fact that those whom Allah favored to perform Hajj and Umrah, should be thankful to Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) Who has chosen them from among His servants to perform these acts of worship, and they should implore Almighty Allah to accept their good deeds. That is very important, for it reflects their belief that being so favored by Allah to accomplish the task of traveling to the Sacred Land to perform Hajj and Umrah is a favor that deserves gratitude to Allah.
We also urge the pilgrim, after returning from the Sacred Land, to keep his mind and soul attached to Allah, remembering Him constantly because Almighty Allah says : “So when you have accomplished your Manasik, remember Allah as you remember your forefathers or with a more remembrance” (2: 200)
The new Hajji should be very keen to avoid evil and shameful deeds especially after Allah has obliterated them and forgave all his sins, as a reward of performing Hajj. This is based on the Hadith in which the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “The reward of Hajj Mabrur (the one accepted by Allah) is nothing but Paradise.”
The Prophet also said, “(The performance of) Umrah is an expiation for the sins committed between it and the previous one.” (Reported by Muslim)
Therefore, it is incumbent on every Hajji to be thankful and offer due gratitude to Allah for being chosen to perform those acts of worship.
We advice such a person, upon returning home, to be conscious of Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) when performing all what Allah has commanded him to do of the other acts of worship such as Salah (Prayers), Zakah, Fasting, dutifulness to his parents, visiting kith and kin, being charitable and benevolent to Allah’s creatures, observing the etiquette of Islam, taking the morals of the Qur’an as a model and the like of what the Muslim should do.
The reason for all what we have said above is that the more Hajj is considered an honor and a blessing, the more it entails responsibility for what one will be asked on the Day of Judgment in case he errs after returning from Hajj.
The epitome of this is that the Hajj is a duty to be offered once in lifetime. So, the pilgrim should take that as a golden opportunity which he will make use of for the rest of his life, reminiscing about the sacred places and all rituals (of Hajj), for that will strengthen his faith and help him to obey Allah.
The Weak And Destitute Will Form The Majority In Paradise
Most of those who will enter Paradise will be the weak and destitute, whom people tend to ignore and care little about, but in the sight of Allah (swt) they are important, because they fear Him and worship Him faithfully and with humility. al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Hareethah ibn Wahb that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said:
“Shall I not tell you about the people of Paradise? They said, “Of course”. He said, “Every weak and oppressed person; if he were to implore Allah for anything, He would grant it to him.” [Jaami’ al-Usool, 10/535]
An-Nawawi said, commenting on this hadith: “It refers to those who others despise, scorn and oppress because of their weak position in this world. What is meant is that most of the people of Paradise will be of this type, but it does not meant that all of them will be”. [Sharh an-Nawawi alaa Muslim, 17/187]
al-Bukhaari, Ahmad and Muslim reported from Usaamah ibn Zayd that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said: “I stood at the gate of Paradise and saw that most of those who entered were the poor and destitute. The people of means were held back, whilst the people of Hell had been ordered into the Fire. I stood by the gate of Hell, and saw that most of those who entered it were women”. [Mishkaat al-Masaabih, 2/663 no 5233]
Why Be Good To Parents?
Source to Paradise
Being kind to parents can be our source of entering paradise. The Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned that Jibreel cursed three types of people and the Prophet (peace be upon him) responded by saying Aameen. One such type is a person who grows up when his parents are alive and (due to his negligence to them) they do not allow him to enter Paradise. (Imam Bukhari’s Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, no. 646 – authenticated by Al-Albani)
This Hadith shows the importance of being good to parents, whether they are Muslims or not. It is one of the causes that leads an individual to paradise and saves him from the Fire.
Long life and wealth
Kindness to parents can increase our life span and sustenance. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever would like to have an extension in his stay in this world or have an increase in his sustenance then let him join his family ties.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Being good to parents is one of the important parts of upholding family ties. It could be a reason for long life with increase in sustenance.
Treatment reciprocated
If we treat our parents well, our children will similarly treat us well in future. Our kindness and respect will only return to us. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Show kindness to your parents and in turn your children shall show kindness to you.” (Al-Hakim)
(No doubt, it would be a blessing) if our children are good to us in times of our need.
Allah’s pleasure
Allah’s pleasure is tied with the pleasure of parents and so is His displeasure. Allah is pleased when we obey Him, and He commanded us to be kind to our parents. So, being kind to parents will please Allah, while the opposite invokes His anger.
– From Sheikh Al-Ghudyan’s lecture “Be dutiful and good to parents” via tele-link to Albaseerah, transcribed in Albaseerah.org forums.
Al-Ghudyan is a member of the Council of Senior Scholars and the Permanent Committee for Research and Islamic Verdicts, Saudi Arabia.
Seerat Un Nabi Ki Roshni Mein Aadab-e-Taam
Abu Bakr’s Admonition To Umar
ABU Bakr Al-Siddiq, on his deathbed, called Umar and said:
Fear Allah, O Umar. Know that there are deeds to be done in the day which Allah will not accept if done at night, and there are deeds to be done at night which He will not accept if done during the day. He will not accept extra (Nafl) deeds unless you fulfill the obligatory ones.
The scales of some will be weighty on the Day of Resurrection only because they followed the truth in this life and it was weighty to them. And the scales on which the truth will be placed tomorrow truly deserve to be heavy. The scales of some will be light on the Day of Resurrection only because they followed falsehood in this life and it was a light matter to them. And scales in which falsehood will be placed tomorrow truly deserve to be light.
Allah the Exalted has mentioned the people of Paradise and mentioned them in the context of their best deeds, and overlooked their evil deeds, so when I remember them I say to myself: I fear that I will not be included among them.
And Allah the Exalted has mentioned the people of Hell and mentioned them in the context of their worst deeds and rejected their best deeds, so when I remember them I say: I hope I won’t be amongst them. Allah’s worshipers should always be in a state of hope and fear, they shouldn’t entertain flimsy wishes about Allah and neither should they despair of Allah’s mercy.
If you keep to this advice of mine, no one who is not with you now should be more beloved to you than death – and it is sure to come to you. But if you disregard this advice, no one who is not with you now should be more hated to you than death – and you cannot escape it.
– Abu Nu’aym, Hilyah Al-Awliya Vol.1 p18; and Ibn Al-Jawzi, Sifah Al-Safwah.