Alhamdulillah. The blessed days of Hajj are upon us. It is during the first most blessed days of the month of Dhul Hijjah that pilgrims from across the globe make their way to Makkah and the surrounding areas, to perform the rites of Hajj.
A verse from the Qur’an tells of the importance of Hajj, one of the 5 pillars of Islam and therefore a duty to all those who believe who are financially and physically able to go and reap the blessings of Hajj. Many Muslims save their money for years and years before they are able to make this journey.
“And pilgrimage to the House (the Ka’bah) is a duty that mankind owes to Allah, those who can afford the expenses; and whoever disbelieves (i.e. denies Hajj), then he is a disbeliever of Allah, then Allah is independent of all creation.” (Surah Al Imran: 97)
While performing Hajj, Muslims proclaim their obedience to Allah by repeating:
“Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik. Labbaik la sharika laka labbaik. Innal-hamda wan-ni’mata laka wal mulk, la sharika laka.”
“I respond in obedience to You, O Allah – I respond. I respond – no partner is there to You – I respond. All praise and favor is Yours, and sovereignty. There is no partner to You.”
Press play to listen to Muslims as they perform Hajj:
Muslims traveling from all over the world will finally get to see and spiritually experience the Kaaba. The first house of Allah which dates back to Prophet Ibrahim, AS.
Thousands and thousands of Muslims, from every ethnicity, from every economic class, from all over the world, the wealthy, the poor, the old, the young, those who are have been blessed with family, and those who are alone, those who have been struck with tragedy and those blessed with fortune. All in the simplest of clothing, stripped of their everyday attire, all appearing the same before Allah.
Princes and paupers, side by side! All equal in the eyes of Allah and judged by Allah based on good merit, piety/righteousness and deeds.
Fellow brothers and sisters all together with one shared belief. The belief that there is just One God, Allah! There is no other deity, no other, none to be worshipped but Allah!
All walking the same path that perhaps their own parents walked, the same earth that Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and his companions all walked so many years before us.
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This is “the largest temporary gathering of humanity on the globe.” (Shalabi,2001)
Alhamdulillah
I can almost hear the call that they are making:
“Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik. Labbaik la sharika laka labbaik. Innal-hamda wan-ni’mata laka wal mulk, la sharika laka.”
There are several rituals that are performed during Hajj. In brief, the rituals are:
1. Putting on Ihram (Stripping yourself of your everyday clothing and wearing just two pieces of cloth. This is for men only. Woman wear abaya and hijab.)
2. Circumambulating the Ka’bah seven times. It is believed that angels circumambulate directly above the Kaaba, around Baitul Ma’mur, which is in the 7th heaven directly above the Kaaba.
3. Walking between as-Safa and al-Marwah near the Ka’bah. This represents the path of Hajaar, wife of Prophet Ibrahim, that she took between the two mountains (7 times) searching for water for her baby, Ismaeel.
4. Visiting and staying at Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah
5. Throwing pebbles at three fixed places at Mina. Three structures which represent Shaitan.
6. Shaving or trimming hair.
7. Sacrifice of an animal. Representing the sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim, AS.
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The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said, “There are no days of the year in which righteous deeds done in them are more beloved to Allah than the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah!”
What are good deeds that we can do during these first 10 days?
- Fasting on the day of Arafat (9th of Dhul Hijjah) If you fast on this day, your sins will be forgiven for the year before and the year after. May
- Dhikr. Remembrance of Allah. Example: Saying often throughout the day, “Allahu Akbar” “La illaha illAllah” “Alhamdulillah.”
- Repent to Allah SWT with sincerity. We are all human and we are sinners. Take the time to seek Allah’s forgiveness often during these blessed 10 days.
- Extra voluntary deeds of prayer, charity, and reading Qur’an.
- Tahhajjud. Wake up to pray in the last hours of the night. A time when Allah comes nearest to us, a time when Allah seeks out those who are asking of Him. Alhamdulillah!
- Sacrifice an animal for the Sake of Allah SWT. This can be done on the 10, 11, 12, or 13 of the month of Dhul Hijjah. Whoever sacrifices an animal, all sins to the amount of hair on the animal will be forgiven.
- Pray the Eid al Adha salat (10th day of Dhul Hijjah). Eid al Adha is to commemorate the end of Hajj and to remember the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) to sacrifice his son to Allah SWT.
- Appreciate the blessing of Allah and come close to Him during these days through all of these acts with intention, thought, appreciation, prayer, and seeking forgiveness. Alhamdulillah!!
May Allah SWT accept everyone’s Hajj, Du’a, charity, fasting and all worship during these blessed days.
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Rivers Flowing in Paradise 
Assalamualikum
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Allahaaaa
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