Articles

Peace and Security during Hajj
Author : His Grace Shiekh Abdulkareem Al-Khasawneh
Date Added : 25-06-2023

Peace and Security during Hajj

 

All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of The Worlds. May His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.

 

Allah the Almighty says {What means}: "Remember Abraham said: "O my Lord! make this city one of peace and security: and preserve me and my sons from worshipping idols." {Ibrahim, 35}. He also says {What means}: "whoever enters it attains security;" {Al-Emran, 97}.

 

The greatest purpose for Hajj is safety and security, so this great blessing enables the believers to perform this ritual properly and in the best form possible. His saying {O my Lord! make this city one of peace and security} indicates that Prophet Ibrahim is showing us today that life can`t be stabilized save with peace and security and a person can`t perform acts of worship if they are missing. Therefore, the symbolism of Hajj reminds the Muslim nation every year that the duty of worshipping Allah can`t be performed without peace and security.

 

Accordingly, Allah gave Mecca this special status making it a place to which the hearts of the believers aspire and feel safe for their life and property. Allah the Almighty says {What means}: "Remember We made the House a place of assembly for men and a place of safety" {Al-Baqarah, 125}. Glorifying the House of Allah (Kabah) is tied with the peace and security that prevails in it and a pilgrim experiences this feeling during this journey of Hajj. It is as if he/she has entered into a fortified fortress protected by Allah, the provider of peace and security. Kabah is the source of peace and security and Allah has blessed the people of Mecca with this great blessing where He said {What means}: " Who provides them with food against hunger, and with security against fear (of danger)." {Quraish, 4}.

 

As we are experiencing the season of Hajj, we realize the greatness of time and place, the symbol of peace and security. A meaning that many Muslims have missed because of the heinous crimes committed by terrorist and extremist groups under the name of Islam although Islam is innocent of them. One group would terrorize civilians thinking that doing so will bring them closer to Allah while another would accuse Muslims of disbelief (Takfir) where a time would come when the murderer would not know why he has committed the murder, and the victim would not know why he has been killed. In these blessed days, we call upon Allah the Almighty to bless Muslims with permanent peace and security.

 

Delivering the sermon during the Farewell Pilgrimage on the day of Sacrifice at Mina, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Verily your blood, your property and your honour are as sacred and inviolable as the sanctity of this day of yours, in this month of yours and in this town of yours. Verily! I have conveyed this message to you." {Transmitted by Muslim}. He (PBUH) also said: "Everything belonging to a Muslim is inviolable for a Muslim; his honour, his blood and property." {Transmitted by Muslim}.

By this invocation of Ibrahim (PBUH), Makka became a safe place and will continue as such, God willing, until Allah inherits this earth and whatever is on it. Al-Kortobi said: "Ibrahim invoked Allah for his offspring and others to be blessed with peace and security at a time when Makka was a barren place." {Tafsir Al-Quran Al-Atheem}.

 

Some commentators of Quran said: "Before the invocation of Ibrahim, Makka was a place where every unlawful matter was lawful, but after the invocation it became a sacred and inviolable place, and the same applies to Madinah before and after the arrival of the Prophet (PBUH). Allah says {what means}: " Do they not then see that We have made a sanctuary secure, and that men are being snatched away from all around them? Then, do they believe in that which is vain, and reject the Grace of God?" {Al-Ankaboot, 67}.

 

Allah also says {what means}: "For Hajj are the months well known. If anyone undertakes that duty therein, Let there be no obscenity, nor wickedness, nor wrangling in the Hajj. And whatever good ye do, (be sure) God knoweth it. And take a provision (With you) for the journey, but the best of provisions is right conduct. So fear Me, o ye that are wise." {Al-Baqarah, 197}.

 

This verse reflects meanings of great beauty and perfection as far as the etiquettes of Hajj are concerned, which helps establish the concept of peace and security during Hajj. These divine directives steer the pilgrim towards shunning the ephemeral worldly pleasures and seeking the pleasure of Allah alone. Thus, it doesn`t befit a pilgrim to dispute with others or use vile language because the manners of the one seeking to please Allah are elevated by reading this verse, following its orders and avoiding its prohibitions, before heading to perform this great ritual.

 

The implementation of the content of this verse is reflected in the tranquility and serenity that we observe during Hajj and hastening to please Allah through self-discipline and enjoying the great Islamic morals.

 

We ask Allah to preserve the blessing of safety and security in Makkah and all Muslim countries, and all praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds.

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Summarized Fatawaa

Does passing wind from the anus affect ritual purity?

Ablution is nullified by the passing of wind from the anus, but washing the anus is not required as wind leaves no impurity.

What is the ruling on congregational prayer performed outside the mosque, and is it a condition that it be performed in a mosque in order to attain the full reward?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
It is not a condition for attaining the reward of congregational prayer that it be performed in a mosque; however, a Muslim should still be keen to perform his prayers in the mosque, so as not to miss out on immense reward. This is due to the virtue of the mosque and of spending time there (i‘tikāf), the typically larger number of worshippers present, and the additional reward gained through walking to and from the mosque. On the authority of Abū Hurayrah (raḍiyallāhu ‘anh), the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Whoever purifies himself in his house, then walks to one of the houses of Allah to fulfill one of the obligations Allah has prescribed, one of his steps will erase a sin, and the other will raise him a degree [in status]." (Related by Muslim)
Whoever misses congregational prayer at the mosque should still strive to pray in congregation at his workplace, or together with the members of his household. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

What is the ruling on selling sacrificial animals (udhiyah) described with specific attributes and authorizing an agent to slaughter them?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Selling sacrificial animals (udhiyah) that are described with specific attributes is permissible. This falls under the category of a salam sale (forward sale) if conducted using the terminology of salam, and under the category of a regular sale if not using the terminology of salam.
 
As for authorizing the seller to slaughter the sacrificial animal, the basic principle is that it is permissible, because the agent (wakil) stands in the place of the principal (muwakkil) in achieving his objective. This is a contract that the principal (the buyer) is entitled to perform himself, so authorizing another (the seller) to do so on his behalf is valid.
 
However, it is a condition for authorization to slaughter that the intention (niyyah) is present either at the time of slaughter or at the time of handing over the sacrificial animal to the agent. The basic principle is that the sacrificial animal must be specifically designated, as it is an act of worship. It is not required to designate it at the time of slaughter; rather, it is valid to do so before that.
 
It is permissible for the principal either to delegate the intention to the agent or to formulate it himself when authorizing the agent to slaughter. However, the sacrificial animal must be designated, even if at the time of slaughter, by the agent.
 
It is obligatory to designate the sacrificial animals so that each person offering a sacrifice receives his own specific animal. Therefore, charitable organizations and companies must take this into consideration and establish a specific mechanism that ensures no mixing of sacrificial animals occurs, so that each person offering a sacrifice receives his own designated animal. And Allah Almighty knows best.

Which holds greater virtue: The Udhiyah (Sacrificial Offering) or giving its value in Charity (Sadaqah)?

In the Name of Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Offering an Udhiyah (sacrificial offering) holds greater virtue than donating its monetary value to the poor and needy. This is because the sacrifice is a prominent, manifest ritual among the sacred symbols of Islam. Allah Almighty says: "That [is so]. And whoever honors the symbols of Allah - indeed, it is from the piety of hearts." (Al-Hajj: 32)
 
Furthermore, there are numerous authentic and explicit Hadiths highlighting its immense reward. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) consistently offered this sacrifice, as did the Righteous Caliphs after him. And Allah the Almighty Knows Best.