Articles

Hajj-Mabrur: "Its Meaning and Virtues"
Author : His Grace Shiekh Abdulkareem Al-Khasawneh
Date Added : 20-07-2023

 

 

 

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

 

Hajj-Mabrur: "Its Meaning and Virtues"

 

Narrated by Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her), she said: "O Messenger of Allah, we see Jihad as the best deed. Should we not then strive in Jihad?" He said, "The best Jihad (for women) is Hajj-Mabrur (i.e., one accepted by Allah)." {Transmitted by Bukhari}.

Hajj-Mabrur (The pilgrimage in which a person attains full reward) is the best act of worship in Islam after Jihad in the cause of Allah. This is because it is a cornerstone of the religion and one of the five pillars of Islam, without which Islam cannot be complete. It is obligatory on every adult, sane, free Muslim who is capable and has the provisions and means to undertake the journey.

 

Hajj-Mabrur is the one that is free from sin and showing off, or one in which generosity and good manners are observed. This according to a narration in Musnad Ahmad (a Hajj which is accepted will receive no less a reward than paradise). The Prophet (Peace be upon him) was asked about Hajj-Mabrur, and he replied, "Feeding others and spreading peace."

 

Some scholars explain Hajj-Mabrur as the one free from any sin and An-Nawawi opted for this view. Al-Qurtubi mentioned that the various interpretations of Hajj-Mabrur converge in meaning, and the main point is that it is Hajj performed with all its obligatory rites fulfilled as requested from the performer.

To achieve the forgiveness of sins and the promise of Paradise through Hajj, the following should be adhered to:

 

First: Sincere repentance from all sins and disliked actions, as the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, "The one who repents from sin is like one without sin." {Transmitted by Ibn Majah}.

 

Second: The expenditure on Hajj and all its requirements should be from halal (lawful) money without any doubt.

Third: Perform Hajj purely for the sake of Allah, seeking His pleasure and nearness. Fulfill any pending obligations and return any deposits to their rightful owners. Write a will, giving rights to Allah, His servants, and bear witness to it.

 

Fourth: Be kind to relatives, mentors, and neighbors. Fulfill the required maintenance for those dependent on the pilgrim until their return.

 

Fifth: Abstain from immoral conduct during Hajj. Avoid arguments and conflicts while purchasing. It is said, "Good conduct during travel includes providing provisions, minimal disputes among companions, good humor except in things that displease Allah, and patience in the face of adversity."

 

Sixth: To bid farewell to one's family, neighbors, relatives, and acquaintances, and to seek their forgiveness and prayers, and to give charity upon departure.

 

Seventh: Frequently remember Allah (Dhikr) during Hajj, as Allah has commanded to remember Him abundantly during the rites of Hajj, including Talbiyah, Takbir, and Tahleel. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, "The best Hajj is loud Talbiyah and Takbir." {Transmitted by At-Tirmidhi}.

 

Hajj-Mabrur has numerous virtues, including:

 

First: Forgiveness of sins and wrongdoings, as narrated by Amr ibn Al-'As (May Allah be pleased with him), the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, "Islam obliterated what preceded it, Hijrah (Emigration for the sake of Allah) obliterates what preceded it, and Hajj-Mabrur obliterates what preceded it." {Transmitted by Muslim}.

 

The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "Perform Hajj, for it washes away sins just as water washes away dirt." (Reported by Al-Tibrani in "Al-Mu'jam Al-Awsat").

Second: The reward for spending during Hajj is multiplied by seven hundred times. Buraidah (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, "The spending during Hajj is like the spending in the cause of Allah multiplied by seven hundred."{Transmitted by Ahmad and Tabarani in "Al-Mo`jam Al-Waseet}.

 

Third: The performers of Hajj and Umrah are the delegation of Allah; their supplications are answered, and their repentance is accepted. Narrated by Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, "The delegation of Allah are three: The fighter in the cause of Allah, the pilgrim, and the Mu'tamir (the one performing Umrah). They will call upon Allah and He will answer them, and they will seek His forgiveness, and He will forgive them." {Transmitted by An-Nasa'i}.

 

Fourth: Allah guarantees Paradise for the performers of Haj and Umrah upon their meeting with Him. Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, "Whoever performs Hajj and does not commit sexual misconduct or transgress will return (free from sins) as on the day his mother gave birth to him." {Transmitted by Al-Bukhari}.

 

May Allah grant us complete faith, true certainty, humble hearts, praising tongues, accepted deeds, and Hajj-Mabrur….. Amen.

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on one who vows to fast a specific or non-specific year? Are the two Eids, the days of Tashreeq, Ramadan, and the days of menstruation and postnatal bleeding included in them? And do these days break the consecutiveness if it was intended?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
If someone makes a vow (Nadr) to fast a specific, designated year, this vow does not include the days of Eid, the days of Tashreeq (the three days following Eid al-Adha), Ramadan, or the days of menstruation (Hayd) and postnatal bleeding (Nifas). Furthermore, there is no requirement to make up (Qada) these specific days.
 
However, if someone vows to fast a year that is not specifically designated (i.e., any twelve-month period) and stipulates that the fasting must be consecutive, they are bound by that condition. They must not fast on the days of Eid, during Ramadan, or during menstruation, but they are required to make up these days afterward—with the exception of the days of menstruation and postnatal bleeding, which do not need to be made up.
 
It is stated in Hashiyat al-Bajuri ‘ala Sharh Ibn Qasim ({Vol.2/P.606): 'If one vows to fast a specific year, the Eid, Tashreeq, Ramadan, and days of menstruation or postnatal bleeding are not included. This is because Ramadan does not accept any fast other than its own, and the others do not accept fasting at all. Therefore, they do not enter into the vow, and no makeup is required for them because they are legally excluded—contrary to Al-Rafi’i regarding menstruation and postnatal bleeding.
 
If one vows to fast a non-designated year: if they stipulated consecutiveness (Tatuabu’) in their vow, they must fulfill it; otherwise, they are not bound to it. Consecutiveness is not broken by the days that do not enter into the specific year vow (Eid, Tashreeq, Ramadan, menstruation, and postnatal bleeding). However, one must make up the days missed—excluding the time of menstruation and postnatal bleeding—immediately following the end of the year. As for the time of menstruation and postnatal bleeding, it is not made up, contrary to Ibn al-Rif’ah, who argued that it must be made up just like Ramadan.' And Allah the Exalted knows best.

I can`t afford to get married, what should I do to curb my sexual drives?

You should offer a lot of voluntary fasting, keep busy with useful and permissible acts and make supplication to Allah, The Exalted.

Which is more excellent for a woman: to pray in the mosque or in her house?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Our Master the Prophet ﷺ said: 'It is more excellent for a woman to pray in her house than in her courtyard, and more excellent for her to pray in her private chamber than in her house.' Therefore, a woman’s adherence to her home and her refraining from going to the mosques—in obedience to the command of Allah the Exalted—attains a great reward and abundant recompense. Furthermore, women praying in congregation within their homes is better than their attendance at the mosques, based on the aforementioned Hadith. And Allah the Exalted knows best.

What is the ruling on praying in congregation at the mosque?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Congregational prayer (Salat al-Jama‘ah) is a communal obligation (Fard Kifayah) for resident men regarding the performance of the prescribed (obligatory) prayers. For men, praying in congregation at the mosque is better than praying elsewhere, such as at home. On the authority of Abdullah bin Umar, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'Prayer in congregation is twenty-seven degrees more excellent than the prayer of a person alone' (Reported by Bukhari & Muslim). Furthermore, on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'Shall I not tell you that by which Allah erases sins and raises ranks?' They said, 'Of course, O Messenger of Allah.' He said: 'Performing wudu thoroughly despite difficulties, taking many steps toward the mosques, and waiting for the next prayer after the prayer; that is your Ribat (steadfastness)' (Narrated by Muslim).
 
As for a woman, her praying in congregation at home is better for her than in the mosque, according to the saying of our Master the Prophet ﷺ: 'Do not prevent your women from attending the mosques, but their homes are better for them' (Narrated by Abu Dawood). Young boys should be encouraged to attend the mosques and congregational prayers so they may become accustomed to them. And Allah the Exalted knows best.