arafah – My Little Breathing Space – I write for the few, not the many. The few that are left out!

19th Shawwāl 1438 AH ~ Thursday 13th July 2017

Delaying Hajj

By Hadrat Mawlānā Muhammad Saleem Dhorat (hafizahullāh)

Hajj is one of the fundamental pillars of Islām, and obligatory for every Muslim male or female who meets its requirements and whom Allāh ta‘ālā grants the capability to carry it out. If there are no Shar‘ī excuses to prevent you from fulfilling the obligation of hajj, you should not delay.

Shaytān’s Ploy

Every year, however, Shaytān whispers the following thought in the minds of those who are under an obligation to go for hajj: “I have some important reasons preventing me from going this year, but I will definitely go next year, no matter what happens, and I will absolve myself of this obligation.” In this way Shaytān secures a year’s grace for himself. The following year, just before hajj, he will play the same trick again and secure yet another year. Shaytān leads people on in this manner right up to their graves.

It is another amazing trick of Shaytān that whatever he whispers to people, he never encourages them to rule out the intention of fulfilling any of Allāh ta‘ālā’s commands. Someone who has been neglecting salāh for years will not think to himself that he intends never to perform salāh. And likewise with sins: Shaytān never makes people feel they will never give up a particular disobedience to Allāh ta‘ālā. Someone who indulges in drinking alcohol, for example, will never think that he is never going to give it up, but will always intend one day, possibly when Ramadān comes, to definitely give it up. This is the very condition of many Muslims regarding hajj; not for a moment do they entertain the thought of leaving this world without having fulfilled the obligation of hajj, but on the other hand, they never make a firm decision to do it either.

The Affection of Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam for his Ummah

Being so affectionate, kind and merciful, anything that places his Ummah in difficulty bears heavily on Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam. Allāh ta‘ālā describes this quality in the Qur’ān:

Surely there has come to you, from your midst, a Messenger who feels it very hard upon himself if you face a hardship, who is very anxious for your welfare; and for the believers he is very kind, very merciful. (9:128)

At every juncture, Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam has tried to save us from harm. He has said regarding those people upon whom hajj is fard, and who have made the intention to go:

Whoever intends hajj should hurry! (Abū Dāwūd)

This is because even when someone makes the intention to go for hajj, Shaytān erects obstacles and whispers all sorts of thoughts and worries into the heart. Our beloved Prophet sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam warns us not to be deterred by these tricks, but to start preparations straight away.

Trust in Allāh ta‘ālā

Everything is in the hands of Allāh ta‘ālā, and when a servant of his makes the firm intention to go for hajj, He removes all the difficulties and obstacles. Some people, misled by Shaytān, worry about their children or their parents, while others worry about their businesses and earnings. All this is actually a test from Allāh ta‘ālā to see whether His servant is prepared to sacrifice everything in order to fulfil the obligation he has to Allāh ta‘ālā. If you steel yourself to make these sacrifices, Allāh ta‘ālā will make your heart firm, grant you courage and take over the responsibility of settling all your affairs.

Look to the example of the People of the Cave described in the Qur’ān. A handful of young men were up against an idolatrous people and an idolatrous king. There were nothing but obstacles in their path of upholding tawhīd, yet when they rose to the challenge, Allāh ta‘ālā strengthened them and protected them:

We made their hearts firm when they stood up and said: “Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth…” (18:14)

An Invitation from Allāh ta‘ālā is a Great Honour

Allāh ta‘ālā does not invite just anyone to His House; it is a great honour to be given the opportunity to visit the sacred cities of Makkah Mukarramah and Madīnah Munawwarah. If we had true love for Allāh ta‘ālā, we would long to visit His House, even if it was not obligatory upon us, and we would be prepared to undergo any hardship to get there. Those who, despite having the means, have not yet received the tawfīq to undergo the journey should be concerned about their condition: could it not be that Allāh ta‘ālā is displeased with them and so does not want them to be guests of His House? Tawbah and istighfār should be made immediately in abundance, and humility adopted, beseeching Allāh ta‘ālā to grant us the privilege of visiting theHaramayn.

Perform Hajj Before it is Too Late

We need to consult the ‘ulamā and muftīs concerning our own circumstances to find out if we really do have a Shar‘ī excuse to postpone going for hajj. People postponehajj for all sorts of reasons: some do not go because they want their parents to perform hajj first; some wives, who have a mahram available to accompany them, put off hajj in order to go with their husbands; some husbands wait for their wives, etc. If a person were to die without having fulfilled the obligation of hajj, there are dire consequences in the hereafter.

If someone leaves a wasiyyah requesting his next of kin to perform hajj on his behalf, it is hoped that Allāh ta‘ālā will grant forgiveness once the hajj is performed, but he is still a sinner for failing to perform hajj despite having the means during his life. And it is a sad fact that even if a wasiyyah is left, people nowadays have so much love for wealth that they are not prepared to spend even a pound for the sake of their departed parents. They do not have the time or the concern to make the journey, even if the money their parents left them is more than sufficient to cover the costs. Therefore each individual should ensure that the obligation of hajj is fulfilled at the earliest opportunity.

May Allāh ta‘ālā grant a safe journey to all those who are going for hajj this year and grant them hajj mabrūr. May He guide those upon whom hajj is fard but who have not resolved to go yet, and may He grant all the necessary means to those who long to go for hajj yet are unable to do so. Āmīn.

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‘Īd-ul-Adhā

By Hadrat Mawlānā Muhammad Saleem Dhorat hafizahullāh

First Ten Days of Dhul-Hijjah

Ibn ‘Abbās radhiyallāhu ‘anhumā relates that the Prophet sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam said:

“Good deeds performed on other days are not superior to those performed on these (first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah).” The companions radhiyallāhu ‘anhum inquired: “Not even jihād?” He replied: “Not even jihād, except for that person who goes out putting himself and his wealth in danger and does not return with anything.” (Al-Bukhārī)

Night of ‘Īd

The nights of both ‘Īds are described in the hadīth as amongst the great and sacred nights in the Muslim calendar. To remain awake on the nights of ‘Īd and perform ‘ibādah is a source of great virtue and reward.

Mu’ādh ibn Jabal radhiyallāhu ‘anhu relates that Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam said:

“Jannah is wājib (incumbent) for those who stay awake with the intention of making ‘ibādah on the following nights: 8th & 9th, the night of ‘Īd-ul-Adhā (10th of Dhul Hijjah), the night of ‘Īd-ul-Fitr and the night of the 15th of Sha’bān.” (At-Targhīb)

Udhiyah (Qurbānī)

Udhiyah is a practice commanded by Allāh ta‘ālā:

“….so turn in prayer towards your Lord and sacrifice (animals).” (108:2)

‘Ā’ishah radhiyallāhu ‘anhā said:

“There is nothing more dearer to Allāh during the days of Udhiyah than the sacrificing of animals. The sacrificed animal shall come on the Day of Judgement with its horns, hair and hooves (to be weighed). The sacrifice is accepted by Allāh before the blood reaches the ground. Therefore sacrifice with an open heart.” (At-Tirmidhī, Ibn Mājāh)

Sunnahs on the day of ‘Īd-ul-Adhā

1. To rise early.

2. To clean the teeth with miswāk.

3. To have a masnūn bath.

4. To dress in one’s best garments in an Islāmic manner.

5. To use ‘itr.

6. To avoid eating before ‘Īd salāh.

7. To go early for ‘Īd salāh.

8. To go walking for ‘Īd salāh.

9. To read the Takbīrāt of Tashrīq in a loud voice while going for ‘Īd salāh.

Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar, Lā ilāha illallāhu wallāhu Akbar,
Allāhu Akbar, Walil lāhil hamd.

10.To use different routes to and from the place of ‘Īd salāh.

11.To eat the meat of Udhiyah (sacrifice) of one’s own offering, after the ‘Īd-ul-Adhā salāh.

Mas’alah: It is harām to fast on the 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th Dhul Hijjah, (i.e. ‘Īd day and three days after) and the day of ‘Īd-ul-Fitr.

The Method of ‘Īd Salāh

1. Make niyyah of performing two raka’āt wājib of ‘Īd-ul-Adhā behind the imām with six wājib takbīr.

2. The first takbīr in the first raka’at is the takbīr tahrīmah which is followed by three wājib takbīr. Raise your hands to the ears in all four takbīr (saying the takbīr). However, after the first takbīr fold the hands under the naval and read thanā (subhānakallāhumma…). Thereafter, in the following two takbīr raise the hands up to the ears and drop them on the sides and after the fourth takbīr fold again.

3. The imām will recite the Sūrah Al-Fātihah and another sūrah and go into rukū‘ and sajdah etc. as usual.

4. In the second rak‘at, after the recitation and before rukū‘ another three takbīr will be called. In all three takbīr raise the hands to the ears and drop them on the sides and go into rukū‘ when the fourth takbīr is called.

Note: Four takbīr are said together in each rak‘at; at the beginning of the first rak‘at and before going into rukū‘ in the second rak‘at. The easy method of remembering when to drop the hands and when to fold is mentioned hereunder:

(a) Remember the following words: fold, drop, drop, fold, for the first rak‘at; drop, drop, drop, rukū‘, for the second rak‘at.

(b) or keep the following general rule in mind: when there is something to be recited after a takbīr, the hands should be folded and when nothing is to be recited the hands are to be dropped to the sides.

Mas’alah: it is makrūh to offer any salāh, in the masjid where the ‘Īd salāh is to be performed, before or after the ‘Īd salāh. Hence, we should not perform nafl salāh such as Ishrāq on ‘Īd day.

Mas’alah: It is also makrūh to perform any salāh at home before the ‘Īd salāh, but it is not makrūh after salāh.

Mas’alah: If anyone missed the ‘Īd salāh then he cannot offer it individually.

Mas’alah: Khutbah after the ‘Īd salāh is sunnah. However, the listening of the khutbah is wājib.

Mas’alah: It is wājib to say the Takbīr of Tashrīq after the ‘Īd-ul-Adhā salāh, according to some ‘ulamā; therefore one should recite it after the salāh.

Mas’alah: If anyone joins the ‘Īd salāh after the imām has said the three takbīr in the first rak‘at he should say his three takbīr immediately. If he joins while the imām is in rukū‘, then if he feels and has strong hope that he will say three takbīr and join the imām in rukū‘ then he should complete the takbīr before going into rukū‘. Otherwise he should join the imām in rukū‘ and say the three takbīr instead of the tasbīh of rukū‘.

Note: Whilst saying the takbīr in rukū‘, he should not raise his hands.

Note: If the imām rises from rukū‘ before his takbīr are completed, he should also rise with the imām and his takbīr will be remitted for him.

Mas’alah: If anyone missed the first rak‘at and joined the imām in the second rak‘at he should say the three takbīr of the the first rak‘at after the recitation when he gets up to complete the missed rak‘at.

Mas’alah: If anyone joined the imām in the second rak‘at after rukū‘, then he should perform two raka‘āt as mentioned above.

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