742. Some Practical Tips For Hajj 'Mabroor'

By Asma bint Shameem

Hajj is the 'Ultimate' journey. They say it is the journey of a lifetime. 

Yet I see so many people, brothers and sisters, confused, angry, frustrated or just simply ignorant. So here is a piece of sincere advice for all of my brothers and sisters going for Hajj this year.

 

1. Educate yourself before you go

This is the most important point. 

They say "Knowledge is Power." 

And how true that is. 

I see people confused, not knowing what to do, looking left and right...bewildered. And in the end, they just follow what the rest of the crowd is doing without even knowing whether what they are doing is even from the Sharee'ah or not! 

Indeed, I know people who have gone and come back from Hajj, and yet they don't know what kind of Hajj they performed, how many minimum days one is required to stay in Mina....in fact, they don't even know that it takes seven rounds around the Kaa'bah to make one Tawaaf!

Going to Hajj without knowing the basics of how to perform Hajj and Umrah is like placing someone who doesn't know how to offer Salah, in the middle of people praying in Jama'ah. 

He may follow their movements in ruku' and sujood, but does he really know how to pray? Did such a prayer even count?

 

So study the rituals of Hajj before you go. 

Learn how to perform this magnificent journey closest to the Sunnah. 

Because the closer to the Sunnah it will be, the more acceptable it will be to Allaah, Subhaanahu wa Ta'ala. 

Know the various rulings about the Meeqaat, Ihraam, Tawaaf, staying in Mina, stoning the Jamaraat, visiting the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam)'s Masjid, etc. 

Educate yourself on the various common mistakes done by the pilgrim, so you can be aware of them and avoid them. 

And Insha Allaah, you will be able to perform your Hajj with confidence, according to the Sunnah, hoping for it to be accepted by Allaah.

 

2. Go with a prepared HEART

 

Every year at Hajj, you see only two kinds of people. 

So for example, when stuck in traffic for 5 hours, you will see the first kind of people, sitting there calm and cool, with patience, wisely utilizing his time making dhikr of Allaah or reading Qur'aan....while the other kind of person will grumble and complain, fidget restlessly in his seat, cuss at the bus driver and waste his whole time fighting with whoever is sitting next to him. Why is that? 

Because the first kind of person came with a *prepared* heart and the second one didn't.

You see, Hajj is not only a journey of the body to the house of Allaah...it is also a journey of the heart and soul. 

And just as it is important to know the manners of performing Hajj, it is equally important to prepare yourself spiritually. Remember, this is Hajj.... an act of Ibaadah....the fifth pillar of our Deen....something Allaah loves. 

So have khushoo' in your Ibaadah....submit your heart and soul to Him, to the One Who has invited you to His Honorable House. 

Reflect on WHY you are here.  

Have tawakkul in Him and complete faith. 

Be sure to know that He will take care of you. 

Be kind to His slaves, have patience and forbearance, take everything in stride and look for the positive in everything, even if it seems bleak.

So when the bus breaks down, its okay....it was the Will of Allaah that it happened. 

And when the guy next to you pushes you, or your shoes get stolen, forgive him. 

And if your luggage gets lost for a day or two, be patient. 

And if you get stuck in traffic for few hours, remind yourself...whatever time Allaah has decreed for me to get there, I will get there, not a second before and not a second after. 

 

3. Know Salatul Janaazah

There is hardly any Fardh prayer in the Haram, that is not followed by the prayer for Janaazah. 

And I see so many brothers and sisters who just sit there and not participate in this great act of worship, just because they don't know how. 

The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:

"Whoever attends the janaazah until he offers the prayer will have one qeeraat (of reward), and whoever attends until (the deceased) is buried will have two qeeraats." 

It was said, "O Messenger of Allaah, what are the two qeeraats?" 

He said, "Like two great mountains (of reward)”

(Saheeh - agreed upon).

 

And remember the reward of a prayer in al-Masjid 

al-Haraam is equal to 100,000 prayers anywhere else.

And that includes Salaat al-Janaazah. 

So don't miss out on this great opportunity to add to your good deeds.

 

4. Don't get overwhelmed with the crowd

 

When you look at the large number of people there for Hajj, don't get overwhelmed or bothered. 

Instead, raise your head up high, feel proud and thank Allaah. 

After all, all those people are none, but your own brothers and sisters in Islaam. 

This is the Ummah of your beloved Prophet, Muhammad (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam). 

They are from you and you are from them. 

They are a part of you, just as much as you are a part of them. 

All of you are there for one and one purpose only....to worship One God, Allaah, Subhaanahu wa Ta'ala. 

So LOVE them...and have mercy and compassion for them....and make dua for them.

 

5. Time is precious

 

Utilize your time to the MAX while in Makkah and Madeenah. 

Do all your 5 prayers in the Masjid, no excuses allowed! 

When you pray in Masjid al-Haraam in Mecca, your salaah is multiplied by 100,000 times. 

Just imagine, if you're there for about two weeks (14 days), and you pray all five prayers in the masjid, that's equivalent in reward to praying more then 3800 years! 

Subhaan Allaah!

When you get to Mina, busy your self with making dua, dhikr, reading Qur'aan, etc. Your stay here is only a few precious days.  

You can't waste it by talking, relaxing, doing nothing, as some people do. 

And once in Arafah, this is THE day you were waiting for. This is what Hajj is all about.

 The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said, "Hajj IS Arafah." (Abu Dawud -saheeh by al-Albaani) 

Put in ALL you got during the day of Arafah. 

Take advantage of each hour, minute and second. 

Do not waste even a SINGLE moment. 

Make a dua list and do lots and lots of dua, for this is the day to make dua.

The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said: 

"The best of du'a is du'a on the day of 'Arafah, and the best thing that I and the Prophets before me said is:

Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wahdahu laa shareeka lah 

(There is no god but Allaah alone with no partner or associate).”

 (al-Tirmidhi, hasan by Albaani)

 

6. Hajj is not your annual vacation trip. It's an act of Ibaadah

 

Some people forget that they are going for Hajj....they expect Mina to be a five star hotel and the whole journey about relaxation and luxury. 

So they complain about the food, they complain about the weather, they complain about the crowds, the bus, the beds, the bathrooms, the tents, the A/C in Mina, you name it!

They complain about everything under the sun.

Remember this is Hajj...not a cruise or a vacation. 

Remember when not so long ago people traveled for months through dangerous terrain and rough weather to get to Hajj, not to mention the heat, diseases, thugs and other hardships of travel. 

They had to draw water from a well and walk to the bushes to relieve themselves. 

Look around you, what is there to complain about? 

Alhamdulillaah, you have flowing water from a tap and running bathrooms. 

And even if they are not as clean as they should be, at least they are there!  

And you have hot food and air conditioned tents, a place to sleep and transportation from one place to another. 

So be patient and THANK Allaah.

 

7. Don't just say it.... MEAN it!

 

When you recite the Talbiyah, don't just say it like a parrot, without knowing what it means and what it implies. 

Think about the *greatness* of these words and an even greater Greatness of the One you are saying these words to. 

You are saying Labbaik, Allaahumma Labbaik....

What do these words imply?

Oh Allaah I am here....here to serve You, here to obey You, here to submit my life, my wants, my desires only to You. I am ready for change. 

Oh Allaah, I love you and I worship no one but you. So forgive me and guide me. 

THIS is the implication behind these words. 

So say these words from the *heart*....*mean* what you say...and let a tear roll from your eyes when you say it.

And that goes for all the duas that you will recite.

 

8. Be nice

Obviously, everybody wants their Hajj To be 'Mabroor' (accepted)...because the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:

"...There is no reward for Hajj mabroor except Paradise." (Al-Bukhaari)

They said: "What makes Hajj mabroor, Messenger of Allah?" He said, "Providing food to people and spreading (the greeting of) salaam." (Fath al-Bari, 4/446)

Thus we see that being kind to the people, being generous and considerate, serving and helping them is the KEY to having your Hajj accepted.

So go ahead and help that old lady with her luggage, and the older brother across the street. 

Move over to make room in the 'saff' for your fellow Muslim so that they too can find a place to pray. 

Distribute candy among the children, pass out glasses of Zam Zam, smile at everyone and say salaam to those you know and those you don't. 

In other words, just keep you eyes and ears open for every opportunity to do good and jump at any chance you get to spread khair, all this for the sake of pleasing Allaah Alone and Insha Allaah your Hajj will be mabroor.

 

May Allah enable all the  Hujjaj to prepare well for the upcoming Hajj and accept it from all of them. Ameen.

741. If A Woman Is Praying At Home On A Friday Afternoon By Herself, Should She Pray Jumu’ah Or Should She Pray Dhuhr?

By Asma bint Shameem 

1. First of all, Jumu’ah is not obligatory on women or those who are sick, or traveling, etc. 

ً The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

 “Jumu’ah is a duty that is required of every Muslim in congregation except four: a slave, a woman, a child or a sick person.” (Abu Dawood (1067); saheeh by al-Albaani) 

2. Jumu’ah is ONLY VALID in congregation at the masjid. 

It is NOT valid at home. 

So if you missed going to the masjid on Friday afternoon for some reason, then you MUST pray DHUHR. 

It is NOT VALID for you to pray Jumu’ah at home. 

 Shaikh Ibn Baaz said:

“ If a man does not attend Jumu’ah due to a legitimate excuse such as sickness and so on, or for some other reason, he should pray Dhuhr. Similarly a woman should pray Dhuhr. 

Travelers and desert dwellers should also pray Dhuhr, as is indicated by the Sunnah, because during the Farewell Pilgrimage, when the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam stood at ‘Arafah on a Friday he led the people in praying Dhuhr and he did not lead them in praying Jumu’ah, because he did not order the people of the desert (people who live outside cities and towns) to pray Jumu’ah.  

This is the view of the majority of scholars, and the view of those who held odd opinions should not be taken into account. 

The one who misses Jumu’ah deliberately also has to repent to Allaah and offer it as Dhuhr prayer.”

[Majmoo’ Fataawa wa Maqaalaat Mutanawwi’ah li Samaahat (12/332)]

The scholars of the Standing Committee said:

“If a woman prays Jumu’ah with the Imaam, that is SUFFICIENT and she does NOT have to pray Dhuhr; it is NOT PERMISSIBLE for her to pray Dhuhr that day.

But if she prays ON HER OWN then she can ONLY pray Dhuhr, and she cannot pray Jumu’ah.”

[Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah (7/337)]

*So if you missed the Friday prayer at the masjid, and you’re praying at home, you should pray “Dhuhr” like you do on ANY OTHER DAY, with four Sunnah before the fardh. 

Then four Fardh

Then two Sunnah after Dhuhr.*

And Allaah knows best

740. A Conversation With Allaah

By Asma bint Shameem 

Want to converse with Allaah one on one and have Him REPLY to you?

Then “*concentrate*” on al-Faatihah, the next time you stand for prayer. 

He ANSWERS you at EVERY Aayah, as you recite the Aayaat one by one. 

 The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

“Allaah the exalted said:

‘I have divided the prayer (Surah Al-Faatihah) into two halves between Me and My servant. A half of it is for Me and a half for My servant, and My servant shall acquire what he asked for. 

When the servant says:

‎الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِين

Allaah says: ‘My servant has praised me.’

When he says:

‎الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Allaah says: ‘My servant has exalted me.’ 

When he says:

‎مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ

Allaah says: ‘My servant has glorified me and my servant has submitted to me.’

When he says:

‎إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ

 Allaah says: ‘This is between me and my servant, and my servant will have what he has asked for.’

When he says:

اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ

Allaah says: ‘This is for my servant, and my servant will have what he has asked for.’” 

(Muslim 395)

Subhaan Allaah, what a beautiful conversation!

Just imagine!

Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala is answering you, replying to you from above the seven heavens, as you say *each* aayah, *every* time you recite this amazing surah!

So *SLOW DOWN* the next time you recite al-Faatihah. 

*PAUSE* after reading each Aayah. 

*REFLECT* on the beautiful meanings of these Noble Aayaat. 

SAY them with your *HEART*, not just your tongue. 

*KNOW* that the *Owner of the Heavens and the Earth* is replying to *YOU*. 

What an *HONOR* for a miserable slave of the AlMighty Rabb. 

Mind-boggling

739. Gossiping Is A Major Sin

By Asma bint Shameem 

Gossip is called nameemah in Arabic and is a major sin, even if what you say is true. 

*What is gossiping?*

Nameemah or gossip means telling some people what others have said about them and almost always involves gheebah as well. 

al-Haafiz al-Mundhiri said: 

“The ummah is unanimously agreed that nameemah is forbidden and that it is one of the greatest sins in the sight of Allaah.” 

Ibn Hajar al-Haythami said: 

“It refers to disclosure of anything that may hurt or offend somebody if it is disclosed, whether it is the person who is spoken about who is offended, or the person who hears the gossip, or a third party, whether it is disclosed verbally, in writing or by means of a hint or a gesture, and whether what is transmitted is an action, a word, a fault or a shortcoming in the person who is being talked about, or in someone else. 

The definition of nameemah is uncovering secrets and disclosing that which it is not appropriate to disclose. 

Hence we should keep silent and refrain from telling everything that we see of people’s situations, *unless* speaking of it will bring some *benefit* to a Muslim or ward off some harm. 

For example, if you see a person taking someone else’s property, you have to bear witness to that, in contrast to if you see someone hiding his own money, in which case speaking of it would be nameemah and disclosing a person’s secrets. 

If what is spoken of is a fault or shortcoming in the person of whom one speaks, then this is gheebah (backbiting) and nameemah (malicious gossip).” 

(al-Zawaajir, no. 252: al-Nameemah) 

*NO ENTRY IN JANNAH!*

Nameemah is counted among one of the *major sins* and the one who gossips will *not enter Jannah*!

The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said: 

“No person who spreads nameemah will enter Paradise.” According to another report, “No eavesdropper (qattaat)…” 

(al-Bukhaari 6056, Muslim 105)

The scholars said:

“A qattaat is someone who spreads nameemah. 

It was said that the one who spreads nameemah is the person who is with a group who are speaking, then he spreads gossip about them, and that the qattaat is the one who listens to them without them realizing, then he spreads gossip about them.”

*TORMENT IN THE GRAVE!*

Ibn ‘Abbaas Radhi Allaahu anhumaa said: 

“The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam stepped out of one of the gardens of Madeenah, and he heard the sounds of two people who were being *tormented in their graves*. 

He said, ‘They are being punished, not for something that was difficult to avoid, but it is nevertheless a major sin. One of them did not protect himself from urine (i.e., take measures to avoid contaminating himself or his clothes) and the other used to walk about *spreading nameemah*.’”

(al-Bukhaari 216, Muslim 292). 

*LOSS on the DAY OF JUDGEMENT!*

On the day of Judgement, the good deeds of the one who has spread gossip and gheebah will be taken and given to the person they gossiped about. 

The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

“Whoever has wronged his brother with regard to his honor or something, let him ask him for forgiveness before the time when there will be neither dinar nor dirham, and if he has any good deeds it will be taken from him in proportion to the wrong he did, and if he does not have any good deeds (hasanaat), some of the other person's evil deeds (sayi’aat) will be taken and given to him to bear.” (al-Bukhaari)

And he Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

“The one who is bankrupt among my ummah is the one who will come on the Day of Resurrection with prayer, fasting and zakaah to his credit, but he will come having slandered one person and shed the blood of another and wrongfully consumed the wealth of a third, so (his victims) will be given some of his hasanaat (good deeds), and if his hasanaat run out before the score is settled, some of their sins will be taken and thrown onto him, and he will be thrown into Hell.” (Muslim)

*So what to do if I have gossiped about someone?*

If a person is guilty of gossiping about someone, they should make immediate taubah and ask Allaah’s forgiveness. 

They should also make Duaa for that person and give sadaqah on their behalf. 

And if someone comes to us gossiping about another person, we should NOT participate in that. 

Instead we should do what 

Ibn Hajar al-Haythami advised.

He said:

“The person who hears some malicious gossip, such as being told ‘So and so said this about you’ or ‘he did this to you,’ must do six things: 

1.  He should not believe it, because the one who spreads nameemah is a faasiq (evildoer) according to scholarly consensus, and Allaah says:

“If a Faasiq (liar — evil person) comes to you with any news, verify it, lest you should harm people in ignorance, and afterwards you become regretful for what you have done”

[al-Hujuraat 49:6] 

2. He should tell him not to repeat this evil action, which is evil in both religious and worldly terms. 

3. He should hate him for the sake of Allaah if he shows no sign of repenting. 

4. He should not think badly of the one of whom it was said, because he does not know whether that person really said it or did it. 

5. What he has been told should not make him spy on others or look for their faults for the purpose of verifying what was said, because Allaah says:

“Avoid much suspicion; indeed some suspicions are sins. And spy not…”

[al-Hujuraat 49:12] 

6. He should not approve for himself that which he has told the other person not to do, so he should not pass on the malicious gossip and say, ‘So and so told me this,’ otherwise he will also be gossiping and backbiting, and he will be doing that which he told someone else not to do.”(al-Zawaajir ‘an Iqtiraaf al-Kabaa’ir)

*Reminder*

So the next time you’re tempted to gossip about someone, remember the warnings and punishments for this major sin. 

Just control your tongue and don’t fall in the trap of the Shaytaan. 

Being punished in the grave is no joke!

Being denied entry to Jannah is no joke!

And Allaah knows best.