Obligation on the financially and physically able person to hasten to perform Hajj and ‘Umrah

All praises be to Allah, the Lord of Existence, and peace and blessings be upon the Noblest of the Prophets and Messengers.

I advise any Muslim who did not perform Hajj to hurry to perform the obligatory Hajj in Islam as it is obligatory on all Muslims who are able to do so. Allah (Glorified be He) says: And Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) to the House (Ka‘bah) is a duty that mankind owes to Allâh, those who can afford the expenses (for one’s conveyance, provision and residence) The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Islam is based on five (pillars): the testimony that there is no deity but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; performing Salah (Prayers) regularly, giving Zakah (obligatory charity); fasting Ramadan; and going on Hajj to the Bayt (the Ka‘bah). The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said: Allah has enjoined Hajj upon you, so perform Hajj.

(Part No. 16; Page No. 348)

Therefore, any Muslim man and woman who is able to bear the costs of Hajj and is Mukallaf (person meeting the conditions to be held legally accountable for their actions) should hasten to do that and should not delay it. This is because Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) made it obligatory immediately and any Muslim who is Mukallaf and who is able to perform Hajj must not delay it but should hasten to attain this great good. The Messenger (peace be upon him) said in a Sahih (authentic) Hadith: Anyone who performs Hajj and does not have conjugal relations nor commits sin will return (as pure and sinless) as on the day his mother gave birth to him. The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said in another Hadith: From one ‘Umrah to the next is a Kaffarah (expiation) for whatever (sins) committed between them. And the reward for Hajj Mabrur (Hajj sincerely done, not mixed with any sin, and is accepted by Allah) is nothing other than Paradise. So, this is a great blessing and goodness that Muslims have to hold fast to. In this way, a Muslim should also search for good deeds and should seek to do them in the way to, and at, Makkah like giving alms to the needy and the poor, reading Qur’an as much as possible, remembering Allah (Exalted be He), pronouncing Tasbih (saying: "Subhan Allah [Glory be to Allah]"), Tahlil (saying: "La ilaha illa Allah [There is no god except Allah]", Tahmid (saying: "Al-hamdu lillah [All praise is due to Allah]"), Takbir (saying: "Allahu Akbar [Allah is the Greatest]") and offering Salah (Prayer) as much as possible in Al-Masjid Al-Haram (the Sacred Mosque in Makkah) and to make Tawaf (circumambulation around the Ka‘bah) if possible to seize the chance of time and place as Salah

(Part No. 16; Page No. 349)

in Al-Masjid Al-Haram equals one hundred thousand Salahs in other places, and any Faridah (obligatory act of worship) performed there is better than one hundred thousand Faridahs performed in another place, alms there are doubled and Tasbih, Tahlil, Tahmid, Takbir, reciting the Qur’an, enjoining to do good and forbidding evil, inviting to Allah, educating those who perform Hajj and telling them what they do not know. All these deeds are advisable for the Muslim. It is also desirable to educate one’s fellow pilgrims if one has knowledge, but one must do that with gentleness, patience and good manners in order to seize the chance of being in Makkah to do all kinds of good deeds as mentioned before such as Salah, Tawaf (circumambulation around the Ka‘bah), Da‘wah (calling people to Allah), propagation of virtue and prevention of vice with good manners, gentleness and kindness.

I also advise those in charge of Muslims in every place to make Hajj easy for their subjects and to help them in this regard as that would be considered cooperation in doing good and piety. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says: Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwâ (virtue, righteousness and piety) So, helping them to perform Hajj and making it easy is considered cooperation in doing good and is mutual exhortation to truth and patience and entails a great reward. I also advise those in charge to judge by Allah’s Shar‘ (Law) in all matters and to make Allah’s Religion dominant in all matters. May Allah guide those in charge of Muslims to everything that is good, to improve their conditions and to guide them and grant them success.

(Part No. 16; Page No. 350)

I also advise those in charge of pilgrims’ affairs to fear Allah (Exalted be He), to be gentle with pilgrims, help them to do every good thing and to hope for reward from Allah (Exalted be He). If they help the pilgrims and make their matters easy, they will have a great reward. May Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) accept from all, guide Muslims every where to what pleases Him, make them comprehend His Religion, make them rightly-guided and guiding people, help our fellow pilgrims to perform Hajj rituals in the way that pleases Him, and improve the conditions of Muslims every where. Indeed, Allah is the All-Hearer, the Ever-Near, and peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and Companions!

Source: Fatwas of Ibn Baz

Sawm during Rajab and Sha‘ban

Q: I know people who always perform Sawm (Fast) in Rajab and Sha‘ban and connect them to Ramadan without breaking fast. Is there any Hadith regarding this practice? If there is any, kindly provide the text?

(Part No. 2; Page No. 510)

A: It is not authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) or any of the Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with them) used to fast the entire month of Rajab or Sha‘ban. It is not authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) observed Sawm for a complete month except Ramadan. It was authentically reported that `Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said:  The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to observe Sawm until we thought that he would always fast, and he would stop fasting until we thought he would not fast.

I never saw the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) fast any month in full apart from Ramadan, and I never saw him fasting in any month more than in Sha‘ban. (Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim) 

Moreover, Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) reported saying:  The Prophet (peace be upon him) never fasted any month in full apart from Ramadan, and he used to fast until one would say, ‘By Allah, he will always fast,’ and he would stop fasting until one would say, ‘By Allah, he will not fast.’ (Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim) Based on this, fasting the entire months of Rajab and Sha‘ban voluntarily goes against the conduct and Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him).

Moreover, this act counts as Bid‘ah (innovation in religion); the Prophet (peace be upon him) is reported to have said:  Anyone who introduces anything into this matter of ours (Islam) that is not part of it will have it rejected. (Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

May Allah grant us success! May peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions!

Beliefs on Afterlife: Questions asked after a person’s death

According to Islamic beliefs, a person will be held accountable for all his deeds after the person moves on to the next life. According to hadith, the following are first of the many questions that a person will be asked.

First Stage of questioning (In the Grave)

A person’s first stage of reckoning will be in the grave where he will be asked three questions. Allah will help reinforce the person’s answers based on his deeds in this world. The three questions are the following:

• Who was your Lord?
• What is your religion?
• Who is this man who was sent amongst you? (referring to Prophet Muhammad (S))

[Based on the hadith Narrated by al-Baraa’ ibn ‘Aazib (may Allaah be pleased with him), which was narrated by Abu Dawood in his Sunan (4753) and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood, 2979.]

Second Stage of questioning (On the Day of Resurrection)

The second stage of the person’s reckoning will be on the Day of Resurrection when he will be brought to account for every major and minor action, even though he has already been brought to account for that in the grave. The first thing for which he will be brought to account for then will be his prayer.

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The first thing among their deeds for which the people will be brought to account on the Day of Resurrection will be prayer. Our Lord will say to His angels, although He knows best, ‘Look at My slave’s prayer, is it complete or lacking?’ If it is complete, it will be recorded as complete, but if it is lacking, He will say, ‘Look and see whether my slave did any voluntary (naafil) prayers.’ If he had done voluntary prayers, He will say, ‘Complete the obligatory prayers of My slave from his voluntary prayers.’ Then the rest of his deeds will be examined in a similar manner.”
(Narrated by Abu Dawood, 864; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood, 770).

— End 

Courtesy: Iqrasense.com

SHIRK (ASSOCIATION OF OTHERS WITH ALLAH IN WORSHIP)

SHIRK (ASSOCIATION OF OTHERS WITH ALLAH IN WORSHIP) Shirk is divided into two categories:

1. Major Shirk

2. Minor Shirk

1. MAJOR SHIRK (MAJOR POLYTHEISM) It necessitates the failure of deeds and remaining forever in the Hell-fire as per Qur’anic account. “But if they have joined in worship others with Allah, what they used to do would have been of no benefit to them”. Ch.6: V.88. Allah says, “It is not for the Mushrikun (polytheist, idolaters, pagans, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah), to maintain the Mosques of Allah (i.e. to pray and worship Allah therein, to look after their cleanliness and their building etc.,), while they witness against their own selves of disbelief. The works of such are in vain and in Fire shall they abide. Ch.9 V.17.

Whoever dies in a state of Shirk, will not be forgiven and will not be allowed into Paradise, pursuant to God saying, “ Verily Allah forgives not (the sign of) setting up partners in worship with Him but He forgives, whom He Pleases, sins other than that.” Ch.4: V.116 and Allah says: “ Verily whosoever sets up partners in worship with Allah then Allah Has Forbidden Paradise for him and the Fire will be his abode; and for the Thalimoon (polytheists and wrong-doers) there are no helpers.” Ch.5: V.72. Shirk categorized under this type includes calling those who are dead, praying to idols for help and for relief, pledging to them and offering animals for slaughter as a sign of obedience to them etc.

2. MINOR SHIRK (MINOR POLYTHEISM) It is the type proved by the texts of Quran and Sunnah to be called Shirk, but it is not categorized under Major Shirk. Such as, hypocrisy in some deeds, to swear by those other than Allah and saying Allah Will and so and so will, and the like. Following are some pertinent Hadeeths of our Prophet (Peace be upon him). “What I fear most for you is the Minor Shirk”. When asked what is Minor Shirk, he said “Disguised Shirk”. Reported by Mahmoud ibn Labeed al Ansari (RAL) and narrated by Imam Ahmed, AtTabrani, and Al-Bayhaqi. “He who swore by something other than Allah shall be regarded as Mushrik.” Reported by Umar ibn al-Khatab (RAL) and narrated by Ahmed. ‘He who swore by other than Allah had fallen in Kufr or Shirk” reported by Ibn Umar (RAL) and narrated by Abu Dawood and At-Tirmidhi. “Do not say Allah wills (ordains), and so and so (too) wills, but say that Allah wills (ordains), and then so and so wills.” Reported by Huthayfah ibn al Yaman (RAL) and narrated by Abu Dawood. This type of Shirk (i.e. Minor Shirk) does not necessitate apostasy of remaining in Hell fire, but it lacks the perfection of the obligatory Tauheed.