to have, placing ourselves among the restLabbaik from Allah?" I replied, "No, I received no reply."...
Transcript of to have, placing ourselves among the restLabbaik from Allah?" I replied, "No, I received no reply."...
1
“And proclaim to the people the Hajj [pilgrimage]; they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every distant pass”
Surah al Hajj (22:27)
Narrated by Hadrat Abu Hurairah that Sayyidinah Rasulullah )ملسو هيلع هللا ىلص( said,
“From one ‘Umrah to another is an expiation for the sins that came in between them, and Hajj Mabrur (an accepted Hajj) brings no less a reward than Paradise.”
Sahih Ibn Majah (1:25 #2888)
“Love is the flute of life from which melodies pour forth and enrapture the world. Light and heat, activity and movement, ardor and enthusiasm are all from it.”
Eid ul Adha Mubarak!
Wishing You and Your Family A Blessed Eid
Many Muslims around the world eagerly
await the coming of the Hajj every year. It
is a pilgrimage where Muslims leave
everything behind them to set out on a
journey to the House of God (Kabah
Shareef). In this, they put their lives on
hold and make God their priority for two or
more weeks.
During Hajj, pilgrims wear two shrouds of
white cloth symbolizing the same dress one
will be draped in when buried after passing
away. Millions of Muslims will be wearing
the same thing– the poor, the rich, the
scholars, the bakers, the doctors, the
janitors, the lawyers. Everyone will be the
same. It’s a beautiful metaphor for the
selflessness and humility we are supposed
to have, placing ourselves among the rest
of the ummah.
All of the rites and rituals of Hajj are a
process of purifying one’s heart and
intentions of worldly desires. Each stage in
Hajj is a metaphor for cleaning ourselves of
our nafs (ego), and understanding that our
lives should be defined by service to others,
not service to self. True happiness lies in
the happiness of others. When we see
everyone walking and praying with each
other, all dressed in the same or similar
clothing, it strikes a deep cord in the heart
of the believer– a cord of love.
The Hajj has many secrets, but one such
secret is preparing our hearts for love of
Allah, love of our Prophet ( ), and love
for each other as brothers and sisters.
Love is that which makes one forget
oneself. The lover can only think of the
beloved. The lover’s wants become
replaced with the beloved’s wants. The
lover disappears, his own desires no longer
matter, and his heart becomes filled with
the light of the one whom he loves.
In Hajj, the rituals and rites are preformed
with the intention of leaving the world of
its desires, cleaning ourselves of sins, and
becoming selfless all so our heart can open
and receive the love of Allah. Our hearts
can only receive such divine love when
they are clean of our own selfish desires,
and the desires of Allah and His beloved
Prophet ( ) take their place.
The number of secrets contained within
Hajj are incomprehensible, and Hajjis come
back with a special barakah in all their
dealings. May we all benefit from such
blessings- Ameen!
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2
Once, one of the students of Shaykh Shibli; the
great saint, came to visit him after having
performed Hajj. The Shaykh asked him some
questions. The student continues the story:
“The Shaykh asked me, “Did you make a
determined niyah for Hajj?”
I replied, “Yes, I made a firm intention for
performing Hajj.”
Shaykh: “Together with having made a firm
intention for Hajj, did you also have a firm niyah
of forever giving up doing all those things you did
since you were born that are opposed to the spirit
of Hajj?"
I replied, "No, I did not."
Shaykh: "In that case, you had no niyah for Hajj."
Then he said, "At the time of entering into the
Ihraam; did you remove your clothing?"
I replied, "Yes, I did."
Shaykh: "At that time, did you pledge to remove
from you everything except Allah?"
I replied, "No, I did not."
Shaykh: "In that case, you did not remove your
clothing. Did you cleanse yourself by means of
ghusl and wudu?"
I replied, "Yes, I did clean myself in that manner."
Shaykh: "At that time, did you also become
cleansed from all evil and faults?"
I replied, "No, that I cannot say."
Shaykh: "In that case, you did not cleanse
yourself. Did you recite Labbaik?"
I replied: "Yes, I did recite Labbaik."
Shaykh: "Did you at that time hear the answers of
Labbaik from Allah?"
I replied, "No, I received no reply."
Shaykh: "In that case, what kind of Labbaik did
you recite? Did you enter the holy Haram? (i.e.
area around the Kabah)"
I replied, "Yes, I did."
Shaykh: "Did you at that time pledge to leave
aside every Haraam (prohibited) act forever?"
I replied, "No, I did not."
Shaykh: "Then you did not enter the area of the
Haram Shareef at all. Did you visit Mecca?"
I replied, "Yes, I did."
Shaykh: "When you did, did you also see the
Hereafter?"
I replied, "No, I did not see anything."
Shaykh: "Then you did not visit Mecca. Did you
enter the Holy Mosque?"
I replied, "Yes, I did."
Shaykh: "Did you then, on entering, feel the
nearness of Allah?"
I replied, "No, I did not."
Shaykh: "Then you never actually entered the
Mosque. Were you present at the Kabah?"
I replied, "Yes, I was."
Shaykh: "Did you see that entity; due to which the
Kabah is visited?"
I replied, "No, I saw nothing."
The Monthly Noor 3:07 The True Manner Of Performing Hajj
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Shaykh: "Then you never saw the Kabah. Did you
perform ramal (i.e. sliding ones cloth off one's
shoulder as they circle the Kabah with increased
speed, a running motion)"
I replied, "Yes."
Shaykh: "Did you at that time flee from this world
in such a manner that you felt you were
completely out of this world?"
I replied, "No."
Shaykh: "In that case, you did not perform ramal.
Did you place your hands on the black stone and
kiss it?"
I replied, "Yes, I did."
The Shaykh become very pale and greatly
frightened, so much
so, that a shriek
passed from him, and
he said, "Woe unto
you. Rasulullah
( ) has said,
'Whoever places his
hands on the black
stone is like him who
actually shook hands
with Allah, and
whoever shakes the
hand of Allah shall in
every way remain
safe from all things.' Did you then feel anything
about that security?"
I replied, "No, I did not."
Shaykh: "Then you did not touch the black stone.
Did you perform two rakahs at the Maqaam-e-
Ibrahim (i.e. place of Hadrat Ibrahim's (Alayhis
Salaam) footprints)?"
I replied, "Yes, I did."
Shaykh: "You were at that particular time placed
on a high rank by Allah; did you carry out what is
due for that high rank for which you stood there?"
I replied, "No, I did nothing."
Shaykh: "In that case, you did not perform salaah
at the Maqaam-e-Ibrahim. Did you perform Saee
(i.e. running back and forth) between Safaa and
Marwa, and did you ascend the Safaa?"
I replied, "Yes."
Shaykh: "And what did you do there?"
I replied, "I recited takbeer, thrice, and prayed to
Allah to accept my Hajj."
Shaykh: "Did the angels also recite the takbeer
with you, and did you have any knowledge of the
significance of your own takbeers?"
I replied, "No."
Shaykh: "Then you actually did not recite the
takbeer. Did you descend from Safa?"
I replied, "Yes."
Shaykh: "When you descended, did you feel all
evil and every weakness departing from you, and
inner cleanliness entering yourself?"
I replied, "No."
Shaykh: "Then you never ascended Safaa nor
descended from it. Did you run between Safaa and
Marwa?"
I replied, "Yes."
Shaykh: "At that time of running, did you feel
yourself running away from everything else;
besides Allah, and reaching Him? (referring to the
Quranic verse: 'And I fled from you when I feared
You' -Surah Shu'ra; and: 'And flee towards
Allah.')"
I replied, "No."
Shaykh: "Then you never ran. Did you ascend
Marwa?"
I replied, "Yes."
Shaykh: "While on Marwa, did you perceive the
great inner calmness and peace that descended
upon you?"
I replied, "No."
The Monthly Noor 3:07 The True Manner Of Performing Hajj
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Shaykh: "Then you never ascended Marwa. Tell
me, did you proceed to Mina?"
I replied, "I did."
Shaykh: "While you were there, did you attain such
hopes in Allah that have nothing to do with evil?"
I replied, "No."
Shaykh: "Then you never went to Mina. Did you
visit Masjid-ul Khaif?"
I replied, "Yes."
Shaykh: "And did you then experience such fear for
Allah that you have never ever experienced
before?"
I replied, "No."
Shaykh: "Then you never entered Masjid-ul Khaif.
Did you reach the plain of Arafaat?"
I replied, "Yes."
Shaykh: "And on Arafaat, did you recognize the
cause for your coming into this world, what you are
doing here, and where you shall proceed to
afterward; and did you recognize the thing that
points towards these things?"
I replied, "No."
Shaykh: "Then you never visited Arafaat. Did you
visit Muzdalifah?"
I replied, "Yes."
Shaykh: "And did you remember Allah there; so
much so, that everything else was forgotten; as
Allah has mentioned? (referring to the Quranic
verse: 'And remember Allah at the Masharul
Haraam [plain of Muzdalifah]')
I replied, "No."
Shaykh: "In that case, you never reached
Muzdalifah. Did you perform Qurbani at Mina?"
I replied, "Yes."
Shaykh: "Did you then sacrifice your own self?"
I replied, "No."
Shaykh: "Then you performed no Qurbani. Did you
perform Rami? (i.e. pelting the Shaytan)"
I replied, "Yes."
Shaykh: "With every stone that you threw, did you
feel yourself shaking off you every form of
ignorance and feel your knowledge increasing?"
I replied, "No."
Shaykh: "Then you did not actually perform Rami.
Did you perform the Tawaaf-uz-Ziyaarah?"
I replied, "Yes."
Shaykh: "Did you experience any spiritual
enlightenment at that time, and from Allah did
honor and respect descend upon you? for
Rasulullah ( ) said, 'One who performs Hajj or
one who performs Umrah is Allah's guest; and
when a visitor visits somoene, it is only correct that
he should be honored.'"
I replied, "No, I experienced nothing."
Shaykh: "Then you never actually performed
Tawaaf-uz-Ziyaarah. Did you then release yourself
from Ihraam?"
I replied, "Yes."
Shaykh: "Did you at that time promise to adhere to
strictly to Halaal earnings at all times?"
I replied, "No."
Shaykh: "In that case, you did not become Halaal
(released from Ihraam). Did you perform the
farewell tawaaf?" I replied, "Yes."
Shaykh: "Did you then say a complete farewell to
your whole self, your desires, and your passions?"
I replied, "No."
Shaykh: "Then you did not perform Tawaaful
Widaa (farewell tawaaf). Go back and perform Hajj
again; and peform it in the manner which I have
described for you."
The following story was related by the author of It-
haaf. May Allah in His infinite grace and mercy
grant us all this type of Hajj. Ameen.
The Monthly Noor 3:07 The True Manner Of Performing Hajj
5
InshaAllah, may reading all of these merits make
our hearts yearn for Hajj. Ameen!
As reported by Mujahid (RadiAllahu Anhu),
Ibn Abbas (RadiAllahu Anhu) once said:
“We were in the company of Allah’s Messenger
( ) when a group of people arrived from
Yemen. They said: ‘May our mothers and fathers
be your ransom! Will you tell us bout the special
merits of the Pilgrimage (Hajj)?’
He ( ) said:
“Yes! If any man sets out from his home, as a
Pilgrim (Hajji) or a Visitant, whenever he lifts a
foot, or sets a foot down on the ground, sins are
scattered from his feet, just as leaves are scattered
from the trees. Then, when he reaches the city of
Madinah Munawarrah, shakes my hand, and
salutes me with the greeting of peace (salaam), the
angels will likewise salute him with the greeting of
peace. Then, when he reaches Dhul-Halifa, and
performs the major ritual ablution (ghusl), Allah
will purify him of his sins. When he puts on two
new pieces of clothing, Allah will renew his good
deeds for him. When he says:
“I wait intent upon Your service, O Allah, time
and time again. Doubly at Your service!”
“Labbaika Allahumma labbaik”
Allah (Exalted is He) will respond to him with:
“I wait intent upon your service, time and time
again, and upon aiding your cause, time and time
again. I hear your speech, and I am watching you!”
“Labbaika wa sa’daik. Asma’u kalama-ka wa
anzuru ilia-k”
When he enters Mecca, performs the tawaaf
(circling around the Kabah Shareef), and walks at
a brisk pace (sa’a) between Safa and Marwa, Allah
will bestow good things upon him.
When he performs the rite of standing at Arafat,
and voices clamor at him with all kinds of needs,
Allah (Exalted is He) will hail them (him and all
those like him) as shining examples, saying to the
angels of the seven heavnes: “My angels and
inhabitants of My heavens, you must surely notice
My servants! See how they come to Me from
every deep ravine (from Quran 22:27), disheveled
and thick with dust. They have spent their wealth
and wearied their bodies, so, by My Might ad My
Majesty and My Honor, I shall give the evildoer
among them (as ransom) for the one who does
good, and I shall set them apart from sins, as on
the day when their mothers gave them birth.”
In another narration, Sayyidinah Rasulullah
( ) is reported to have said,
“Look over there, at (Mount) Abu Qais. Even if
you possessed a stack of fine gold, the size of Abu
Qais, and you applied it all to the cause of Allah,
you would not obtain what the Hajji obtains.”
He ( ) then went onto say:
“Whenever the Hajji picks something up, or puts
something down, while making preparations for
his journey, Allah will record ten good deeds in
his favor, erase ten bad deeds from his debit
column, and advance his spiritual progress by ten
degrees. Once he has mounted his camel, Allah
will likewise improve his record for him, each
time the camel lifts a hoof or sets it down on the
ground. When he circles the House (Kabah
The Monthly Noor 3:07 The Merits of the Hajji
6
Shareef), he will leave his sins behind. When he walks at a brisk pace (sa’a) between Safa and Marwa, he
will leave his sins behind. When he performs the rite of standing at Arafat, he will leave his sins behind.
When he stands at the Sacred Monument (Mashar al Haram), he will leave his sins behind. When he
throws pebbles at the pillars (jimar– representing the devil), he will leave his sins behind.”
As reported by Ibn Abi Malika, Abdullah ibn Abbas (RadiAllahu Anhu) once heard Sayyidinah
Rasulullah ( ) say:
“Every night and every day, one hundred and twenty merficful blessings descend upon this House (Kabah
Shareef). Sixty of them are for the benefit of those who circle (do tawaaf) the Sacred House. Forty of
them are for the benefit of those who practice worshipful seclusion around the Sacred House. Twenty of
them are for the benefit of those who simply turn their eyes toward it.”
As reported by Umar ibn Salama (RadiAllahu Anhu) that Sayyidinah Rasulullah ( ) once said:
“The Hujjaj (Pilgrims) and the Visitants are the delegation of Allah (Almighty and Glorious is He). If
they appeal to Him, He will answer them, and if they seek His forgiveness, He will forgive them.”
As reported on the authority of Hadrat ad-Dahhak (RadiAllahu Anhu) that Sayyidinah Rasulullah (
) once said:
“...If any Muslim sets out from his own house, bound for the House of Allah (Kabah Shareef), but death
then descends upon him, before his arrival, Allah will surely award him the Garden of Paradise.”
As reported by Hadrat Abu Hurairah (RadiAllahu Anhu), Sayyidinah Rasulullah ( ) once said:
“If someone comes as a Pilgrim to his House, then goes back home, without having acted obscenely,
without having acted immorally, and without having acted foolishly, he will return as he was on the day
when his mother gave him birth.”
These ahadith are just a few examples of how blessed the Hajji is. Even for those not going on Hajj, the
first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah are very holy, sacred, and special days. We should all make efforts to go on
Hajj, if not physically, then at least spiritually, by sending our hearts to do tawaf and sending our hearts to
Tayyibah (Madinah Munawarrah Shareef). InshaAllah Ameen!
The Monthly Noor 3:07 The Merits of the Hajji
It was while Hadrat Adam (Alayhis Salaam) was sleeping that
Allah created Bibi Hawa (Eve) from the short rib in his left side, so
he woke up from his slumber and saw Bibi Hawa sitting there
beside him. “To whom do you belong?” he said to her. “To you,”
she replied. Then he wanted to touch her, but he was told: “You
must not touch her until she has been given your dowry (mahr).”
“My God,” said he, “what is my dowry (for her)?” Allah (Exalted
is He) explained:
“It is that you invoke My blessing upon the Prophet of the end of
the age (Prophet Muhammad ( ) by reciting salawat/durood
shareef), ten times over. That is her dowry (from you).”
7
Fascinating Story of A Jewish Girl
A pious man was once lecturing on the virtues of
'Bismillah hir Rahman nir Raheem" (In the Name
of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most
Compassionate). A Jewish girl was also listening
to his lecture. She was so moved by the lecture
that she accepted Islam. Now, whenever she did
anything she always said the "Bismillah..." first.
When her father, who was the king's minister,
discovered that she had embraced Islam, he
became very upset. He feared that the people
would look down upon him so he began
threatening her in the hope that she would forsake
Islam. But she would not. Finally, he decided that
only solution was to kill her. Thus, he thought of a
plan, he gave her the ring which was used for
sealing letters and documents in the king's court.
He said to her, "Keep it until I ask for it."
Saying, "Bismillah hir Rahman nir Raheem," she
took it and put it in her pocket.
That night, the father tiptoed into her room, stole
the ring, and flung it into the river. That would
give the king all the reason to hang her.
The following day, a fisherman came along to the
minister and gave him a fish as a gift. The minister
took it and gave it to his daughter to prepare. As
soon as she opened the stomach to clean the fish,
she found the ring. She was shocked for it looked
exactly like the ring her father had given her! She
searched for the ring in her pocket but couldn't
find it. She read, "Bismillah hir Rahman nir
Raheem," and put the ring back into her pocket.
She prepared the fish and presented it to her father.
He ate the fish. He then asked for the ring. She
said, "Bismillah hir Rahman nir Raheem," and
produced it from her pocket. The father was
shocked for he had thrown it into the river! How
could she take it out of her pocket!
He told her what he had done and asked her where
she got the ring from. She told him she found it
from the fish's stomach. Witnessing the barakah of
"Bismillah" he too accepted Islam straightway
(mentioned in Maate Sufiyyah).
Story of the Roman King
The Roman king wrote to Hadrat Umar
(RadiAllahu Anhu) that he had continuous
headaches and kindly requested for some
medication.
Hadrat Umar (RadiAllahu Anhu) sent him a topee
(kufi) back. The king noticed that as long as he
had the topee on his head, he would feel well. But
when he took it off, the headache would come
back on.
He was suprised so he took off the topee and
inspected it carefully. He found, "Bismillah hir
Rahman nir Raheem," inscribed inside (Mentioned
in Moodhihul Quran).
Khalid bin Waleed and the Poison
On one occasion, Khalid bin Waleed (RadiAllahu
Anhu) was challenged. It was said to him that if
Islam is a true religion, then show everyone some
proof.
So Hadrat Khalid told them to bring him some
poison. They brought him a cup filled with poison
strong enough to kill fifty men. He said
"Bismillah" and drank it! No harm whatsoever
came to him by the blessings of the 'Bismillah,'
and they all embraced Islam. (*Do not try at home
as he had full faith in Allah and was a Sahabah.)
The Monthly Noor 3:07 The Blessings of Bismillah
8
*For
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Prayer Time Table for Chicago, IL. Please adjust times according for your city.
Hijri Dates Date Day Fajr Sun Zuhr Asr Maghrib Isha
Dhul-Hijjah September Start Begins Rise Begins Begins Begins Begins 1 26 Fri 5:10 6:42 12:42 4:54 6:41 8:14
2 27 Sat 5:12 6:43 12:42 4:52 6:39 8:12
3 28 Sun 5:13 6:44 12:42 4:51 6:38 8:10
4 29 Mon 5:14 6:45 12:41 4:49 6:36 8:09
5 30 Tue 5:15 6:46 12:41 4:48 6:34 8:07
6 1st Oct Wed 5:16 6:47 12:41 4:46 6:33 8:05
7 2 Thu 5:17 6:48 12:40 4:45 6:31 8:03
8 3 Fri 5:17 6:48 12:40 4:45 6:31 8:03
9 *Arafat 4 Sat 5:18 6:49 12:40 4:43 6:29 8:02
10 *Eid Mubarak!
5 Sun 5:21 6:51 12:39 4:40 6:26 7:58
11*Eid Mubarak!
6 Mon 5:22 6:52 12:39 4:39 6:24 7:56
12*Eid 7 Tue 5:23 6:53 12:39 4:37 6:22 7:55
13 8 Wed 5:24 6:55 12:38 4:36 6:21 7:53
14 9 Thu 5:25 6:56 12:38 4:34 6:19 7:51
15 10 Fri 5:26 6:57 12:38 4:33 6:18 7:50
16 11 Sat 5:27 6:58 12:38 4:31 6:16 7:48
17 12 Sun 5:28 6:59 12:37 4:30 6:14 7:47
18 13 Mon 5:29 7:00 12:37 4:28 6:13 7:45
19 14 Tue 5:31 7:01 12:37 4:27 6:11 7:43
20 15 Wed 5:32 7:02 12:37 4:25 6:09 7:42
21 16 Thu 5:33 7:04 12:37 4:24 6:08 7:40
22 17 Fri 5:34 7:05 12:36 4:22 6:06 7:39
23 18 Sat 5:34 7:05 12:36 4:22 6:06 7:39
24 19 Sun 5:35 7:06 12:36 4:21 6:05 7:37
25 20 Mon 5:37 7:08 12:36 4:18 6:02 7:35
26 21 Tue 5:38 7:09 12:36 4:17 6:00 7:33
27 22 Wed 5:39 7:11 12:35 4:16 5:59 7:32
28 23 Thu 5:40 7:12 12:35 4:14 5:57 7:30
29 24 Fri 5:41 7:13 12:35 4:13 5:56 7:29