It is related that a noted Muslim scholar Abdullah bin Mubarak, had a dream while he was sleeping near the Kaaba.

Abdullah bin Mubarak saw two angels’ descend from the sky, and start talking to each other. 

One of the angels asked the other: "Do you know how many people have come for Hajj this year?" 

The other angel replied: "Six hundred thousand have come for Hajj." 

Abdullah bin Mubarak had also gone for Hajj that year. 

The first angel asked: "How many people’s Hajj has been accepted?" 

The second replied: "I wonder if anyone’s Hajj has been accepted at all." 

Abdullah bin Mubarak was grieved to hear that. He thought, "So many people have come from all over the world, crossing so many obstacles like rivers, jungles, mountains, suffered so many hardships, and meeting so many expenses. Would their effort be wasted? Allah does not let anyone’s effort go to waste". 

He had thought only so far when he heard the other angel speak: "There is a cobbler in Damascus. His name is Ali bin al-Mufiq. He could not come for Hajj, but Allah has accepted his intention of Hajj. Not only will he get the reward for Hajj, but because of him, all the Hajjis will be rewarded. 

When Abdullah bin Mubarak woke up, he decided he would go to Damascus and meet that cobbler whose Hajj intentions carried such a lot of weight. 

On reaching Damascus, Abdullah bin Mubarak inquired if anyone knew a cobbler named Ali bin al-Mufiq. The town people directed him to a house. When a man appeared from the house Abdullah bin Mubarak greeted him and asked his name. The man replied "Ali bin al-Mufiq".

Abdullah bin Mubarak asked: "What do you do for a living?"

Ali replied: "I am a cobbler". Then Ali asked the stranger’s name that had come looking for him. 

Abdullah bin Mubarak was a very well-known scholar of Islam, when Abdullah bin
Mubarak introduced him self, the cobbler was anxious to find out why such a well known scholar was seeking him out. 

When Abdullah bin Mubarak asked Ali to tell him if he had made any plans to go for Hajj. Ali replied "For thirty years I have lived in the hope of performing the Hajj. This year I had saved enough to go for Hajj, but Allah did not will it, so I couldn’t make my intention translate into action. 

Abdullah bin Mubarak was eager to find out how could this man’s Hajj be accepted and blessed for all the people who went for Hajj that year when he didn’t go for Hajj in the first place. While talking to the cobbler he could feel a certain purity in his heart. Islam regards greatness not in wealth or in power, but in civility, in good manners and the goodness of heart.

Abdullah bin Mubarak further asked: "why could you not go on Hajj?". In order not to disclose the reason, Ali again replied "it was Allah’s will".

When Abdullah bin Mubarak persisted, Ali revealed: "Once I went to see my neighbour’s house. His family was just sitting down for dinner. Although I was not hungry I thought my neighbour would invite me to sit down for dinner out of courtesy but I could see that my neighbour was grieved about something and wanted to avoid inviting me for dinner.

After some hesitation the neighbour told me: "I am sorry I cannot invite you for food. We were without food for three days and I could not bear to see the pain of hunger of my children. I went out looking for food today and found a dead donkey. In my desperation I cut out some meat from the dead animal, and brought it home so that my wife could cook this meat. It is halal (lawful or permitted) for us because of our extreme condition of hunger, but I cannot offer it to you." 

Ali continued: "On hearing this, my heart bled with tears. I got up and went home, collected the three thousand dinars I had saved for Hajj, and gave my neighbour the money. I too had to go hungry but that was to save money for Hajj, but I thought helping my neighbour during his difficult times was more important. Although I still desire to go for Hajj if Allah wills."

Abdullah bin Mubarak was greatly inspired by the cobbler’s story and told the cobbler of his dream.

God is merciful and shows mercy to those who do likewise to his creatures. This act of compassion on the part of the cobbler was so pleasing to God that it not only earned him the reward of Hajj but was extended to all the people who came for Hajj.

Hajj is a journey that can ignite the soul to be reminded of the time it was created and takes it beyond the dimensions of this life to the time it will meet the creator.

The sincere performance of Hajj can transcend a person’s day to day life into a spiritual awakening of the highest magnitude. A successful Hajj experience connects us to our creator and the greater compassion of humanity.

The Pilgrimage to Makkah, is one of the essential elements of the Islamic faith. It is obligatory on all believers provided they have the financial capability and physical ability to endure the challenges of the pilgrimage. 

According to Islamic tradition the Kaaba, a simple square cube structure in Makkah, was the first house of worship established to remind humanity of the One Supreme God. The structure was reconstructed by Prophet Abraham and his son Prophet Ishmael.

And when We made the House (at Makkah) a destination for humankind and a sanctuary, (saying): Take as your place of worship the place where Abraham stood (to pray). And We imposed a duty upon Abraham and Ishmael, (saying): Purify My house for those who go around and those who meditate therein and those who bow down and prostrate themselves (in worship). Quran 2:125

The gathering of millions of faithful in Makkah during the days of annual pilgrimage, Hajj is a fulfillment of Prophet Abraham’s prayer.

And, lo, Abraham prayed: "O my Sustainer! Make this a land secure, and grant its people fruitful sustenance - such of them as believe in God and the Last Day." .. Quran 2:126

The Pilgrimage to Makkah is a sign of supreme significance. It was Prophet Ibraham’s unconditional commitment to God that led him to leave his wife Hagar and his infant son Ismael in this desolated desert. Prophet Abraham was reward for his unwavering submission to God, by a promise from Him to make this uninviting land into a place of promise and plenty.
Muslims who visit Makkah for Hajj become part of God’s promise to Prophet Abraham.
Like any other article of faith, the pilgrimage can become meaningless if it is regarded as an end in itself rather than a means for the attainment of a meaningful life.

* * * * * * * *

Each and everyone one of us is going through tough times right now, but Allah is getting ready to bless you in a way that only He can. Keep the faith.

This Dua is powerful, and Dua is one of the best gifts we receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards. Let’s continue to make Dua for one another.

The Dua:

Allah(SWT), I ask You to bless my friends, relatives and those that I care deeply for, who are reading this right now. Show them Your love and power in this holy month of Dhil Haj. Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy. Where there is self-doubt, release a renewed confidence through Your grace. Where there is need, I ask you to fulfil their needs. Bless their homes, families, finances, their goings and their comings. And most of all make it easy for them in this month of hajj and a blessed new coming hijra year Ameen

Was-salaam

The first ten days of this month are full of significance and merit. According to some commentators of the Holy Qur’an, these ten days have been mentioned in Sura al-Fajr when Allah swears by the ten nights: وَ الْفَجْرِ وَ لَيَالٍ عَشْرٍ   I swear by the daybreak, and by the ten nights (89:1-2)

The Holy Prophet(S) has said: There are no days when Allah is as pleased with good deeds as He is in these ten days [of Zilhajj].

1)   Keep fast on the first 9 days (not on the 10th)

2)  In the nights of the first 10 days, between the Maghrib and Ishaa salaats pray a 2 Rakaat Salaat as under:

In every Rakaat, after the recitation of Surah Al Fateha, recite Surah Al Ikhlaas and the following verse.

"WA WAA—A’DNAA MOOSAA THALAATHEENA LAYLATAN’W WA ATMAMNAAHAA BI—A’SHRIN FATAMMA MEEQAATU RABBIHEE ARBA—E’ENA LAYLAH WA QAALA MOOSAA LI—AKHEEHI HAAROONAKH—LUFNEE FEE QAWMEE WA AS’LIH’WA LA TATTABIA’—SABEELAL MUFSIDEE" (Sura al-A’araaf 7:142)

Translation:-

[And when We did appoint for Musa thirty nights, and added to them ten; and he completed the whole time appointed by his Lord of forty nights; and Musa said unto his brother: "Take my place among the people. Do right, and do not follow the way of the mischief-makers".] (Sura al-A`araaf, 7:142)

Please remember us in your valuable Prayer

Notes of Lectures on Fiqh by - Maulana Sadiq Hasan

Among all the acts of worship (furoo-e-deen), Hajj is the only worship, for which a complete surah (Surah Hajj) is revealed in the Holy Quran.

Hajj is also mentioned in Surah Ale Imran and Surah Baqarah in Quran.

Hajj is also the only worship, which, if started, must be completed and can not be left half-done, even if it is a Mustahab Hajj

(unlike Mustahab Sawm, which can be broken anytime, if necessary, without any sin).

Quran: "And the Hajj is incumbent upon mankind for the sake of Allah, for those who can afford to undertake journey to it; and whoever denies, then surely Allah is Self-sufficient, independent of the worlds", Surah Ale Imran, (3:97).

Hadees 1: If a person, on whom Hajj has become wajib, does not perform Hajj and dies, he/she will die as a Christian or a Jew.

Hadees 2: If Hajj becomes wajib on a person and if it is not performed, then he/she will be raised as a Christian or Jew on the day of judgement.

Hadees 3: When a person, on whom Hajj becomes wajib, completes the Hajj properly, his/her sins are forgiven such as if he/she is a newly born person.

Hadees 4: When a person completes a Hajj properly, his/her every dua is accepted for four months.

WHEN DOES HAJJ BECOMES WAJIB ?

Hajj becomes wajib only when a Muslim attains certain capability (Isteta’at) as defined by Islamic sharia.

Hajj is therefore a conditional wajib (wajibe mashroot) act as opposed to absolute wajib (wajibe mutlaq) acts such as salat and sawm.

Another example of conditional wajib act is Salatul Juma (Friday Prayer).

For conditional wajib acts, it is not necessary for a person to deliberately create the conditions for the act to become wajib.

If a person does not attain the required capability (Isteta’at), then Hajj is not wajib on him/her.

If such a person performs the Hajj without the required capability, then his Hajj is OK, but he has to perform the Hajj again in future if and when he attains the required capability (isteta’at).

It is not wajib on a person to try to achieve the required capability in order to perform Hajj.

This is not the case for other acts of worship such as wudu for wajib salat, for which it is wajib to try to get the water for performing wudu.

The wajib Hajj is of two types depending upon how it becomes wajib:

(1) Hajje Isteta’ei (wajib when attaining required Isteta’at automatically)

(2) Hajje Bazli (wajib when someone gifts sufficient money to someone for Hajj)

When someone gives you sufficient money as a gift for performing the Hajj, then it is wajib for you to accept the gift and go for Hajj.

For example, if husband is willing to pay for his wife or for his baligh child for Hajj, then it is wajib for the wife or that child to go for Hajj.

If they go to Hajj with this gifted money, then they have performed their wajib Hajj and need not go again even if they get their own sufficient money in future.

If someone is giving sufficient money as a gift to someone without putting a condition to go for Hajj, then it is not wajib for the receiver to accept the money.

But if he accepts and the money is sufficient and other conditions of isteta’at exist, then he has to go for Hajj.

If a person, on whom Hajj is not wajib (e.g. na-baligh person, or when the passage is not safe), performs the Hajj somehow, then he will get the sawab of that Hajj, but he will have to go to do his wajib Hajj in future when Hajj becomes wajib on him.

Judge a man, not by the colour of his face
Judge a man, not by the name of his race
Judge a man, not by the nature of his creed
But judge a man, by the measure of his deeds

For there are many good Arabs and many good Muslims
Many a poor Christian and many a poor Jew
But the scale of their righteousness has nothing to do
With the fact, that they might be Russian, Chinese, Buddhist or Hindu

And yet, why does race and religion so separate
When all the holy books quite clearly state
That we should live together in peace and accord
Doing to each other in agreement with his Lord

In Islam too, it might surprise you to hear
That the self-same belief is considered just as dear (and I quote)
"No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself. "

So it seems that everything’s right and yet everything’s wrong.
For we’re at war with one another instead of getting along.
Since time immemorial we’ve proved that fear and military might are not the answer
Because all they cause is an untreatable cancer.

Our lack of understanding, causes great fear
And when someone seems different we tend to sneer.
We treat them with suspicion and dread and derision.
Mocking their customs, their clothes and traditions.

For it is the unknown which causes so much fear
Even this beautiful place, Dallas Nature Center where we are……right here.
This self-same place, when shrouded in darkness, could become a place of fear
To those who are afraid of the unknown

But when a flashlight is used to illuminate the road
We feel much relief and confidence is restored
And so it is with people….. whose strange behaviours and customs at first appear
To be totally at odds with our own ideas

Only through understanding can we hope to succeed
Learning all we can about our brother’s needs.
We must try to respect and honour each other
Celebrate the difference, the uniqueness, the richness of our brother.

The surest of ways to bring about a transformation
Is with the most precious gift we’ve been given …….creation
Our children, carry the hopes of this world with their uncluttered minds.
Through them can we truly change it into one of pure cosmic design.

Children are born pure and without any hate
They have to be taught this most despicable trait
Our children are given to us essentially colour blind
They see each other equal and tolerant in mind

Children are such beautifully simple creatures
Seeing everything in a world of vivid "black & white"

No mask to hide behind, no pretence to fool you with
Just a bright, shining, beacon of light.

Let’s start teaching every one of these precious, shining lights
That diversity in this great land is something to be cherished
and honoured just like the bill of rights.
Like a garden of beautiful flowers, we are all of the same genus
but each unique and beautifully different.
Each adding our individual essence and colour.
Each benefiting the other in a symbiotic relationship.

So, let everyone of us desire first for his brother, that which he desires for himself
And in so doing, we’ll create a world of the greatest riches and unsurpassed wealth.

- Gordon Nicol, November 2001