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Hazrat Sahl bins Sa’ad R.A. reports that Rasulullah (Salallaho Alaihi Wassallam) said:
“when a Muslim shouts Labbaik, then verily every stone, tree and all the ground to his right and to his left recites the same, and this continues till that cry reaches the end of the earth”.

The recitation of the cry ‘Labbaik’ is the symbol and emblem of the Hajj. This is borne out by many Ahaadith. In Knaz we find a report that when Moosa A.S used to recite Labbaik, Allah used to reply: “Labbaik O Moosa: (Kanz). It is Allah’s mercy that not only the Hajji’s Labbaik, but his every action earns for him great reward.

Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar R.A. reports: I was once with Rasulullah (Salallaho Alaihi Wassallam) in the Masjid at Mina, when two persons, one from the tribe of Thaqafi and the other from among the Ansaar came forward, after greeting Rasulullah (Salallaho Alaihi Wassallam), the said: “We wish O Rasulullah (Salallaho Alaihi Wassallam) to ask a question?” Rasulullah (Salallaho Alaihi Wassallam) replied: “You have permission, ask, or if you should prefer, then I shall inform you as to what you intend asking”. They said: “Tell us then O Rasulullah Sal’am”. Rasulullah Sal’am replied: ” You have come to inquire as to what shall be the reward for him who has left his home to perform Hajj, and as to what shall be the reward for two rak’aats after tawaaf, and as to what reward there is for Saee between Safa and Marwa, for the pausing on the Plain of Arafaat, for the throwing of stones at the Shaytaan for the sacrifice of animals and for the Tawaaf-az-ziyaarah of Ka’bah”.

They replied: “We swear by Him, who had sent you as a Messenger, that these were indeed the questions in our mind”.

Rasulullah Sal’am replied: “For every stride your camel takes as you leave from home, having the intention for Hajj, a good deed is written down for you, while one sin is forgiven. The reward for the rak’aats after tawaaf shall be as you have freed one Arab slave. The reward for Saee between Safa and Marwa is like that of freeing seventy slaves. And when people are gathered on the plain of Arafaat, Allah descends to the lower Heaven, and boastingly says to the Angels: disheveled hair, seeking My mercy. (O people) even though your sins shall be as numerous as the grains of sand, though they be as they be as numerous as the drops of rain that descend from Heaven and though they be as numerous as the waves of the sea, I have forgiven them all. O My servants, go forth while you are forgiven and pardoned. Your sins are forgiven, and so also are forgiven the sins of those on whose behalf you intercede.
Rasulullah (Salallaho Alaihi Wassallam) further said: “As for stoning the Shaytaan, for every stone that is thrown one such sin that would have destroyed you is pardoned. The reward for sacrificing and animal (Qurbani) is a special treasure which Allah stores for you. When you release yourself from Aihraam, by shaving your hair, for every hair falls there is written the reward of one good deed, while one sin is forgiven. After all this when the Hajji perform the Tawaaf as Ziyaarah not a single sin remains upon him. An angel places his hand on the back between the shoulder blades and says: “Now you may recommence your deeds. All your previous sins are forgiven.” (Targheeb)

This Hadith is full of virtue of Hajj and its reward. It should be remembered that this does not refer to the Hajj of every Hajji. It is necessary that this Hajj be a real Mabroor Hajj before this reward can be attained. Some Shaikhs have explained that the Labbaik uttered by the Hajji is in actual fact the reply to the cry uttered by Hazrat Ibrahim A.S. many years ago as is mentioned in the Qur’aan.

Thus in the same way that a person feels awestruck, and great anxiety overcomes him when presenting himself at the door of a great ruler in answer to his summons, so should a Hajji be filled with fear and anxiety, yet have hope when answering the summons from Allah. The fear should be that our evil deeds do not prevent our presence from being acceptable.

A Wali Murtif bin Hazrat Abdullah R.A. used to pray in this manner on the plain of Arafaat: “O Allah, do not reject them (the Hajjis) all, because of my ill-fortune”. Hazrat Bakr Muzni R.A. relates that he saw a saintly man on the plain of Arafaat saying: “Looking at all these (thousands).I feel that had I not been among them, they would all be forgiven”. (Ithaaf)

It is reported that when Hazrat Ali Zainul-Aabideen R.A. used to enter into ihraam, his face used to become very pale, his body used to shake and tremble so much that he could not utter the Labbaik. Someone asked him: “You did not recite labbaik on entering into ihraam?” He replied: “I fear greatly that in reply to my Labbaik, a cry may come saying Laa Labbaik. That is your presence her is not acceptable”. Thereafter, with great difficulty he finally uttered Labbaik, but the effort proved so much that he fell off from his camel unconscious. This continued to happen every time he uttered Labbaik.

Hazrat Ahmad R.A. relates: “I once performed Hajj with Abu Sulaymaan. When he entered into ihraam, he did not recite Labbaik. After we had gone about a mile he fell unconscious. When he recovered he said: ‘O Ahmad, Allah revealed unto Hazrat Moosa A.S. saying: ‘ O Moosa, inform the unjust ones that they should not remember Me so much, because that I shall have to remember them with a curse.’ O Ahmad. I have been informed that when a person performs Hajj with haraam things and recites Labbaik, then Allah replies to his cry saying: ‘ Laa Labbaik’ You are not welcome, and your presence here is not desirable until such time that you discard your evil ways” (Ithaaf)

In the Qur’aan Allah says:
“Remember Me, and I shall remember you”. When an unjust wrongdoer remembers Allah, Allah shall be obliged to remember him, but with a curse.

Hazrat Shaddaad bin Aws R.A. reports in Sahih Tirmazi that Rasulullah Sal’am said: “The intelligent one is he who continues to reckon with himself, (regarding his own life’s deeds) and then continues to work for his hereafter. The foolish one is he who allows his passions and desires free rein, hoping that all his hopes will be fulfilled.” (Nuzha)

Still it is required that everyone, in spite of fear for the contrary, should have the hope and trust that Allah accept his deeds. In one of our Rasulullah Sal’am prayers we read:
“O Allah, Your forgiveness is so much more infinite then my sins, and I have so much more hope in Your Mercy then in my good deeds.”

A certain saintly person, resident in Mecca, used to perform Hajj annually until his seventieth Hajj. Yet every time we entered into ihraam, crying out Labbaik aloud, he used to near in reply: “Laa Labbaik”. Once a young man was with him when the same thing happened. The young man said in surprise: “O uncle, a cry of Laa Labbaik has come in answer to your call”. The old man asked: “O son, did you also hear it?” The young man said: “Yes, I also heard it”. The old man cried bitterly and said: ‘O son for seventy years now have I heard that reply time after time.” The young man asked: “But dear Uncle, why should you cast yourself in so much difficulty? (to perform Hajj every time). The old man replied: “O son, on which other door can I knock except His, and who else is there to whom I may go except Him. It is my duty to continue begging for mercy. If He so desires, He may accept, and should He desire, He may reject. O son’ it is not permissible for a slave to flee from the door of His Master for any reason that may not suit him”. Saying this the old man wept bitterly that tears even covered his chest. Thereafter, he again cried Labbaik, but this time both heard in reply: “Now we have indeed accepted your presence here”. And so we act with those who keep their faith in our goodness. But not so with those who follow their vain desires and still hope for Our mercy. The young man having heard this asked his uncle: ” O Uncle, did you too hear this reply?” the old man said: “Yes, I have also heard it.” Thereafter the old man wept so much that he died.

Hazrat Abu Abdullah Jalaa R.A. reports: “I was once at Zul Hulaifa, when a young man came to enter into ihraam. Having put on his ihraam clothing, he said repeatedly: “O my Lord, I fear that I shall say Labbaik while from Your side the reply shall be Laa Labbaik”. This he said numerous times until at last he loudly recited: “Labbaik O Allah”. The effect of it was such that he could not bear it. He then fell down dead.

Hazrat Ali bin Muwaffak R.A. says: “once on the eve of Arafaat I slept in the masjid at Mina. I saw two Angels in green clothes descending from above. The one asked the other, “how many pilgrims are present here this year?” When the other replied he knew not, the first one said: “There are six hundred thousand. But do you know from how many of them Allah accepted Hajj?” the second one replied: “I know not.” The first one went on: “Allah has accepted the Hajj of only six from them.” Saying this, they both departed towards the sky.

Hazrat Ibn Muwaffak R.A. states further: “Greatly filled with fear and anxiety for what I heard, I woke up deeply distressed for my own Hajj. If only six pilgrims had their Hajj accepted out of six hundred thousand, then what chance is there that I would be among them?
On the way back from Arafaat I looked at the great congregation distressed and worried again. How is it that of such a huge gathering only six should succeed? In this great distress, I fell asleep at Muzdalifa and again I saw the same two Angels asking the same question and giving the same answers as before. Then the first one further asked: ” and do you know what Allah has commanded regarding this situation?” the second replied: “I know not.” The first one continued: ” Allah has decreed that on account of the blessings of each of them, the Hajj of one hundred thousand Hajjis shall be accepted.”

Hazrat Ibn Muwaffak R.A. ends his story thus: “When I woke up having heard that, I was so happy as cannot be explained.”

It is also reported from this same Hazrat Ibn Muwaffak R.A. that he said; one year in Hajj it appeared to me that there must be many present whose Hajj may not have been accepted. I then prayed: ‘O Allah I have granted (the reward of ) my Hajj to him whose Hajj has not been accepted.”

In another book(Rowdur Rayaheen) he is reported to have said: “I have performed more than fifty pilgrimages, and every time I have prayed that the reward be granted to Rasulullah Sal’am and the khalifas and my parents.”

Besides these Hajj during one year’s Hajj on hearing the crying and the voices of the Hajjis before Allah on Arafaat, I besought Allah to grant the reward of my Hajj to him whose Hajj has been accepted. On the plain of Muzdalfa in his dream Allah appeared to him(to Hazrat Ali ibn Muwaffak R.A) saying: “O Ali, are you trying to be more generous than I am? I have created generosity. I have created generous ones and am the most generous of all. Verily through that Hajjis’ Hajj that has been accepted I have accepted the Hajj of each and everyone whose Hajj had not been accepted. (Ithaaf)

it is also mentioned in Rowdur Rayaheen that ; I have forgiven the mall and together with them various others. I have also accepted every person’s intercession for his family, friends and neighbors. Numerous similar incidents in the lives of the saintly ones are related later in this booklet under ‘Stories’. From all these incidents, the moral is clear for us that we should have he great hope that Allah should enfold us in His Mercy.

In one Hadith Rasulullah Sal’am is reported to have said: “That person is indeed a great sinner, who while on the plain of Arafaat, still believes that his sins shall not be forgiven.”

“This day have I perfected your religion for you; completed my favor upon you; and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.”
(Surah 5-4)

One of the great virtues of Hajj is that the verse announcing the completion of the Deen was revealed at the time of Hajj. Hazrat Imaam Ghazali R.A. writes in his ‘Ilyas’: Hajj is one of the fundamental principles of Islam. Upon it the foundation of Islam became completed and upon it the Deen was completed. It was at the time of Hajj that this Ayah was revealed.

Once a learned person from among the Jews said to Hazrat Umar R.A.: “In the Quran you people read a certain verse, if that verse had been revealed to us, we would have celebrated that day annually.” Hazrat Umar R.A. inquired: “which verse is that?” He replied: “Al Yowma akmaltu lakum Deenakum.” (The verse under discussion) Hazrat Umar R.A. said “Verily I remember the day and the place where this verse was revealed (and apart from the revelation of this verse, which was on a Friday) it was already a double celebration for us. Firstly it was Friday-a day of celebration for all Muslims and secondly, it was the day of Arafat – a day of celebration for the pilgrims. Hazrat Umar R.A. further stated that this verse was revealed on a Friday after Asar on the day of Arafat while Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) was seated on his she-camel. It is further stated in the Hadith that no further verses were revealed after this one with regard to Halaal and Haraam. When this verse was revealed Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) was seated on his she-camel. The camel was forced to sit down because of the great weight descending upon it on account of the revelation. This is what normally happened. Hazrat Ayesha R.A. states that, when Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) was seated on a camel, the camel used to lower its neck being unable to lift it or move a step until revelation had ended. Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Umar R.A. relates from Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) that when revelation descended upon him he feared that he would loose his life. (Durre Mansoor) Hazrat Zaid Ibn Thabit R.A. states that when the verse 95 in Surah 4 was being revealed I was sitting next to Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam). Rasulullah (Sallallaho Alaihi Wassallam) then became like one in a state of semi consciousness, and he put his high upon mine, the weight of which was so great that I felt that my leg would break. (Durre Mansoor) this was due to the greatest of Allah’s words, which we now a days read very casually and superficially as though it were ordinary speech.

“And proclaim the pilgrimage among men; they will come to thee on foot and (mounted) on every camel, lean on account of journeys through deep and distant mountain highways.”
(Surah Hajj – 27)
Kaaba – The House of Allah
There is a certain amount of difference of opinion whether Adam A.S. first built the Kaaba or whether the Kaaba was built prior to this by the Angels. However, some believe that the creation of the earth originated from the spot where the Kaaba now stands. Initially everything was covered in water. Then there appeared something in the shape of a bubble at that spot. Then the rest of the earth was spread out in all directions. When the deluge came in the time of Hazrat Nooh A.s. the spot was raised. Thereafter Hazrat Ebrahim A.S. and Hazrat Ismail A.S. built the Kaaba on a spot shown to them by Allah, the exact spot where it had been previously, as is described in the Ayah in the first juz of the Quran. In one Hadith we read: “When Allah the Almighty sent Hazrat Adam A.S. down to the earth from paradise, He also sent down His House and said: ‘ O Adam I am sending down with you My House, so perform tawaaf round it in the manner tawaaf is performed around My Throne; And pray to Me in its direction in the same manner as is being prayed in the direction of My Throne.” Then when the deluge came during the time of Hazrat Nooh A.S. the House was lifted.

Then the prophets used to perform tawaaf around that place (even though the House was not there). Allah thereafter revealed the spot to Hazrat Ebrahim A.S. and commanded him to build the House. (Targheeb – Munziri)

In another Hadith it is stated: “When Hazrat Ebrahim A.S. completed the erection of the Kaaba he said: ‘O Allah, I have completed Your Holy House.’ Then Allah replied: ‘O Hazrat Ebrahim, announce among mankind that they shall come for pilgrimage’ Hazrat Ebrahim A.S inquired: ‘O Allah, how shall my voice reach them?’ and Allah replied; ‘You will announce My command and I shall cause it to reach them.’ Thereupon Hazrat Ebrahim A.S. called out to the world announcing the pilgrimage and everything on earth in the heavens heard it.

(Some may feel that this is a bit far fetched, but we living in this age of the radio where one person’s voice is caused to be heard in numerous lands, and television where something seen in one place is made to be seen in many lands at the same time) should not find this impossible to believe that the Creator of the inventors of radio and television should cause one Prophet’s words to be heard in many places.

According to another Hadith we learn that every person heard that voice and replied LABBAIK (I am present) the same cry uttered by the Hajjees whilst in ihraam. Whosoever Allah granted the good fortune to perform Hajj uttered the labbaik at that moment. The Hadith also states that every person, whether born already at that time or still in the worked of souls, to be born at a later time, who recited the Labbaik will surely be granted the opportunity to perform Hajj. In another Hadith it is stated: whoever recited labbaik once shall perform Hajj once, and whoever recited it twice shall perform Hajj twice, and whatever number of times Labbaik was recited so many times they shall perform Hajj. How fortunate indeed were those souls who recited the Labbaik numerous times.

Allah Most High says,

“If thou fearest treachery from any group, throw back (their covenant) to them, (so as to be) on equal terms: for Allah loveth not the treacherous.” (8:58)

He says too,

“No Prophet could ever act dishonestly. If any person acts dishonestly he shall, on the Day of Judgement, restore what he misappropriated, then shall every soul receive its due whatever it earned.” (2:161)

Abu Hurairah heard the Prophet (pbuh) mentioning Ghulul, emphasizing its magnitude, and declaring that it was a grave sin, saying,

“Do not commit Ghalul, for I would not like to see anyone amongst you on the day of Judgement, carrying over his neck a camel that will be grunting. Such a man will say,”O Allah’s Apostle! Intercede with Allah for me!” and I will say,” I cannot help you for I conveyed Allahs’ message to you. Nor would I like to see a man carrying over his neck a horse that will be neighing. Such a man will be saying,” O Allahs’ Apostle! Intercede with Allah for me!” and I will reply,” I cannot help you, for I conveyed Allahs’ message to you”. Nor should I like to see a man carrying over his neck a sheep that will be bleating, or one carrying over his neck a crying soul, or one carrying over his neck clothes which will be fluttering, or one carrying over his neck gold and silver. Such men will be saying,’ 0 Allah’s Apostle! Intercede with Allah for us, and I will say,” I cannot help you for I conveyed Allah’s message to you.” (Muslim)

Whosoever takes from these kinds of the spoils before they are distributed among the fighters or something from the Muslim’s common treasury without the Imam’s permission, or something from the Zakat fund which is assigned to the poor, will come on the Day of Judgement carrying it on his neck.

The Prophet (pbuh) said,

“Render back (even) the thread and the needle, and shun Ghalul, for it puts man (who commits it) to shame on the Day of Judgement.” (Abu Dawud)

The Prophet appointed a man named “Ibn Al-Lutaibah for collecting the Zakah. When he returned he said, “This (i.e. the Zakah) is for you and this has been given to me as a present: whereupon, the Prophet ascended the pulpit and gave a sermon, saying, “By Allah, whoever takes something from the resources of the Zakat (unlawfully) will meet Allah carrying it on his neck on the Day of Resurrection. Verily, I may know one of you who will meet Allah carrying on his neck a camel that will be grunting, or a cow that will be mooing, or a sheep that will be bleating. Then the Prophet raised his hands till we saw the whiteness of his armpits, and he said thrice “O Allah! Have I not conveyed your message (to them)?” (Bukhari and Muslim)

Abu Hurairah narrated,

“When we conquered Khaibar, we gained neither gold nor silver as booty, but we gained goods, food and clothes. Then we departed with Allah’s apostle to the valley of ” Al-Qira”, and at that time Allah’s apostle had a slave of his called “Rifa’ah lbn Yazid who had been presented to him by a man who had leprosy. While the slave was dismounting the saddle of Allah’s apostle, an arrow (its thrower was unknown) came and hit him. The people said, “Congratulations to him on his martyrdom”. Allah’s apostle said,” No, by him in whose hand is my soul, he had a sheet (of cloth) which he had taken (illegally) on the day of Khaibar from the booty before its distribution and has become a flame of fire burning him.” On hearing that, a man brought one or two leather straps of shoes to the Prophet and said, “These are the things I took (illegally)”

“This is a strap, or these are two straps, of fire”, the Prophet said.” (Bukhari)

‘Abdullah Ibn ‘ Amr related,

“There was a man who looked after the family and the belongings of the Prophet was called “Karkarah.” The man died and Allah’s apostle said,” He is in the Hell fire. The people then went to look at him and found in his place a cloak he has stolen from the war booty.” (Bukhari)

Zaid Ibn Khalid Al-Juhani narrated,

“A man has stolen something from the booty of Khaibar. As a result, the Prophet refused to observe the funeral prayer for him and said to his companions ” Observe prayer for your fellowman, (and I would never observe it for him because he has stolen (from the booty obtained from war) in the way of Allah” Zaid added, “We, then, searched that man, luggage and found therein some of the Jews pear’s which were worth two drachmas.” (Abu Dawud)

Imam Ahmad related, “Allah’s apostle avoided prayer for none but the one who had stolen from the war booty and the one who had committed suicide. The Prophet said, “The gifts presented to official employees are a sort of Ghulul.” And there are numerous Prophetic traditions related to this point, and some of them are mentioned in the chapter of “Injustice” (Ahmad)

Injustice, generally speaking, may be classified into three categories:

a) To violently spoil one’s property.

b) To act tyrannically by unjustly killing, beating or wounding people.

c) To aggressively insult, curse, slander and ill-treat people. The Prophet, while being at “Mina” gave a sermon that ended:

“O People! Your belongings, and your honor are sacred to each other as sacred as this day, this month, and this city.” and: prayer is invalid without ablution, and charity is unlawful from Ghalul.” (Bukhari)

Hadrat Aishah (Radi Allaahu Ta’ala Anhu) narrated that the
Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) left neither dinars nor dirhams,
neither a goat nor a camel. In another tradition from – Umar lbn Haris (Radi
Allahu Ta’ala’anhu) the Prophet left nothing save a few weapons, a mule and a
small plot of land, which has, in fact, been already given away as Sadaqa
(charity) [Kitabush-Shifa]

It has been narrated by Hadrat Anas (Radi Allaahu Ta’ala
Anhu) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) performed Hajj riding
on an old saddle covered with a piece of coarse woolen material not worth more
than a few dirhams.

On this occasion he prayed as follows:

O ALLAH I Do make this a real Hajj free from ostentation
and hypocrisy.

He had performed this Hajj when the treasures of the world
lay open at his feet and he had with him one hundred camels for sacrifice.
[Kitabush-Shifa]

Abdullah ibn’ Abbas was the cousin of the Holy Prophet (SAWS). When the Holy Prophet (SAWS) passed away, he was yet very young. In order to preserve Ahadith, he began to compile what he himself heard from the Holy Prophet (SAWS) as well as those narrated by other companions. Whenever he came to know of any companion having some Ahadith, he would travel to him to hear them. All such Ahadith were compiled by him in several scripts. These scripts numbered so many that they could be loaded on a camel. These scripts remained with his pupil Kuraib. Musa ibn’ Uqbah, the famous historian says:

“Kuraib left with us a camel load of Ibn Abbas’s books. When Ali ibn’ Abdullah ibn Abbas would need any book from them, he wrote to Kuraib, “Send to me such and such books”. He would then transcribe the book and send to him one of the two copies (Ibn Saad).

The pupils of Ibn’ Abbas would copy these scripts and read them over to him to confirm the correctness of the copies (Tirmidhi).

Sometimes Ibn’ Abbas would narrate the Ahadith to his pupils while they would record them (Sunan Ad-Darami).

These are only a few examples of efforts made by the companions of the Holy Prophet (SAWS) for the compilation of Ahadith. We do not intend here to present an exhaustive survey of such efforts. Detailed books can be consulted for this purpose. Our purpose here was to give only some examples. These concrete examples are more than sufficient to refute the fallacious assumption that the Ahadith were never written in the days of the Holy Prophet (SAWS) and his companions.

One of his companions came to the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). In his hands he had some birds chicks which were chirping. The Prophet asked him what those chicks were. The Companion said, “O Messenger! As I was passing by bush, I heard the chirping of these chicks, so I took them away. When their mother saw this she began to circle around my head in her anguish.” The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) said, “Go at once and put them back wherefrom you have taken them”. [Mishkat, Ma’arif -ul- Hadis]

The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) once went to the orchard of a companion. There he found a camel bellowing with hunger. He stroked it kindly on the back, and calling its owner asked him, “Do you have no fear of ALLAAH in the matter of this animal?” [Abu Da’ud, Mar’arif -ul- Hadis]

Hadrat Abu Mas’ud Ansari (Radi Allaahu Ta’ala Anhu) was once belabouring his slave. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) happened to come along, and feeling grieved, said, ‘Abu Mas’ud! ALLAAH has more power over you than you have over this slave. Hearing the Prophet’s words Abu Mas’ud began to tremble with fear and said, ‘O Prophetof ALLAAH! I set this slave free in the name of ALLAAH.” The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) remarked, “Had you not done this, hell fire would have touched you.” [Abu Da’ud]