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Hazrat Um Salmah R.A. reports that Rasulullah Sal’am said: “Whosoever puts on his ihraam for an umrah from Baitul Muqaddas, shall be forgiven’.

This Hadith speaks for itself. One Tabi’iyya, (A Muslim woman who saw the Prophet Sal’am). Hazrat Um Hakeem R.A. hearing this hadith from hazrat Um Salmah R.A. undertook a special journey to Baitul Muqaddas to put on her ihraam there, for an umrah to Mecca. (Targheeb)

That was the spirit of those people that whenever they heard the commands and advices of Rasulullah Sal’am they immediately endeavored to put them into action, according to their means. They never cared about the hardship they had to undergo.  Read more... (151 words, estimated 36 secs reading time)

Hazrat Ibn Mas’ood R.A. relates that Rasulullah Sal’am said: ‘Follow up the Haj or the unrah (with each other) for verily they remove poverty and sin in the same manner that fire cleans away the dirt in iron, gold and silver’.  Read more... (306 words, estimated 1:13 mins reading time)

In the same way that there are obligatory (fardh) salaats, which must be, said at specific times and some voluntary (nafl) salaats for the devoted to present himself in Allah’s presence when he so desires. There is a specific time when it is compulsory to present himself at the Home of Allah for Haj and also a time when in a voluntary manner he may perform some of the acts which are also performed in Haj by performing umrah. Apart form five days (when it is makrooh from the 9th to 13th Zil Haj) umrah may be performed at any time during the year.  Read more... (414 words, estimated 1:39 mins reading time)

Hazrat Ibn Umar R.A. reports: ‘A certain man once asked Rasulullah Sal’am: ‘What is the true condition and appearance of a Haji?’. To which Rasulullah Sal’am replied: ‘The true Haji it he who comes with disheveled hair and clothes laden in dust; and moist with sweat.’ Then another inquired: ‘O Rasulullah Sal’am which Haj is in which the voice is loudly raised; repeatedly reading the Lab’baik and the excessive shedding of the blood of the sacrificial animals’.  Read more... (1039 words, estimated 4:09 mins reading time)

I wish to end this chapter with a story related by the author of ‘Ithaaf’.

Once one of the mureeds of Sheikh Shilbi; the great saint; came to visit him after having performed Haj. The Sheikh asked him some questions. The mureed continues the story:

The Sheikh asked me: “Did you make a determined niyah for Haj?”

I replied: “Yes I made a firm intention for performing Haj.”

Sheikh: “Together with having made a firm intention for Haj; 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 Haj?”  Read more... (1287 words, estimated 5:09 mins reading time)

“For Hajj are the months well known, if anyone undertakes that duty therein let there be no obscenity, no wickedness, nor wrangling in the Hajj. And whatever good you do, be sure Allah knoweth it.”

In this verse the word ‘Rafath’ is used, meaning obscene speech. This may be of two different kinds. Firstly there is more strongly prohibited. Secondly there is that form which under normal circumstances may be allowed, but during Hajj (ihraam) becomes prohibited, for example in the case of love talk with one’s wife.  Read more... (191 words, estimated 46 secs reading time)