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Oh guests of the Most Merciful! Oh fortunate ones! Oh travelers to the Haram! Congratulations on being invited by the Lord of the worlds! Be glad that He has invited you to His House! Not only that, but He has given you the provisions for travel and lodging. And not only that, but He has also filled your hearts with such love of Him and His House that today you leave your homes, your cities, your countries and embark on this journey solely for the pleasure of your Lord. Had this desire not been there then you would have never planned to undertake this journey.  Read more... (1856 words, 2 images, estimated 7:25 mins reading time)

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)

18. When an animal has been hired car should be taken that only so much baggage should be loaded as the owner allows and no more. If the rental paid was for certain weight of baggage nothing more than that is permissible. The very same applies to a journey by rail, motor or plane. When a certain amount is allowed, it is not permissible without additional payments to take more than that, by concealing some items. Our elders used to be very careful of this. Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Mubaarak R.A., the famous Muhaddith and Imaam once proceeded on a journey on a rented animal. Someone requested him to take a letter along. He said: ‘I have already shown all my baggage to the owner of the camel. Now I shall have to inform him once more of this letter. If he would give permission I shall take the letter and deliver it.’ (Ithaaf)  Read more... (2415 words, estimated 9:40 mins reading time)

Hazrat Abu Hurairah R.A. reports that Rasulullah Sal’am said: “When a pilgrim proceeds on his Haj journey with money, provision and his means of conveyance all acquired by lawful and Halaal earnings, then he embarks on means of transport; and cries: “Labbaik O’ Allah; Lab’baik”. A caller from the heavens; a farishta; calls to him: “Welcome indeed to you, and happy may you e, your provisions are proper (halaal), your means of transport is proper; paid for from halal earnings; and your Haj shall be righteous; and accepted by Allah’. And when he proceeds for Haj with unlawful and haraam earnings placing his foot in stirrup; and cries. “Labbaik O Allah, Lab’baik”, a caller from the heavens; a farishta; calls out to him: “No welcome to you, and no happiness, your provisions are unlawful (haraam) and so also are your earnings and your Haj is rejected”.  Read more... (1187 words, estimated 4:45 mins reading time)

Hazrat Ibn Abbas R.A reports from Rasulullah Sal’am who said: “Whoever goes for Hajj to Mecca on foot, and return; for him is written the reward of seven hundred good deeds performed in the Holy Haram for every stride taken.” The companions asked: “And what is the meaning of good deeds of the Haram?”  Read more... (348 words, estimated 1:24 mins reading time)

Hazrat Ali R.A. says Rasulullah’ (Salallaho Alaihi Wassallam) said: “Whoever possesses the provisions (for the journey) and the means of transport to bring him to the Hose of Allah yet he does not perform Hajj, then there is no difference in him dying as a Jew or as a Christian.”

To substantiate this, Rasulullah (Salallaho Alaihi Wassallam) recited the verse “Pilgrimage to the House (of Allah) is a duty.”
This Hadith according to the strict code of the Muhadditheen (experts in Hadith) has a weak sanad, yet the verse of the Qur’an quoted above as well as numerous Ahaadith substantiate the contents of this Hadith.  Read more... (145 words, estimated 35 secs reading time)

Details of Hajj-e-Badal are lengthy which I have compiled in a separate treatise named Minhaj-ul-Khayr-fil-Hajj-i-’anil-Ghayr’. The same may be consulted in need. Its necessary selected precepts are however given here for the information of common people.

Rule Of Action
Suppose a person fell under the obligation of Fardh Hajj and he found the period in which Hajj is performed. But he did not perform Hajj for some reason or other. Later on, he had some excuse becuase of which he was unable to perform Hajj personally. For example he fell ill with such ailment as he had no hope of recovery. He became blind or crippled or he was too weak to undertake a journey owing to old age. Now it is Fardh on him to depute someone to perform Hajj on his behalf or to make a will to the effect that Hajj-e-Badal may be arranged to be performed on his behalf from his funds after his death.  Read more... (1378 words, estimated 5:31 mins reading time)

An elderly Arab lady was sitting alone at the trunk of a tree and Abdullah bin Mubarak also happened to pass that way. Seeing this lady in distress, he spoke to her. The discussion is recorded as follows:

Abdullah bin Mubarak: Asalamu alaykum wa Rahmatullah.

The lady: The word from a merciful Lord is peace [Ya Sin 36/58]. She meant that the reply of salaam is from Allah, Most High, Himself. She said further: Those whom Allah sendeth astray, there is no guide for them. [Araaf 7/186]. She meant that she had lost her way.  Read more... (1132 words, estimated 4:32 mins reading time)

Firstly:
Defining one’s intention (Niyyat) exclusively for ‘Hajj’ Pilgrimage on starting the journey and wearing ‘Ihram’ with this very intention. ‘Hajj’ and ‘Umra’ are not added together. The Hajj of this kind is called ‘Ifrad’ and its’ observer is named as ‘Mufrid’.

Secondly:
Adding ‘Hajj’ and ‘Umra’ together and defining one’s intention for both of them from the very beginning. ‘Ihram’ is also to be worn jointly for both. It is called ‘Qiran’ and one who performs this kind is termed as ‘Qarin’.  Read more... (702 words, estimated 2:48 mins reading time)

Inadmissible and absurd talks should be abstained from. As for as possible, one should keep oneself busy in the remembrance of Allah or in the study of the religious books which induce deep concern for the life hereinafter and mend one’s ways.

To Begin With The Dictates For Hajj
As the ‘Takbir-e-Tahrimah’ i.e. saying (Allah-o-Akbar) is meant to begin with the prayers (Salat), so is the ‘Ihram’ with which ‘Hajj’ or ‘Umra’ begins. The detailes of the ‘Ihram’ are to follow hereafter. But before this, the difference between Hajj and Umra and the kinds of Hajj should be learnt.