Read Islamic Books

Friends have invited me to give a talk on Madinah, describing what I saw there, and I have readily agreed. As a Persian poet has said: “To talk of the beloved is no less pleasant than to meet him.”

I do not know when I first heard of Makkah and Madinah. Like all Muslim children, I was brought up in an environment in which Hijaz (Arabia) and Makkah and Madinah were household words. I, distinctly, remember people saying Makkah, Madinah together as if these were the same. When they took the name of one of them, they, generally, mentioned that of the other as well. I, thus, came to imagine that Makkah and Madinah were not two different places, but one, and learnt to appreciate the difference only as I grew up. It, then, became clear that these were two different towns separated from each other by over 300 kilometers.  Read more... (1760 words, 6 images, estimated 7:02 mins reading time)

Hadis: It is narrated on the authority of Hadrat Umar bin Khattab (Radi Allaahu Ta’ala Anhu): One day when we were in the company of the Holy Prophet (Sallaliahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) at that time he was addressing a big gathering of his companions – (Radi Allaahu Ta’ala Anhu) that suddenly a man appeared before us. His clothes were extremely white and his hair was very black. There was no effect of travel on him (which could give an impression that he was not an outsider). Besides, none of us recognized him and this led us to take him as a stranger.  Read more... (543 words, estimated 2:10 mins reading time)

Hazrat Abu Jafar R.A. reports from his father who reports from his grandfather that Rasulullah Sal’am said: “Every man or woman who is stingy in spending in things or places in which lies Allah’s pleasure, he will be made to spend much more in such a cause which incurs Allah’s displeasure, and whoever, because of some worldly obstacle (requiring his attention) postpones going for Hajj, will find that the obstacle shall not be overcome until he sees the Haajis returning from their pilgrimage; and whoever (refuses) to assist another Muslim brother will be made to assist somebody in some form of sinful act for which there is no reward.  Read more... (336 words, estimated 1:21 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)

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)

“And spend of your substance in the way of Allah, and make not your own hands contribute to your destruction.”

Some of the commentators of the Holy Qur’an are unanimous that this verse refers to the pilgrimage among other things pertaining to the obligations and duties we owe to Allah. This verse encourages to spend in Allah’s way; to spend in Hajj and warns that refusal to spend that which Allah given in His own path means destroying your own self with your own hands. There can be no doubt in this.

“Pilgrimage to the House (of Allah) is a duty man owes to Allah upon those who can afford the journey.”

The ulama inform us that Hajj became obligatory when this verse was revealed. When we look at the verse we see a lot of emphasis and stress. Let us study it:

Firstly, we find a Laam on the word of Allah (Lillaahi) which lays emphasis on the fact that Hajj is obligatory. (see Allama Ainy)

‘Alan-naas’ is another term that denotes extreme emphasis.  Read more... (437 words, estimated 1:45 mins reading time)

Hazrat Aayesha R.A reports that she once sought permission from Rasulullah (Salallaho Alaihi Wassallam) to go for Jihaad. Rasulullah(Salallaho Alaihi Wassallam) replied: “You Jihaad is Hajj.”

At another time Hazrat Aayesha R.A.. asked Rasulullah Sal’am whether is Jihaad is also obligatory on females. He replied: “Yes, such Jihaad, wherein there shall he no killing. Your Jihaad is Hajj and Umrah.”

Hazrat Hussein R.A. reports that a man came to Rasulullah Sal’am saying: “O Rasulullah Sal’am, I am a weak person having little courage.”

Rasulullah Sal’am said: “come, I shall show you such a Jihaad wherein no thorn shall prick you (no injury) and that is Hajj.” (Targheeb)  Read more... (770 words, estimated 3:05 mins reading time)

Hazrat Abu Huraira R.A. reports that Rasulullah Salallaho Alaihi Wassallam) said: “Verily there shall be no reward for a righteous pilgrimage except Jannat”.

According to some ulama a “Mabroor Hajj” (a righteous Hajj) is such a pilgrimage during which no evil deed is committed. For this reason they speak of Hajj-e-Mabroor as a Maqbool Hajj (an accepted Hajj). By this they mean such a Hajj wherein the Hajee took note of each and every one of the Aadaab and Shuroot of Hajj while at the same time avoiding all faults.  Read more... (194 words, estimated 47 secs reading time)

“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.  Read more... (599 words, estimated 2:24 mins reading time)