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Hazrat Ibn Abbaas R.A. reports that a woman hazrat Um Saleem R.A, once came to the Messenger of Allah and said: ‘O Rasulullah Sal’am (my husband) Abu Talha and his son had gone to perform Haj, and left me behind.’ Rasulullah Sal’am replied: ‘O Um Saleem, to perform one umrah in the month of Ramadhaan is equal in reward of a Haj in my company’. This is not the only hadith in which it is stated that the reward of an umrah in Ramadhaan is the same as Haj in the company of Rasulullah Sal’am.  Read more... (427 words, estimated 1:42 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)

It is a fact that Makkah is a blessed city. Every inch and every rock or bit of sand is blessed. We have already mentioned those places of special blessing. Now there are a few more to which attention should be drawn.

1. Firstly there is a place where the house of Hazrat Khadija R.A. used to be; and where Hazrat Fatima Zahraa R.A. was born; and where all the children of Rasulullah Sal’am were born except Hazrat Ibrahim A.S. up to the Hijrat Rasulullah Sal’am live here. The Ulama are of the opinion that second to the Holy Masjid, this place is the most virtuous in Makkah.  Read more... (767 words, estimated 3:04 mins reading time)

Ibn Hazrat Abbaas R.A says: ‘I heard the messenger of Allah say: ‘The Multazam is a place where duaas are accepted. Whenever a person prays to Allah at this spot, Allah grants his prayer’.  Read more... (401 words, estimated 1:36 mins reading time)

Hazrat Ibn Abbas R.A. reports that the Messenger of Allah said: “One hundred and twenty mercies descend upon the Ka’ba every day and night; sixty for those performing tawaaf, forty for those performing salaah and twenty for those merely looking at Ka’ba”.
Here we are told that merely looking at the Ka’ba is a form of Ibaadah. Hazrat Saeed ibn Musayyib R.A. the well known. Tab’iee used to say that whoever merely looks at the Ka’ba with complete faith, becomes so cleansed of his sins as the day he was born.  Read more... (466 words, estimated 1:52 mins reading time)

The Holy Ka’ba had been re-erected quite a few time. About some of these times the ulama are agreed whereas there is some doubt about its erection at other times. For those interested in the historical issue of the Ka’ba’s erection see my Arabic commentary on Mu’atta Imaam Maalik called Awjaz al Massalik. A short synopsis of what is written there follows here:

1. The well know accepted view of the ulama is that it was originally erected by the angels about two thousand years prior to the creation of Hazrat Aadam A.S. some ulama even state that this was not the first time the Ka’ba was built. The first time was when Allah Himself caused it to be with His command; the angels had no part in its erection.  Read more... (1535 words, estimated 6:08 mins reading time)

The virtues of these two places-Makkah and the Ka’ba has been expounded in many verses of the Qur’aan and the Hadith. We shall now look at a few of these. Allah says in the Qur’ an “The first House (of worship) appointed for men was that at Bakka, full of blessing. On this Hazrat Ali R.A. said that houses for residence had been erected before the Ka’ba but the very first place for Hs worship was this one. It is reported above by many companions that this portion of the earth first appeared above the water after its creation and from it the rest of the earth was spread and rolled out, in the same manner as a roti is rolled out by a roller, to a large round flat bread, from a small round piece of dough.  Read more... (663 words, estimated 2:39 mins reading time)

1. When departing from home, the only intention in the heart should be the search for Allah’s pleasure. All other evil intentions; as for example; to show people or to wish to be called Haji, or the intention of having an enjoyable tour; should be completely removed from the mind. (See discussion in chapter one; hadith one.)  Read more... (2294 words, estimated 9:11 mins reading time)

Hazrat Shah Abdul Aziz saheb (Rah) of Delhi; the famous scholar of hadith and tafseer; says in his commentary of the Qur’an ‘Fathe Azizee’: ‘Whosoever deals lightly; and discards, the aadaab of any duty shall be deprived of the sunnah by way of punishment, and whosoever thinks lightly of the sunnah and discards it shall be deprived of the obligatory duties (Fardh) by way of punishment, and whosoever deals lightly with obligatory duties shall as punishment be deprived of the true knowledge and recognition of Allah’. The above quotation is a reason why we find in the hadith that a verdict of kufr (disbelief or rejection of faith); is given against some people, because disregard of proper procedure in action leads to it. In the light of this it is deduced that importance of following the proper etiquette and aadaab of any Islamic injunction is necessary. Should one be forced to neglect any etiquette for a special reason; then there shall be no blame attached to that; although one should never loose the sight of the importance of that point. Under no circumstances should such action be left aside willfully as if it is of no consequence. The Ulama of Islam have divided the duties of a Muslim into various stages of importance, and with great care did they preserve and compile them. Careful study of these compilations and to seek and avail oneself of the company of the learned ones will bring all these things home to us. Here I only wish to mention some of the aaddaab of Haj in broad outlines.  Read more... (1036 words, estimated 4:09 mins reading time)

Various ulama have written numerous booklets on Haj and how it should be performed; and the etiquette of every obligatory act. For most people a Haj journey comes but once in a lifetime. For this reason it is advisable that the intending Haji should acquire a few such booklets by acknowledged ulama; some time before his departure; and study them thoroughly. How unworthy and unfortunate will it be that after spending so much money; one finds that it has been wasted as result of wrong and prohibited acts rendering the Haj invalid.  Read more... (818 words, estimated 3:16 mins reading time)