Bismihi Ta`ala
*A HAJJ: YOUR FIRST PROJECT.*
Our beloved prophet Muhammad Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam rightly said: ‘’One who intend to go for Hajj, then he should do quick.’’(Abu Dawood)
سنن أبى داود – (5 / 51)حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ خَازِمٍ عَنْ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو عَنْ مِهْرَانَ أَبِي صَفْوَانَ عَنْ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَنْ أَرَادَ الْحَجَّ فَلْيَتَعَجَّلْ
Because after you have had means to go, then do quick. Because life has no guarantee. It is very grave and sinful to join Allah Ta’ala while you had means to but never perform Hajj. Also note that if you miss your first opportunity for a Hajj, then may be next year or the years to come, then Hajj may be difficult for you to go. It may be from your side or from the side of the Haram reception.For example, if you miss Hajj in the past, well now due to the pandemic, you can’t go for Hajj this year. Only saudi residents that are vaccinated will be allowed to a limited quota. So even with your money and free time, this year`s Hajj is impossible to Hajis outside the Kingdom.Note that it is the noble spirit of Shariah is to facilitate Hajis for Hajj. Because mind you, many Hajis keep money from youth to perform their only Hajj during older age. It is sunnah to see and consider the weakest for a management decision.
صحيح البخاري – (3 / 128)حدثنا سعيد قال حدثنا قتادة أن أنس بن مالك حدثهأن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال إني لأدخل في الصلاة وأنا أريد إطالتها فأسمع بكاء الصبي فأتجوز في صلاتي مما أعلم من شدة وجد أمه من بكائه
Reported in Bukhari that Rasouloullah Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam would wish to lengthen his salaah with jamaat but when he hears a baby crying behind him, then he would instantly shift to shorten the salaah due to the difficulty of the parent of the child in salaah.So he would consider the weakest amongst the jamaah and make his decision to cater his weakness. Similarly, he would repeat a phrase three times so that the weak memory ones may grasp the phrase, although clever sahabahs already grasp the message.
صحيح البخاري – (1 / 167)حدثنا عبد الله بن المثنى قال حدثنا ثمامة بن عبد الله عن أنسعن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أنه كان إذا تكلم بكلمة أعادها ثلاثا حتى تفهم عنه وإذا أتى على قوم فسلم عليهم سلم عليهم ثلاثا
Reported in Bukhari that Rasouloullah Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam would repeat his phrase 3 times so that everyone may grasp the message. And when he would come to a group of people, he would do salaam 3 times.صحيح البخاري –
(3 / 122)حدثنا آدم بن أبي إياس قال حدثنا شعبة قال حدثنا محارب بن دثار قال سمعت جابر بن عبد الله الأنصاري قالأقبل رجل بناضحين وقد جنح الليل فوافق معاذا يصلي فترك ناضحه وأقبل إلى معاذ فقرأ بسورة البقرة أو النساء فانطلق الرجل وبلغه أن معاذا نال منه فأتى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فشكا إليه معاذا فقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يا معاذ أفتان أنت أو أفاتن ثلاث مرار فلولا صليت بسبح اسم ربك والشمس وضحاها والليل إذا يغشى فإنه يصلي وراءك الكبير والضعيف وذو الحاجة
And also in Bukhari, Alhamdulillah, that Rasouloullah Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam would advise Mu`az r.a. to shorten his esha salaah to read Sabbi hisma(Surah 87), Wasshamsi(Surah 91) and Wallaili(Surah 92) taking into consideration the old musallis behind him, the weak and the one who has work.So the sunnah management principle is to cater for the weakest and see that every single one is comfortably encompassed with the decision. This is the moderation of Islam.Now, the administration of Hajj reception should cater for the weakest less wealthy Hajis around the globe while making new requisite for Hajj or Umrah. Because you see the Qur-aan even emphasize to facilitate those who wish to stay i`tikaaf in the Haram due to their travel:
وَإِذْ جَعَلْنَا الْبَيْتَ مَثَابَةً لِلنَّاسِ وَأَمْنًا وَاتَّخِذُوا مِنْ مَقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى وَعَهِدْنَا إِلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ أَنْ طَهِّرَا بَيْتِيَ لِلطَّائِفِينَ وَالْعَاكِفِينَ وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُودِ [البقرة : 125]
And when We made the Ka`bah a pivotal returning place for the humanity and a place of peace. Make the Maqaame Ibrahim direction in front of you in salaah. And we gave order to Ibrahim a.s. and Isma`eel a.s. to ‘’keep My house clean for the sake of those who make tawaaf, also for those who make i`tikaaf in it and for those in salaah doing ruku` and sajdahs.’’(2:125)The above ayah is sufficient for the reception administration to oblige themselves to facilitate the world towards the Ka`bah. Facilitate their stay as mu`takifs and facilitate their movement towards salaah in the Haram of Makkah Mukarramah.As such the minimum charge should be applied for their reception in the Kingdom. An encompassing requirement that take into account the weakest, the farrest, the more vulnerable, the less able and the sick.Alhamdulillah, the Haram reception has excelled in many ways in reception of Hajis and Mu`tamirs. The improvement will be firstly to facilitate the tawaaf by eliminating all walls or stairs around the Ka`bah. You see Rasouloullah Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam and the sahabahs made tawaaf easily because there was no walled structure around the Ka`bah. A one level floor that may cater for many mutawwifs as possible. This will facilitate the Hajis and Mu`tamirs. A security wall may be built far enough where tawaaf crowd does not reach. This will facilitate salaah also in the haram. Secondly, the administration may see for the enhancement of cheap stay in Makkah. Although 7 star hotels may be available, but a section of the Haram nearby should be the ‘’cheap area’’ where poorer Hajis and Mu`tamirs may stay at a comfortable distance view of Haram shareef.Thirdly, there should be a protocol around Hajj and Umrah that discourage ‘’profitability’’ upon pilgrims. You see, the noble sahaabahs competed to obtain the right to distribute water and food for the pilgrims. And Hazrat Umar r.a. made the land of Makkah and Jerusalem waqf. So that to destroy the concept of profitability in these areas. It is against that protocol to charge large amount in view of profits.
قالَ: (ولا بَأْسَ بِبَيْعِ بِناءِ بُيُوتِ مَكَّةَ ويُكْرَهُ بَيْعُ أرْضِها) وكَذا الإجارَةُ. ورَوى الحَسَنُ عَنْ أبِي حَنِيفَةَ أنَّهُ يَجُوزُ بَيْعُ دُورِ مَكَّةَ وفِيها الشُّفْعَةُ، ويُكْرَهُ إجارَتُها فِي المَوْسِمِ، وقالا: لا بَأْسَ بِبَيْعِ أرْضِها لِأنَّها مَمْلُوكَةٌ لَهُمْ لِاخْتِصاصِهِمْ بِها الِاخْتِصاصَ الشَّرْعِيَّ فَيَجُوزُ كالبِناءِ. ولَهُ ما رَوى ابْنُ عُمَرَ أنَّ النَّبِيَّ – صلى الله عليه و سلم – قالَ: «مَكَّةُ حَرامٌ وبَيْعُ رِباعِها حَرامٌ»؛ ورَوى الدّارَقُطْنِيُّ بِإسْنادِهِ أنَّ النَّبِيَّ -صلى الله عليه و سلم – قالَ: «مَكَّةُ مُباحٌ لا تُباعُ رِباعُها ولا تُؤاجَرُ بُيُوتُها». قالَ الدّارَقُطْنِيُّ: وكانَتْ تُدْعى عَلى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ – ﷺ – وأبِي بَكْرٍ وعُمَرَ السَّوائِبَ، مَن شاءَ سَكَنَ ومَنِ اسْتَغْنى أسْكَنَ، ولِأنَّها مِنَ الحَرَمِ يَحْرُمُ صَيْدُها، ولا يَحِلُّ دُخُولُها لِناسِكٍ إلّا بِإحْرامٍ فَيَحْرُمُ بَيْعُها كالكَعْبَةِ والصَّفا والمَرْوَةِ والمَسْعى، وإنَّما جازَ بَيْعُ البِناءِ لِأنَّ البُقْعَةَ مُحَرَّمَةٌ، وقَفَها إبْراهِيمُ صَلَواتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْه، والبِناءُ مِلْكٌ لِمَن أحْدَثَهُ فَيَجُوزُ تَصَرُّفُهُ فِيهِ، والطِّينُ وإنْ كانَ مِنَ الأرْضِ وهُوَ مِن جُمْلَةِالاختيار لتعليل المختار
ومِمّا يَدُلُّ عَلَيْهِ قَطْعًا ما فِي الجامِعِ الصَّغِيرِ أنَّ بَيْعَ أرْضِ مَكَّةَ لا يَجُوزُ وإنَّما يَجُوزُ بَيْعُ البِناءِ فَلا تَجِبُ الشُّفْعَةُلدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار)
So the first opportunity you get, do perform your Hajj. Because it may be impossible for you to perform Hajj in future. For example pandemic, wars, quotas, etc. Nonetheless those Hajis that Hajj became obligatory upon them and couldn’t perform Hajj, then know they should perform Hajj before death. If sickly and can’t go, then send someone else to perform the Hajj on his behalf. Else, make wasiyat/will provision to errand someone to perform Hajj on his behalf. We salute the 60000 hajis going hajj this year in the Kingdom and request them to remember us and the ummah in their Duas.
M Mackoojee