A few reminders for Hajj pilgrims

In the name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Beneficent

The following are a selection of extracts concerning Hajj from a book entitled Questions and Answers on Islamic Jurisprudence compiled and translated by Muhammad M. Abdul-Fattah and published by Dar Al- Manarah. May Allah benefit those who read it and reward the author generously. Ameen.

Q: What is the ruling on the matter of applying perfume out of forgetfulness or ignorance whilst in a state of ihram?

A: Al-Shaafi maintains that he must remove that perfume immediately upon realizing his error and that no expiation is required. Abu Hanifah, Malik and Ahmad rule that a fidyah is required.

If such a muhrim dies, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “ wash him with water and sidr (extract of the leaves of the lote tree) and shroud him in two pieces of cloth, and neither perfume him nor cover his head, for he will be resurrected reciting talbiyah”

Q; What are the conditions of tawaf?

A: To be valid the following condition are to be met:

The person must be in a state of purification.
Must cover his private parts.
Tawaf must be seven complete rounds.
Tawaf is to commence and end at the Black Stone.
The Ka’bah must be on a person’s left.
Twaf is to be performed outside the Ka’bah. The Hijr forms part of the Ka’bah.
According to Malik and Ahmad, tawaf should be performed consecutively. However there is no such legal liability and a break because of tiredness, illness or other reasons is permissible. The Hanafis and Shafi’is say that performing the seven rounds consecutively is an act of Sunnah.

Q: What are the acts of Sunnah related to tawaf?

A: These may be outlined as follows:

Kissing the Black Stone.
Ibtitha’a (uncovering the right shoulder).
Ramal or moving quickly in the first three rounds of tawaf. Both Ibtitha’a and ramal apply to tawaf al-qudum (arrival) but not to voluntary or the farewell tawafs.
Touching the Yemenite Corner while saying takbir.
Invoking Allah beside the Yemenite Corner and the Black Stone . The prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “ Seventy angels have been charged with it (the Yemenite Corner). So whoever says, ‘ O Allah, I ask You forgiveness and wellbeing in worldly life and in the Hereafter. Our Lord give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good and save us from the torment of Fire.’ The angels say Ameen. “ This hadeeth is reported by Ibn Majah on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him.
Reciting Surat Al-Kafirun in the first raka’a and Al-Ikhlas in the second raka’a after Al- Fatiha in the salat at Maqam Ibraheem.

Q: What is the ruling concerning a person who is in doubt about the number of circuits in tawaf?

A: The person should base the counting on the lesser number and continue to complete seven. If the doubt arises after finishing tawaf, the person is not asked to do anything. And, Allah knows best.

Q: Is it permissible to perform prayer inside the Ka’bah?

A: Yes. Al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated that Abdullah Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “ The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, entered the Ka’bah along with Usamah Ibn Zayd, Bilal and Uthman Ibn Talhah and closed the door and stayed there for some time. I asked Bilal when he came out , ‘ what did the Prophet do?’ He replied, ‘ He offered prayer with one pillar to his left and one to his right and three behind.’ In those days the Ka’bah was supported by six pillars.”

Therefore, it is permissible to perform voluntary or obligatory prayers inside the Ka’bah. Nowadays, many Muslims enjoy the merit of performing prayer inside the Ka’bah by performing it in the Hijr which is part of the original House.

Q: What are the wajibat (obligations) of Hajj?

A: The things that must be done are as follows:

Assume ihram from the specified miqat (location).
Stay at Arafah until sunset.
Spend the night at Muzdalafah.
Spend the night at Mina during the three nights of tashriq, i.e., the second, third and fourth nights of the days of Eid al Adha as specified in the Holy Qura’an.
To throw the pebbles at the Jamarat.
To shave or shorten the hair. This is done after throwing the pebbles at Jamratul- Aqaba in Hajj and after finishing sa’y between al-Safa and Al-Marwah in Umrah.
To perform the farewell tawaf.

Q: What are the acts of the Sunnah related to Hajj?

A: The following may be the most important:

Ifrad (setting aside) if the person intends to perform Hajj only and assumes ihram from the miqat. He may perform Umrah after performing the rites of Hajj in which case no hady (sacrifice) is obligatory.

Talbiya is an act of Sunnah except when throwing the pebbles, then takbir is recited.
Tawaf Al-Qudum (arrival) which is considered as salutation of the Sacred Mosque.
The two raka’as after tawaf.
To spend the night of Arafah at Mina.
Tawaf al Wada’a (farewell) is an act of Sunnah according to Imam Malik.

Q: What are the days known as “ayyam ma’lumat” and those known as “ayyam ma’dudat”?

A: The former refers to the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, the last of which is the Day of Sacrifice (Eid Day) and the latter to the three days following them (ayyam al-Tashreeq).

Q: What is the excellence of performing prayers in the Sacred Mosque, the Prophet’s Mosque, Al-Aqsa Mosque and Quba’ Mosque as distinct from other mosques?

A: Imam Ahmad and Ibn Majah narrated on the authority of Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“A prayer in this mosque of mine is better than a thousand prayers performed in any other mosque except the Sacred Mosque, and a prayer performed in the Sacred Mosque is better than a hundred thousand prayers performed in any other mosque.”

Al-Tabarani and Ibn Khuzaymah narrated on the authority of Abu Al-Darda’a, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“A prayer performed in the Sacred Mosque equals a hundred thousand prayers; a prayer performed in my mosque equals a thousand prayers; and a prayer performed (in Al-Aqsa Mosque0) in Al-Quds equals five hundred prayers.”

Al-Tirmithi narrated on the authority of Usayd Ibn Zahir Al-Ansari, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“ A prayer performed in the mosque of Quba’ is like (performing) a Umrah.”

Q: What is the excellence of the first ten days of Thul-Hijjah?

A: Al-Tabarani narrated on the authority of Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“There are no days on which doing righteous deeds is dearer to Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, than these days (meaning the ten days of Thu Al-Hijjah)”

Those listening asked: “O Messenger of Allah, not even Jihad in the cause of Allah?”

He, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“Not even jihad in the cause of Allah, except for a man who goes out with (the intention of dedicating) his soul and property then returns back with nothing.”

It has, moreover, been narrated that Anas Ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, stated that: “It was said that each day of the ten days (of Thu Al-Hijjah) is equivalent to a thousand days and that the Day of Arafah is equivalent to ten thousand days,“ meaning in excellence. That is why it is desirable that Muslims perform as many acts of worship as possible during these blessed days.

Q: Is it permissible for a person who intends to perform Hajj only (Ifrad) then performs Umrah first (Tamattu) when he reaches Mecca?

A: It is permissible but he has to offer a hady as required.

Q: What are the boundaries of the Meccan Haram?

A: Al-Jiranah eastwards, Al- Shumaysi westward, Al-Tan’im northward, Wadi Nakhlah north-eastward and Adah southward. There are visible flags that refer to these boundaries.

Q; Is it forbidden for a muhrim to perfume his body?

A: What is forbidden as far as perfume in ihram is concerned is that the muhrim applies it to the clothes of ihram, i.e. the izar and the rida’a. According to the Sunnah, he may apply perfume to his body including his face. And Allah knows best.

Finally, it is worth ending with these excellent hadeeths of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, regarding the return of the Hajj to his home and family.

Al-Darkutni reported that A’ysha, may Allah please her and be pleased with her, narrated that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “When a person completes the requirements of Hajj, he is to hasten his return to his family. It is more rewarding.”

Muslim reported on the authority of Al-Ala’a bin Al-Hathramy that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “The one who has travelled for Hajj is to stay three days after completing the requirements of Hajj.”