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Guide to Hajj & Umra
BrKhalid
02/11/02 at 02:48:16
Asalaamu Alaikum ;-) First of all apologies for being so late with our Madina Guide to Hajj & Umra but busy just doesn’t describe how I’ve been lately!!! InshaAllah what follows is a brief description of the major rites and rituals of Hajj. We have decided to just give an overview and not delve too deeply into the fiqh of the various obligations in order not to cause too much confusion. Again, one should always seek the advice from a qualified scholar for questions regarding the fiqh of Hajj. [hr] Three types of Hajj Hajj-e-Ifrad This is when a pilgrim does not perform Umra before Hajj but intends only to perform Hajj. Such a person is called a Mufrid Hajj-e-Tamattu This is when a pilgrim performs Umra before Hajj and then removes his Ihram. He then adopts his Ihram on the first day of Hajj. Such a person is called a Tamattu. (In Arabic Tamattu means to take advantage of a facility and this reflects the fact that the pilgrim can remove his ihram in the intervening period between Umra and Hajj). Hajj-e-Qiran This is the combination of Umra and Hajj in the month of Hajj. The pilgrim adopts the Ihram and remains in Ihram throughout until all the obligations of Hajj have been fulfilled. Such a person is called a Qarin. The most common and popular way is Hajj-e-Tamattu and this is what we’ll concentrate on. [To Be Continued]

Re: Guide to Hajj & Umra
BrKhalid
02/11/02 at 09:05:17
To help explain the rituals involved with Hajj we’ll use an example of a fictional Brother from California and travel with him as he sets on his journey for Hajj. Let’s call him Brother A ;) Now Br A is performing Tamattu which means he will perform his Umra first and later he will perform his Hajj. First up then is the………Guide to Umra So there we are with Br A in sunny California. The first major point that needs to be covered is the adoption of Ihram. Makkah is a city which has boundary known as the Miqat. One cannot enter into Makkah without being in the *state* of Ihram. For Br A this means he must adopt his two sheets of clothing, declare his intention for Umra and recite the Talbiya *on or before* reaching the Miqat. Most flights into Saudi land at Jeddah which is inside the Miqat. Hence, one must be in the state of Ihram either before one boards the plane or on the plane itself before the Miqat is reached. This is an important point which always catches a few people out. Having successfully landed in Jeddah we follow Br A as he travels from there to Makkah. Br A has just faced a long queue at the airport and his patience with immigration officials has already been tested but his resolve is firm in allowing nothing to come in between him and the completion of an accepted Hajj. Whilst on the way to Makkah he recites the Talbiya: ”Here I am, O Allah, Here I am! Here I am, there is no one who is your partner, Here I am! Surely, all praise and blessings are Yours, and dominion. You are without companion” He remembers he is answering the call of Ibrahim (as) when Allah asked him to make the call for Hajj: "And proclaim the Pilgrimage among men: they will come to thee on foot and (mounted) on every kind of camel lean on account of journeys through deep and distant mountain highways; “ Ibrahim (as) called and now Br A has travelled from California in response to that call. Upon reaching Makkah he makes his way to Al Masjid al Haram [The Sacred Mosque] wherein is the Kabah rebuilt by Ibrahim(as) and his son Ishmael(as) He performs his Tawaf which is the seven times circumambulation of the Kaba and prays two rakat nafl behind Maqam-e-Ibrahim [The Station of Abraham] after he has finished. Feeling slightly fatigued owing to the enormity of the crowds he welcomes the Zam Zam water which he now drinks and remembers how the well came into existence. Thereafter Br A moves to Safa and begins his “Sai” between the two hills of Safa and Marwa in a reminder of the day that Hajira(as) “struggled” to find water for her beloved baby son. And Allah says: “Behold! Safa and Marwa are among the symbols of Allah. So if those who visit the House (of Allah) in the season, or at other times, should encompass these hills, and if anyone obeys his own impulse to do good, be sure that Allah is He who appreciates and knows” With Sai complete, Br A cuts his hair and then walks back to his hotel having completed his Umra. Next up…….Hajj [To Be continued]

Re: Guide to Hajj & Umra
BrKhalid
02/11/02 at 10:51:55
The Hajj Day 1 Upon the 8th of Dhul-Hijja Br A adopts his Ihram once more but now makes the intention for Hajj and leaves Makkah to spend the day and night in Mina. It is a day to reflect and contemplate on the momentous day which lies ahead tomorrow, namely the day of Arafat. Day 2 After Fajr in Mina on the 9th of Dhul-Hijja, Br A makes his way along with millions of other pilgrims to a plain known as Arafat. It is there after Zuhr that he supplicates to his Lord and begs his Creator for forgiveness in full knowledge that Allah has descended to the lowest Heaven and is watchful of his slaves. Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said, 'When the day of Arafah comes Allah descends to the lowest heaven and praises them to the angels saying, "Look at my servants who have come to Me disheveled, dusty and crying out from every deep valley. I call you to witness that I have forgiven them." The angels say, "My Lord, so and so was suspected of sin, also so and so and such and such a woman." He said that Allah Who is Great and Glorious, replied, "I have forgiven them." Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said, "on day have more people been set free from Hell than on the day of Arafah." [Tirmidhi] Arafat is Hajj. If one has not gone to Arafat, the duty of Hajj has not been fulfilled. After a day of begging one’s Lord, Br A leaves Arafat after sunset and prays Maghrib and Isha at Muzdalifah and spends the night there. If possible he also collects pebbles which he will use to throw at the Jamarat in Mina in the days to come. [To Be Continued]

Re: Guide to Hajj & Umra
BrKhalid
02/12/02 at 02:43:43
Day 3 After praying Fajr in Muzdalifah on the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah, Br A makes his way back to Mina to throw seven pebbles at Jamrat-ul-Aqaba. He then offers his sacrifice and shaves his head. With these rituals complete, he can now remove his Ihram. There is now only one more obligatory duty to perform for Br A’s Hajj to be complete. This is Tawaf-e-Ziyara or Tawaf-al-Ifadah He proceeds from Makkah to Mina to complete this Tawaf and Sai and returns to Mina. Days 4 & 5 Br A spends the remaining days in completing the stoning rituals on the 11th & 12th of Dhul-Hijjah which involves all three pillars as opposed to just the one on the 10th. With this complete, Br A leaves Mina before sunset on the 12th of Dhul-Hijjah and returns to Makkah. He knows that if he stays after sunset he has to stay one more night in Mina and throw pebbles for one more day. With that Br A’s Hajj is complete and if accepted his reward is none other but Paradise Farewell After Hajj, there is only one more obligation to fulfil. This is the farewell Tawaf [Tawaf-e-Wada] All pilgrims have to perform this before departing Makkah. Br A performs it knowing he may never return to this blessed place. Upon completion he leaves Masjid al Haram and prepares to make the journey back home.
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