|
All
praise is due to Allaah, Lord of the Worlds. May peace and blessings
be upon the Messenger of Allaah, his household and companions.
Fellow
Muslims! Fear Allaah, for you are now in a Holy land and
season. So make good use of these two in order to prosper.
Brethren
in faith! Human gatherings and assemblies, however high and noble
their goals may be, can never reach the sublimity of the goal of this
gathering of pilgrimage to
the House of Allaah in this sacred land; the land that Allaah has
sanctified, protected and provided with complete and comprehensive
security in which man, animal and plants are all guaranteed protection
and in which tranquility descended and the banner of Islaam are
raised. Allaah says,
“Verily,
the first House (of worship) appointed for mankind was that at Bakkah
(Makkah), full of blessings and a guidance for the mankind. In it are
manifest signs (for example), the maqaam (place) of Ibraaheem; whoever
enters it, he attains security. And Hajj to the House (Ka‘ba) is a
duty that mankind owes to Allaah, those who can afford the expenses;
and whoever disbelieves, then Allaah stands not in need of any of all
that exists.”
(Aal
‘Imraan 3: 96-97)
Hajj
is ordained so that it can serve as meeting point for brotherhood,
gathering for devotees and a refuge for the believers. They gather
there in answer to the call of Prophet Ibraaheem whom Allaah commanded
thus,
“Associate
not anything in worship with Me and sanctify My House for those who
circumambulate it, and those who stand up for prayer and those who bow
and make prostration. And proclaim to mankind the Hajj. They will come
to you on foot and on every lean camel, they will come from every deep
and distant (wide) mountain highway (to perform Hajj). That they may
witness things that are of benefit to them and mention the Name of
Allaah on appointed days over the beast of cattle that He has provided
for them (for sacrifice). Then eat thereof and feed therewith the poor
who have a very hard time.”
(Al-Hajj
22:26-28)
Witnessing
things that are of benefit is among the most prominent goals of Hajj,
for it is one of its fruits. They are uncountable benefits that have
to do with betterment of one’s life in this world and the next, and
elevate the Muslim nation and make them achieve the pleasure of
Allaah. Promoting solidarity among Muslims, working towards their
unity and mending the broken relationships among them are some of the
greatest benefits of Hajj, because of its role in preserving the
Islaamic brotherhood that is highly extolled and blessed by Allaah
when He says, “The believers are nothing
more than brothers.”
(Al-Hujuraat
49:10)
Preservation
of this brotherhood and fulfilling
its obligations are the major means of protecting the unity of
this ummah so that it can stand strong and formidable in the
face of tribulations and in order to achieve glory, power and
succession in the land as promised by Allaah,
“Allaah
has promised those among you who believe and do righteous good deeds,
that He will certainly grant them succession (to the present rulers)
in the land as He granted it to those before then and that He will
grant them the authority to practice their religion which He has
chosen for them (i.e. Islaam). And He will surely give them in
exchange, a safe security after their fear provided they worship Me
and do not associate anything (in worship) with Me. But whoever
disbelieves after this, such are rebellious, and disobedient (to
Allaah)”
(An-Noor
24:55)
Brethren
in Islaam! The source of power of the Muslim nation that the
pilgrim feels stands on the Oneness of Allaah and this is evidently
shown in every rite of hajj. This feeling should then lead him to have
awareness that will lead to the preservation of that power through
deep understanding of Islaam, sincerity and unrelenting efforts.
Therefore it is incumbent on the pilgrims when they are coming to
perform hajj rites to widen their views and understanding in order to
have true perception of benefits of hajj and transfer it from mere
theories and wishes into realities that will leave its positive and
everlasting impacts on their lives.
The
pilgrim should, while reciting the talbiyah, feel the real
sense of liberation from worshipping fellow creatures to worshipping
the Creator alone through answering Allaah’s call and surrendering
to His authority. It is not proper for a Muslim, after he has
responded to the call of Allaah through His friend Ibraheem, to then
respond to the call of Satan who calls to disunity among Muslims. It
is also not becoming of a Muslim to take slogans other than that of
the Islaamic Faith which he proclaimed in the sites of forgiveness and
mercy and at the House of Allaah, lest he be like the one who
apostatizes and breaks his covenant with Allaah.
Fear
Allaah and take this great opportunity to fulfill the goals of this
religion. Endeavor to make the best of this period in witnessing the
real benefits of hajj that are embodied in acts of worship. This will
bring you close to your Lord and promote unity among Muslims and as a
result remove the aggression that Muslims in many countries suffer
now. Allaah says,
“The
Hajj is in the well-known months. So whoever intends to perform hajj
therein, then he should not have sexual relations (with his wife) nor
commit sin, nor dispute unjustly during hajj. And whatever good you
do, Allaah knows it. And take a provision for the journey, but the
best provision is piety. So fear Me. O men of understanding.”
(Al-Baqarah
2:197)
Brethren
in faith! The benefits of Hajj are a great opportunity that
should not be neglected. This is so because Allaah ordained Hajj and
He ordered His friend Ibraaheem to proclaim it to people in order to
witness its benefits. How can the purpose then be neglected? When will
the Muslims attain their desired goal if it turns away from the
benefits of this great obligation?
Fear
Allaah then and make good use of the opportunity of this great pillar
of Islaam and blessed assembly in order to be among the prosperous and
victorious people.
|