Hajj

Question 1

types of hajj

Answer 1

Hajj-e-Ifrad
Hajj-e-Qiran
Hajj-e-Tamattu

Question 2

Hajj-e-Ifrad

Answer 2

• pilgrim = Mufrid
• puts on Ihram at Miqat for Hajj alone and continues wearing it until completion of all rituals of Hajj
• desirable to offer sacrifice but not obligatory
• according to Imam Shafi’ it is superior to Hajj-e-Tamattu but Imam Malik considers the latter as superior

Question 3

Hajj-e-Qiran

Answer 3

-pilgrim = Qarin
- Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ud: “ Perform Hajj and ‘Umrah tgt as both annihilate poverty and sins js as furnace removes all impurities of iron, gold and silver.”
- Ihram at Miqat and intends to perform both Umrah and Hajj
- must be in Hajj szn
- tawaf-al Qudoom but does not shave head nor takes off Ihram, but takes ff Ihram after performin Hajj
- sacrifice obligatory, if fail then fast for 10 days “and complete Hajj and Umrah in service of God… he must make an offering such as he can afford, but if he cannot afford it (sacrifice) , he should fast 3 days during the Hajj and 7 days on his return.” (Quranic commandment)

Question 4

Hajj-e-Tamattu’

Answer 4

• pilgrim = Mutamtt’a
• both Umrah and Hajj but Ihram adopted separately for the two
  -Quran: “if anyone wishes to continue the Umrah onto the Hajj he must make and offering such as he can afford”
• pilgrim: Ihram on for Umrah first, when done then shave head (Halaq) or shorten hair (Qasr) and take off Ihram
• 8th Dhul Hajj put on Ihram again for Hajj
• sacrifice obligatory
• Hajj-e-Qiran and Hajj-e-Tamattu can only be performed by non-Makkahn residents called Afaqi pilgrims; Quran: “This (Tammattu and Qiran) is for those whose household is not in the precincts of the sacred Mosque.”

Question 5

how does Hajj benefit an individual Muslim?

Answer 5

• he fulfulls and obligation
• various acts of Hajj involve physical exertion hence they train the pilgrim for struggling in the way of God(Jihad) and somewhere else too
• Tawaf = sense of closeness to God
• rituals of Sai and Rami remind pilgrim of imp events related to Hazrat Ibrahim and Hazrat Hajirah
• Rami = train to reject Satan till death
• reminded of farewell sermon of Prophet SAW during assembly at Arafat and day of judgement when all humans will assemble in the same plain
• spiritual rebirth
  -ref (hadith): “Whoever performs Hajj by the sake of God…will go back (free of sins) as his mother bore him.”

Question 6

outline main observances of Hajj

Answer 6

5th pillar
obligatory on those Muslims who are physically and financially capable of it
ref: “Pilgrimage thereto (the Ka’aba) is a duty men owe to God, those who can afford the journey”
8-12 of Zil Hajj, 12th month of Hijri calendar
Ihram required = Muhrim (before reaching Mawaqit/boundaries around sacred mosque in Makkah)

Ihram = dress code for men and marks intention
women: clothes covering everyth except for hands feet and face
Ihram: two sheets of unstitched white cloth, one for upper and one for lower half
slippers and sandals = dorsum of foot should be exposed
recite Talbia repeatedly after adopting Ihram (expression of submission to God)
restrictions as long as they are Muhrim
(cannot commit violence, take bath, cut nails, and hair or use soap and shampoo)

8th zil hajj = 1st Tawaf = Tawaf-i-Qudum (circle Kabah 7 times)
after this two rakaat of prayer at station of Abraham as commanded in Quran: “and take you the station of Abraham as a place for prayer”
perform Say’i by walking briskly 7 times bw safa and marwa hills in commemmoration of Hazrat Hajira’s run in search of her thirsty son, Hazrat Ismael
“behold, Safa and Marwa are among the symbols of God. so those who visit the House- should compass them round.”

then they proceed to Mina, a plain east of Makkah where they offer shortened Dhur, Asr and Isha prayer on 8 zil hajj
spend night there by recitation of Quran and praying Nafl
next morning they leave for Arafat , the most distant plain East of Makkah. must be there before dhur prayer to observe wuquf-i-arafa
this is most imp observance of Hajj as Prophet said “the pilgrimage is called the Day of Arafat”
here pilgrims seek God’s mercy and forgiveness Dhur - Magrib
imam = detailed sermon from the mount of mercy (tradition of Prophet)
Zuhrain prayer (shortened Dhur and Asr and combining both)
day of arafat = day of granting prayers, hajj void w out this observance

sunset: w out offering Magrib pilgrims reach plain of muzdalifa located bw Arafat and Mina