General required to strike out being complacent and lethargic and become a vigorous contender in the competition of good deeds. Tiring and costly, the hajji understands his commitment for that period; all you need to do isto continue spending and worshipping Allah throughout the year.
The Prophet( SAS) used to supplicate:“ O Allah! I seek refuge with You from worry and grief, from incapacity and laziness, from cowardice and miserliness, from being heavily in debt and from being overpowered by( other) men.”[ Bukhari ]
Preparing
In Hajj, if you make a major mistake in the rituals, even out of ignorance, you will have to pay a penalty or if you forget the rations of that moment you will undergo some type of amending. Learning of the hajj procedure or the planning of a month’ s supply, when embarking on this sacred journey, you must prepare! Similarly, is your daily requirement, you will need to make your life a sacred journey and that demands knowledge which has no limit. This combined with the healthy provision of good inner qualities and deeds, is necessary for the perfection of a Muslim; you should not only know‘ how to pray’, but also become a passionate lover of prayer! Similarly don’ t be a‘ lover of prayer’ and you don’ t know how to pray!
Abu Dharr that the Messenger of Allah( SWT) said:“ There is no wisdom like planning [ Ibn Majah ]
Rectifying
The pushing and shoving, the times of breaking down in servitude, the humble pieces of clothing, whatever is thrown your way, you accept it. Big as you are, popular as you are, rich as you are, if you are a King of the masses or Minister of the kings, when it comes to being a pilgrim, you are a servant coming to serve his master. It is one of the fascinating qualities that you need in order to have a successful hajj. So do not let your race, wealth, or status determine your demeanour, because we are all servants of the same phase of existence.
‘ Abdullah that the Messenger of Allah( SAS) said:“ No one will enter Paradise who has pride in his heart equal to the weight of a grain of mustard seed [ Ibn Majah ]
Prioritising
On the trip for hajj you are subjected to different situations, your spouse who Allah has made permissible for you, now becomes impermissible to have sexual relations with, the hunting of prey is now forbidden, even the uprooting of grass is prohibited. Now you learn to decorate your life according to the needs. A good Muslim is able to prioritize situations accordingly towards his family, friends, work and Allah.
`Abdullah bin `Amrnarrates from the messenger of Allah( SAS):…. your body has a right on you, and your eye has a right on you, and your guest has a right on you, and your wife has a right on you …[ Bukhari ]
Striving
Believe it or not, hajj requires struggling and striving from everyone. Sometimes sleepless nights, thirst or hunger, having been put through the test of Hajj, you will learn to sacrifice the joys and bounties of this world to gain the fruits of the everlasting paradise. If you can do it for those fixed days, certainly you can strive to stay away from the evils of society and strive for the attainment of the pleasure of Allah.
Allah says: And whoever desires the Hereafter and strives for it, with the necessary effort due for it( i. e. do righteous deeds of Allâh’ s Obedience) while he is a believer( in the Oneness of Allâh— Islâmic Monotheism), then such are the ones whose striving shall be appreciated,( thanked and rewarded by Allâh). [ Asra 19 ]
Patience
A quality that is definitely required for Hajj, the hajji is forced to have patience; in fact if he does not, then he cannot be a top scorer in the pilgrimage. Likewise, you are always required to endure patience, whether it’ s with the spouse or the kids, the siblings or the parents etc., Allah grants many reward to the bearer of patience.
And Allâh loves As-Sâbirun( the patient ones). [ Al-Imran 146 ]
WRITTEN by. abrAar Alli
Ihsaan | Issue 1 | 13