The Prophet’s (sa) Hajj

Rana Rais Khan peaks into the past to tell us, how our beloved Prophet Muhammad (sa) carried out his rituals during the Hajj.

 

Reinforcement of Tauheed

Tauheed is one of the fundamental principles of Islam that the Prophet (sa) realized and fostered. During the Hajj, he continued to recite Talbiyah (saying: Labbaik Allah Humma Labbaik) from the moment he began the ritual, until he had cast Jamratul Aqaba (Aqaba stone) on the slaughter day.

Supplications to Allah (swt)

Supplications have special status in Islam, as they aim at expressing total surrender to Allah (swt). The Prophet (sa) said, "Supplication is worship." (Abu Dawud) During the Hajj, he used to say more supplications than at any other time. He also offered lengthy supplications on the day of Arafat and while riding his camel, by raising his hands close to his chest, as if he were a poor man begging for charity.

Performing good deeds

The Prophet (sa) performed Ghusl before assuming Ihram, wore perfume upon assuming and ending it (Bukhari), and marked and garlanded the Hadiy. (Bukhari) He started Tawaf as soon as he entered Al Bait (Bukhari), walked briskly, touched the two corners of the Ka'bah, offered two Rakahs of Tawaf behind Maqam Ibrahim (Muslim), supplicated to Allah (swt) on the hills of Safa and Marwah, ran in the middle of the valley and did Dhikr upon touching the two corners and while throwing the Jamarat. (Bukhari)

Moderation in acts of worship

Islam encourages moderation and censures exaggeration. In fact, equanimity was the most significant attitude of the Prophet (sa) during the Hajj. He adopted a happy medium between his acts of worship (Bukhari) and his responsibilities as a leader of the Muslims. However, he did not neglect his duties to his wives, who needed care and affection.

Physical wellbeing

The Prophet (sa) equally cared for his body and soul. The awe-inspiring surroundings of the Hajj may compel to observe only the spiritual, entirely forgetting the physical. On Tarwiah day, the Prophet (sa) moved closer to Mina, in order to be nearer to Arafat (Muslim), slept during the nights of Arafat and Muzdalifa (Bukhari), took breakfast on the day of Arafat (Bukhari) but did not offer supererogatory prayers. (Muslim) He took shelter in a dome made from camel hair, erected especially for him, moved between the sacred sites (Bukhari) and performed some of the Hajj rituals, while riding his camel. (Muslim) Furthermore, he even had someone to serve and help him. (Ibn Majah)

Role as an educator

Allah (swt) sent the Prophet (sa) as an educator to make people's lives and acts of worship easier. Undoubtedly, he excelled in his mission. He publicly announced his intention to perform the Hajj, in order to give those, who wished to accompany him, an opportunity to prepare themselves for the journey. The crowds flocked to Madinah, hoping to learn from the Prophet (sa). (Muslim) The Prophet (sa) ordered Muslims to learn the Hajj rituals from him and made it clear that this could be his last Hajj. (Bukhari)

Giving Fatwas

Giving of Fatwas (religious verdicts) was among the most important tasks that the Prophet (sa) performed during the Hajj. A famous Fatwa was given to a woman from the Khath'am tribe, who asked, if she could perform the Hajj on behalf of her aging father. She said, "He cannot ride his camel." The Prophet (sa) replied, "Perform the Hajj on his behalf." (Bukhari)

Matters concerning women

Aisha (rta) narrated, "I asked Allah's Messenger (sa): ‘Is Jihad incumbent upon women?' He replied: ‘Yes, Jihad which does not include fighting is incumbent upon them, it is the Hajj and the Umrah'." (Bukhari)

Ibn Abbas (rtam) narrated, "I heard Prophet Muhammad (sa) addressing and saying: ‘A man must not be alone with a woman, unless when a man who is a Mahram (a relative she is so closely related to that marriage is not possible) is with her, and a woman must travel only when accompanied by a man who is a Mahram.' A man stood up and said: ‘O Allah's Messenger, my wife intends to go out to perform the Hajj, and I have been enrolled for such and such expedition.' Thereupon he said: ‘Go and perform the Hajj with your wife'." (Muslim)

Prophet's (sa) mercy

The Prophet's (sa) mercy was always evident. He ordered those, who did not offer Hadiy, to end their state of Ihram completely - this permitted them to have intimate relations with their wives, to be dressed in normal clothes and to wear perfume. (Muslim) He combined Asr and Zuhr prayers at Arafat (Bukhari) and delayed his prayers, when he moved to Muzdalifa (Bukhari), thereby making it easier for people to perform rituals. He gave permission to the weak to move from Muzdalifa ahead of the rest of the pilgrims at night, right after the moon would set. Thus, on slaughter day, they were able to perform their rituals easily before the others. (Bukhari)

Prophet's (sa) generosity

The Prophet (sa) was so generous in giving alms and charity that he gave away one hundred Badanas (sacrificial camels), including their meat, hides and coverings. (Muslim) He also donated in other charities on many occasions. (Bukhari)

Prophet's (sa) leniency

The Prophet's (sa) showed exemplary leniency while in Hajj. "Seeing a man walking and leading his sacrificial camel, the Prophet (sa) said to him: ‘Ride on it.' The man replied: ‘It is a Badana.' The Prophet (sa) said the second and third time: ‘Ride on it, woe to you'.” (Muslim)

The Hajj is not a momentary act of worship that begins with a journey and ends once a Muslim returns home. On the contrary, it is a trial to show that the spirituality earned in the Hajj will be brought back home and implemented in the Muslim's daily life.

In the sermon delivered on the Day of Arafat, the Prophet (sa) urged pilgrims to hold on to the Quran as the only way to deliverance from sins. "I have left you with the Quran," he said, "you will never go astray, if you adhere to it." (Ibn Majah) Now, it is a challenge for all Muslims to obey this advice and bring about a metamorphosis, leading to enrichment and positive transformation of the Muslim Ummah.