The Outward Appearances of Tawheed  in the Hajj Q&A By Shaykh Salih al Fawzan may Allah Preserve him.

The Outward Appearances of Tawheed  in the Hajj.

Question: The Hajj ( pilgrimage to Makkah) is a ritual from the rituals of this (Islamic) nation that Allah the Exalted is He and the Most High made Fard upon His slaves, and the Prophet sallahu wa alayhi wa salam taught it to his nation he said:

« خُذُوا عَنِّي مَنَاسِكَكُمْ»

“For you to take from me your rituals”.

The goal of this mighty ritual is a declaration of the Oneness of Allah Glorified is He the Most High, and establishing the remembrance – the remembrance of Allah the Mighty and the Majestic, and the dedication the worshiping to Him Glorified is He the Most High.

May Allah preserve you perhaps for you to begin to speak in this meeting from outside this program about the outward appearance of Tawheed (oneness of Allah) in the Hajj?

Answer: In the name of Allah the Beneficent the Most Mercyful. All Praise is for Allah the Lord of all the worlds and the blessing of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon his family and all his companions.

Concerning to what follows after:

Indeed that Allah Glorified is He the Most High legislated the Hajj to His house al-Haraam (sacred place of worship the Kabah in Makkah) so much so He said:

وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنْ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلاً وَمَنْ كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنْ الْعَالَمِينَ

..and for Allah he has made it (fard: obligatory without a shadow of doubt) upon the people pilgrimage to the House who is incumbent (upon a  Muslim) who is able to do so  for the sake of Allah, and whoever disbelieves, then surely Allah is Self-sufficient, above any need of the worlds.
(سورة آل عمران, Aal-i-Imraan, Chapter #3, Verse #97)

So Hajj to the House (of Allah, the Kabah in Makkah) is each year is Fard Kifayah (collective duty, a command which is imperative (fard) upon all Muslims, but if some persons perform it, it is sufficient (kifayah), or equivalent to all having performed it ), it is a must to make pilgrimage to the house (Kabah) each year.  So if establish the hajj (pilgrimage) to Makkah by some for it is sufficient  (the hajj), so the sin is removed off the remaining of the Muslims.

So what is suitable for the individuals Muslims Allah only made it obligatory one time in the lifespan of a Muslim who is able to do so.

 Allah the Glorified and the Most High said:

وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنْ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلاً وَمَنْ كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنْ الْعَالَمِينَ

..and for Allah he has made it (fard: obligatory without a shadow of doubt) upon the people pilgrimage to the House who is incumbent (upon a  Muslim) who is able to do so  for the sake of Allah, and whoever disbelieves, then surely Allah is Self-sufficient, above any need of the worlds.
(سورة آل عمران, Aal-i-Imraan, Chapter #3, Verse #97)

And the Prophet sallahu wa alyhi wa salam said:

 أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ كُتِبَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمْ الْحَجَّ فَحُجُّوا» فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ: “أَكُلَّ عَامٍ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ؟” فسَّكت النَّبِيُّ- صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ – ثُمْ قَالَ:«أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ كُتِبَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمْ الْحَجَّ فَحُجُّوا» فَقَالَ ذَلِكَ الرَجُل: “أَكُلَّ عَامٍ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ؟” فسَّكت النَّبِيُّ- صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ – ثُمْ قَالَ – عَلَيْهِ الصَّلاةُ وَ السَّلامُ -: « أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ كُتِبَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمْ الْحَجَّ فَحُجُّوا» فَقَالَ الرَجُلٌ: “أَكُلَّ عَامٍ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ؟” فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ – صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ -:  لَوْ قُلْت: نَعَمْ لَوَجَبَتْ كلُ سَّنْة، وَلَمَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ

‘O people surely Allah has prescribed (made obligatory) for you al Hajj so perform  the pilgrimage ‘ , so a man said ‘ is this every year O Messenger of Allah?’ So the Prophet was quiet sallahu wa alayhi wa salam then he said ‘ O people very, indeed Allah prescribed for you al Hajj so perform the pilgrimage’, so that man said ‘ is that each  year O Messenger of Allah?’ so the Prophet was quiet sallahu wa alayhi wa salam then he salatu wa salam said ‘ surely Allah has prescribed for you al Hajj so perform the pilgrimage’, so the man said ‘ is this each year O Messenger of Allah?’ , so the Prophet  sallahu wa alayhi wa salam said ‘ If I said yes for indeed it is obligatory each year for when you (all) are able to do so (meaning it is not obligatory each year, but once in one’s lifespan )’.

So the Hajj is one time in a lifespan for who is able to do so, because the Hajj; he is coming from far (distance people travel to perform Hajj) he has expense and hardship and it is a struggle in the way of Allah and from the bounties and ease from Allah Glorified is He the Most High that the Muslim makes it one time in his life, for he who is able to do so.

This is suitable for the individuals Muslims, concerning the collective Muslim body, it is imperative to uphold the Hajj to Allah’s house each year.

وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنْ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلاً

..and for Allah he has made it (fard: obligatory without a shadow of doubt) upon the people pilgrimage to the House who is incumbent (upon a  Muslim) who is able to do so  for the sake of Allah.

And a means is available, it is present the preparation and the means of suitable travel, with the similitude from what is sufficient for going and coming (plane, ship, bus, car, riding animal etc). It is adequate beforehand someone to secure for them a safe passage, and if these conditions are made the Hajj is obligatory, that is one time in a Muslim’s life and who performs the Hajj after this one time is it voluntary (the opposite of obligatory).

The Prophet salahu wa alayhi wa salam said:

تَابِعُوا بَيْنَ الْحَجِّ وَالْعُمْرَةِ؛ فَإِنَّهُمَا يَنْفِيَانِ الْفَقْرَ وَالذُّنُوبَ كَمَا يَنْفِي الْكِيرُ خَبَثَ الْحَدِيدِ وَالذَّهَبَ وَالْفِضَّةَ

Follow between the Hajj and Umrah, verily these two remove poverty and sins just as just as the bellows remove the filth from iron and gold and silver.

The Prophet salatu wa salam said:

مَنْ أَتَى هَذَا الْبَيْتَ فَلَمْ يَرْفُثْ وَلَمْ يَفْسُقْ رَجَعَ كَمَا وَلَدَتْهُ أُمُّهُ

Who comes to this House (Kabah) for he does not use bad langauge , nor does he does corruption, and he will return just as the day his mother gave birth to him.

No doubt Hajj’s slogan, and the slogan of the Muhrim (one performing the Hajj) it is responding to (the call of) Tawheed (the Oneness of Allah) by saying:

لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لا شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ

” Here I am at your service (answering you) O’ Allah here I am, here I am at your service (here I am answer your call) not to associate partners to you, at  your service”.

So it is an open declaration & announcement of Tawheed (Oneness of worship) that is for Allah the Mighty and the Majestic. Just as Allah the Mighty and the Majestic said:

وَإِذْ بَوَّأْنَا لإِبْرَاهِيمَ مَكَانَ الْبَيْتِ أَنْ لا تُشْرِكْ بِي شَيْئاً وَطَهِّرْ بَيْتِي لِلطَّائِفِينَ وَالْقَائِمِينَ وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُودِ

And (remember) when We showed Ibrahim (Abraham) the site of the (Sacred) House (the Kabah at Makkah) (saying): “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 (submit themselves with humility and obedience to Allah), and make prostration (in prayer);”

(سورة الحج, Al-Hajj, Chapter #22, Verse #26)

So this is the House (Kabah) that is fixed upon Tawheed, singling out Allah the Mighty and the Majestic with the worship, it is obligatory that he purifies himself from Shirk (associating partners in the worship of Allah) and from innovation in the religion and  newly invent matters in the religion of Islam that which befalls the Muslims (from the acts of innovations of all type).

For indeed Allah decreed for this house (Kabah) in our present time this guided government (KSA) which establish the affair of those performing Hajj and Umrah, and they fulfill for them places to (dwellings,facility,roads etc). This is from the bounty of Allah Glorified is He the Most High, upon us and upon all the people together, and it is a mighty grace that Allah granted it upon this blessed country (KSA). Allah made it easy for Saudi, and serviceable for Saudi with what Saudi is able to do to establish and uphold this mighty pillar which is from the pillars of Islam. To uphold the Hajj (each year for those making Hajj & Umrah) and to give security and to provide for them provision (food & drink and a means) and to provide for them the means of traveling (going about, and going and coming), and this is what is easy for Allah the Mighty and the Majestic. Whereas this is the gathering of the Muslim that comes to this house (Kabah).  Just as Allah the Most High said:

أَوَلَمْ نُمَكِّنْ لَهُمْ حَرَماً آمِناً يُجْبَى إِلَيْهِ ثَمَرَاتُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ

Have We not established for them a secure sanctuary (Makkah), to which are brought fruits of all kinds, a provision from Ourselves, but most of them know not.

(سورة القصص, Al-Qasas, Chapter #28, Verse #57)

He the Most High said:

وَمَنْ دَخَلَهُ كَانَ آمِناً

whosoever enters it (the Hajj of Makkah), he attains security

(سورة آل عمران, Aal-i-Imraan, Chapter #3, Verse #97)

It means: that they secure him, and Allah makes it easy for he who secure those who perform the Hajj and the Umrah, and Allah is the one who is praised.

In all times Allah makes it easy for this house (Kabah) for he who establishes and upholds its affairs, and protect those who make the Hajj and Umrah, and this is from the bounty of Allah and His ease.

Translated by Abul Baraa Muhammad Amreeki

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مظاهر التوحيد في الحج.