Holy Journey of Hajj and `Umrah Pilgrimage
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيم
Praise be to God the Creator of the world, the One Who exists without beginning, without end, without location, without a "how" and Who does not depend on time. Nothing resembles Him in anyway and He hears and sees everything without organs. Whatever you imagine, God is different from that. May the elevation in degree and preservation of his community of what he fears for it, be granted to our master Muḥammad Al-'Amin, the Honest One, who called for following Islam, the religion of truth, the religion of all the Prophets: of the first, Adam, to the last Muḥammad.
When the Hajj season commences, the truthful righteous believers feel in their hearts the blessings of this season. Every year tens of thousands of Muslims prepare themselves for this Holy journey to Makkah and Madinah, the city of the Best Prophet, Muḥammad Salla lLâhu `alayhi wa sallam.
Others who long for the Holy Cities of Makkah and Madinah but are unable to go remained struck with grief and sadness especially because they are unsure whether or not they would be able to perform Hajj in the upcoming years.
Brothers and Sisters in Islam
Ibrâhîm Ibn Adham was among many who traveled on foot to perform Hajj. One day and while he was walking to Makkah, he saw a man riding a camel. The man asked Ibrâhîm Ibn Adham: Where are you going? Ibrâhîm said: I am heading to Makkah to perform Hajj. Then the man said: but you need a ride to Makkah since it is extremely far. Ibrâhîm said: indeed I have many but you do not see them. The man said: "Where are they? Ibrâhîm explained: In times of hardship, patience is my ride, in times of prosperity, thankfulness to Allâh is my ride, and in times of feeling tempted to commit a sin, I remember that death is coming very soon. Upon hearing this, the man astonishingly said: keep walking ; I swear by Allâh with the strong faith you have in your heart, you are in a better situation than me.
There in Makkah, the hearts and the longing souls find their remedy and healing. People circumambulate the sacred House, the Holy Ka`bah, with ultimate submission to Allâh as if saying:
“O Lord, No matter how many times we circumambulate and turn, there is no refuge except with You.”
There at the Holy Ka`bah, when you make contact with the black stone and kiss it, remember that the lips of the Messenger of Allâh Salla lLâhu `alayhi wa sallam touched this blessed stone. As you raise your head from sujud (prostration) while praying before the Ka`bah, you will be overcome by the magnificence of the Ka`bah, and recall once again that you are indeed a slave to the Lord of this Sacred House.
And when you are performing sa`iy between Mount of As-Safa and Al-Marwah, remember the story of Lady Hajar and her dear son Prophet Isma`îl when Prophet Ibrâhîm `alayhi s-salam left them both in Makkah which at the time was completely deserted and barren, and so Lady Hajar repeatedly asked him: “O Ibrahim, are we to be left alone in this valley with no water, food or companions?” And his intentions were only to fulfill what Allâh subHânahu wa-ta`âlâ ordered him with, and then she said: “Did Allâh order you to do this?” He replied, “Yes”. Upon hearing this, eloquently and with a complete reliance on Allâh she said: “Then we will not be lost”. After that, by the will of Allâh, fresh pure water sprung out from the ground in large quantities. This was given the name “ZamZam” water.
And while wearing the clothes of IHram, people gather on the land of `Arafat and make supplication to Allâh subHânahu wa ta`âlâ. The Prophet Salla lLâhu `alayhi wa sallam said:
« Devils are most humiliated, belittled, disturbed and frustrated during the Day of `Arafah, and this is due to the descent of great mercies and the forgiveness of major sins on that day. »
After performing Hajj and `Umrah, people visit Al-Madinah al-Munawwarah, the second best city after Makkah.
In Praising Al-Madinah, Prophet Muḥammad Salla lLâhu `alayhi wa sallam said that the city of Al-Madinah will always be in a better religious state than all other cities”.
It is Al-Madinah that Ad-Dajjal (the one-eyed impostor) will not be able to enter because it is guarded by great angels.
Also Al-Bukhâriyy narrated that the Prophet Salla lLâhu `alayhi wa sallam said: “O Allāh, bless al-Madinah twice as much as Makkah”.
In Al-Madinah there is ar-Rawḍah, an area between the grave of Prophet Muḥammad Salla lLâhu `alayhi wa sallam and his pulpit. On the Day of Judgment, ar-Rawḍah will be taken to Paradise.
Additionally, al-Madinah is the city that contains the body of the best of Allâh’s creations, Prophet Muḥammad may Allâh raise his rank, therefore, the hearts of all Muslims long for it.
الحمد لله رب العالمين
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