Bismillah Ar Rahman Ar Rahim
الحج عرفة
Indeed Hajj is Arafah and it is the epitome of sacred worship required of a capable Believer with wherewithal to undergo the operation. The capability is open to variables such as funds, health, safety and of course genuine intention. The peak of Hajj is Arafah. Al-Arafah and Eidul Kabir i.e two annual fiesta days on the 9th and tenth days of Dhul-Hijjah. It comes but once in a year and the cross-section of Believers world-over bask in the euphoria of its celebration as they mark the peak of worship and remembrance of Allah in a Lunar year. The coming of the two important occasions in the twelfth month (Dhul -Hijjah) is a great symbol of Allah (SubhanaHu Wa Ta'ala (SWT))'s evergreen and readiness not only to forgive man but also put him on the pedestal of success for dual-headed and corroborative achievements... Allah (SWT) remains indefatigable all through while unparallel blessings and mercy of Allah be upon the noble Messenger Muhammad and all deserving followers of his way till eternity.
This edition takes us across several rites that usher in the Arafah and Eidil Kabir as spectacular to Muslim faithful. Before long, it must be reiterated that there is no single form of worship in Islam without its due connection with Taqwa (piety and fear of Allah) and this is domiciled in numerous portions of the Glorious Qur'an. Name it, Salat, Zakat, Sawm, Hajj and the complimentary A'malu s salihat (good inter-personal relations), all are premised on fear of Allah. A good instance is the conundrum of worship (Ibadaat) as the main arrow-head of purposeful life directed towards the Supreme Creator Allah and the created as well. This informs the vertical and horizontal forms of relationship as it affects man and Allah on one side and man and other creatures on the other.
Aside from the mortal benefits of Hajj there exists varieties of conditionalities attached to its acceptability. In the Glorious Qur'an 2:197 we read: '...Whoever performs the obligation of Hajj should desist from obscenity, wickedness, and wrangling.' These are capable of obliterating the rites of Hajj, putting its reward on hold. Against this background, it is deduced that Allah (SWT) puts the ultimate reward of Hajj as the ability to being enlisted among the inheritors of Al-Jannah. This is deposited in the Hadith of the noble Messenger Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam (SAW)) which says: الحج المبرور ليس له جزاء الا الجنة meaning: 'Unblemished Hajj operation will surely be rewarded with Al-Jannah.' It must be stated here that the above Qur'an Ayah had mentioned the premises on which Hajj could be flawless. Else, the sumptous fund deployed into Hajj operation might not hold any water.
Going by the report getting to our desk from those currently on Hajj, it reveals that some disgruntled elements still went to Saudi Arabia with the intent and purpose of defrauding other Hajj operators. Some appear as syndicate posing to bebof help to pilgrims while they act as Money Exchange Agents. They collect higher hard currency denominations from less educated Hajj operators but come back to them to report probable hitches experienced in getting the currency changed to Saudi Riyal. Whereas hundreds of Dollars given to them initially had been replaced with one-unit Dollar denominations. The implications show having defrauded the victim of four hundred and ninety-five Dollars by giving him only five Dollars out of five hundred Dollars initially collected. In a similar vein, the golden teeth phenomenon had become a profitable venture from where some disgruntled elements among Nigerian pilgrims and probable officials feed fat on the victims. Acting as agents to the professional dealers in teeth making only to go back to the dealers to collect as much as 85 percent of the charges paid on-front. Also, the sacrificial rites of Hajj supposed to be a prerogative of the Hajj Board. It is a great de-service that most of the private agents are reported to be collecting money for the sacrifice but offer little or nothing in return. Pilgrims should rather wise up to act beyond the practices of the syndicates.
Nonetheless, the Prophetic Hadith which provides the temerity of rites of Hajj predisposes such for proper dedication to remembrsnce of Allah. It says: "Surely, Tawwaf (Circumambulation of the house), Sa'y (Jugging) between Mounts Safa and Marwa, Ramyul jimar (Throwing pebbles) to principals of Shaytan, are all dedicated for Allah's remembrance.' It would be clear that involvement in the shoddy practices such as the ones mentioned above prunes Hajj to infirmity.
No matter the kinds of Hajj performed by an operator some technical methods are vital to Hajj. Ifrad (singling out Hajj without joining it with Umrah), Tamattu' (separation and enjoyment between Umrah an Hajj) and Qiran (combining between Umrah and Hajj) used to be applicable to various Hajj operators depending largely on the arrival time at Makkah. In addition to Talbiyyah (the often chanted words of glorification) on arrival and before the real moment of Hajj i.e 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th an 12th days of Dhul Hijjah, the following supplications should be chanted by the pilgrims. It reads: 'اللهم اغفر لي ذنوبي وافتح لي ابواب رحمتك اعوذ بالله العظيم وبوجهه الكريم وبسلطانه القديم من الشيطان الرجيم meaning: 'O Lord, forgive me all my sins, open for me doors of blessings, I besiege Allah the Mighty, with His honourable courtesy and His everlasting authority from the accursed Shaytan.'
This prayer is self sustaining indeed and doing otherwise in terms of attitude and behaviour during Hajj is tantamount to complete denial of the expected forgiveness as promised by Allah (SWT). If the Hadith of the noble Messenger Muhammad (SAW) is something to contend with, that a pilgrim is purged of every indecent behaviour is an assurance for his forgiveness. The Hadith says: ومن حج فلم يرفث ولم يفسق رجع من ذنوبه كيوم الذي ولدته امه. meaning: 'Whoever performs Hajj and did not involve in obscenity and wickedness will surely come back like the day his mother gave birth to him.' Therefore, for a pilgrim to stand in a way to de-fraud other pilgrims is not only an aberration but also a total negation of the reward attached to his Hajj.
On the contrary, however, threading cautiously by those who would celebrate Eidul Kabir in various nations apart from Saudi Arabia, should be the watchword. The designated days of Hajj remain meritorious to both Pilgrims and non-pilgrims alike.While pilgrims are fully engaged in the rites of Hajj, non-pilgrims dedicate the day of Arafah for fasting, prayer and celebrating praises of Allah with glorifications, praise-worship and sacrifice. This makes them to be in line with the Truth bearers, the Good doers, the Matryrs and the Sages of repute. However, remember to fast and fervently pray on the day of Arafah for the non-pilgrims. Celebrating the Eid should be within the permissible confine. Distribution of sacrifice meat is done in a way to please three groups e.g family, relatives anf friends and non-relative others. As for those traveling for the Eid, necessity of the need for that should be considered among other factors and where the order of priority says otherwise, traveling may be unnecessary and should be more security conscious. Also for the travelers for Eid, cautious spending, speech, relationship and security consciousness should be on top of the required etiquettes. While the Eid lasts for three days, the words of glorifications should continue to be chanted particularly, after each Salats of the fifteen daily obligatory prayers from the Eid day. This includes but not limited to: 'Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar; Lailaha illa Allah Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar; Wa lillahil hamdu.'
Whereas the content of the Khutbah at the mount Arafah and all over the world should contain indications for wholesome development of the individual and collective members of the Ummah. The Gaza (Palestinian) people and other places where there is porous security of lives and properties should be prayed for and that the Ummah should be of one voice required for desirable development. Once more, thank you for being there always, happy Eidil Kabir in advance.
#Hajj/Arafah
#Eid preparation
#Syndicate on Hajj
DR. RAZAQ BOLAWAYE UTHMAN, IMAM & MISSIONER ANSAR-UD-DEEN SOCIETY OF NIGERIA IPAJA BRANCH LAGOS STATE NIGERIA. © Copy Rights 2025
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