Read Part One of the three part series ‘Noble Goals of Hajj’ – Part 1
In part two of the series, we look at two more goals behind performing Hajj.
Fourth goal: Establishing the Remembrance of Allaah
From the goals of Hajj is to establish the remembrance of Allaah, as is the noble purpose behind all other righteous deeds.
Allaah (Ta’ala) says regarding the prayer, in Surat Ta-Ha (20:14):
إِنَّنِي أَنَا اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدْنِي وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ لِذِكْرِي
“Verily! I am Allaah! La ilaaha illa Ana (none has the right to be worshipped but I), so worship Me, and perform As-Salaat Iqaamat-as-Salaat) for My Remembrance.”
Similarly, Hajj, fasting, and all acts of worship have been prescribed for the purpose of establishing the remembrance of Allaah. Therefore, Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat al-Baqarah (2:198):
فإذا أفضتم من عرفات فاذكروا الله عند المشعر الحرام واذكروه كما هداكم وإن كنتم من قبله لمن الضالين
“Then when you leave ‘Arafat, remember Allaah (by glorifying His Praises, i.e. prayers and invocations, etc.) at the Mash’ar-il-Haram. And remember Him (by invoking Allaah for all good, etc.) as He has guided you, and verily, you were, before, of those who were astray.”
And in Surat al-Hajj (22:27-28), Allaah (Ta’ala) says:
وَأَذِّن فِي النَّاسِ بِالْحَجِّ يَأْتُوكَ رِجَالًا وَعَلَىٰ كُلِّ ضَامِرٍ يَأْتِينَ مِن كُلِّ فَجٍّ عَمِيقٍ
“And proclaim to mankind the Hajj (pilgrimage). They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel, they will come from every deep and distant (wide) mountain highway (to perform Hajj).”
لِّيَشْهَدُوا مَنَافِعَ لَهُمْ وَيَذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ فِي أَيَّامٍ مَّعْلُومَاتٍ عَلَىٰ مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّن بَهِيمَةِ الْأَنْعَامِ ۖ فَكُلُوا مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا الْبَائِسَ الْفَقِيرَ
“That they may witness things that are of benefit to them (i.e. reward of Hajj in the Hereafter, and also some worldly gain from trade, etc.), and mention the Name of Allaah on appointed days (i.e. 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th day of Dhul-Hijjah), over the beast of cattle that He has provided for them (for sacrifice) (at the time of their slaughtering by saying: Bismillaah, wa Allaahu-Akbar, Allaahumma Minka wa Ilaik). Then eat thereof and feed therewith the poor who have a very hard time.”
Therefore, the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) said: “Going around the House (the Ka’bah), running between Safa and Marwah, and stoning of the pillars (throwing the pebbles) are meant for the remembrance of Allaah.” [Musnad Imaam Ahmad and Al-Albaani said Da’eef, and Ibn Baaz said Thabit]
The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) mentioned these three actions of Hajj; the Tawaaf, Sa’y, and throwing pebbles as examples; as all the rituals of Hajj are prescribed to establish the Remembrance of Allaah.
Remembrance of Allaah is the most sublime deed and the greatest act of obedience. Therefore the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Should I not inform you of the best of your deeds, and the purest of them with your Master, and the highest of them in your ranks, and what is better for you than spending gold and silver, and better for you than meeting your enemy and striking their necks and they strike your necks?” They said: “Of course.” He (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “The remembrance of Allaah [Most High].” (Then) Mu’adh ibn Jabal (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) said: “There is nothing that brings more salvation from the punishment of Allaah than the remembrance of Allaah.” [Authenticated by Al-Albaani and graded Saheeh in Sunan At-Tirmidhi, no. 3377]
Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat al-Ankabut (29:45):
ولذكر الله أكبر
“… and the remembering (praising, etc.) of (you by) Allaah (in front of the angels) is greater indeed [than your remembering (praising, etc.) Allaah in prayers, etc.].”
And in Surat al-Ahzaab (33:41-42):
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ ذِكْرًا كَثِيرًا
“O you who believe! Remember Allaah with much remembrance.
وَسَبِّحُوهُ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًا
And glorify His Praises morning and afternoon [the early morning (Fajr) and ‘Asr prayers].”
And He (Ta’ala) says in Surat al-Ahzaab (33:35):
والذاكرين الله كثيرا والذاكرات أعد الله لهم مغفرة وأجرا عظيما
“… and the men and the women who remember Allaah much (with their hearts and tongues), Allaah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward (i.e. Paradise).”
Remembrance of Allaah is a great and magnificent act of worship which should accompany the slave in his Hajj, his Salaat, his fast, and all his acts of obedience. This is because the greatest in reward amongst people is the one who remembers Allaah the most.
Ibn Al-Qayyim (Rahimahullaah) said: “The most superior in every action is the one who remembers Allaah (Ta’ala) most in it. The best person among those who observe fast is the one who remembers Allaah most during his fast. The best person who spends in charity is the one who remembers Allaah most, the most superior among the pilgrims is the one who remembers Allaah profusely, and so on with the rest of acts.” [Al-Waabil as-Sayyib]
What is meant by the remembrance of Allaah is to remember Allaah with both the heart and the tongue, and this is the highest rank of remembrance. This is because Dhikr (remembrance) is of three ranks:
Dhikr by the heart and the tongue together
Dhikr by the heart alone
Dhikr by the tongue alone
People differ in the reward of their acts of worship according to the amount of their remembrance of Allaah. Accordingly, pilgrims do not share the same degree in their Hajj, nor in their reward, as there are those who remember Allaah much, and those who remember Allaah moderately, and those who remember Allaah less, and there are the heedless ones who turn away from Allaah. It is therefore incumbent upon the pilgrim to maintain his time during Hajj and be keen to remember Allaah much by reciting Qur’an, engaging in the Talbiyah, Tasbeeh, Tahmeed, reading religious books and so on, in order to attain abundant and great reward from his Hajj.
Fifth goal: Intensifying / Deepening one’s Response to Allaah
One of the goals of Hajj is to deepen one’s response to Allaah, carry out His Commands, and submit to Him and His Law.
This goal is clearly shown in many aspects of Hajj, such as pronouncing the Talbiyah repeatedly hundreds of times, according to the energy of the pilgrim. The Talbiyah is a word of response and compliance with the Command of Allaah. The word “Labbaik” is mentioned four times in the Talbiyah, and it is a word of response which means, “Here I am at Your service O Allaah, carrying out Your Command, submitting and following Your Law; You called me to perform Hajj to Your House, and I said ‘Labbaik, O Allaah, Labbaik’.”
Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat al-Hajj (22:27):
وَأَذِّن فِي النَّاسِ بِالْحَجِّ يَأْتُوكَ رِجَالًا وَعَلَىٰ كُلِّ ضَامِرٍ يَأْتِينَ مِن كُلِّ فَجٍّ عَمِيقٍ
“And proclaim to mankind the Hajj (pilgrimage). They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel, they will come from every deep and distant (wide) mountain highway (to perform Hajj).”
It is prescribed upon the pilgrim to raise his voice with the Talbiyah, as is mentioned in a Hadeeth narrated by Zaid ibn Khalid al-Juhani (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu), that the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Jibreel came to me and said: ‘O Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)! Tell your Companions to raise their voices when reciting the Talbiyah, for it is one of the symbols of Hajj.’” [Authenticated by Al-Albaani in Saheeh Ibn Maajah, no. 2923]
A man asked the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam): “O Messenger of Allaah, what is the (real) Hajj?” He (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Raising one’s voice and slaughtering the sacrificial animal.” [Authenticated by Al-Albaani in Saheeh Ibn Maajah, no. 2896]
Raising the voice with the Talbiyah has a great impact on the slave in his fulfilment of the response and compliance with the Command of Allaah.
It was narrated by Sahl (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) that the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “There is no Muslim who says the Talbiyah except that- on his right and left, until the end of the land, from here to there- the rocks or trees or mud say the Talbiyah.” [Authenticated by Al-Albaani in Saheeh At-Tirmidhi, no. 828]
This means that when one recites the Talbiyah and raises his voice with it, the trees, the stones, and the mountains on his right and left will recite the Talbiyah because of his Talbiyah. Although one cannot hear the sound of the Talbiyah of the trees, rocks, and mountains, one should believe with certainty that it happens, because it was said by the truthful one (the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), who was inspired by Allaah and did not speak out of his desire.
In addition to this, there are many evidences in the Qur’an which prove it, such as Allaah’s Statement in Surat al-Israa’ (17:44):
تُسَبِّحُ لَهُ السَّمَاوَاتُ السَّبْعُ وَالْأَرْضُ وَمَن فِيهِنَّ ۚ وَإِن مِّن شَيْءٍ إِلَّا يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِهِ وَلَٰكِن لَّا تَفْقَهُونَ تَسْبِيحَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّهُ كَانَ حَلِيمًا غَفُورًا
“The seven heavens and the earth and whatever is in them glorifies Him. And there is not a thing except that it glorifies [Allaah] His praise, but you do not understand their [way of] exalting. Indeed, He is Ever Forbearing and Forgiving.”
And in Surat Saba’ (34:10), Allaah (Ta’ala) says:
يا جبال أوّبي معه والطير
“[We said], ‘O mountains, repeat [Our] praises with him, and you birds [as well].”
The repetition of the Talbiyah is not performed in vain, on the contrary, it is for a great purpose – to deepen ones response to Allaah in the heart of the pilgrim. And this is something that should not just be applied during Hajj rituals, but during the entire life of the pilgrim.
O you who have responded to the call of Allaah for Hajj and came heading towards His old (ancient) house, hoping for His Mercy and fearing His punishment; what about the rest of His Commands? How is your state with the Salaat which is the greatest pillar of the religion after the Shahadah? How is your state with fasting? How is your state with Zakaat? How is your state with regards to avoiding the forbidden matters and abandoning the unlawful matters? If you are carrying them out, then praise and thank Allaah, and ask Him to increase you in the performance of them, and if you are negligent, then take account of yourself before you will be taken account on the Day of Resurrection.
📚 Source: Maqaasid l-Hajj (Goals of Hajj) by Shaikh ‘Abdur-Razzaq al-Badr
🔗 Read the final part of the three part series ‘Noble Goals of Hajj’ – Part 3
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