HAJJ: ETIQUETTES OF HAJJ

Praise be to Allah Who made the House a place of return for the people and [a place of] security and He made visit to it an obligation on the one who have the ability, that He may recompense those who do evil with [the penalty of] what they have done and recompense those who do good with the best [reward]. We praise Him and seek His help and forgiveness. We seek refuge in Him from the evils of our souls and that of our actions. Whom Allah guides, none can mislead, and whom He cause to stray, none can guide him. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. O Allah! Bestow peace and blessings on our master- Muhammad (pbuh), his families, his companions who strove in goodness. Thereafter, Brothers in faith, I urge you to fear Allah- The Mighty, The All-knowing, that is the best provision, which could lead to the abode of peace, it is also a cleanser of sins and iniquities. Allah say: :{ وَتَزَوَّدُوا فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ الزَّادِ التَّقْوَى وَاتَّقُونِ يَا أُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ } (البقرة:197) And take provisions, but indeed, the best provision is fear of Allah. And fear Me, O you of understanding. (2:197) The etiquettes of Hajj: A Pilgrim who performs the hajj with full observance of the principles and guiding conditions returns home cleansed of sins and iniquities. In order to achieve an acceptable hajj in the sight of Allah, the following etiquettes need to be abided by: 1- To seek divine guide and made consultation: An intending Pilgrim have to consult with trustworthy persons religiously, wealth of experience and up to date knowledge. It is also recommended that he supplicate to Allah (swt) for divine choice. The two recommendations is not particularly about hajj itself for hajj is a good act, rather it is to beseech Allah for the best choice of time, health status, travel companions and provisions and other surrounding benefits. 2- Sincerity of Intention for Allah: A pilgrim must not embark on the journey of hajj out of hypocritical display or people awareness. He must not aim to earn people’s merit or recognition to pronounce in his favour that for instance: Mr So performed hajj nor sought to be given thetitle of Alhaaj. Rather it must be out of love for Allah and desire for reward, and fear of His punishment, and a request for elevation in ranks and cleansing of sins. Sincerity is the pillar of every action. Allah says: {وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلا لِيَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ} (البينة : 5) {And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion } (98: 5). The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: (Actions are (judged) by intentions, and for everyone is what he intended) (Bukhari and Muslim). 3. Taking step to write a will: Before embarking on the journey, it is a wise step for the pilgrim to write down his bequest which clearly states his properties and trusts kept in his care, likewise, to admonish his family members to be fearful and conscious of Allah before embarking on the journey so as to adequately prepare for any eventuality which traveling is prone to. 4. Taking step to make sincere repentance: This refers to true and sincere repentance from all kinds of sins. The pilgrim is therefore advised to hasten to repentance, return people’s right. The level of compliance with these objectives assures acceptability of the hajj, guarantees elevation in rank, forgiveness of sins and actually turning the sins to good deeds. 5. Acquiring knowledge of the rules of Hajj performance even if it is only the summary of its procedures. However, if he is unable, then, he should take along books, tapes, that will enlighten him on the subject and where there are confusion, he should make effort to ask. 6- Choosing good travel companions that will assist him towards goodness and remind him when he forgets, especially the ones he could benefit from their knowledge and good morals. 7- Selecting a leader with remarkable quality of experience and sound opinions to lead the pilgrims’ group. The rest of the group must therefore maintain obedience to him and beware of division against him while the leader too must maintain kindness to them and consult them on issues. 8- Relating well with companions including assisting them without demand for favour or procrastination, thanking them for any service they rendered, enduring any act of ignorance, harshness etc that may emanate from them. A pilgrim must always view others as more deserving of rights than himself and not the opposite, this represents nobleness in character worthy to elevate one’s status before God and obliterate one’s sins. Also, the pilgrim should desist from quarrelling with others and give them excuses if such arises. He should also be gentle with people and make them happy especially the weak ones and the women. He should also ensure fulfillment of promises, but accept their excuses in kindness where lateness or mistakes occur. He should equally bear their blame when they blame him on any issue, but accept others excuses. These are manifestations of lofty state of heart, and good companionship who bears others injuries but will not burden them with any of such. 9- Preparing lawful earnings: A Pilgrim must also prepare funds from lawful earnings in order that his Hajj and Prayers could be accepted. The Prophet (pbuh) said: “Verily Allah is pure, He accepts not except what is pure” 10- Constant calmness and gentleness in all matters. The prophet (pbuh) said: "O people! Be quiet. Hastening is not a sign of righteousness." (Al-Bukhari) Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) said: “Kindness is not to be found in anything but that it adds to its beauty and it is not withdrawn from anything but it makes it defective.” (Muslim) 11- Ensuring the comfort of the Pilgrims and being cautious of causing any disturbance that could hurt them such as creating noisy atmosphere, chocking them up, or by smoking or others. It is expected of a Pilgrim to love for his brothers what he loves for himself and to hate for them what he hates for himself. 12- Guarding of the tongue or Speech by avoiding excessive and bad talks, backbiting, gossiping and ridiculing people. Equally, beware of frequent jokes or deepening in the practice, and guide your tongue from insults and verbal abuse. Avoid argument and quarrels except if the controversy is to establish the truth and expose falsehood. {فَلا رَفَثَ وَلا فُسُوقَ وَلا جِدَالَ فِي الْحَجِّ} (البقرة : 197) {so whoever has made Hajj obligatory upon himself therein [by entering the state of ihram], there is [to be for him] no sexual relations and no disobedience and no disputing during Hajj. } (2: 197). 13. Women should maintain guard and chastity: They must beware of mingling with men and arousing their fascination and from display of finery and adornments and nakedness. 14. Enjoining of virtue and forbidding of vice and calling to the way of Allah, based on individual capacity and ability with necessary kindness and gentleness, accompanied by wise and good advice, and being compassionate to those we invite while we maintain courtesy and patience on whatever emanates from them to us. 15. Recognition of the sacredness of the holy sites of hajj and its season: The recognition of this will make the Pilgrim discharge the hajj rites with humility and total reverence for Allah. To be in this state of mind will also endow the Pilgrim the required patience to withstand the challenges he will be facing during the hajj rites including experiences like fatigue, tiredness and injuries. Allah says: { ذَلِكَ وَمَنْ يُعَظِّمْ شَعَائِرَ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّهَا مِنْ تَقْوَى الْقُلُوبِ} (الحج: 32) “That [is so]. And whoever honors the symbols of Allah - indeed, it is from the piety of hearts.” (22: 32). 16. Maximizing the opportunity of the time: The pilgrim should avail himself the opportunity of the hajj period to maximize the usage of his time for devotions including dhikr, supplications, quranic recitation, anywhere within the holy sites. 17. Observing the obligatory acts like solat in congregation. In summary, the Pilgrims should engage themselves with whatever action would draw them closer to Allah, and assist them in that regard. They should beware of all actions including speeches or acts that could render their hajj null and void or reduce the rewards. May Allah bless us all with the Qur’an and profit us all with the messages therein, having said this, I seek forgive from Allah for me and you and all Muslims, do seek His forgiveness He is Oft-forgiving. THE SECOND SERMON Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, surely the prolific end is for the righteous, and surely there will be no enmity except against the transgressors, the evil doers. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, O Allah bestow Your peace and blessings upon our master Prophet Muhammad, his families and all his companions. Thereafter, O Muslims fear Allah and beware of Injustice and its ugly consequences for verily Allah grants respite to the unjust or oppressor until when He get hold of him, He will never let go of him. Be aware- may Allah be merciful on you- that oppression is of three types: Injustice of the servant to his Lord and Creator and that is Shirk- associating partners with Allah, the injustice among people, and finally the injustice done to self. Allah- the Almighty had warned against all the classes of injustice, He elucidated that end of the mischief maker is tormenting, and his abode is the lake of hell, what an evil end! Today we wish to discuss on the second type of injustice; injustice among people, this account will not be forgotten by Allah until the right of the oppressed is revenged from the oppressor. Allah says while leaving a threat against injustice thus: إِنَّا أَعْتَدْنَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ نَارًا أَحَاطَ بِهِمْ سُرَادِقُهَا وَإِنْ يَسْتَغِيثُوا يُغَاثُوا بِمَاءٍ كَالْمُهْلِ يَشْوِي الْوُجُوهَ بِئْسَ الشَّرَابُ وَسَاءَتْ مُرْتَفَقًا.(الكهف ٢٩) “Indeed, We have prepared for the wrongdoers a fire whose walls will surround them. And if they call for relief, they will be relieved with water like murky oil, which scalds [their] faces. Wretched is the drink, and evil is the resting place.” (18:29) يُدْخِلُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ فِي رَحْمَتِهِ وَالظَّالِمِينَ أَعَدَّ لَهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا. (الإنسان ۳۱) “He admits whom He wills into His mercy; but the wrongdoers - He has prepared for them a painful punishment.” (76: 31) And in a hadith Al-Qudsi: "O My servants, I have made oppression unlawful for Me and unlawful for you, so do not commit oppression against one another.” Zhulm- Oppression means tyranny, aggression, deviation from the truth towards falsehood and exceeding the religious bound, as well as wrong placement of matters. At this juncture we would like to direct our concern to what is happening in Egypt. We are witnessing today an open perpetration of oppression from a section of the community against the other. The oppression reached its peak when the rights activists of this world, the west and the European kept mute; they change all standards and distorted every platform. Suddenly the world leaders became deaf, dump and lame; deprived of any ability to challenge the tyrannical putschists and murderers in Egypt as they did concerning some other countries when they witnessed such military coup. They left the Egyptian coup plotters, spreading evil in the land in colossal magnitude, they deceived their brothers and co-citizens, they transgressed against all known rights, they shed bloods of Muslims, they opened fire against them, burnt them, desecrated the women and children’s dignity, they as well terrorized the peaceful faithfuls, directing their missiles towards the citizens; Muslims and Non-Muslims alike, instead of directing it to their true enemy. They have also caused dissention within the Muslim nations, and the avowed enemies- the Zionists rejoice over our predicament. What an injustice! What a heinous crime! However, this only signals the end, the end of this oppression, deception, and enmity. Behold! how the end of the tyrants will be. Surely life is of two seasons; season of sweetness and season of bitterness, happiness and sadness, hence, the reign of oppression is only to last for an hour but the reign of the truth last till the day of judgment. Allah had sworn by His might and majesty in support of the request of every oppressed person thus: “I will surely support you even if it is after some time” Surely the promised time will certainly come and swiftly indeed, Allah’s willing, for Allah is the Truth, He bombards with the truth against falsehood- the divine bombardment- which your shielding artilleries, guns, warplanes, bullets and machine guns cannot withstand. Allah says: (بَلْ نَقْذِفُ بِالْحَقِّ عَلَى البَاطِلِ فَيَدْمَغُهُ فَإذَا هُوَ زَاهِقٌ ولَكُمُ الوَيْلُ مِمَّا تَصِفُونَ) “Rather, We dash the truth upon falsehood, and it destroys it, and thereupon it departs. And for you is destruction from that which you describe.” (21:18) (عَمَّا قَلِيلٍ لَّيُصْبِحُنَّ نَادِمِينَ) “[Allah] said, "After a little, they will surely become regretful." (23: 40) (وسَيَعْلَمُ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا أَيَّ مُنقَلَبٍ يَنقَلِبُونَ) “And those who have wronged are going to know to what [kind of] return they will be returned.” (26: 227) The Prophet (pbuh) said: “Injustice will become series of darkness on the day judgement” He also said: “Beware of the curse of the oppressed, for there is no screen between it and Allah” (Agreed upon) It was narrated that Taawus bn Kaisaan came to Hishaam bn Abdul Malik and he said to him: “I warn you of the day of Adhaan” Hishaam said: “What is the day of Adhaan?” Taawus replied: “Then an announcer will announce among them, "The curse of Allah shall be upon the wrongdoers." Suddenly Hishaam bn Abdul Malik became shocked and dumbfounded (on hearing this reply) It was also reported that when Khaalid bn Barmak and his son were imprisoned, the son said: “O my father! We now live under shackles and imprisonment after we had honour and majesty? He replied: “O my son the curse of the oppressed had traveled in the night we forgot about it but Allah never forget it” Oh Allah make the Qur’an the succor to our hearts, light to our faces, remover of our grief and sorrow. O Allah show us the truth and grant us the wherewithal to follow it, show us falsehood and grant us the wherewithal to desist. O Allah forgive the believers; men and women, and the Muslim men and women, both the living and the deceased, You are All- hearing, most near, answerer of prayers. O Allah make this nation- Nigeria peaceful, safe, generous, with abundant welfare, and all other Muslim nations.