WHAT NEXT AFTER HAJJ?

All praises are due to Allah Who had blessed us with open and secret favours and made the sacrificial animals subservient to us and had created seasons for vying towards goodness. I testify there is no god but Allah alone, He has no associate, and I testify that Muhammad (pbuh) is the servant of Allah sent to all mankind and jinns. May Allah bestow peace and blessings on him (pbuh), his families, his companions whom Allah had granted piety to their souls. Thereafter, O people, I enjoin you and me to fear Allah, the piety of one who turns to Him always, be conscious of Him as people who believe in the day of resurrection, worship Him sincerely, eschew all remnants of wrong doings and seek His forgiveness that you may be blessed. Dear Muslim brothers and sisters, the pilgrims have just concluded a very great aspect of worship in Islam. They denied themselves- for the sake of Allah- of sewn cloths, starting from the Miqats, in the spirit of repentance, tears rolled down their cheeks on the mount of Arafah, they expressed shamefulness for their errors and shortcomings. Men of different languages send their requests to Allah, Muzdalifah- one of the sacred sites was agog with persons who passed the night there with devotion, thereafter the congregation moved to the Jamaraat- stoning sites, then for the Tawaaf- circumambulation around the Ka’bah, followed by the Sa’y (light racing) between Safaa and Marwah. After completion of the processes, pilgrims become joyous of the favour of Allah granted them in accomplishment of the hajj rites. Allah says: {قُلْ بِفَضْلِ اللهِ وَبِرَحْمَتِهِ فَبِذَلِكَ فَلْيَفْرَحُواْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِمَّا يَجْمَعُونَ } (يونس 58) “Say, "In the bounty of Allah and in His mercy - in that let them rejoice; it is better than what they accumulate." (10: 58) The bounty of Allah and His mercy as mentioned in this verse is better than the entire expanse of the earth and its fleeing and short-lived enjoyments. O dear pilgrims, thank Allah for His favour on you. Allah says: ( وَمَا بِكُمْ مِنْ نِعْمَةٍ فَمِنَ اللهِ ) (النحل 53) “And whatever you have of favor - it is from Allah. (16: 53) {وَإنْ تَعُدُّواْ نِعْمَةَ اللهِ لاَ تُحْصُوهَا إِنَّ اللهَ لَغَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ }(النحل 18) “And if you should count the favors of Allah, you could not enumerate them. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” (16: 18) ACCEPTABILITY OF DEEDS Faith is sacrosanct in the consideration of acceptance of actions in Islam. Opportunity to perform a good act is a great favour but that is attached to another favour which is its acceptance. The condition is specifically emphatic with respect to the hajj experience where one underwent various engaging task. What could be more unfortunate as the non-acceptability of the effort? Such have obviously striken by destruction in his life and religion. A new page is opened in your life now, be cautious of staining your new garb with filthy by return to sins and sinful ways. Good acts followed with good acts are better than the ugly outcome of good acts succeeded with evil acts. Some of the principles for acceptance of deeds: 1- Underrating personal deeds and not being deceived by them. It is important because as man works and achieves progress he gets beclouded by his deeds and fails to show gratitude for any of the blessings of God including those of his physical build up, such as hearing, sight, speech and others. He fails to give God’s rights which are beyond quantifying. The righteous men of God underrate their deeds in order to be safe from being deceived, whereby they might lose the reward and even become lazy at good deeds. The following assist one to underrate one’s good deeds: (a) Knowledge of God (b) Knowledge of God’s favour (c) Recognition of sins and error. 2- Fear of rejection of one’s deed: The pious predecessors of the Muslims were more concerned about acceptance of deed, this takes them to a situation of fear and longing. Allah describes their situation in this way: {وَالَّذِينَ يُؤْتُونَ مَا آتَوْا وَقُلُوبُهُمْ وَجِلَةٌ أَنَّهُمْ إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ رَاجِعُونَ (60) أُولَئِكَ يُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْخَيْرَاتِ وَهُمْ لَهَا سَابِقُونَ }(المؤمنون : 60 ، 61) “And those who dispense their charity with their hearts full of fear, because they will return to their Lord, They are those who hasten to good deeds, and they outstrip [others] therein” (23: 60- 61). The Prophet (pbuh) had explained the verse as referring to those who observed the fasting, established prayers, performed charity, and were afraid of it being rejected. Ali bn Abi Talib (R.A) was reported to have said: “Let your concern be mostly attached to acceptability of your deeds than even the act itself, haven’t you heard that Allah (swt) said: “"Indeed, Allah only accepts from the righteous [who fear Him].” (5: 27) 3- Being hopeful and frequent in supplications: Being fearful is not enough except if accompanied by the opposite which is hope. Fear without hope begets despair, likewise hope without fear produces relying or feel secure from the plan of Allah. either of the two is dispraised and speak evil of a person’s faith and worship. However, hoping for acceptance of deed and nursing the fear of its rejection bequeaths humility before Allah, and grows faith. A sincere hope in Allah is what will propel a servant to raise his hand to Allah in beseeching Him to accept his deeds. This was the disposition of Prophet Ibrahim and Isma’eel (AS) after they have built the Ka’bah, Allah says: {وَإِذْ يَرْفَعُ إِبْرَاهِيمُ الْقَوَاعِدَ مِنَ الْبَيْتِ وَإِسْمَاعِيلُ رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيم }(البقرة : 127) “And [mention] when Abraham was raising the foundations of the House and [with him] Ishmael, [saying], "Our Lord, accept [this] from us. Indeed You are the Hearing, the Knowing.” (2: 127) 4- Seeking forgiveness a lot: As man strives to achieve perfection in his deeds, errors are inevitable. Allah had taught us how to make up for these errors and shortcomings by holding on to Istighfaar after every acts of worship. Allah says after the mention of the rites of hajj thus: {ثُمَّ أَفِيضُواْ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَفَاضَ النَّاسُ واسْتَغْفِرُواْ اللهَ إنَّ اللهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ } (البقرة 199) “Then depart from the place from where [all] the people depart and ask forgiveness of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” (2: 199) The Prophet was also mandated to end all his activities and life with seeking of forgiveness always. Allah says: (إِذَا جَاءَ نَصْرُ اللَّهِ وَالْفَتْحُ , وَرَأَيْتَ النَّاسَ يَدْخُلُونَ فِي دِينِ اللَّهِ أَفْوَاجًا , فَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ وَاسْتَغْفِرْهُ إِنَّهُ كَانَ تَوَّابًا} “When the victory of Allah has come and the conquest, and you see the people entering into the religion of Allah in multitudes. Then exalt [Him] with praise of your Lord and ask forgiveness of Him. Indeed, He is ever Accepting of repentance. (110: 1-3). While in the ruku’ position (bowing position in prayer), the Prophet used to say: ( سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا وَبِحَمْدِكَ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِى) "رواه البخارى “O Allah, Glory be to you, our Lord praise be unto You, I seek Your forgiveness”. After every solat he do say: ( أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ ) “I seek Allah’s forgiveness” (thrice). 5- Increase in good deeds: A good deed is like a fruitful tree which require watering and attendance till it grows and blossoms. Succeeding good act with another good one is a sign of acceptance of the good deed. Some important advices for the new pilgrims. - Dear Pilgrims know that an accepted hajj has its signs and peculiarities. Hassan Al-Basri was asked what is the accepted hajj? He replied: “It is that you return as uninterested in the world and desirous of the hereafter”. Let your hajj bars you from places of destruction, and propel you to increase in goodness till death. Allah says: {وَاعْبُدْ رَبَّكَ حَتىَّ يَأْتِيَكَ الْيَقِينُ } (الحجر 99 ) “And worship your Lord until there comes to you the certainty (death).” (15: 99) - The one who truly benefit from hajj and its essence is that person who returns to his family, and country with the best of characters, sound frame of mind, humility, honour, pleasant habits and nature. With good human mutual relationship, and dignified approach to co-existing with people, family and living by truthful, balanced and just codes of life. - All the hajj rites remind the pilgrim of the right of worship solely for Allah, and none beside Him. He is he One to which direct their needs and requests and seek His protection from evils. How can such pilgrim, after this experience, transfer any of these rights to others? Allah says: “O you who have believed, respond to Allah and to the Messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life.” (8: 24) - The impact of hajj is not with anyone who wastefully delay solat, refuse payment of zakat, take interest and bribes, consume intoxicants, break ties of kinship and drown in sins. - Dear pilgrims, you were forbidden from some acts in the state of ihram at the sacred sites, be aware, that there are acts you need to forbid yourself always and forever. Allah says: {تِلْكَ حُدُودُ اللَّهِ فَلاَ تَعْتَدُوهَا وَمَن يَتَعَدَّ حُدُودَ اللَّهِ فَأُوْلَئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ }(البقرة: 229 ) “These are the limits of Allah, so do not transgress them. And whoever transgresses the limits of Allah - it is those who are the wrongdoers.” (2:229) SECOND KHUTBAH All praises are due to Allah. May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon Prophet Muhammad, his household, companions and believers till the end of time. Dear Muslims, fear Allah and recognize that this life is a valuable opportunity and place to plough for the hereafter, it is the place for worship, and obedience, and place of rivalry in good works. A Muslim prepares themselves therein for the Hereafter and works for posterity. The world is a place to be truthful for whoever intends truthfulness, and a place of success for those who understands it and a place of abundant provision. From Ibn Abbas, (R.A), The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) advised a man thus: (profit from five things before five (other things happen): your youth before old age sets in, your health before illness comes, your riches before your poverty, your leisure before your job, and your life before your death ). (Hakim) Servants of Allah, as a year ends and another commences, there in are great lessons of self evaluation and assessment. Allah says: {يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَلْتَنْظُرْ نَفْسٌ مَا قَدَّمَتْ لِغَدٍ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ} (الحشر : 18) {O you who have believed, fear Allah. And let every soul look to what it has put forth for tomorrow - and fear Allah. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do. } (59: 18), Meaning: Assess yourselves before you shall be assessed, review what you keep for tomorrow that you shall stand before your Lord. (Ibn Kathir 3 / 477). Oh Allah descend peace; flowing with continuous tranquility and security upon Nigeria and all other Muslim nations. O Allah accept the worship of the pilgrims of hajj and Umrah, and grant us all Your pleasure, And the last of our call will be, "Praise to Allah, Lord of the worlds!"