Hajj: The Perfection of Religion

'This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.' (Maaidah Aayat6) Amongst the virtues of Hajj is the revelation of the above verses in which perfection and completion of Deen has been explained. Imam Ghazzali (RA) has writted in his book, Ihyaa, that Hajj is a pillar of Deen, at Hajj the pillars were completed and also at Hajj, Islam reached its complete and total perfection. It is narrated in a Hadith that once some Jewish Ulama came to Hadhrat Umar (Radhiallaahu Anhu) and said to him that 'you recite an Aayat of the Qur’aan, had the Aayat been revealed upon us then we would have made it a day of Eid (annually)'. Hadhrat Umar (Radhiallaahu Anhu) enquired as to which Aayat was that being referred to. Then the above Aayat was mentioned. Hadhrat Umar (Radhiallaahu Anhu) replied that 'I clearly know which day and where this Aayat was revealed, with the praises of Allah, at that time we had two Eids - one it was Friday (which for a Muslim is an Eid) and two it was the day of Arafaat (which is an Eid especially for Hajis)'. Hadhrat Umar (Radhiallaahu Anhu) further stated that this Aayat was revealed on a Friday evening after Asr when Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) was on the plains of Arafaat seated on his camel. In another narration, it has been mentioned that after the revelation of this Aayat, no new laws relating to permissibility (Halaal) and non-permissibility (Haraam) were revealed. When a person ponders and reflects over the fact that the Deen has been completed and perfected at the occasion of Hajj, he would definitely fulfil this obligation with great desire and enthusiasm. In a Hadith narrated by Imaam Bukhari and Imaam Muslim in their most authentic books, the messenger of Allah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, ‘Whosoever performs Hajj for the sake of Allah and he refrained from immodest actions and sins, he returns to his home just as the day his mother gave birth to him.’ When a child is born, it is Ma’soom (sinless) and free from any type of evil. This is the exact effect of Hajj which is performed solely for the pleasure of Allah. Although the intended meaning of these type of Ahaadith are generally minor sins, but due to the vast amount of narrations, some Ulama are of the opinion that even major sins are forgiven. This Hadith draws our attention to certain points amongst which are: Hajj should be done solely for the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala. There should be no other motive whether it be wealth, fame or any other reason. Many people do Hajj with ulterior motives and are thereby undergoing so many hardships and spending so much of wealth, all in vain. It has been narrated in a Hadith that Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, ‘Close to Qiyaamat the wealthy from my Ummat will perform Hajj only for ‘holiday’ purposes (as though instead of London and Paris, they would go to these holy places) and the middle class will perform Hajj for name and fame (that so and so did 5 Hajj) and the lower class (poor ones) will do Hajj for purposes of begging.’ (Kanzul Ummaal) There should be no immodesty. Ulama have explained that the word, ‘Rafath’ mentioned in this Hadith as well as in the Qur’aan is in general that it includes all types of futile and useless acts, to the extent that even the mentioning of intercourse to your wife falls under this category. There should be no Fisq (sinning). This is also the words of an Aayat of the holy Qur’aan and it includes all types of sin and disobedience. Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) mentioned in a Hadith that the goodness of Hajj lies in kind words and feeding people. It is, therefore, essential that a person treats his companions with extreme kindness and be humble in all his approaches. Ulama have written that good character is not only saving yourself from causing harm to others but also is to be tolerant. The literal meaning of Safar is ‘to become apparent’ and at the time of Safar the true colours of the person really becomes apparent. It is for this reason that Hadhrat Umar (Radhiallaahu Anhu) when enquiring about any person, would first ask about whether any journey or any dealings were done with this person, and would use that to judge the character and stability of a person. We make Du’aa to Allah Ta’ala that may Allah grant all those who are performing this great pillar of Islam, a Maqbool Hajj (accepted Hajj) which in the words of Hadhrat Moulana Yusuf Ludhiyanwi (RA) is, ‘When a person changes his direction of life, he makes a firm determination to stay away from all sins and to be steadfast in all acts of obedience to Allah Ta’ala in future. The Hajj of a person whose life does not change for the better after Hajj is doubtful.’