| HAJJ | – THE GREATER PILGRIMAGE

Extracted From
Anwaar al-Hadith, Chapter 7, Pages 263 to 274
by Hadrat Allama Mufti Jalal al-Din Qadiri al-Amjadi
English Translation: Mawlana Kalim al-Qadiri [Bolton - U.K.]

Hadrat ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas Radhi Allahu Ta ‘ala Anhumma reported that the Messenger of Allah Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim  has stated,

يا أيها الناس كتب عليكم الحج فقام الأقرع بن حابس فقال : أفي كل عام يا رسول الله؟ فقال : لو قلتها لوجبت ، ولو وجبت لم تعملوا بها ولم تستطيعوا أن تعملوا بها ، الحج مرة فمن زاد فهو تطوع

“‘O People! Allah has made Hajj incumbent upon you.’ Hadrat Aqra’ ibn Habis stood up and inquired, ‘O Messenger of Allah! Is it incumbent each year?’ The Messenger of Allah said, ‘If I say ‘yes’ then it would be made obligatory and incumbent upon you each year, and if it was to be made incumbent each year you would not be able to fulfill this religious duty. Thus, Hajj is only once in the lifetime and those who exceed this (do more than once) then the (extra) is nafl (optional).’” [Mishkat, Kitab al-Manasik, Page 221]

From this we understand that the Holy Prophet has full power, control and authority on Shari’ah and Sacred Islamic Laws. If the Messenger of Allah desired, he could have made Hajj obligatory and incumbent each year. For a detailed treatise on this topic please read: Muniyyat al-Labib Anna al-Tashri’a biyad al-Habib (1311AH) by Imam Ahmed Rida Khan.

Hadrat ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas Radhi Allahu Ta ‘ala Anhumma reported that the Messenger of Allah Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim  said,

“He who intends to perform hajj should hasten to do so.” [Sunan Darimi, Vol. 2, Page 27]

Hadrat ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu reported that the Messenger of Allah Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim said,

“Make the Hajj and the Umrah follow each other closely, (wear the Ihram for Qiran, in which the intention of Hajj and ‘Umrah is done or perform both the Hajj and ‘Umrah consecutively) for they remove poverty and sins as a furnace removes impurities from iron, gold and silver; and Hajj which is accepted, its reward is Paradise.” [Sunan Tirmidhi, Abwab al-Hajj, Vol. 1, Page 167]

Hadrat Abu Hurairah Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu reported that the Messenger of Allah Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim said,

“Anyone who went out (of his house) with the intention of performing Hajj, ‘Umrah or fighting in the Path of Allah, and then passed away as he was on his way, then Allah the Most Exalted shall forever write for him the reward of a Haji, one who performs ‘Umrah and a mujahid.” [Mishkaat, Kitab al-Manasik, Page 223]