ALMISKEENAH

THE HAJJ SEASON 1428 

‘Amr ibn Al-‘Aas RadhiAllahu anhu narrates, “When Islam entered my heart, I went to the Messenger of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and said, ‘Give me your hand so that I may pledge allegiance to you.’ The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam spread his hand, but I withdrew mine. He said, ‘What is wrong ‘Amr?’ I said, ‘I want to make a condition.’ ‘And what is that?’ he said. I said, ‘That Allah will forgive me.’ Then the Messenger of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said, ‘Did you not know that Islam wipes out what came before it, and that Hijrah wipes out what came before it and that Hajj wipes out what came before it!”

And in another narration Rasulullah Sallahu alaihi wasallam said: “There is no reward for an accepted Hajj … except Jannah!”

Insha’Allah for the millions gathering, or still preparing for this blessed journey to our Rabb Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala; a journey to a rebirth, a journey that is rich in opportunities to renew commitments, a journey that promises Jannah, a journey to a deeper realization of one’s place within the creation, a journey to the One, may it be an accepted wayfaring for each and every soul flowing into the Sacred Lands these days, Ameen.

They will come to you on foot and on every kind of swift mount, emerging from every deep mountain pass.   (22:28)

Unlike any other journey, this is an odyssey of the soul and heart, taking one closer to being conscious of Allah Ta’ala’s presence and being reminded of His bounteous favor upon us.  The means of the journey have drastically changed over the centuries, but the destinations and the goals remain the same; the outward and the inner merge as the pilgrim wends his way towards the King of kings. The mountains hug the same valleys; the same rituals define the Hajj, the same yearning, the same resolve, the same separation from loved ones, hazards, maybe death is written, all reminders of the ultimate journey we all will when the appointed Angel appears.  

(Imam Ghazali Rahmatullah alaihi writes extensivley in THE BOOK ON THE SECRETS OF PILGRIMAGE, KITAB ‘ASRAR AL-HAJJ, especially the third chapter concerning the exact proprieties, the hidden mysteries and the inner (batina) acts of Hajj, as well as an emotional section on visiting the Noble Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wasallam in the Luminous Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah.)

Imam Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah wrote the following Qasidah about this journey of the hearts:

By Him whose House the loving pilgrims visit,

Responding with ihram at the appointed limit,

Uncovering their heads in total humility

Before One to Whom faces bow in servility.

They exclaim in the valleys, "We have responded to You -

All Praise is Yours, and Kingdom too!"

He invited and they answered, with love and pleasure;

When they called upon Him, nearer came the Divine treasure.

You see them on their mounts, hair dusty and dishevelled,

Yet never more content, never happier have they felt;

Leaving homelands and families due to holy yearning,

Unmoved are they by temptations of returning.

Through plains and valleys, from near and far,

Walking and riding, in submission to Allah.

At the Ka’bah

When they see His House - that magnificent sight

For which the hearts of all creatures are set alight -

It seems they’ve never felt tired before,

For their discomfort and hardship is no more.

Now the eye of the Lover drowns in its streams,

It sees through its tears the goal of its dreams;

Now for Allah, how many tears are issued,

Each one being followed by a multitude?

When the eye perceives the House, its darkness clears,

And from the sorrowful heart, pain disappears;

Vision cannot encompass this beautiful sight:

Each glance returns with greater delight!

No wonder at this, for when the Merciful preferred

The House for Himself, it became most honoured.

He clothed it in Majesty, a magnificent garment;

Embroidered it with Beauty, a wonderful ornament!

The hearts all love the House therefore,

Awed and humbled, in respect and honour.

‘Arafat

Now to ‘Arafat, hoping for Mercy and Forgiveness

From the One overflowing with Generosity and Kindness;

Now for Allah is that Magnificent Standing

Like, though lesser than, the Day of Reckoning.

The Irresistible draws near, His Majesty manifest,

Boasting to His angels, for He is the Mightiest,

"My slaves have come to Me so lovingly,

I’ll be Generous and Merciful, willingly.

I have forgiven their sins, – to this you are witness –

Fulfilled their hopes, and showered them with goodness."

So joyous news! O people of that standing,

When sins are forgiven and Mercy is spreading;

How many slaves are set completely free?

Whilst others seek a cure, and heal will He.

Now Satan is never known to lose such face:

He’s blameworthy, rejected, in utter disgrace.

For he sees a matter that enrage him must:

He flees, slaps his face and covers it in dust!

Such Forgiveness he never did see

As granted by the Lord, and such Mercy!

He built his edifice from every temptation available

Till he thought it was complete, unassailable;

Then Allah struck his building at its very foundation,

So it fell upon him, tumbling in devastation;

What worth has his structure, this evil ploy,

That he does build, and the Lord does destroy?

Muzdalifah & Mina

Now to Muzdalifah, to spend the night

In the Sacred Area, then Prayer at first light;

Now on to the Great Pillar, which they need

To stone at the time of the Prayer of ‘Id;

Now to their tents for the sacrifice prepared,

Reviving the tradition of a Father revered.

If sacrificing themselves were Allah’s demand,

They would respond, submitting to the command;

Just as they’d expose their necks in Jihad

To Allah’s enemies, till these stream with blood;

They discipline themselves, presenting the head for a shave:

Bringing humility and happiness to the obedient slave.

The Tawaf of Ifadah/Ziyarah

So when they’ve removed those natural growths,

Completed their rites, and fulfilled their oaths,

He invites them again to visit His House:

What honour and welcome this visit allows!

By Allah, they visit it in so much splendour,

Receiving their rewards and plenty of honour;

There Allah bestows Grace, Favour and Kindness,

Showing Generosity, Mercy and Forgiveness.

Mina

Then they return to Mina, each to his tent,

Every minute wish is granted, and they are content;

They stay there a day, then another, then a third,

They’re allowed to depart early, but to stay is preferred;

They stone the pillars daily after the sun’s decline,

With a slogan of Takbir in the presence of the Divine!

If only you could see their standing there:

Palms outstretched, hoping for Mercy’s share!

"O Lord! O Lord! Knowing as You do

That we hope for no-one, only You!

Then grant our wish, O You All-Knowing,

We pray for Your Mercy overflowing."

The Farewell Tawaf

When they’ve achieved at Mina all their gains,

Once more they fill the valleys and plains:

To the Ka’bah, the Sacred House, by the end of the day,

To circle it seven times, and then to Pray.

When departure nears and they are certain

That the bond of proximity is about to loosen,

There’s only a last stand for a final farewell:

Now for Allah are the eyes that swell,

And for Allah are the heavy hearts that turn

Into cauldrons of desire where fire does burn;

And the passionate sighs whose heat so vigorous

Nearly melts the Lover, ecstatic, rapturous!

Now you see those bewildered, perplexed in the throng,

Whilst others chant their sorrowful song:

"I depart, but there remains for You my yearning,

My fire of grief is raging and burning;

I bid farewell, but longing pulls my reins -

My heart is encamped in Your eternal plains!"

No blame today for saying what you feel:

No blame for expressing what you used to conceal!

All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. May He accept our humble efforts and grant us the capacity to be good and do good. Ameen. 

mmm